Showing posts with label best headphones for iphone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best headphones for iphone. Show all posts

3.5mm Jack Splitter

3.5mm Jack Splitter
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
List Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $1.44
Today's Bonus: 86% Off
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We purchased four of these. All four quit working within 3 weeks. I would not recommend this product.

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There is no information in the product details of this splitter that indicates in detail what it does. It splits one stereo output to two mono outputs. So if you want to share listening to music with a friend, this is not the jack for you.

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Price is about right for a great little product to share with your spouse or partner while traveling I bought this so we could watch a movie on a I-pad durning a flight to Las Vegas. Did not affect the sound and both of us didn't have to share 1/2 of an earphone.

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I needed one of these for my headphones and speakers for my laptop and it works great I recommend it to anyone no problems here.

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These little things were cheap but they worked just fine....if you end up getting them you will be pleased. This very very efficient.

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Shure WH20XLR Dynamic Microphone - Cardioid

Shure WH20XLR Dynamic Microphone - Cardioid
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $95.00
Sale Price: $68.30
Today's Bonus: 28% Off
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  • Lightweight wireframe and elastic headband adjust for a secure, comfortable fit & extra-strong, small-diameter attached microphone cable resists breakage
  • Collapsible microphone boom for easy storage and transportation & smooth, natural frequency response comparable to high-quality dynamic hand-held vocal microphones
  • High input clipping level eliminates overload distortion
  • Reliable at temperature and humidity extremes
  • Supplied foam windscreen and clothing clip
  • Lightweight wireframe and elastic headband adjust for a secure, comfortable fit & extra-strong
  • Lightweight wireframe and elastic headband adjust for a secure, comfortable fit & extra-strong,
  • Collapsible microphone boom for easy storage and transportation & smooth,
  • Small-diameter attached microphone cable resists breakage
  • Natural frequency response comparable to high-quality dynamic hand-held vocal microphones

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Drummer here -and I got tired of turning my head to sing into a mike on a boom stand so started looking for a headset mike.

Frankly, I got this one because it was the cheapest offering from a name brand provider and it had the kind of around-the-head-and-over-the-ears mount I was looking for.

All in all, it's good enough. It's very heavy on mid-range (which you can EQ around, but you'll need to) and I was surprised at how susceptible it is to feedback from the monitors (not horrible, but definitely worse than an SM58).

On the plus side, it wears very comfortably and the boom arm stays where you put it (and I definitely move around for a drummer). It would be nice if it had a on/off switch, perhaps on a belt-clip pack. As it stands, the belt-clip works well at keeping the cable out of your way.

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When we added on-screen hymn lyrics to the Mass at St. Mary's Church, my duties as choir singer and sound engineer suddenly included PowerPoint projectionist. I need a microphone that does its job without getting in the way, but it also has to be where I need it when I turn my attention from the audio mixer to the computer. Since I sit right next to the gear, we didn't need the expense of a wireless system (along with its appetite for batteries), and even a wired condenser headset mic was out of the question, budget-wise. For the money, the Shure WH20XLR is a gift from audio heaven.

The headband wraps around behind the head and slips over the ears. Like a pair of glasses, you can become so accustomed to the headband that you almost forget you're wearing it. The four-foot long thin cable routes out of the way behind the wearer's back and terminates in an XLR connector that clips to a pocket or belt, providing a disconnect point. The WH20XLR comes with a pair of windscreens and an additional cable routing clip.

The sound is what Shure is famous for: warm, with a natural presence that never sounds like the wearer is swallowing the mic. The frequency response is on a par with Shure's handheld mics, and the output has enough headroom that I can use the same pre-amp and fader settings as the rest of the mics.

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I have been using this mic for more than a year and I can't say enough good about it. As a singer/guitarist I needed something that did not get in the way and sounded good at the samne time.

This microphone fills both requirements to a tee. It is light and comfortable to wear and yet provides a sound that is all but indistinguishable from Shure's legendary SM58. (Don't, however, try using it as a hammer).

You can pay more for a headset mic but you will be hard pressed to find more bang for the buck.

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Great sounding mic. Does not need batteries or phantom power. Fit's good with good cable management over the users back. Excellent for a drummer. Would have been nice to have an on/off switch somewhere and a little bit more back side rejection on the mic. Otherwise I would have given this a 5-star rating.

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I use this microphone for announcing at baseball and football games. Works great! I did purchase an inline on/off switch, though.

