You are FAR more knowledgeable about mics than am I. I just don't understand why - considering your review - my Stellar X2 sounds better on my spoken voice than any of my other mics, including the AT2035, Rode NT1 and AKG Perception 100. The Rode NT1 is very close, but the Stellar X2 wins for me. Other than gain adjustments to get as equal a comparison as possible, there is no pre- or post-processing involved. Yes, different mics are better suited to different voices, but my range and tone are not so dissimilar from yours. Your setup sounds so much more harsh in the high end than mine - it just doesn't sound like mine at all. Anyway, just saying, people need to do their due diligence and not just place all their trust in one or two RU-vid reviews. I bought into the Stellar X2 hype and, while that goes against my own advice here (since only a couple of reviews existed at the time I purchased), I cannot say I am disappointed. On the contrary - I love it!
I just got mine, fired it up & boy was I blown away. Now I've never owned a U87 or a TLM103, nor have either been used in any one of my many studio sessions (I'm a professional voice actor in Los Angeles) but after listening back I was very happy with what I heard. I'm not saying that this is going to be a winner for every voice & every application, but for my voice (mildly on the deep end w a li'l grit) & for commercial voice over work- I'm thoroughly impressed. I'd been using an SM7b for a few years now w good results but I'm going to put that girl on the shelf & put this much cleaner, much crisper, much more "honest" X2 to work.
For 200 dollars it's a great sounding microphone IMO. Very nice and balanced and very low noise. I think people should stop comparing this to a Neumann because thats too high of a standard. Although I do think maybe you should do a noise floor test between the X2. To me, my X2 is very quiet compared to other mics I've used including many MXL mics.
I explain exactly why I compared it to the Neumann’s. It’s been done so frequently in other reviews and comments, and even in Tech Zones description for this video, that I figured, I should compare them. As I mentioned in this video, I think it is fine for $200 and an improvement over the at2020 in its smoothness. I think a lot of people in the comments are misinterpreting me saying it’s not a Neumann as me saying it’s shit. No. It’s fine for $200.
@@Podcastage I understand, yes Neumann is a too high standard for it and that makes sense. Just like the more critical reviews they have on amazon stated, its a great mic for 200 but its not Neumann especially not Neumann's build. I do look forward to seeing what the company would do. Are they going to release a more expensive version that is more like the U87 and the Vintage seems interesting... It seems like that model would fit you perfectly especially for your voice.
Man, I've been wanting to learn more about these since Booth Junkie did his review. Thanks for doing the untreated room test, which not enough people do. I think this mic did reasonably well in that. The comparisons were the most useful part of the test, although I wish you'd included a King Bee as that's what I'm on right now lol. I do think the Stellar sounds as good than the NT1 (although it has its own flavor), which I think is probably its closest competitor in price point and market segment as well as being an industry standard. I did like the Neumanns more... but not that kind of money more! Your reviews have always been great but they just keep getting better and more complete over time. Thanks for doing this!
You’re on a killer mic right now. (No pun intended). It’s a real sleeper and I was blown away by that mic. I’d pick the king bee over this mic every time.
@@Podcastage Hi Bandrew. I am having minor buyers remorse of my Rode PodMic based on yours (and others, as well) suggestion of incredible value. I do not totally dislike the microphone or anything, but I can't help but wonder if the amount of gain I have to give the microphone negates the dynamic benefits and makes it just as sensitive in my environment as my old condenser microphone was. Do you think I should try auditioning a King Bee in my untreated space? I feel like being able to turn the gain down and get on the microphone might make it less sensitive than my PodMic at 3 o'clock gain
@@codetanner5128 My question would be, are you hearing excessive hiss in your recording? If not, I don't think you have anything to be concerned with. The podmic will be better at rejecting the room tone from an untreated space compared to the King Bee, just solely based on the fact that the King Bee extends from 20Hz - 20kHz and picks up all of that relatively well. The fact that you're at 3:00 for a dynamic is not in and of it self concerning for a dynamic mic since that's what almost all of them will require.
