Logitech Blue Sona evaluation

The Logitech Blue Sona is a deal with for the eyes and ears, aiming to shake up the streaming and podcast worlds as the brand new go-to high-end XLR microphone that appears simply nearly as good because it sounds. The Shure SM7B is clearly an enormous affect on its design, however don’t make the error of pondering the Sona is a knock-off – it’s an improve in nearly each method.

It ought to come as no shock that that is the greatest gaming microphone for high-end customers when it prices $349.99 USD / ‎£299.99 GBP, however would you imagine that that is really a cut price? Not solely does this undercut the Shure SM7B’s $399 USD price ticket, it doesn’t require an costly audio interface or mic boosters just like the Cloudlifter to run. Yes, you’ll be able to actually use this with a finances preamp, and it’ll nonetheless sound clean.

Logitech Blue Sona design

Plenty of phrases come to thoughts when peeking on the Blue Sona for the primary time: daring, fashionable, trendy. It’s all all the way down to its strikingly completely different look, ditching the cylindrical physique we’re used to seeing in favour of a recent cuboid as a substitute. It’s clear that Logitech needs this microphone to face out when within the body of the greatest webcam.

It’s additionally uncommon to see microphones come in several colourways, however you may have the selection of a smooth black physique or off-white one. Both include a black and a pink windscreen within the field for various color combos, and you’ll swap between them simply sufficient because of their magnetic connectors. Logitech says extra colors are on the way in which, however we will solely choose what’s in entrance of us in the intervening time.

I don’t know what materials the pop filters are product of, however the very best half is that they’re not mud magnets. I’m a cat dad and at all times felt as if my Shure SM7B’s cowl wanted its personal cowl, however the foam surrounding the Sona’s capsule barely catches a little bit of fluff. When it does, it’s simple to wash, retaining that skilled look.

You’ll want a growth arm or tripod, because the Logitech Blue Sona doesn’t include its personal stand, however the mounting system is versatile all the identical. The XLR enter is conveniently positioned, not conflicting with the screw. The threaded ring helps you to connect the machine to a growth arm with out spinning your entire microphone round in circles, and the pivot knob locks it in place, so you’ll be able to place it wherever you select on its 360-degree tilt.

It works with a variety of phantom energy necessities at both 24V or 48V, because of its ClearAmp know-how, giving it an extra 25dB to play with. As talked about earlier, this makes the Sona a far cheaper funding than one thing just like the Shure SM7B, as it really works with a wider vary of preamps and retains your desk clear of pointless equipment.

Logitech Blue Sona efficiency

The Logitech Blue Sona sounds buttery clean, with a transparent, impartial EQ out of the field – which implies it doesn’t favour any explicit frequency. It could make vocals sound a bit of chilly in the event you’re used to USB microphones that usually add a little bit of bass into the combo, but it surely’s simpler so as to add heat from most interfaces than it’s to take it away.

Supercardiod pick-up patterns are identified for his or her lack of sensitivity, prioritising your voice and leaving background noises the place they belong. Logitech doubles down on this tech with a dual-diaphragm strategy, pointing one diaphragm at you to seize your sultry tones and the opposite in the other way to filter out any undesirable sounds. This is what makes it an excellent gaming and streaming microphone, as nobody likes listening to the clatter of your keyboard. It can’t work miracles, so that you’ll have to be aware of the place you place it, however I’m quite impressed at its capability to dampen sound.

The Sona is about as plug-and-play because it will get for an XLR microphone. Once you hook it as much as an interface, you simply want to regulate the acquire on the preamp. The Sona hides two switches underneath the magnetic Logi-branded plate that every have an on the spot impact on the sound of your microphone. One is a ‘Bass Cut’ operate, which is a high-pass filter that works in tandem with the interior shock mount to minimise deeper seems like by accident knocking your desk. It could make you quieter, so that you may wish to compensate by including extra acquire, but it surely has an on the spot impact. The different known as Presence, which is a function that helps prioritise your voice in noisier rooms, amplifying vocals above all else.

While Logitech combats compatibility issues with its ClearAmp function boosting the acquire, you’ll must do some fine-tuning once you first set it up. With such a big headroom, it’s simple on your audio to clip in the event you set it too excessive. The excellent news is that after you’ve adjusted it to the way you prefer it, you don’t want to the touch it once more.

Logitech Blue Sona verdict

In this case, calling the Logitech Blue Sona a Shure SM7B killer isn’t only a gimmicky advertising and marketing trick. I actually see no motive to suggest its closest rival when the Sona is cheaper, extra appropriate, extra versatile, and debatably extra enticing.

It’s a troublesome promote in the event you already personal a Shure SM7B and doubtless not price switching since you have already got every little thing you want. However, these of you eager to improve from a USB microphone to XLR or leap from entry/mid-range to high-end ought to have the Blue Sona in your radar.

$349.99 USD / ‎£299.99 GBP isn’t an all-in-one value, as you’ll must finances for equipment like a growth arm and an XLR cable that aren’t included. That mentioned, you received’t discover this sort of worth elsewhere. Logitech has considered each facet of the Blue Sona and crafted a camera-ready microphone that’s simply as a lot substance as it’s model.

Pros:

Versatile mounting system
Premium sound that minimises background noise
Built-in amplifier makes this a cut price

Cons:

Needs phantom energy
No XLR cable included

Check out our information on the greatest microphone for streaming and gaming for alternate options to the Logitech Blue Sona, together with low-cost champions and fancy flagships.