Alesis e-Practice Pad Electronic Drum Practice Pad

Alesis e-Practice Pad Electronic Drum Practice Pad
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
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  • Electronic drum practice pad with metronome and learning exercises
  • 65 different drum sounds and to listen to these sounds connect headphones to the 1/4" headphone port
  • Metronome with six sounds, adjustable time signatures and subdivisions
  • 50 practice games and exercises
  • Headphone jack for silent practice

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I just got this practice pad used from a seller here on amazon; it came with two small external foot switches which was an unexpected bonus, all for $47 shipped which I think is a great price. I'm new to drumming and also own and Alesis DM6 full kit which I use with Addictive drummer VST on my computer. I bought this practice pad to take with me on a 1 month work assignment and I think it will work great; I'm using it on 4-AA batteries. I've found that a lot of the beginner practicing I do on my DM6 kit only requires the bass and a single drum (I usually use the hi-hat too), I can do this with the e-practice pad and the plug-in foot pedals.

I see some people complaining about "no sound", Alesis could have done a better job explaining but in the manual it does say the little speaker is for the metronome only. The drum sounds are only produced on the headphone output jack which is ok with me.

The build quality seems good to me, I've only had it for a short while but it was used so hopefully it will hold up. It looks similar to the build of my DM6 full kit which I've been pounding on for awhile without any issues.

This e-pad is pretty straight forward, I figured out most of the functions with in minutes without the manual. After about 5 minutes to scan the manual I understood all the features/functions. It's nice to be able to control the pad and metronome volume separately and being able to select different drums is nice to mix it up as well.

I didn't see any other comparable products from reputable brands in this price range, even at the $90 tag for a new Alesis e-pad. I did get a better price on my used unit but I think it's a good investment either way so far and would buy again.

I gave this product a five becuase it meets all my expectations and I think the price is reasonable; hopefully the product will last as well.

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The first one received did not work on batteries. I had contacted Alesis to find out if there was some type of simple solution but never received a response. So I ended up returning it. Amazon did a FANTASTIC job of getting me a replacement and it was delivered the NEXT DAY. BTW, this is why I purchase from AMAZON as if something is wrong they will take care of it. Which they did for me.

The product is working fine on batteries and it's a blast to play along with it. I too also wish I could hear it from the little speaker rather than having headphone but am now used to listening via the headphones. The drum pads, although not like a real drum, are actually a little better, IMHO, than the alesis dm6 drum kit I also recently purchased. Now I can have a portable practice pad that I can travel with and actually sit in front of the TV and practice with!

Great product and again AMAZON has gone above and beyond with the replacement of the first unit I needed to return.

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I picked up one of these, hoping to use it as a bass and snare add-on to my conga rig...it will do it, but I find that I enjoy it more for just shredding with stick control and speed exercises, it's kind of fun to hear a snare rather that just a rubber pad...the metronome function is good, I haven't tried the other features yet...some of the sounds are not great, but there are several decent snare sounds...the pad has a good feel in its response and the dynamic articulation works well...the pedals suck...it works well either with headphones or through my keyboard amp...glad I bought it!

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The instructions included are very brief and weren't very helpful. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS PRODUCT REQUIRES AN AMP OR EARPHONES.(I had to read reviews online to fully understand that.) No sound will come out of it otherwise. The speaker on it is for the metronome ONLY. Lucky for us, our son has an amp that came with an electric guitar last Christmas. There is a fantastic demo video (no words) on youtube where a guy demonstrates all the sounds that can be made with the pad and the foot pedals. VERY COOL! After seeing the video, he was able to really enjoy it. We don't have a drum set. This is a great intro to drumming and for him to use to practice for his school band class. Should his interest continue, then we'll consider investing in a drum set.

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i am a beginner and i love the look, feel and ease of use. it has many sounds and one can simply switch from one sound to another with ease. the guide book is also quite user friendly. it is a great gift to give to teenage children aspiring to take up drumming as a hobby. please include a speaker in next version. i

Reloop RHP-10 Solid Chrome DJ Headphones Black / Silver

Reloop RHP-10 Solid Chrome DJ Headphones Black / Silver
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
List Price: $119.99
Sale Price: $69.93
Today's Bonus: 42% Off
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  • Closed rotary and retractable construction
  • High-quality bracket with robust aluminium bar
  • Includes 2 exchangeable ear pad sizes
  • Removable cord with locking connector
  • Includes matching pouch

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I was looking for new headphones and after hours of searching the internet and asking on forums, I chose on these.

They came packaged nicely, were incredibly light (which is what I wanted) and felt solidly built. They had a very annoying squeak when you tilted the ear-cups, but that was probably the chrome rubbing on the plastic.

I'm not a huge audiophile nor am I a DJ, so the only other headphones I can compare these to is the Turtle Beach Z6A headphones (which broke a lot) and the random pair of Sony ear buds I had lying around. The Reloops sounded MUCH better than both of these, but were also incredibly tight and felt like they were crushing my skull. I tried everything I could to loosen them up without breaking the headset or severely disfiguring it, but they were just too tight. I have a large head so it probably isn't the fault of the headphones.

Still, they didn't feel worth $85. I sent these back and bought $30 Panasonic headphones and say they sound just as good as these Reloops, and they fit my head.