Hm. Call me crazy but I preferred it to every mic you tested as far as your voice. Yes, it's slightly sibilant, but not in a *cheap* way - for my ears it comes off as just a little bit extra presence and the kind that should be easy to taper in post for personal preference. I agree it doesn't sound like the Neumanns though. FTR I'm listening with a high-end DAC and Sennheiser 6XX headphones.
My three favorite mics in the review were the U87, the TLM103 and surprise surprise.... the Stellar X2. The X2 is clear and has a nice flavor. Thank you so much for the review.
Ive owned 2 of them for like a year and they’re a decent bargain. The rode nt1 is pretty similar, and I’m about the try Acustica LAVA to help it sound even nicer.
You have a real gift to make all the mics sound just the same! I've tested most of the ones you've shown and they really sound different but for a reason your super human microphone power makes them sound like if your using only one mic. Cheers
Although the market is pretty rich with microphones of all types in this price range, I can totally see why someone would prefer TZ Stellar X2 over its closest competitors. It might not be warm or bassy, but for some music instruments and voices it really does a good job at emphasizing the detail in the high frequencies. It isn't the same as TLM103, U87 or NT1, but a very decent debut mic. Looking forward to their vintage mic.
I've had 2 NT1s in the space of a week and both have stopped working! This has got to be better for the reason that Rode made terrible quality products
Thanks for comparing all those microphones. It really showed how well the stellar x2 holds up against them. I might be considering purchasing it over the NT1 due to its tone being very similar.
And another thing he sounds best on the Stellar x2... The stellar x2 sounds Fantastic! Very similar to the 103 & U87 if not the better give or take what headphones or monitors you are using! But fast fix to that feeding it through a EQ or Crossover that will fixes your listening process problem! Real talk.
@@RogwinMusic I hade a 103 some time ago and in my opinion you get what you pay for, good for maybe acoustic guitar, but not close to my U87Ai when I comes to vocals.
@@PinballLunatic You kidding? Vocals are what the TLM 103 does best. The U87Ai has a boxy, nasally sound in comparison to the 103. It's only as expensive as it is because there's two capsules in it instead of just one. It's not a higher quality mic at all; just a different mic. After $1K, it stops being about quality and starts being about preference.
Honestly I got the stellar x2 and got a bit dissapointed at first. Until I started using it in a mix, and especially after boosting the highs for singing it smashed my other mics.
Stellar X2 : 4:12 At2020 : 4:40 RODE NT1 - 5:08 Rosswell 5:33 Neumann TLM 102 : 6:06 TLM 103 : 6:34 -III- U87 AI : 7:09 I was looking fr rode nt1 vs the world so kudos to Bandrew as always . I d love to see how does rode nt1 compares to let s say at2035, lewitt 440pure, king bee and other great value mics in untreated spaces, as we often look fr mics (esp in that price range) to occasionally use them in less than perfect spaces aswell / ppl are also often buying better mic to be more future proof but they d like to start recording in between treatment process . Some controlled background noise, compirasion of echo etc would be amazing for all home studio starters. If anyone would ever make it happen then it s podcastage fr sure :D
That ^ + it would be amazing if he d get some yt singer(or any other that would do it for free) for bigger compirasions aswell. This channel is already the best on yt in terms of mic tests, however additional singing voice (with a different tone than Bandrew s) could make this channel huge even faster, aswell as shutting up all the online fights over the mics as he covers almost everything in his tests
TechZone originally said they were modeling this after the U87 only. Haven’t owned one or heard one but my listening test here was to close my eyes, plug in my Sony MDR7506 monitor headphones and wait till you started speaking into the U87. And to my ears, as produced through these studio headphones, I honestly did not hear a noticeable difference. So to my ears, TechZone achieved a similar sound as designed. That said, I also didn’t hear a significant noticeable difference between the X2 and the AT2020 so a valid point that for $100 less, the AT2020 may be the better investment. For years, I’ve had raving feedback on how well my voice sounds on the USB version of the AT2020 which just makes the point clear that ultimately... all reviews are purely subjective and personal and your voice or purpose for any given mic should be tested individually before coming to a final conclusion ;)
When it comes down to it, content is king. You can absolutely get by with a $100 mic in most applications. Reviews where we nitpick to this level are for nutters. Most people will never hear a difference and it won’t matter unless you’re in a super high end studio with crazy high standards.
