Some of the most effective USB microphones are priced far too excessive for too little return, usually loaded with pointless aptitude with out ever bettering the basics. Monoprice has efficiently fought towards that pricing fashion for years with a assorted catalog of electronics typically aimed on the client market, together with cables, headphones, and screens, solely lately approaching the gaming scene with its Dark Matter subbrand.
The Sentry streaming mic targets PC players with its sci-fi aesthetics and RGB lighting, however can it rise up towards the stiff competitors? It’s undoubtedly aiming to rival a specific fashionable USB choice, and the take a look at recordings offered shocking outcomes.
Dark Matter Sentry: Price, availability, and specs
Monoprice sells the Dark Matter Sentry streaming microphone by its official web site for $100 MSRP. The microphone is packaged with a tripod desk stand, USB-C cable, and a person guide. Sold in metallic black, the inner accent LEDs can show pink, yellow, white, blue, or inexperienced colours. Monoprice offered a pattern for this evaluation however didn’t see the article’s contents earlier than publishing.
| Category | Dark Matter Sentry |
|---|---|
| Polar patterns | Cardioid Bidirectional Stereo Omnidirectional |
| Frequency | 20Hz – 20,000Hz |
| Sensitivity | ‑36dB ±2dB (0dB=1V/Pa at 1kHz) |
| Maximum SPL | 130dB |
| Gain | ‑12dB 12dB most |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sampling charge | Up to 96kHz |
| Bit depth | 24-bit |
Dark Matter Sentry: First impressions and setup
It’s instantly apparent from the emblazoned field what the Sentry streaming mic is meant to be: an reasonably priced different to the Blue Yeti USB microphone, re-packaged with a gamer aesthetic. A listing of the 4 out there polar patterns marketed on the rear explains the good thing about switching away from the usual cardioid mode, together with a stereo setting for aspiring ASMRtists.
Anyone who is aware of me will likely be acquainted with my rampant protection of the Blue Yeti (opens in new tab) and different USB microphones. A brand new competitor aiming for a similar omnidirectional class should show worthy to win a advice, and Monoprice beneficial properties some favor since I’ve owned a bunch of its headphones, cables, and different equipment that by no means upset me. The presentation is definitely on level with this Dark Matter subbrand, but it surely’ll should show itself in assessments.
The setup course of barely exists. You’ll want minimal effort to assemble the tripod desk stand with a single, chunky screw, and the included USB-C cable matches by a cutout to hook up with the Sentry. There aren’t any particular drivers and no companion desktop functions both. This easy expertise depends on Windows to decide on the most effective USB microphone driver, and I used to be able to file in precisely a few minutes.
There is a color-selection button on the underside of the Sentry, and the tripod virtually obscures it, however I may nonetheless attain it properly sufficient for it to not matter. If you are contemplating attaching a microphone arm, you will probably want an attachment since Dark Matter has opted for a thick 5/8″ thread fashion. It’s not a giant deal, however I needed to search my junk drawers to search out an adapter. Appropriately, it was the identical thread adapter I used on my previous Blue Yeti. Deja vu.
Dark Matter Sentry: Microphone take a look at
For its worth, the Sentry streaming mic gives a fairly spectacular flat response in the usual cardioid mode. There is a modest quantity of background noise at a medium achieve, however nothing you could not take away with VST plugins throughout reside broadcasts or fundamental filters throughout post-processing. Plosives show to be a problem, and the metallic body hardly does something to forestall popping when talking head-on.
Since nothing particularly fancy is going on below the hood, you will choose up any noise inside earshot from the Sentry, particularly within the bidirectional or omnidirectional modes. Again, it is a no-frills microphone counting on its providing of a number of polar patterns, so should you’re significantly near a desktop PC with loud followers, you will most likely profit from a couple of audio filters to scale back undesirable sounds. Additionally, I used to be upset with the omnidirectional mode, which does not appear to file evenly from all sides.
Admirably, the stereo mode sounds unbelievable, because it normally does with any microphone providing the identical binaural operate. If you are shut sufficient to the Sentry to warrant reducing the achieve, you possibly can scale back noise and benefit from the channel-shifting results as you progress round. It’s usually an acceptable setting for recording devices, semi-realistically replicating the acoustics of a room. Still, Dark Matter is aiming at streamers, so the ASMR group is extra probably the target market right here.