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I've ordered two pairs of these already, and BOTH have come with the metal ring on the exterior of the right ear cup detached. I know this is purely cosmetic, but what gives??? I feel that if I simply try to glue it back on (even though they are obviously glued on in the first place), it will likely begin to rattle, and I simply should not have to glue ANY item as soon as I pull it out of the box. After my second return, the third set is on its way. This is ridiculous, you are 0-2 Reloop, three strikes & you are out! Really makes me think twice about the quality of your controllers as well. Big ups to Amazon for their awesome hassle-free return policy.

This seemed like a great deal to supplement my Beyer Dynamics 770 Pro's and Sennheiser HD 25's with a nice set of travel cans for iphone & such: value price, fold & pivot, detachable cord, additional straight cable (not included in either package), extra ear pads w/the choice of on-ear and circumaural (nice touch); but if it comes in pieces straight out of the box, one has to undoubtedly question the item's durability. If the third set arrives intact, I will use them everyday for 29 days to see if they hold up.

Sound: They are pretty nice. A lil more boomy than professional reference monitors, but that's what I wanted. Not so much for the studio, but def tight for gigs & such. The boom muddles up the mids just a touch, but it does not sound bad, and the highs are on point. Perfect for traveling DJ's who don't need expensive monitors. They probably need some burn-in time to be certain, but I was really happy with the sound for the price.

Don't be fooled, much of the shiny part is actually plastic, but the headband is metal, & although they are very light, they feel quite sturdy overall. They bend well, and you can basically put the ear cups anywhere oh your head you would like (w/in reason).

The phones probably don't deserve two stars, they sound great and have some extra bells & whistles, but two returns is absolutely frustrating, and you can be certain that if the third pair arrives in the same condition that rating will go down to a one star! If that happens, I will NEVER purchase anything from reloop again, and I just happen to be in the market for a new MIDI controller. Hmmm...

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Bought this as a gift. Hopefully it's what he is looking for. Quality looks nice. The headphones feel sturdy, yet fold up nicely.

Full Size 4/4 Electric Violin Set with Case and Accessories - Blue

Full Size 4/4 Electric Violin Set with Case and Accessories - Blue
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
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  • Full Size 4/4 Electric Silent Violin
  • Ebony Pegs, chinrest, fingerboard & tailpiece
  • Full Brazil wood Bows with unbleached horsehair
  • Comes complete with padded gig bag, rosin, headphones and batteries
  • Ideal for the beginning student

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I wanted to find the best quality, all around greatest value violin I could get for dirt cheap. I didn't want to lose an arm and a leg for something I wasn't sure I was going to be able to pick up! But I like a challenge to fix something and make it better, so it was a somewhat fun thing to do to get this going.

I read a lot of reviews and pros and cons and I settled on this. I liked it because it had nearly everything in it all packaged together: decent sound, quiet or amplified playing, rosin, bow, strings, a bag, the works.

It's cheap. looks like the colors were spray painted on like the a cheap plastic toy. Unplayable out of the box. Nearly the whole thing is plastic, but good enough once fixed up.

What other reviewers said were true:

1) Get a new bridge. There are no grooves on the one it came with and it's rather thick. The Glaesel bridge recommended from others was fine, but according to my violin teacher, rather pricey. Might be able to get one for less than $10 (she told me she payed $7). Make sure that the bridge has the black line on the E string. (I had mine reversed for the first few weeks and it kind of messed me up and the sound).

2) Get peg drops. The plastic pegs need them to stay in place. Slipping and sliding pegs are not fun.

3) Get 4 fine tuners. It comes with one, but it's IMPOSSIBLE to tune this without them. I got 4 because I wanted them to match, but you can just go for 3. They are less than $10 shipped for the lot from ebay or something.

4) The battery clip inside snapped on me just as some people saw. I resoldered the broken piece and now it's fine, but you can pick up the replacement clip at Radio Shack.

5) The bow's hairs are a tag too long or something and to get them tight enough bends the bow in an improper way. I might upgrade if I stick with it.

6) Amazon might not offer the best price as I looked on Ebay on well and found they have the same picture and package for a good deal less. Something to keep in mind.

7) Pick up an extra set of strings off Ebay. For a newbie, I got brand new strings for less than $2. They aren't good quality, but they are good enough.

I'm pretty satisfied with this. Once amplified, it's honestly pretty nice.

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This violin works fine. However here are the faults, and not just of this silent electric but of most, even the ones in the $500-$600 range.

1. To heavy. This Violin is 10 times as heavy as a regular violin

2. Can't use a shoulder rest on this Violin.

3. Poorly constructed, gaps in the molding between pieces

4. Felt like it would break after a couple of months of use

I wanted to travel with this, but the case it comes with is just a bag. This Violin has strange deminsions and wouldn't fit in any case I could find. If you are thinking about purchasing an electric make certain it can use a shoulder rest (if you use those), can fit into a standard size case, and is well constructed.

