4.4.2020

The Blue Yeti X is a USB desktop microphone that sits near the top of the Blue range. Above it is the Yeti Pro, while below is the Yeti Nano (mono and a bit smaller) and the standard Yeti. The Yeti X is a new model and has 4 condensers and some nice features, like the LED meter which surrounds the control button, showing you immediately if you have the level set either too quiet, or so high that it may distort.First impressions are fantastic. Both the stand and the microphone itself are solid and weighty, mostly made of metal, and it looks super smart with its chrome-surround base and proud Blue logo. Be aware though that the Yeti is large. From the base of the stand to the top of the microphone is around 29cm.It also sounds best if it is fairly close to you so if you are live streaming or making a video it may well be visible – no problem as it looks great, especially if you want a bit of a retro look, but don’t get this if you prefer to keep the technology invisible.The Yeti X has two connections, USB for the microphone and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. There is no analogue output for the microphone; only the Pro model has that. There are also two controls, one on the front which does level setting and mute, and a button on the rear which handles pickup pattern. What’s pickup pattern? This is where you set the directionality of the microphone, and it works really well. You can have stereo, omnidirectional, cardiod (just picks up what is in front of it), and bi-directional (for two people, one on either side).The microphone is best positioned so you speak into the side, not the top. You can easily angle it on the stand to get the ideal position. You can also detach it and use the thread on the bottom to attach it to a boom arm (separately purchased accessory), or you could hold it in your hand but it’s not ideally shaped for this.You can simply plug the USB cable into a PC or Mac and it will work, but because Blue is owned by Logitech, it also integrates with the Logitech G Hub software for full access to the features. This includes the functions also available on the physical controls, but also Blue Voice, which lets you apply preset EQ to your voice, and lighting effects which control the colours of the LEDs on the microphone. You can also apply EQ to the headphone output. If you don’t like G Hub, there is also a dedicated Blue application, but G Hub works so well that I didn’t look at it.As is common, there is little in the way of instructions in the box, just a piece of card with diagrams for the basic functions. The front button is multi-function. Press lightly for mute. Press and hold for 1 second to cycle between three functions: microphone gain, headphone volume, and the blend between microphone output and other sounds in what you hear.But how is the sound? In the end that is the key question, and fortunately it is really good. Specs show maximum SPL (Sound Pressure Level – the loudest sound you can record without excessive distortion) of 122 dB, which is plenty for most purposes. The digital resolution is 24-bit, 48 kHz. Frequency response is given as 20Hz – 20 kHz which I assume is +-3dB, but that is not stated. Never mind the specs though, the sound quality is really good, with none of that thin or slightly distorted sound you get with a cheap microphone. With the Blue Yeti X, you can get that rich broadcast-quality voice without any problem. The only slight technical issue I encountered was a bit of sibilance when speaking close to the microphone, which is not surprising, and can be fixed with a windshield or you can use the software de-esser in Blue Voice.Is this worth it over the standard Yeti? I don’t have the two side by side unfortunately, but the main differences seem to be the updated controls with LED metering (a really nice feature), 4 condensers rather than 3, 24-bit rather than 16-bit resolution, and support for G Hub.Overall I love the Yeti X despite or even because of its bulk and retro look; it actually works very well. The only additional thing I would have liked to see is an analogue output, having said which, I'm not sure I would ever use it. Recommended.

