Audio-Technica ATR2500-USB Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone

So here is the story, I needed a microphone because the mic on my headset was one: terrible to begin with, and two: Dead. This wasn't my first headset to have major issues so I decided that instead of replacing my headset with another one( the headphones still work), I got this to replace my microphone. I decided to invest in a good microphone and hearing about the quality of Audio-Technica products, I went ahead and bought the ATR2500. While some might find the $60-100 price range a bit much for a standalone mic it's far cheaper than most good professional or prosumer mics out there so price wise, I'd say this fits well enough. Upon unboxing it I noticed how durable it is with a full metal construction and overall rugged build quality; a far cry from the not so durable headset mics I've had to deal with for the past several years. Audio quality, even in my room with a fair amount of echo, is smooth and clear both to me and people online. The USB interface makes install simple and the mic is plug-and-play, so no need to fiddle with downloading drivers or anything like that. The cable itself is a good length though with my desk set up it comes a bit short though it isn't too bad. Unfortunately I'm not particularly fond of the included stand. It was a little confusing to get it attached to the microphone and even then it was a bit on the wobbly side until I grabbed a large flat-head screwdriver from my toolbox and firmly tightened the screw on the main joint. The LED power light is also way too bright in my opinion and if I was to look at it directly it'd hurt my eyes. It even illuminated my face blue to where I could notice looking at my webcam feed, even with very bright room lighting. This was remedied with a rather DIY solution of disassembling the microphone and putting some tape and paper between the housing and the LED on the circuit board and which made the light much softer and more bearable. After those issues were sorted the microphone now stands proudly on my desk waiting to listen. All in all I'm very happy with my microphone and plan on later buying a pair of cans from Audio-Technica to pair with it(when I have the money) since my headset continues to degrade but after a few months now, the microphone is still in tip top quality.

Losing the use of my right hand to a hemorrhagic stroke, and the left hand to surgery, knew I would have to face facts and become proficient in a "Speech Recognition" program. While I am still learning, I am making progress using the Audio Technica ATR 2500. I use it in conjunction with a very high end pair of Sennheiser headphones (just a preference, as any quality headphones may be just as good). For less than $60.00 delivered, I cannot be more pleased with the purchase. "Value" does not equal "Cheap", and this is a very solid microphone. You will not be disappointed. Like everyone else, I researched many microphones from $10.00 to $250.00, and do not believe there is a better option than the ATR 2500. You work too hard for your money to throw it away on products, or services, that do not deliver. I am obsessive about the little money I have, so please believe I worked hard to maximize the purchase. The package arrived exactly as promised, and I am amazed by today's advanced shipping methods. Every review I read said the microphone stand was flimsy, and the microphone would easily tip, or fall. They are correct, but it does get you started until you can spend $15.00 for a solid desk stand. I am not trying to look like a radio DJ with swing arms, exotic suspension mounts, etc. I am simply speaking into it, and my computer understands what I am saying. I do wish it had an on/off switch, but simply unplugging the usb cable isn't a very laborious chore when you think of it. Think about placing a soft mat under the desk stand, and as I move along will contemplate a pop filter, or some type of screen. Super easy hook up, no software to download, and I'm leaving it on all day as my speech recognition learns my voice pattern. I will point out a very important feature of "zero latency" when listening through headphones. There is no "delay" between when you speak, and when you "hear", so it's less confusing in your head. SOLID metal construction, great looking (if you care about such things), and after reviewing literally all usb microphones on the market, felt this would suit my needs. Something I could "grow" into as I learn voice recognition, and voice recording for podcast. It has an "ethereal" blue glow from the led, and in my opinion, does not distract the user. My first purchase on Amazon, and was overjoyed with the process. Enjoy this microphone, and just have fun with it. You WILL NOT find a better solution to your straightforward microphone needs. Not a musician, cannot comment, but have no reason to believe it will not perform flawlessly. Ron Tampa, Florida

The sound quality is great! Much better than expected when considering the price. It works perfectly for our in-home studio where we record rap vocals. The voice, when played back, has a cool sound to it and deep voices sound very natural. The recording volumes are a bit low, so you will need to amplify your voice even if you yell into the mic. I don't see this as a problem considering the smoothness of the sound and amplifying the recording will simply raise the volume without distorting or taking away from the wound. If the mic were a "hot" mic, the sound would be distorted when you raised your voice, and your vocal levels would obviously be too loud. The problem with a hot mic is that, even with you turning the levels down, the sound quality would still bad and most likely distorted. This makes the mic's low noise pick-up, combined with the smoothness of sound, awesome for recording vocals. A bad thing I have to say about the mic is that it was difficult getting it to work with FL Studio; we tried to set up the mic to record, and after a couple of hours of messing with FL and the mic, we gave up and had to use Audacity instead, unfortunately. Another down side is the mic stand (which is the only other thing the mic comes with, besides the USB chord); the stand is not able to stand upright while supporting the weight of the mic and pop filter combined, consequently leading to everything falling over and the stand breaking. The mic was safe which says something about the durability and quality of which the mic is made. In conclusion, the mic is perfect for an in-home studio on a budget, but I would recommend buying a sturdier mic stand so you don't run the risk of breaking a wonderful mic.