I emailed the vendor for a refund and this was done promptly and courteously.

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Ok it is cheap so what did I expect. I was buying something fun, a toy of sorts. But the headphone jack gives no audio. You would think that would work. The violin works ok with a small amp I got. But try as we might it will not stay in tune. Plastic tuning pegs in a plastic body is not a design that is going to work when friction is needed. But then why are all violins made with such a crappy tuning system is beyond me. But then I am not stuck in the 16th century on design. I am certainly not a traditionalist. Given how cheap this is we will probably make our own personal changes to it in the shop and have fun doing so. Fun factor high. Quality low.

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My daughter opened up her violin Christmas morning only to find pieces missing. It was not in working order. A VERY disappointed little girl.

WHY didn't I get a full refund including shipping??

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I have received the Barcelona Student 1/2 size violin I purchased from Austin Bazaar. I have tried to contact Austin Bazaar on the phone twice and left 2 messages. They didn't contact me back. I emailed Austin Bazaar and they replied with 3 links of their policy OF 30 DAY RETURN IF THE ITEM IS DEFECTIVE AND SETUP INSTRUCTIONS. I followed the 3 links they sent me to setup the violin AGAIN and had no sound. I tuned the strings with the Korg Chromatic Tuner TM-40 I bought from Amazon and matched the tunes of G, D, A & E. But, it doesn't have any sound when I pulled the bows. It came with 2 bows and both don't work. Austin Bazaar ignored my voice messages and emails by refusing to call me back and reply back with the Return Authorization Number. BUYERS, BEWARE OF THIS SHADY SELLER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pyle-Pro PYD1929 4 Channel Professional Mixer With Digital Echo

Pyle-Pro PYD1929 4 Channel Professional Mixer With Digital Echo
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: Price Unavailable
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  • 2 Turntable/8 Line Level (CD, Cassette Deck, MiniDisc, etc.)/2 Mic Inputs - Effect and EQ on/off Switches - Dual Mic Inputs with Talkover - Master and Zone Channel Volume Controls - Headphone Level Control - Amp Output Including 1/4-Inchand RCA Jacks
  • 10-band Graphic Equalizer for Right and Left Channels - Blue LED Level Display Meters - MIC 1 XLR- 1/4-Inch Combo Jack - Master and Zone Balance Controls - Headphone CUE/PGM Control - Dimensions (WxDxH):19-Inchx 9 7/16-Inchx 4 1/4-Inch
  • ECHO on/off Switch - Red Light Illuminated Power on/off Switch - Individual Rotary Controls and Kill Switches for Mic Bass, Mid-range and Treble - Master/Zone and Stereo/Mono Switches - Turntable Inputs Can Accept Line Level Inputs - 115/230 AC Switchable
  • ECHO Delay/Repeat/Level Controls - Blue Light Illuminated Channel Volume Control - Independent Gain Controls for each of the 4 Input sources - Assignable AB Crossfader - Zone Output can be used as second output for Booth
  • Effects Send and Receive - Top Mounted 12V BNC Connector for Gooseneck Lamp (not included) - Channel CUE Switch - User Replaceable Dual Railed Crossfader - Record Output

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I purchased this Pyle Pro to replace my 15 year-old Pyle Mixer. The old mixer still works but I figured after 15 years it was time to update my mixer to the latest version. There's lot's of DJ mixers out there but my experience with the other Disc Jockey equipment companies hasn't been the best when it comes to service. Anyway, this new mixer is seemingly similar to my old Pyle mixer except for a few fancy lights, to me however, it's just FLUFF. One feature that it doesn't have is a cross-fader that attenuates, in other words the sound from one channel should begin fading as you move the slider over to the next channel. Surprisingly most of the DJ/Band e-tailers don't carry the Pyle line, so it's Amazon to the rescue.

Rather than buy an expensive "Controller" I'm content with my Pyle Mixer, an external sound card and my notebook computer to get the job done every time. With everything loaded into my SKB Roto GigRig this 70 year-old young Disc Jockey with well over 40 years of experience is still Rockin' and Rollin' and I didn't have to spend 1K on the other FLUFF stuff.

UPDATE. This one just started giving me problems. Kept losing the left channel. Replaced every possible cable to no avail. Finally figured out it was the left output. Warranty just ran out. Just ordered another PYD from Amazon.