Good video as always Podcastage. I think the X2 is impressive. Although It might be the same as a thousand dollar microphone it has a very similar tone to that of the NT1. I have heard much harsher mics at a higher price point. So for $200 although you won't be getting a u87 sound but you will get a balanced sounding mic for a great price.
Lol sorry but there's nothing impressive about that mic. I see that even TechZone themselves wrote in the comments here that the mic is overhyped, and that's exactly what it is.
I appreciate this review. I was able to hear different mics that Interest me. The TLM 102 is my first choice-that will be the one I work to acquire within 2-yrs. But for now, it’s the NT1 or the Stellar X2. The NT1 sounded brighter; the X2 had more presence & a more even delivery (IMHO). So I will order the X2 regular or vintage. I’ll decide & continue sound treating my walk-in closet & recording room. The real difference will be the work put forth in the shed. Peace.
Good to see differing opinions. I’m trying to decide on a new mic in this range. I really can’t hear anything as nice as the X2. Though, videos are all i have to go by. So again, it’s nice to hear varying opinions
The audio does sound like the AT2020, but much sharper than the audio other reviewers have for the X2. One theory I have is that an excessive high-ramp was somehow incorporated into your instance. A ramp of 0dB at 6KHz to -4dB at 12KHz might ease the sibilance and still have the silky sound.. It sounds better in the better-result-reviews. Maybe you are all correct and your serial number is hot at the high end? This happens in electronics sometimes.
I don't care about comparisons to legendary mics or whether people agree/disagree/rag on it. I think comparisons sound different depending on a number of factors per video...all I know is that this mic consistently sounds great in all reviews I watch. I'm going purely on what it sounds like for itself, and I disagree that it sounds like the 2020...which I am not a big fan of. I've always thought that for the money, if you are going for a 20 series...go for 2035 over 2020, I personally own and love the 4040. To me, this mic is a lot smoother and complete in the frequency ranges that the 2020 is not. 2020 is a little more sibilant (not in a bad way) and lacks some balls in the mid range somewhere, whereas the X2 is just incredibly soft, smooth, and clear. I love it for how it sounds and the fact that it is not made with cheap parts like other mass-produced cheap mics.
I suppose it depends on the users voice. To the reviewers with deeper voices like Booth Junkie it sounded really good, but here it doesn't sound so great. As always, excellent review.
As I say in the video I think it’s a fine microphone. I think for $150 to $200 it’s right on par. But is it as awesome as a u87 or TLM103 like so many reviews on youtube and amazon say? No not at all. I think that is incredibly misleading and to my ears, wrong.
Sorry but I think Boot Junkie either did not do an honest review, either he has trouble hearing those high frequencies (later edit: or he got a totally different capsule in his microphone). I really apreciate you did a honest review, @Podcastage, in spite of all the tons of reviewers which sounded like getting a free microphone from those bedroom mic modders guys was enough for them to give away mad props on a mediocre mic that doesn't sound nowhere near neumann mics.
Mike (Booth Junkie) does a video on EQ on his channel and he basically showed that his voice doesn't register on the high frequencies much at all, he could eliminate most of it in EQ (high shelf) and it didn't make a difference. Maybe why the X2 was such a good fit for him. Thanks again, great reviews as always!
@@goaway2174 yes, he might have to check if the capsule in his is not from the Sennheiser /Neumann spare parts store as 90% of the sound of a mic is in the capsule. Anyway, props to Booth Junkie as he generated a HUGE hype, but at least the shelf product does not deserve the attention, he might indeed gotten something really different.