If you are anything like me, you're probably a bit skeptical about buying this microphone. Don't be. NOTHING can beat the price to performance ration of this microphone whatsoever (Purchased at $47). If you're shoping in the "budget" line of microphones (Samson GO Mic, Blue Snowball, etc etc.) look no further you have found your match. The audio this microphone produces is crisp and clear. You may have to fiddle around with the gain settings as this mic is SUPER sensitive and picks up much of the background noise, but that's all fixable. Also, if you plan on putting your mouth up close to this thing (like 3/4 of a foot away), you may want to invest in a pop filter. Installation is quick and easy, as it is a Plug-N-Play, and automatically downloads the drivers for you. When you first install the mic, make sure to go to your audio settings and set your speakers/headphones as the primary listening device and the ATR 2500 as the primary recording device or your computer will try to play audio through the mic, which we all know won't happen. The mic has a very professional and expensive look to it, it features mostly an all-metal design except for the buttons on the front where there is plastic. Speaking of the buttons, there is NO gain knob, you have to adjust the gain through your computers settings, which is really not a big deal. It also features a headphone jack for instant monitoring, and a volume up and down to adjust the sounds coming out of the headphones jack. The tripod is a bit wonky and cheap feeling as it is mainly plastic and can barely support the microphone, but it gets the job done. All in all this is a GREAT microphone and I advise you to purchase one before they sell out. QUIT PROCRASTINATING. This mic's quality is on the level of Blue Yetis or even more. Pros: Great, expensive looking design. UNBEATABLE price to performance ratio. AMAZING sound quality. Easy to setup and use. Cons: No gain knob (not a big deal). Cheap Tripod.

Audio - Audio out of the box is actually pretty good! Of course you can tweak it using a computer program to make it sound to one's preference, but overall it sounds good. Microphone Stand - Not the best stand at all. This is the only thing I don't luke since it is flimsy and the mic can easily come off of it. I suggest buying a seperate shock absorbing stand because it is a really amazing microphone and it deserves a better mount. No Pop Filter - Without a pop filter it sounds okay, but I suggest investing in a good pop filter to have the audio sound much more clear even if it is slightly. It is always noticeable Overall - I gave it 5 out of 5 stars because I knew the stands would not be too good, but what I really wanted was a good audio and it delivered! This is my first microphone and I did tons of research comparing it to other microphones such as the Snowball, Snowball Ice, Yeti, etc; all the budget microphones and this one, in my opinion, beats them all hands down. Yes, I do use it for my PS4. Yes, it is plug and play. Just be sure to go ibto your settings and adjust it to Output and Input to ATR2500. Sensitivity - Yes, it is a sensitive microphone and it will pick up a lot. But we all recors when it is nice and quiet. I don't live in a quiet neighorhood, but with my windows shut and door closed, I can barely pick up background noise. It depends on which way youre facing as well. Headphone Jack - Definitely there! Works with PS4 Headsets when settings are put on "All Audio". Don't record with TV background obviously! I recommend this for both starters and pros as it is best of both worlds.

I have used several microphones to record podcasts, videos and training voice-overs. I needed a new microphone but was on a tight budget. The Audio-Technica ATR2500 is an excellent value for the money. As with any product there are good and bad points to consider: The Good - Sound quality. I am very impressed with the sound quality for the price of this microphone. When recording using a pop filter and in a recording area, the pickup was very good and provided a nice warm recording of my voice. When I tried it in my office, it did pick up the sound of the fan on my laptop, as well as the hum of some of the electronics. This microphone should be used in a recording area designed to suppress background noises. A headphone jack out of the microphone. That's a nice touch. (Set the volume BEFORE recording - the buttons made a loud clicking noise on my test recording when I tried adjusting volume during a recording) Metal construction - I expected more plastic on a microphone in this price range. The Bad - Manufacturing quality control. The first microphone I ordered didn't work. I sent it back and received another one the next day. I didn't ding the microphone rating for this, as I have received bad electronics in the past from good manufacturers. Bad products sometimes are shipped. And Amazon is amazing at getting replacement products to their customers. Volume control buttons - they are a little too small for their holes and wobble. It would be something I would change if the mic is re-engineered in the future. Overall, I highly recommend this mic for people who have to record training decks, podcasts or other spoken voice applications and have a sound-controlled environment.