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This is a great mixer and I'm quite pleased with it. If you're looking for a quality 4 channel DJ mixer, then this is it. The 10 band (left and right) EQ is also a nice touch, and each channel has it's own gain control. Nice crossfader and sliders. It has 2 mic inputs, and designated inputs for turntables. I personally don't have much use for the digital echo, but it works quite well. I'm using this at home, but it would also be a great mixer for mobile use since it only weighs 12 lbs. It's a rugged board, and well worth the money. Glad I bought it!Pyle-Pro PYD1929 4 Channel Professional Mixer With Digital Echo

Casio WK7500 PPA Premium Keyboard Package with Audio Technica Headphones, World Tour Keyboard Stand

Casio WK7500 PPA Premium Keyboard Package with Audio Technica Headphones, World Tour Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $838.99
Sale Price: $449.99
Today's Bonus: 46% Off
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  • Premium bundle includes: Audio Technica ATH-M20 closed-cup headphones, World Tour SXKS keyboard stand, and power supply.
  • 800 world class tones including stereo pianos, vintage electric pianos, strings, drums, synths and many more
  • 9 sliders extend your versatility and provide an impressive 50 drawbar organ tones
  • 17-track sequencer for editing and tweaking your performances so you can get professional sounding tracks
  • MIC and Instrument inputs, stereo audio in, and a USB MIDI port

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

I bought this keyboard because I want to begin taking my music more seriously. I definitely find myself practicing more as this keyboard can do much more than my old keyboard so it really holds my interest and pushes me to try to master all of the capabilities that this keyboard offers. Very happy with the cost for a keyboard with such capabilities. Cons: The keys are a bit shaky, not as sturdy as my old keyboard. Also, the audio of the speakers and the headphones are nothing to write home about. I hooked it up to a subwoofer, and that made the world of difference. Beautiful powerful sound.

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Casio WK7500 PPA Premium Keyboard Package with Audio Technica Headphones,and World Tour Keyboard Stand, and Power Supply. You "MUST READ OPERATING MANUAL" > "tO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND how to operate this keyboard, this unit is exclusive and works well if you under stand how to use and program what you want. Good start is to go to YOU TUBE AND CHECK IT OUT THERE !!!!!

E-MU 0404 USB Audio Interface

E-MU 0404 USB Audio Interface
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $199.99
Sale Price: $149.99
Today's Bonus: 25% Off
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  • Premium 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters
  • Type: E-MU XTCTM combo mic preamplifier and Hi-Z/line input w/ Soft Limiter
  • Dynamic Range (1kHz, A-weighted): 117dB
  • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
  • Cross-platform support

Click Here to Read More Reviews >>

I need to point out that this is an *audio* interface first and foremost. Some of the other reviews only mention its MIDI capabilities. It is *also* a MIDI interface, but the primary purpose of this box is to facilitate the recording of audio. It has some great AD/DA converters to that end, along with the capabilities for very high sampling rates (unlike USB1 interfaces).

Another review also talked about using it as an external sound card. You certainly can do that, but it's a waste of money other products exist that do the same thing better for cheaper, and without as much bulk or an external AC brick to deal with. No, if you're going to buy this box, buy it to record audio and/or MIDI.

If you're still confused as to why this thing exists, the bottom line is if you need it, you know it. This is a category of device designed for "advanced amateur" home recordists and musicians, who want to record their instruments and make their own demo tapes and need top quality and certain features that don't come stock in a standard PC sound card.

Now, as for this product vs. others in its category I've only had it for a day, but so far, it does what it's supposed to. What you're really paying for are the DACs and the software, both of which are extremely important to home recording. The hardware other than the DACs is kind of cheap and flimsy, but it works. It's not going to stand up to abuse, though it's all plastic, with gritty-feeling knobs and buttons and a thin plastic casing. One nice thing is having level displays on the box itself, which is something that some budget interfaces lack. Everything does work like it should.

A big question in audio interfaces is the actual interface itself between the box/card and your computer, which affects latency. I wanted something that I could use with any computer that I use, be it my laptop, my desktop, or a computer at my office. That ruled out PCI, which offers the best latency (but requires a breakout box if you want things like hardware level monitors), and it ruled out firewire too, because my laptop doesn't have the ports. I felt USB 2.0 was a decent compromise; it's not quite as good as firewire and definitely not as good as PCI, but it's a lot better than USB 1.1. If you can use PCI, though, Emu also offers a PCI version of this interface just be aware that you'll be giving up a few features, plus the obvious portability. If you want USB 2.0 for the same reasons I did, this is honestly one of the few audio interfaces out there that can use it. (Most manufacturers assume you're either a pro, in which case you want firewire, or you're a total budget amateur, in which case you want USB 1.1.) There is definitely some latency when monitoring your recordings through the PC, but on the plus side the box does offer zero-latency hardware monitoring directly through the box.

The software bundle is pretty amazing for the price, and it's another big reason why I bought this model. It actually ships with at least three (by my count) full-fledged recording apps: CuBase LE, Ableton Live and Cakewalk LE. Don't let the "LE" designations scare you they're totally feature-packed apps, just with fewer tracks and VST instruments than the full versions. Do you really need 96 recording tracks for a home recording? 24 should be enough. But the nice thing is these apps also give you an upgrade path to the full versions if you so desire, so you end up saving money vs. buying the full app by itself. This unit also comes with Amplitube LE, which is a plugin for Cubase that models a variety of guitar amps so you can really get that perfect sound that you're looking for I've been having a ton of fun with this.