Maybe it's just my k7xx headphones but the Stellar x2 sounded just as good as the tlm103 and u87 to me. maybe I'm biased because I bought a stellarx2 a few weeks ago but yeah it sounds really good when compared to the two of them and I am very happy with my purchase
@@goaway2174 I definitely will, but I am also the type of person who is never fully satisfied so I expect I'll probably get an NT1 sometime soon to see how it sounds on my voice and I'll check out the new tech zone audio products mic when it comes out which is supposed to have a warmer sound
@@Dracomies I can't really hear what makes the Neumann mics sound better. I have very untrained ears though so that's probably why. Like i said in my other comment I'm also planning on getting a rode nt1. My voice is not high pitched or very bassy, I'm like in the middle so I honestly cant hear if the mic is flattering on my voice or not
@@JonathanDano What was also interesting was that another actor (he owns the NT1) bought the X2. He had an AB test between the NT1 and X2. The sound was nearly identical. He added the audio clips in a Discord and people couldn't tell the two apart.
Great comparison! I actually found it very similar to the NT1 tbh. I did not really found it bright or sharp sounding like you described it. It is not a Neumann for sure though but very similar to the NT1
First off thank you for a close to honest review and for all of you who purchased this 'mini mic' who were confused by thinking it is made by Stellar, 'THE' microphone company that has been in business for years ? As STELLAR corrected me '' It is not''. TZ sells this pocket sized wonder and I say wonder because l wonder why any one would spend 200.00 on an off brand, so so performing mic ? Podcastage does not want to come right out and tell it's viewers, who already purchased one, that it's an over priced, underperforming product. To balance off all the Phony Hype I forced myself to write this to enlighten all newbie's. There are name brands out there like sE MXL AKG to name just a few that offer so much more for the same price point. The day will come when you get serious about what your doing and will want to move up where the Pro's reign and if you hope to gain their respect ? I'm sure I will get a lot of negative crap from the site's who TZ has sent their FREE mic's to and promised more FREE gear, to evaluate in the future but that's to be understood.
Thank you for doing a comparison on the OGs and for adding music to the testing gauntlet. While for example the Booth Junkie was over the moon about it - and it fits his voice quite well - your voice indeed sounds better on the RØDE NT1, so I know why that’s one of your favorites. I prefer the NT1 overall.
I bought one and for my voice it's great but probably wouldn't work for everyone. Also have a avatone c12, and a shure ksm32 .Next song I write I will use the stellar on vocals and see how it works. The avatone is better for acoustic guitar.
What? No Neumann u47 FET comparison??? Just kidding, it didn't come close to the Neumann mics but I was impressed with how good it sounds. Another 10 years and these "budget microphones" might actually change the game.
Thanks for the review podcastage. I was recently looking into purchasing a new microphone and I feel the X2 will make a great addition due to its tone being very similar to that of the TLM102.
Great video, thanks for the comparisons . I had less than $100 and a boom mic stand so I got the Behringer B-5, I like the sound of this one better than all the mics I tested (I started with the Neewer NW7000). Well except for the Rode NTG2, but it was too expensive for me at the time. So the B-5 it is for me untill I get the, I think it's the Deity S-Mic 2 (the shotgun mic you like)..
I really appreciate your earnestness! I've been checking out your reviews and your genuineness and honesty and solid sense come through. Kudos and keep doing your reviews. I'd be interested in hearing your mixes to see whether those qualities are represented in your technical and musical choices. Would you consider posting some of your work or discuss your approach with some examples?
Your reviews are great and really detailed, but for me it's pretty difficult to base any kind of decision on someone speaking into a mic, or in this case even playing guitar. The real test for me is always drums. For example the Neewer NW-700 is far too hot to use on drums and distorts easily. Since the output on this one is really high it's probably the same. I really don't see much of a advantage over the NW-700.
There is a review that came out from Sound on Sound that tested on many applications. cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0297/1523/4954/files/techzone-stellar-x2.pdf?v=1592599538
Here is their sound cloud where you can find many different samples. This is something I submitted to them that you can check out. That was with a matched pair of Stellar X2 and let me tell you, it handles transients very well. You can hear for yourself the clarity when the drums are recorded. soundcloud.com/user-705791432/stereo-pair-drum-overheads-bamm-bamm-music-ltd?in=user-705791432/sets/voice-over-stellar-x2-samples
Another spot-on review. This mic wouldn't work for me because my voice is sibilant, though not high. It's awesome though, to have a product line that includes a variety of mic sounds for each of the different needs.
