Can You Tell The Difference Between A
$15 Microphone and a $200 Microphone?
by Ed Ting
Updated 1/5/03



Mystery Microphone #1: Realistic Highball 7 by Radio Shack


The Radio Shack mics



Mystery Microphone #2: Rode NT-1 


The Rode NT-1s


Now that you know the results, I can tell you what I hear.  Listening to the wav
files, which are more revealing than the mp3s, the Radio Shack mics have a lot of
noise.  Raise the volume, and you can hear the mic's internal noise.  Also, the
Rode's have much tighter and more refined bass.  There is a low G natural in
the Chopin that registers with much more authority on the Rodes than with the
Realistics.  The Rodes are a little less nasal, a little smoother, and have more
top end.  It's a little easier listening to the Rodes than the Radio Shacks.  

Having said this, the Realistics did much better than I expected.  I thought the
difference would be night and day; it isn't (even on the wav files.)  The sound
is more alike than different.  Also, those who possess high end equipment would 
probably like to see a more expensive mic than the Rode on a test like this (one 
guy I know is fond of saying "You can't spell Rode NT without "rodent.")  I also
have Rode's NT-4, their permanent X-Y stereo mic, which I like a little better 
than the NT-1.  I chose the NT-1 for this test because it's so popular and a
known quantity.

Finally, I'm saving up for a pair of Neumann KM-184s.  Hopefully I'll have them
sometime this spring.  I may do a three-way test then; stay tuned. 

How did you do?  Let me know, I'm curious.



-Ed Ting


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