I give it four out of five stars only because of its questionable durability. This is not the interface you want if you plan to carry it around in a gig bag all over the place. Also, it does have an external power brick (a small one) though that's what enables the phantom power for the mic inputs, so it's a good tradeoff. Still, if you want something really portable, look elsewhere (though you'll probably have to give up phantom power). But if you want a good all-around interface for not a lot of money, with a great software package and pro-level audio quality, and you plan to keep it on a desk most of the time, this unit is definitely worth a look.

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Unlike lots of people I did not buy this for it's MIDI capabilities. I bought this expressly to supplant my onboard sound in my Win XP machine. Unless you're an audiophile of some sort, most people have little idea how bad onbaord sound is (non-dedicated sound card).

This is primarily a first rate sound card and then a MIDI controller. It also has an excellent headphone amp integrated into it. Build quality is excellent as are the controls. Just for clarification this is a USB card, it will install easily and take over for your onboard or dedicated sound card.

Do yourself a favor and pick this up, the sound improvement is dramatic and not some audiophile "voodoo".

Read Best Reviews of E-MU 0404 USB Audio Interface Here

I bought this product a few months ago from another retailer. I use it with a MacBook 2ghz, 2GB RAM, blah blah blah. When I ran MacOS 10.4 Panther it worked great. The audio quality is excellent *IF* your source inputs are clean. By that I mean, if you're using a high quality microphone with XLR inputs you will get a very clean sound. I've also used it with a Martin D16RT acoustic guitar with builtin mic and a Taylor 812ce with builtin pickup and again it recorded extremely clean audio. The product works as advertised.

But, as of February 12th 2008, if you're running MacOS X 10.5 Leopard it doesn't work. I can't start standard audio applications like Garageband, they just crash. You'll have to remove the EMU driver to get the system back to normal too. Took me several hours to figure dig through the issue and determine the cause.

I hope EMU provides a driver update for 10.5 in the near future. But CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY if you're running Leopard.

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I was quite excited about getting this sound card. At first I was a little concerned about using a USB 2.0 interface (versus a firewire interface) and I must say that I'm still not convinced that USB 2.0 is stable enough to support a real time / ASIO audio device. The pre-amps on the 0404 are very nice, very clear and transparent. The gain isn't very smooth though, and tends to "jump" quite quickly. If I worked for excessive periods in ASIO mode it began to click and pop a lot and sometimes the LED meter would freeze for no reason. Occasionally it would stop working all together and I'd have to restart it and the program(s) I was using. Support is a little less than spectacular, with (at the time I had it) no real driver or firmware updates. It comes packaged with some handy audio tools, programs and plugins.

Overall, really liked it at first but quickly grew annoyed at it's inconsistent and erratic behaviour. Decent for a beginner or not so demanding user but if you intend to get serious there are much better options available for a similar price.

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I use this in an Home Theater setup.

This external USB DAC is a steal at this price. It contains the same DSP as the $2000 "Transporter". On my high-end system, my PC-based media setup (PC running Foobar2000 -> ASIO Drivers -> EMU USB -> Home Theater) ... rivals the sound I get from my high-end ($1900) Toshiba DVD-Audio Player.

Its an awesome headphone amp ... my AKG K240 arrived today ... what a delight !

Also excellent for microphone recordings (which I seldom do)

Do use the ASIO drivers that comes with the EMU. And, boys and girls, always use lossless formats like WAV or FLAC for your recordings.

Highly recommended.

K&M Clamp-on Headphone holder

K&M Clamp-on Headphone holder
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $19.99
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  • Steel construction
  • Protective rubber support
  • Easily mounts to music stand or mic stand

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I would have preferred the wall mounting one, but I figured I could just take the mounting part off and stick it with some 3M adhesive, unfortunately for me it's actually nicely welded typical high K&M quality, so it's on a mic stand now, I'll have to make myself one or find somewhere I can get the wall mount one in less the 10 weeks, but I can't mark it down for it not allowing me to re-appropriate it.

In Short:

Great build quality

a very nice "rack" part to hold your head phones, nice and broad to suit any sized headphones (even a 2nd pair)

and some hooks to hold ear buds or the cord from large cans with removable cords

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HOSA TOSLINK to mini-Toslink FIBER-OPTIC CABLE, 10 ft.

HOSA TOSLINK to mini-Toslink FIBER-OPTIC CABLE, 10 ft.
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $24.50
Sale Price: $12.17
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I use this product to connect my Apple Airport Express to my home stereo system. Airport Express has a 3.5mm mini-jack audio output which doubles as an optical output. This is the cable you need to use that output for connection to your home stereo's optical input ports.