Dark Matter Sentry: What I do not like
There are a couple of pure downsides to reducing prices, and the Sentry suffers in a couple of areas. If you are making an attempt to undercut the competitors aggressively, it may be tough to cover some funds design selections. The top-mounted mode button modifications between every polar sample and highlights the RGB, however a devoted change controls the colour from beneath and exposes naked LEDs contained in the housing.
It merely would not look good in any respect. There’s nothing to diffuse the lights inside and no approach to dim the brightness. You can maintain the colour button to disable the RGB altogether, however I do not see why there aren’t any choices for cutting down the dazzling lights. Whether utilizing the Sentry with its tripod desk mount or a microphone arm, these obvious LEDs will likely be up in your face. I do know players are alleged to crave multi-color lighting, however this is not the best way to do it. Turn the lights off.
Although the desk mount has a handy cutout for the USB-C connection, the cable precariously protrudes from the port, which makes it look extremely fragile. I’ll by no means perceive why some merchandise cannot handle to suit their ports flush. It would undoubtedly scale back my nervousness and cease me from questioning what may occur if the Sentry tipped over, doubtlessly shearing the connector clear off.
It’s not a big draw back, but it surely’s clear that reducing corners to hit this worth level has left its mark. There’s extra proof of low cost components within the achieve and quantity knobs doubling up as a mute button, which turns with wobbly and weak resistance, hinting they may fail not too far into the longer term. Even high-end fashions give out ultimately, however I am unable to assure how lengthy the Sentry would final. Monoprice confusingly gives a ‘1 12 months pixel excellent guarantee’ on the Dark Matter mic, which is weird as a result of it is clearly meant for shows, so take that with a pinch of salt.
Dark Matter Sentry: The competitors
The major competitor for the Dark Matter Sentry streaming microphone is clearly one of many Blue Yeti variants, with the unique mannequin normally promoting for $130 MSRP. It commonly sees reductions across the internet, reaching as little as $100 on Amazon as I wrote this evaluation, matching Monoprice. Saving somewhat money on the Yeti Nano permits entry to cardioid and omnidirectional polar patterns. Still, it is hardly definitely worth the drop with out the unbelievable stereo mode from the usual mannequin.
In our Blue Yeti X evaluation, we scored it favorably for its simplistic setup and stellar recording high quality, however the worth jumps too excessive for it to be an actual competitor to the Sentry. If you’ll find the common Blue Yeti USB microphone on the market on the similar worth as Dark Matter, I urge you to purchase the Yeti as a substitute. The RGB gamer aesthetics do not push the Sentry’s worth greater than its major rival, but when Monoprice can undercut the Yeti with reductions? Sure, seize it for an in depth sufficient expertise.
Dark Matter Sentry: Should you purchase?
You can buy this if …
- You need an reasonably priced USB microphone with stereo patterns.
- You’re an RGB-loving gamer with a style for sci-fi aesthetics.
- You favor simplistic {hardware} with no necessary apps.
You should not purchase this if …
- You need a premium USB cardioid microphone.
- Your desk is simply too cramped to suit a tripod stand.
- Your setting is especially noisy.
Monoprice is normally fairly modest with its {hardware}, providing an awesome steadiness of worth for cash, and the Dark Matter gaming subbrand goals to match the identical ethics with the Sentry streaming microphone. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it surely carried out higher than I anticipated for a mannequin remarkably much like the primary best-selling USB microphone: the Blue Yeti. If imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, the Sentry bolsters the Yeti as one of many all-time greats.
Launching at $100 MSRP means Dark Matter may suitably undercut the Yeti by providing reductions far decrease than its main rival. Listen to my audio samples, and you may hear how the omnidirectional modes can present an analogous sufficient characteristic set, justifying some drops in general construct high quality. It will not rank alongside the greatest streaming microphones, however the Sentry is an reasonably priced different that would match a tighter funds.
This USB-C powered streaming microphone permits a quick-switch choice between 4 completely different pickup/polar patterns appropriate to numerous recording situations. The Sentry is constructed right into a metallic housing with vibrant RGB lighting and a color-selection change.
