Rode NT1A

Pros: very good sound, high bang for the buck value, low noise.

Cons: cheap accessories, no bells and whistles.

The Bottom Line: This mic from RODE is guaranteed not to disappoint you. It has a budget price but this doesn't affect the sound quality.

Review: NT1A looks somehow familiar, it was probably designed after Neumann U87 - U89. It won the Electronic Musician 2004 Editor's Choice Award and RODE's site claims it is the world's quietest studio condenser microphone with only 5 dBA of self-noise. Pretty ...

Pros: Nice, wide range. Attractive price.

Cons: Capsule is fragile. Lots of overshoot on spoken word. Shock mount is cheap.

Review: Rode has been making pro mics for nearly ten years. They brought professional quality down to affordable. Their NT-2 is still sought-after, although it's not made anymore. The NT-1A is a crisp, bright cardioid condenser in the Neumann tradition. It's ...