23.4.2020

Not going to lie, this might be one of the clearest and best sounding standalone microphone that I've seen.· Everything from the sound quality to the aesthetics of this thing is simply mind blowing.· Its decently priced and the sound reproduction is very good in a controlled environment.⚫ DESIGN / BUILD QUALITYThe build quality is extremely good because the microphone and stand are metal.It is a big microphone, covered in steel with a handsome, heavy and sturdy stand + a soft pad at the bottom of the actual microphone.Quality doesn't come cheap, and these are certainly high quality.⚫ SOUND / RECORDING QUALITYThe Blue Yeti X features a four-capsule condenser array,which is an upgrade from the three capsules that the previous model has.It sounds excellent in its default state and is similar to the original Yeti microphone.On the back of the Yeti X you’ll notice a toggle that allows you to switch between 4 different modes / pickup patterns:• CardioidIt is most sensitive to sound coming from the front. Sound from the sides is picked up somewhat quieter, and sound from the rear is greatly rejected.Perfect for voiceovers, voice acting, podcasting, vocals and anything that’s supposed to sound “dry” and “close”.• OmnidirectionalIt acquires sounds from just about every direction equally, which makes it perfect for group sessions / conference calls.• BidirectionalIt is sensitive to sound coming from the front and coming from the rear, but has a very high rejection for sound coming from the sides.Good for conversations and interviews.• StereoThe Stereo mode picks up sounds from the right and left channels to capture a wide, realistic sound image and create a sense of width in the recording.Great for ambient and ASMR recordings.? Overall, the Blue Yeti X performed excellently in all four modes and delivered audible sounds for me to enjoy.⚫ Hi-Res LED FUNCTIONSWhen you first start using the Blue Yeti X, you’ll see a ring of small LEDs around the volume knob.These lights offer real time feedback on the audio that's coming in. At a glance, you can check how high or low your voice level is so you can adjust it when necessary.⚫ HEADPHONE 3.5mm JACKThere is also a built-in headphone jack that can not only monitor the microphone's levels, but can also run computer output audio through it as well, so you can hear the person you are talking to as well as yourself through your headset. And the volume knob adjusts that volume independent of your computer's system volume.⚫ APP SUPPORTAdditionally, you can control this microphone using Blue VO!CE - an audio software in Logitech G Hub. It acts as a way to fine tune the mic's settings for optimal recording and comes with a suite of vocal effects for broadcast, which makes it easier to achieve professional sound quality for streaming.There are a number of equalizing presets that can be tested by recording a short voice recording and then playing back that recording, selecting the presets one by one and listening to the results of your own voice using those presets. Awesome!✔ Pros:+ Great sound+ Several pickup patterns+ Flexible recording+ Easy to use+ 11-Segment LED Meter✖ Cons:- Micro USB charging port rather than USB Type-CI strongly recommend this product for Streamers, Youtubers, Podcasters, Content Creators and anyone that wants a huge step up in mic quality, but can’t commit to a dedicated recording station.

30.4.2020

The arrival of the Blue Yeti Professional microphone to test came at a very opportune time, coming as it did a short time into the Covid Lockdown left me working from home and engaging in multiple video calls each day. As such I've been making use of this impressive piece of kit regularly for the last month.The microphone feels like a premium product from the moment you remove it from the packaging. It sits on a chunky stand so it's ready to sit on your desk and start broadcasting, although I've since purchased an adjustable microphone arm that suspends the microphone from a shelf behind my screen and hovers above me out of sight of the camera.There's a single USB cable coming from the microphone for connection to your recording device/laptop,

3.6.2020

Arrived superbly packaged in an attractive looking box.Upon unpackaging the product, it was immediately clear that this is a high end and high quality product.The microphone consists mainly of brushed metal rather than plastic, has a nice amount of weight to it and feels excellently well made in general.The overall aesthetics of the microphone is outstanding. It looks fantastic as part of my home office setup.After testing out the functionality of the microphone against my laptop's built in microphone, the difference left me blown away. I didn't realise just how bad the microphone was on my laptop until I compared it against this.

22.4.2020

The first thing to notice about this microphone, apart from the style, is the weight, it's really heavy. In fact it weights 1.2Kg, way more than any other mic I own. It has a weighty base, solid build quality, and is very well finished. It is supplied with a detachable USB lead for a PC and there's a microphone socket on the underside. Two controls provide access to the settings, though they are not particularly intuitive. A button on the rear sets the pickup pattern, and there are four options, for front and side, all round, front only, and front and rear, depending on where performers are positioned. I played around with the different options and it does make quite a noticeable difference how the sound is picked up.

27.12.2019

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I've been using this microphone for about two weeks now and I think it's fantastic. The sound quality is dynamic, clear and quite neutral/a little warm. The options to have it in cardioid mode for one person, bi-direction for a two person podcast or omni-directional mode for a conference call mean it's quite a versatile microphone you can use for any situation. I've used this mainly as a microphone for talking to my friends while gaming at home, but it's also come in handy as a microphone for a guide voiceover track when our Zoom H6 was out on a shoot! Both times it has performed brilliantly,

21.4.2020

The Blue Yeti X is an impressive piece of hardware, augmented by equally impressive software. As a desktop condenser microphone, it is a remarkably good looking product; at 30cms tall all in matt black metal with the exception of the shiny ring around the base this is a hefty and very solidly constructed mic. A simple swivel moves the mic back and forth on a very stable, heavy base.When connected by USB cable the single rotary dial will illuminate, and a small LED Icon will indicate mode (headphones/mic) which is itself selected by simply pressing the centre of the rotary dial, which is also a button. The LEDs around the dial will operate as a level meter in each mode.Alongside the USB socket on the underside of the mic is a headphone socket,

27.4.2020

From opening the box this feels like a very high quality product. It is well packaged in fitted foam and comes with a USB cable and a "cut out and keep" guide to the functions. Aside from the aforementioned micro USB connector there is also a headphone socket and a large threaded socket for a boom arm or similar. It is reassuringly heavy and smooth in operation. There is a rotary knob/button on the front to control gain, headphone level and audio blending and to mute the mic. This is surrounded by a series of LEDs which indicate audio level, and the knob has a red ring when it is muted. On the rear there is a push button to select the microphone pattern.I found that it connected easily to my Windows 10 PC and came up as a microphone and speakers (due to the headphone output).