Mine works great.

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I felt I should enter this review because I wish I would have learned that this is NOT the usual 3.5mm adapter that most of us are used to (digital coax). I admit that there is no misinformation on the description of the product but I was looking for a 3.5mm male adapter to use with a digital pc speaker system. This would not work because it is a fiber not a digital coax which is needed. Yes, it works with most Apple 3.5mm connections because they support Mini Toslink (fiber and digital coax support). Unfortunately, the shipping and restock fees do not make it worth sending back so it will gather dust in my cable collection until I find a use for it. I still gave it 4 stars because the quality seems good.

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I purchased this item to connect a mac mini to my home theater audio reciever so I could get 5.1 surround sound while streaming my media. It works perfect and the sound is great! The only downside to this is that it doesn't "snap" into place so if I move the mac mini around it easily falls out. I think the problem is more on the mac's side rather than this cable b/c all the other cables connected to the mini seem to act the same way.

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This product connects the optical jack on my Logitech Z-5500 speakers to my Macbook Pro's 3.5mm audio jack which doubles as an optical port. It does exactly what it's supposed to, and at a good price.

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I purchased to connect my laptop to a surround sound system. It works, after some configuration, without flaw. The cable itself is a bit thin and delicate feeling, but it's worked for many many years without any hiccups until just recently. If it goes out, I will absolutely buy this product again.

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Peavey BTS 2.2 Black Bluetooth Sound System

Peavey BTS 2.2 Black Bluetooth Sound System
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $89.99
Sale Price: $57.52
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  • Frequency Band: 2400 - 2483.5 MHz
  • Input: 3.5 mm Aux-In Jack
  • Output: 3.5 mm Headphone Jack

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I bought this for pairing with my iPad or iPod touch. We listen to a lot of Internet radio for channels that we don't have great reception to in my area. It's absolutely awesome to just grab this, turn it on and out comes the music. No cables, power supplies or other hassles. Great for use in the kitchen too if you have a kitchen lacking extra outlets like we do.

Sound quality is excellent to my ears. For $60 I didn't expect Bose-quality sound, and that's good because it's not as good as a Bose sound dock, but still it's quite powerful for its size and I love that I can plug other devices into it or use an SD card or thumb drive if I wanted to travel even lighter and have all my music on one of those.

I've been hoping somebody would make something like this for a long time. Fits my needs perfectly.

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I had reservations about this, but it has been pleasantly surprising . I have used this successfully with a nexus 7 and iPhone over Bluetooth. This thing is loud enough that we used it by the pool for music. And my sister asked me to turn it down it was so loud. We were out there rocking it for 3 hours and the speaker showed no signs of stopping.

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A pretty decent sounding speaker. Don't expect a large, loud sound from this little box speaker but it does deliver for an immediate party area. Thought the battery would last a bit longer.

Pyle-Pro PED06 High Performance Digital Drum Set

Pyle-Pro PED06 High Performance Digital Drum Set
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
List Price: Price Unavailable
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  • 4 Drum Pads - 2 Cymbal Pads - 1 Hi-hat Pedal - 1 Bass Drum Pedal
  • 215 Tones - 100 Preset Songs - 10 Drum Preset Kits - 5 User Kits
  • Metronome Function
  • MIDI IN/OUT Port
  • Headphone Jack

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UPDATE 10 Jan 2011: The power supply died (due to the voltage fluctuation in my area i'm assuming) and one of the pads isn't working (floor tom). It could be a minor problem, I'll be taking it apart to check. Everything else works fine.

Alright peeps, this is my review of the Pyle Pro PED06. We shall now refer to this unit as PYRO PAEDOSex or PYRO for short. LOL.

And nevermind the hip hop references.

INTRO

First up, I'm not a real drummer. LOL.

I've been playing guitar and singing lead vocals in a hard rock band for over 7 years. I have also been producing for 4 of hose years so have a pretty good understanding of drum concepts and implementation. LOL. Meaning I know how drums should be played and how they should sound. It all starts in the mind right?

Basically I started playing drums about two weeks ago to keep my band prithvi and mc/bc rolling. My brother who played drums for us had moved to another group.

So I needed something that I could practice on at home.

My criteria was that:

1. It should feel like a regular drum kit

2. It should sound like one.

The PYRO meets these pretty well.

Now I have no prior experience with an electronic kit to be frank.

However I do know that considering how IMPOSSIBLE it is to practice on real drums in an apartment, its almost a no brainer.

Plus a major major part of rock drumming is hand foot coordination. This can be definitely be honed to perfection on a kit such as this.

REVIEW:

SHIPPING:

Amazon did well to deliver the kit on time so thumbs up to them for that.

