Marantz Professional Pod Pack 1 Review / Test
Today we are testing out a microphone pack that I picked up for $17; the Marantz Professional Pod Pack 1 Kit.
If you are interested in this microphone kit, it will set you back $17 on Amazon
What's In the Box
Microphone
USB Cable
Microphone Mount
Boom Arm Mic Stand
Documentation
Specifications
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 17kHz
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Sensitivity: -34dB
Max SPL: 132dB
Impedance: 100-Ohms
Power Requirement: 5v Provided Through USB Plug
Performance / Features
The build quality of this mic is nothing special. It has an all plastic construction and it does not feel like it can handle a beating. There are no features on the microphone; no headphone port, no light, nothing. The boom arm has an all metal construction, and feels very reminiscent of a Neewer Boom Arm, and I was not able to tighten the head to ensure the microphone would not swivel.
The frequency response of this mic is 20Hz - 17kHz, and in all honesty, the mic sounds decent. It doesn't have the greatest low end performance, but it has a decent amount high frequencies without sounding harsh.
The cardioid polar pattern, also did an admirable job. It did a good job at rejection on the sides of the mic, but as you move around the back, it starts to pick up low frequencies again. It also did pick up a bit of keyboard noise as well, but it wasn't unbearable.
I was absolutely blown away by this microphones noise floor. This is typically the place where you can tell that you're using a budget usb microphone, but the preamps in this thing were extremely clean all the way up to 75%, at which point you start to get a slight bit of digital noise. But all around, the audio was still usable; all you would have to do is pass the audio through a noise gate.
Pros
Super cheap
Low noise floor
Decent audio performance
Comes with everything you need to start recording
Cons
Build quality feels subpar
Conclusion
When reviewing this mic, it was important to remember that I picked this up for under $20. For that price, I think that this microphone pack is an absolute steal. Out of all the budget USB microphones I have tested to date, this one has the best sound quality on instruments, on voice, and ESPECIALLY on the noise floor (apparent during the gain test). If you are looking for a budget USB microphone, then buy this pack and a pop filter and you should be set, and ready to start recording!
If you have any additional questions about this microphone, leave them on the youtube video, and I will try to reply ASAP.
Buy the Marantz PodPack1 (Affiliate Link)
Global: https://geni.us/podpack1