9.12.2020

Absolutely top-notch sound quality... when you can get it to work!Love this microphone; with the LG software, allows you to set up the sound profile to match the use - I have it set to broadcaster mode predominantly as it is used primarily for Microsoft Teams, Webex, Cisco or Zoom meetings.Once set-up and working, it is a super microphone - complete with headphone attachment for convenience. I have mine approximately 1 metre away and, with a pop-shield, it has an amazing quality of pick-up and the sound (I am told) is crystal clear.The downside? The supplied micro USB is awful! I have lived with horrendous connectivity issues. It was fine for about the first 3-months,

1.4.2020

As a step up from a built in mic, there are cheaper places to go. However, what you get for your money here is a truly nice product. The aesthetics are perhaps a little brasher than the sleek Rode models, but are still very cool, with a lovely gentle red-green active-off LED the nicest aspect (trust me, it's really special!). The rock solid heavyweight construction is apparent just from picking up the box, and in use means it sits solid and stable, reassuringly short of vibrations.It offers a range of sound fields, meaning it is useful for single or multiple users, and as well as an on-off switch, had a simple gain control which includes sound level lights so it is easy to adjust on the fly,

11.12.2019

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] bought this for my son who like many kids these days wants to be a famous YouTube personality. The sound quality is top notch for the price range. The mic itself is very solid (heavy) and you can tell it is a quality product that will be very durable and last you for a very long time. He has used it for VLOG's and for voice recording (singing) on some of the songs that he has written and recorded. The sound quality is very crisp/clean. You can tell a huge difference between this mic and other mics that are less expensive. This Mic is also extremely popular with the YouTube ASMR community, and if you don't know what ASMR is,

7.4.2020

This microphone has fabulous sound. It's clear, and loud, and makes a HUGE difference to my MacBook.I bought a separate "on the go converter cable" to attach it to my Moto 5Gs android phone, and to begin with I thought it had worked without me needing to do anything, just plug and play. But there was no difference in sound. Disappointingly, the Moto G5 phones cannot use external microphones. This isn't the microphone's fault so no stars lost for this.I've recorded a test video both with and without the microphone on my MacBook and the difference is astonishing, but unfortunately at the moment there's nowhere to upload it with the review.

8.4.2020

Straight out of the box this is a heavyweight piece of quality kit, well-built and put-together. It’s super simple to set up, and the basic features – volume, pickup type, mic/headphones toggle – are all intuitively designed. I plugged in my headphones (3.5mm), set this as the default sound input/output and haven’t looked back. As a homeworker I’ve been using the Yeti X daily on both Skype and Zoom and it’s been excellent.However, the software side of it doesn’t come close to matching this quality and is badly lacking. Both Ghub and Blue Sherpa are buggy to the point of unusable, on both my iMac and MBP. Particularly Ghub which ‘detects’ the Yeti X in as much as it knows it’s plugged in,

16.4.2020

Prior to getting this I had a Blue Snowball microphone which was incredibly good for the price, but the sound quality was definitely average as it would pickup most background noise and didn't do well with high pitched voices/sounds.This microphone has pre-installed inbuilt settings for different scenarios and would work perfectly for podcasts or streaming. The have a guide on which setting is best for each scenario, altering the microphone's directional sound pickup.The microphone itself is also beautifully made with a solid base that allows the microphone to swivel almost 360 degrees. This is also great for storage as it allows the microphone to become more compact.It is also really easy to

19.12.2019

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I am new to the world of gaming and podcasting but this was very easy and straightforward to install . The mic is not that much huge and looks sturdy and solid. For various features that says on outside u need to download Logitech hub . But u need to play with it to understand it . I’m stilll struggling to understand it but that is because it has huge variety of sounds and effects which one can do with the streamed/recorded voice . The microphone it self actually is very sensitive ,it catches even the click of the watch so need to be super accurate with the feature . For streaming the cartioid is recommended.

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