It's a decent mic, but it has its flaws. For one, being a cardioid mic, it pics up a heck of a lot of background noise. Even with a windshield on it, there is still a very audible murmur in the background. Even after moving the mic further away from the noise source (a computer), it was still picking up the extra hum. I ended up having to use software to remove the extra noise. Also there is a small blue light on the front of the mic that turns on when the mic is powered. That little light burned out after only a month or so of use. The mic still works, but, to me, it very well might be a warning that the mic will die soon which I sincerely hope it doesn't. Minus the hum, the sound quality is alright. It's not an expensive mic so I wasn't expecting perfection. All in all, I would probably have shopped around a little more if I had known that the quality of the recordings would be at the level they currently are. As it is if a better option comes along at a good price, I will probably replace this mic.

I've used and loved this mic for the last 2 years, it hangs over my desk on a desk boom arm. I've set it up and never moved it. The sound quality is good (I used mine with a pop filter), can't complain. After 2 years it just stopped working. I've never dropped it or mistreated it or anything at all, now windows just won't recognize it anymore. This isn't one of those "I BOUGHT IT AND AFTER 6 MONTHS IT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE BECAUSE I ACTUALLY TREAT IT LIKE TRASH LOL DONT BUY THIS" reviews, it literally just stopped working even though I haven't touched it for 2 years and it hasn't experienced any situations that would cause extreme wear (or even regular wear and tear really). It's great when it works, as long as you don't plan on using it for more than a few years even if you treat it well. Update: I paid to have this microphone repaired shortly after this review by Audio Technica and have changed this to a 4 star review. It has been working perfectly since then until now which has been about another 1.5-2 years, although I have used it much less being away from home. It hasn't broken down yet and still provides good quality recording for just talking to friends and such through Discord, games, and other voice applications. It is a bit dated nowadays but is still very relevant. I would recommend picking it up on a sale though. Edit: it's nearly the end of 2024 and this thing is still kicking butt! Up to 5 stars

Lovely microphone. It's crispy clear. I'll put a pros/cons list for people to decide on when purchasing this. Pros: - Plug n Play. (Plugs in the USB, wait for it to install and good to go) - Compatible on all OS (Win 7/8.1, Macs) - Crystal clear. (Great if you're doing commentary, recording music or just talking on skype) - You can listen to yourself (You can plug a headphone into the mic) Cons: - The small tripod for the microphone is a little annoying. You can replace it easily, so it's not a big deal for me. - It picks up background noise. While it does not happen a lot, it's very random, kinda odd. I would suggest a pop filter if you're doing some extensive stuff. Overall, I would recommend purchasing this product. Great bang for the buck ratio.

El producto me gustó tanto que acabo de pedir un segundo micrófono para poder grabar mis podcast con dos participantes. La calidad del audio es excelente. La voz se escucha muy clara y con buena presencia. En comparación con el micrófono AT2020 graba el sonido un poco más brilloso, mientras que el AT2020 en más cálido con bajos más profundos. El material del micrófono se siente de un aluminio robusto y resistente y tiene buen peso. Me parece que el ART2500 es ideal para grabaciones de podcast porque lo puedes conectar muy rápido mediante usb sin la necesidad de una interfaz de audio. Mientras que el AT2020 me parece más útil para grabación de canto en estudio. Yo lo uso en mi macbook pro 2017 y con logic pro 10.4.5. El dispositivo se detecta al instante. Pero como no se conecta a una interfaz de audio, debes regular el gain desde las opciones de sonido del sistema. Los botones de volumen del micrófono me parece que son para ajustar los monitores, pues tienen una conexión directa para audífonos. Lo único no tan bueno es la base que incluye, pues es de plástico y se siente algo frágil. De momento me ha funcionado bien, pero al transportarla hay que tener cuidado de no lastimarla. Si tu intención es utilizar este micrófono para tu podcast te lo recomiendo 100%.

The microphone picks up very little background noise. There is negligible latency while recording. Great for its price

SoundQuality is very neat. Firewire to USB makes it more stable than say a micro usb to usb cable. But i'd like it even Better if it was more directional

Honnêtement très satisfait de la qualité du son, après je vous recommande d'acheter une petite housse ou quoi pour couvrir les bruits de fond car le micro capte tout. 1 étoile en moins à cause de la lumière bleue lorsqu'il est allumé qui est trop forte et dont je n'ai pas trouvé le moyen d'éteindre. La nuit ça m'illumine la pièce à elle seule et si on se la prend dans les yeux elle est désagréable