Yeah. It’s not a bad microphone. It’s just a bit sharper than I’d prefer, and that is far more apparent on other people’s voices. If you have been gifted with a deeper voice like Booth Junkie, it seems to be a much better fit.
Very good Review, I really enjoyed it! It would be cool if you add some noise floor test to the comparisons! I recently bought an NT1, cant wait to test it!
I dunno, on my headphones is really sounded super close to the TLM103, but I completely agree with the upper frequencies. I would say the biggest winner would be the Rode NT1 or NT1a if you wanna be closer to the Stellar price point.
I listened to half of this on my iPad speakers and the second half on my Bose Bluetooth headphones. In other words, the two ways I always listen to RU-vid. I barely heard any difference between any of the microphones. In other words, the net sound to my ears was a function of how the video file was compressed, the quality of the sound reproduction of the iPad, the quality of the speakers or the quality of the Bluetooth connection and the headphone speakers. I was really surprised at the summary given how little difference I perceived. My guess is that the presenter had very high quality playback equipment and was listening to a lossless version of the recording. If I was a podcaster and wanted to choose a nice-sounding microphone that’s would sound good to RU-vid listeners, I wouldn’t hesitate spending $200 for this excellent microphone or even a lesser amount for the Audio Technica.
I really don't know what most of the people who hear a difference are talking about cause I don't hear a difference as well and the parts that sound different just may be how he is speaking.
I think the NT1 sounds worse than the X2, because the NT1 has too much emphasis on the 'boomy' bass frequencies around 150-300Hz, The K47 sounds too muffled in some frequencies. The X2 has a more natural frequency response in my ears (I'm listening on a Beyer DT770 Pro studio headphone) close to that of the TLM102/103 that both have amazingly natural frequency response across the whole spectrum. The U87ai in my ears sounds better but the difference is minimal. There's a serious case of diminishing returns after the 200 dollar price point. Yes there's a difference, but 99,x% of people will in no way hear the difference anymore (most people don't even hear whether drums are programmed on a PC or not anymore these days...). Whatever you do with post production will likely have a 10 fold higher impact after the NT1 price point, in my opinion. And, that's a great thing. In 2020, excellent microphones are just really affordable!
1. I could care less (not insulting, just a premise for my comments... in other words, I have no agenda) 2. I've heard no reviews/buzz/hype whatsoever, so whatever that mic is did sound pretty good, with no expectation on my end. 3. It sounded like a decent, cheap China mic. I have some GXLs that I bought about 20 years ago for $80ish. Something like that. Good first mic. 4. It did sound quite similar to the AT2020 (and I do like the AT brand), but I think you said the 2020 is cheaper? 5. It sounded better than most of the other cheap mics you showed (less weird high end crap). 6. The mic is not the most important thing, for people that can't afford $100K in gear. The music and the musical talent are most important. Then, the room you're in. If you don't have these, then don't blow money on gear... just get cheap used stuff, pay with cash (no credit cards), until you do find some talent. Don't obsess about gear until people are paying you big bucks to record an album. Then, let them pay for the gear.
The RU-vid compression is doing what an old valve mic preamp would do, in a way, making them all sound very similar. I have a Rode NT-1 and it is waaaaay smoother, cleaner and quieter than, say, MXL mics. If you have the option to spend money for quality DO!!!
What would you get for between $200 and 150 for home studio singing recording? Is there anything in this range worth the extra $ over say a AT 2020 or AKG P220? I want something warm, and sing lots of falsetto and also low range. Thanks!
Great review! I bought it based on why he didn't like it lol. It's perfect! Great mic if you want lots of high end detail but without scooped midrange IMO.
Pretty good value. Shock mount and fancy case and a piece of foam-- attractive if you're on a budget. But you know what? Audio Technica really owns that $100 dollar market. Pretty wide cardiod pattern on this mic. Lots of plosives. Uh-- That 103 is WORSE than the Stellar? Who is saying that???
I'm not sure what you mean. You think the NW7000 beat this mic out or vice versa? Regardless, I'm glad that you were able to identify which mic was right for you. happy recording.
