If you are looking to compare the Blue Yeti USB microphone vs Snowball vs Rode NT USB specifications, you have landed in the right place.
If you are fond of microphones and checking out the options for the best microphones for your requirements, you perhaps have a considerable number of options. Among them, Blue has been one of the most popular brands that provide you access to an excellent professional-grade, microphone performance.
We will check out the two most compelling microphone options from the band Blue. The most important and excellent Blue microphones that we will check out today are Blue Yeti and Blue Snowball, and we will compare them with the Rode NT microphone.
Blue Yeti USB Microphone vs Snowball vs Rode NT USB – Comparison Table
| Features | Blue Yeti
|
Snowball
|
Rode NT
|
| Capsules | 3 Condensers | 2 Condensers | 0.50″ Capsules, Pressure Gradient |
| Patterns | Cardioid/Omni/Figure-8/Stereo | Cardioid/Omni | JFET impedance converter with bipolar output buffer |
| Bit Depth / Sample Rate | 16-bit / 48kHz | 16-bit / 48kHz | 16bit 48kHz |
| Gain Control | Yes | -10dB PAD | 110dBSPL
SPL (@ 1kHz, 1% THD into 1KΩ load) |
| Mute | Yes | No | Yes |
| Headphone Output | Yes | No | Yes |
| Headphone Volume | Yes | No | Yes |
| Output / Interface | USB | USB | USB |
| Weight | 3.2 pounds | 2.2 pounds | 520g – 1.14 lbs |
The Overview for the three compelling microphones
Before comparing the three compelling microphone options, we will go through an overview of the features and functionalities offered by each of these devices.
Blue Snowball
The USB microphone was first released in the year 2015 by Blue. Even after four years of its launch, the microphone has been offering you an excellent set of options. The receiver has been one of the most favorable microphones for YouTubers, streamers, and podcasters.
It has been a great choice because of its ‘plug and play’ compatibility using the USB interface. Just connect and get access to improved efficiency, without the need for any external accessories or dongles.
Blue Yeti
If aesthetics and audio quality are what would matter for your needs, Blue Yeti can be one of the best options you would want to go with. The microphone can be a perfect choice for almost every requirement you may have concerning YouTubers and other content creators.
You can be assured of the precise audio quality, but you can find it being one of the excellent choices for your needs if the microphone is visible to the audience. And then, its moderate pricing is what would make it an ideal option for most potential buyers.
Rode NT
The Rode NT USB microphone is an excellent choice for your requirements if you are checking out the options for a perfect quality condenser cardioid microphone. It should be one of the great opportunities for a high-quality microphone at affordable pricing.
The pop filter, tripod desk, and the ring mount are a few perfect options that make it one of the excellent microphones.
The Comparison between the three compelling microphones: Blue Yeti USB Microphone vs Snowball vs Rode NT USB
Having gone through the Overview of all the three microphones, we will move to the task of comparing them based on a few key factors. That would help us arrive at the best possible Comparison ever between the three microphone options.
Build Quality and Design
The Blue Snowball is mad of resin casing and a hard one at that. The resin case is plastic but offers you durable performance. You can be assured of a great deal of protection in cases where the microphone experiences moderate falls.
The Blue Yeti, on the other hand, does not have a look similar to a ball, and thus gives itself away from that it is a microphone. The complete construction of the receiver is made of plastic and therefore comes with a more durable frame.
The Rode NT is also quite similar to the Blue Yeti. The all-metal construction can be what would make it a preferred option from the perspective of durability.
The Blue Yeti and Rode NT do provide you access to a smaller stand. That would be what would be helpful enough in placing it on any of the surfaces with ease.
Concerning the color option availability, the Snowball provides you access to a white color option initially. Still, more color options have now been offered, best among them being bright orange, brushed aluminum, electric blue gloss black, and neon green. Blue Yeti provides you plenty of choices in terms of colors, though. You can have access to them in the form of platinum, silver blue, black, lunar grey, midnight blue, satin red, slate blue, space grey, teal blue, and white.
The Features
The Rode NT USB microphone is an excellent option for the cardioid microphone class. That would mean it will pick everything you speak into it from the front. If you do not want to capture the sound from anything else other than the audio from the front, the Rode NT USB microphone can be an excellent option always.
The Snowball is a condenser microphone and can act both as omnidirectional and cardioid. That would mean you can configure it in whichever way you would want to. The omnidirectional functionality of the microphone can be akin to using two cardioid microphones used together. But, the Blue Yeti is an excellent option in every manner if you are checking out the options for the best audio features. It provides you access to four different modes viz cardioid, omnidirectional, bi-directional, and stereo picking patterns.
You can use the bidirectional pattern for a face to face interaction, such as an interview. This would be best suited in areas such as interviews. The stereo picking is an excellent alternative in cases where you are trying to pick music, such as an instrument.
All three microphones in this collection have a plug and play compatibility. You do not need to have any external drivers for the purpose.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is one of those areas that would be highly subjective. What we consider an excellent sound quality may not appear so from your perspective. The sound quality will have a bearing on what you are using it for. Excellent sound quality for a musician may not be the same for a podcaster.
Being USB microphones, they can be one of the excellent options for a semi-professional and non-professional scenario. However, they would not be the right ones for highly professional performances.
Blue Yeti provides access to the best possible THX certification for the distinction. That would ensure that the microphone can accurately transmit the sound across almost all scenarios. You can experience a lot of options for the entire frequency system. Snowball does not come with any sort of certification for THX distortion.
What are the similarities between the three microphone options?
Here are where the competing microphones offer similar functionalities and features –
- All the three microphones can work with the cardioid pattern and thus can be an excellent choice for YouTubers and podcasters.
- You have access to a two-year warranty across every one of those microphones.
- The plug and play compatibility
- All of them have USB compatibility.
How do they differ?
Here are a few excellent options you can find that they offer a few different performance criteria –
- Yeti does have a convenient shaping and can be placed excellently.
- Only Snowball has a pad switch.
- Snowball and Yeti have new patterns for the sound.
The Pros and Cons for the three Compelling Microphones
The Pros and Cons of each of the microphones can be described as explained here –
Blue Snowball
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- 10 dB pad options for the louder options
- You also have access to a mute functionality.
Cons
- It has no headphone output jack.
- Omnidirectional pattern may not be right up to the mark.
Blue Yeti
Pros
- A vast number of color options
- THX certification against distortion
- The stereo pattern works best for most of the instruments.
Cons
- The controls are not up to the mark.
- May be slightly smaller for a few needs.
Rode NT
Pros
- An excellent vocal clarity.
- You may find the background noise a little inaudible.
Cons
- Works only with cardioid pattern.
The Concluding Thoughts
Well, that as a complete comparison between the three capable microphones that would offer an excellent experience in terms of enhanced audio performance. We found Blue Yeti a great choice that offers multiple advantage options and should be one of the preferred alternatives.