Technologies Q2U USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone Recording and Podcasting Pack (Includes Mic Clip, Desktop Stand, Windscreen and Cables), Silver

The Samson Q2U Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone is a fantastic and versatile mic, especially for beginners or anyone building a home setup. I love that it offers both USB and XLR options, giving you flexibility whether you want simple plug-and-play or a more professional recording chain. The sound quality is clear, warm, and does a good job of minimizing background noise. This is a great option for podcasts, voiceovers, streaming, or basic music recording. It also feels solid and well-made. One thing to keep in mind, you do need to connect it to a computer, and you will need a recording app to use it properly. That’s not a downside for me, but it’s worth noting if you are expecting a standalone setup. Overall, it’s an excellent microphone with great value for the price. Highly recommended!

The mic is great the product.Everything I purchased works perfectly well.I've been using it now four 6 months.Great sound does not pick up sound around if you're close enough.Definitely a great by. And the price wow

I purchased this in late June 2021 and this review is being written in late May 2023. This microphone was recommended to me by a number of different reviewers, and I am very happy with my purchase. I highly recommend checking out the review of it by Podcastage on YouTube for a nice look into how it sounds with various testing methods. Some things to know: this is a dynamic microphone, so the source of sound needs to be close to it, and the polar pattern and sensitivity of it is such that you only really get clear, crisp audio speaking directly into the front/top of the microphone. It comes with a short tripod stand, but I find it awkward on my desk due to my USB drawing tablet. If not for that it would fit okay, but might still be a bit too low. However, the clamp on the stand (secured with a Phillips head screw) is quite loose on mine. It's a bit of a hassle to get it to stay put outside of its maximum range of motion, and is prone to drooping forwards or backwards depending on how it's positioned (i.e. wherever most of the downwards force is distributed relative to where the clamp is). Inserting the microphone into the stand is simple. USB and XLR connectivity make it extremely convenient for most people while also offering an opportunity to improve the quality alongside of your hardware. Some people cite issues with the device being recognized or detected on their PC. I have not experienced this, but I've heard it from two people that I know personally to some extent, so that's a fair warning. I'm not sure if that's an issue with the product, an incompatibility with the setup, or some other such thing, but I think it's a relevant issue to be concerned about. Honestly, outside of the flimsy stand, I don't really have any issues with this product. In fact, I think it's a superb purchase for anybody looking for a quality microphone so long as they understand what they're getting into with dynamic vs. condenser microphones and all of that jazz. I've had no issues with it that I can remember in the time since I've bought it, and I use it very regularly. I've even dropped it a few times and it still works perfectly fine with no cosmetic damage either. I will say though, if you're willing to go past ~$120.00 or so, your options open up a lot and I think you can get a better product dollar-for-dollar. At its price point though, I think this is an excellent product.

I use this microphone to record and it sounds well. This mic is a good option overall for me because: A) Its a Good Price B) I can use USB or Xlr it very versatile. (I can use this same mic in the future when i buy me an audio interface) C) Sounds Great and you can always fine tune audio with EQ and Compressors in a DAW like audacity. D) Feels slightly heavy, very stable, and easy to setup. Now for the Flaws: A) The audio jack on the mic produce good sounds but if you use a 3.5mm jack like apple earphones it will slide out. B) Their is a constant hiss sound when headphones are connected to mic even if the mic is muted. (Maybe this will change when using xlr and an audio interface) C) Does pickup background noise.

WOW! This mic is amazing. Literally plug and play, runs off laptop power (no external power required), and the audio quality is FANTASTIC compared to other offerings out there. I also own a $100 Blue Yeti mic and the sound quality is comparabale/the yeti is actually a little bit more annoying to use compared to this mic. Absolutely blown away by the quality for price (paid $70 for this one) -- you can set up filters on your end like compressor, noise suppression, EQ3 etc. to get the best bang for your buck, but this is seriously so high quality and such a good deal for the price. Not sure how it performs for singing but I am extremely satisfied for podcasting/gaming commentary/overall quality. Recently purchased a $26 Bluetooth lav mic set which had absolutely meh sound quality -- spending $44 more on this one was so worth it. The sound quality difference is just so insane. Not as portable as a lav but anywhere you can take your laptop you can take this mic and have wonderful quality audio wherever you need. Highly recommend, especially if you are considering shelling out more for the Yeti. Pick this one instead.

I set this up yesterday and started streaming with this. The mic quality is simply miles ahead from my old headset. No more breathing sounds, pops, and nice clear sound. I am pretty soft spoken, and this mic had no issues. For the price, I cannot be happier. Upsides: - Great sounding mic for the price. However, do not expect a $13,000 tube mic experience. It does the job, and quite well. - I love the dual XLR and USB - Setup is a snap Now for the downsides: - The headphones are junk. I am guessing they help with incentive, but if you need good monitoring, get a decent headset. - It does not come with a storage case, and the box it came in is not very good. I am storing this in some towels until I get a proper storage case. - You will need a pop filter. - The stand is not all that great. Gladly, I have an old mic stand that works just fine. You might be well served to invest in one. Mainly because this mic picks up every sound on your desk. In other words, you get what you pay for. My main concern was getting a decent mic. All the other stuff was gravy, but the gravy was not all that great. The truth is, when you are going to record, you will be spending some money in stands, headsets, filters, and other gear. The set will probably hold you over a while if you need to buy things in increments. I recommend this!

It really changed the sound of my podcasts

I'm a radio pro, having worked in the medium since the 1980s. In my home studio I use mainly Schoeps CMC6 mics and capture to a Sound Devices 833 (which I use to record or to throw via USB to digital). I'm saying this not to brag about gear but to make a point about comparisons. No USB mic can compare to the performance of a professional mic, especially when you consider that an original recording becomes the base layer to subsequent processing and editing. You want that as pristine as possible. But when clients ask about the cheapest best USB mic they can add to their home gear, I consistently find the Samson Q2U is the best performer overall. It's SPL isn't great so you wouldn't be using it for instruments or singing, but for speech I find my clients get the best results. One reason is the form factor. Mics are like instruments and few people know how to properly set up and speak into a side address microphone. It's cringy when podcasters revel in bass proximity effect, sounding like 1970s rock radio DJs. Even cringier when a podcaster gets a side-address mic and sets it up on a desk 2 feet away from their mouths. Might as well save the money and just use the built-in mic in the laptop. The hand-held form factor generally allows for a better sounding cardioid pick-up in cheaper mics. Many under-$200 side-address mics have lousy off axis rejection. Also, while the Samson doesn't have the clarity of the Schoeps, it still provides very good off-axis rejection and a respectable signal-to-noise ratio that, to my ear, sounds good enough for most pro podcast work. But above all, hand-held mics are the easiest in the world to help novices work with. They are made to speak directly into. I forgo the breath pop filter and have them put on a furry windscreen. It's not perfect. There's an occasional plosive that gets through. But it's ten times easier than having to finagle with goosenecks and pop-filters every time they want to use it.