Once you got into the Neumanns, the whole lower end got richer. I'm surprised how similar the 103 and the 87 were, but still the 87 has such a balanced mid range . . . Sorry the X2 is not "between the 103 and the 87".
Where to find ALL the gear for this mic? All it's sold is the mic, cover and the holder. What arm do you suggest and where do I get the wires for the mic to connect it with my computer? Please help!
The X2 doesn't quite pick up the bass as the Neumanns, but is definitely a very good buy for $200. IMO the average ear can't hear much difference and when mixed with instruments and a little EQ magic, is spending more really worth it?
I bought the AKG C214 recently and ordered the Stellar X2 after finding out about it. I just recorded a voice demo with both and I do not see enough of a difference to justify paying twice as much for the C214. Anyone else have opinions on this?
Great video! I'm curious if you've used the Sontronics STC-2 and if you have an opinion as to how it compares to the Tech Zone Stellar X2 and the King Bee?
Thanks awesome review as usual! Those Neumann really sounded super smooth, haha that’s the premium $ difference. I’m interested with this mic but after hearing side by side with AT2020 (I have 2035) I might have to pass as I didn’t noticed huge differences. Great review 👏 I agree based on the comparison made, it’s not comparable to Neumann models. Yeah thanks for demystifying that hype.. please review the GTZ GototoolZ mic also, quite popular, best to check if that is for real Neumann sounding or not.
I'll wait for your release of the Raw audio of this video. the RU-vid compression messes with the audio too much. cause it does sound like it can be up there with a little tweaking on the youtube video.
Dear Bandrew, Just an idea, like automated microphone frequency testing: a tone / frequency generator in front of a microphone and then compare what reaches the audio interface would give a more technical analysis of a microphone, what do you think? Maybe you can address this on the @bandrewsays podcast?
This type of measurement is extremely difficult to do well. There are companies that pay hundreds of thousands, or millions to build anechoic chambers to do these tests. There are some options to do these measurements in a large room you just lose the ability to accurately measure the low frequencies. But I don’t have a big enough room for that method either.
To my ear, again my hearing is not that great to begin with, I think this would do better with someone with a deeper/lower pitched voice over someone with a higher pitched voice as it would give them a bit of that higher range that is missing. Honestly I didn't notice too much of a change in mics but that could my ears, headset, or both. I think a blind test of this mic, the NT1, NW800, the King Bee, the 103, and the U87 with the same line dialog said into each to see if a person could guess what mic is what and post the results a week later just to see if it is noticeably different.
I heard the difference between the X2 and the AT2020. The Stellar X2 is far superior to those other mics withun that price range. Of course this is all based on preference. So use what you like that sounds good on your voice.
Was getting put off from hearing it was more neutral rather than more professional quality but then I realized hey that's great for punk which is what I'm trying to make! Best thing about that genre is the rawness from how 80s tried to process exaggerated harshness imo so the only better thing I can think of getting for my purpose is the Vintage. I didn't get the Vintage because the basic X2 is already going to be 30$ over my 500$ budget for a cheap electric guitar + xlr setup for vocals even though the day I just bought everything was Black Friday. Also I'm female so my harshness will not make main aspects of my voice lose as much potential than this would for a guy. If I start thinking different when I use it with my voice I will edit this comment but if my views stay the same you can trust I am satisfied :)
After doing so much research I found any cheap mic can work just replace the capsule with k67 or any high end capsule from Ali express and youbare done ....circuit and electronics ( capacitors etc) even in nueman mics does not cost more thann 50 dollars ...
I saw on your site that you have reviews of the Rode M5 and Se Electronics Se7 coming out.... I'm trying to order a matched pair of one of these either today or tomorrow. Have you done any comparison of these two?
This video is all the more reason mics are a rip off in terms of price, I do believe you get what you pay for,, but in comparison, I feel when a $3000 mic sounds very similar to a $200 mic I find it disturbing, I do own expensive mics. I use different mics only because I may be tired of the present one being used, I have Tube mics Condenser Mics Ribbon mics ranging from $200 to $2500, and they all sound great as I can't hardly tell the difference...In essence, buy a mic yield the pro results and don't buy into the hype!