I received the kit on 3rd Feb. It actually landed in India on 1st Feb but spent two days at Delhi Airport because Air hostesses were using it as a sexual pacifier. LOL.

No actually because Indian imports and customs are CRAP and I needed to send them some kind of a disclaimer form.

I actually needed to call dhl to ask them what the hell was going on. They never called me and I lost 2 days in the process. Thats terrible considering I couldve been a better drummer today. LOL.

COST: $394

I did do some research on digital drum kits on amazon and had shortlisted two kits in this price range ($300-400):

Alesis Dm6 and PYRO.

I chose the PYRO because its pedals LOOKED more Heavy Duty with silver stuff embossed on black metal. get it? Black metal! :P

I also chose this because the description on amazon said that it had 20 kits and 200 something voices. Thats incorrect :(

ALERT: Althought this item description says this kit has 20 drum kits and 10 user kits. thats WRONG! It actually has 10 kits and 5 user kits witha total of 108 voices.

Also, although the picture here shows the words PYLE PRO on the pedals, the kit I got actually has a cool metal flame embossed instead. Which is definitely a great and welcome surprise.

I think I saw another digital drumkit on Amazon with flame pedals.

My take on this is that all these drums are made in China and probably at the same factory so they probably mixed them up. Not that it matters.

CONSTRUCTION:

When I opened the package I thought they sent me Robocop in a box. LOL.

The drum brain looks like a robot head. Its very cool.

The construction of the kit is Heavy duty. The frame is made of solid heavy metal. The snare drum is made of thrash metal. The entire kit is probably about 85% metal and pretty good quality. The rungs and holders are all SOLID metal. You could probably break doors and threaten neighbours with them. Don't do that though. :P

Even the drum sticks provided seemed nice. They're about medium gauge but feel good and sturdy. Not cheap.

I have never assembled a drumkit before but this was very easy to figure out and the entire kit was assembled and ready to play within 30mins.

The supplied adaptor is very cool as it supports voltages from 100 to 240 volts. That's pretty good. I didn't risk it though and used a step down transformer that I had.

The pedals are also very good. They are almost the same size as conventional drum pedals.

The preset action on the kick is perfect. Its like an actual DW (I have a 7000) or Tama kick pedal in its response. This pedal can probably be used as a regular kick pedal so that's a good thing.

SIZE:

The rungs are adjustable and the kit overall is VERY compact. The design is clever which allows you to fold the kit up in case you need to put it away. That's a useful thing for people like me living in modest dwelling.

SOUND:

I have only really tried the first kit (STANDARD) and let me put it to you this way: It sounds like a well tuned well mic'd and mixed drum kit in a great studio. The samples used for each piece are good sounding and robust. The pads are touch sensitive but you do have to smack them kind of hard to get a sound. I'm not sure if all electronic kits are like this.

To be more clear, for instance if you would tap a cymbal very gently, you would definitely hear something. But with these pads, you need to hit it with some amount of firmness to get a sound. If you tap it gently there won't be a sound. Or at least not one you can hear. Once again please remember this is my first time on an electronic kit. Chances are its probably a question of pads used. This might improve their durability in the long run.

The snare is very very good and has a dual trigger which means you can do rimshots etc.

The hi hat pedal is responsive and works well with the hi hat pad.

I'm sure this kit will sound even better as a midi trigger. Simply because with midi you can have different layers triggered for different velocities on each piece in the kit. That makes it sound even more realistic. Not that it doesn't already sound good but the kit will definitely sound better with midi. I have yet to try this and will share the outcome of that in an update.

OVERALL:

Well I've only had the kit for less than 12 hours but so far it seems great. I'm itching to go back to my apartment and play it.

Apart from being a practice tool I'm looking forward to recording using it and you can get some VERY decent drum tones out of the box. And with MIDI triggering you can forget the studio altogether (I haven't tried it yet on this one so don't quote me on that yet).

I hope this review was helpful to you. Please do give me your feedback and check out my music. I'll be updating this later.

Have fun.

UPDATE: 9th Feb 2011

MIDI: Midi works.

Updated: 6th April: Used the kit to successfully trigger and record using EZdrummer. Touch sensitivity intact. I was having some trouble with MIDI stopping working on the VST which then needed to be restated sometimes. It could be a problem with the VST. I shall find out and share the results!

Update: 2012

One of the pads stopped triggering. I tested the connections and it turns out the pad itself is fine but there may be something wrong in the connection to the drum brain or the drum brain itself. I haven't been able to fix this yet and so am making do with a two tom setup.

CONCERNS:

1. The audio level is KIND OF low in both the headphones and the line out.

2. The Rubber cymbal pads and snare top get stick marks real fast. I suggest taking some of the soft padding material that came with this kit and sticking it over those parts you hit. I did it and now its not so bad.

I'm on youtube as arjunkaul the king of rocknroll

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i love this digital drum set. i've had it now for a good amount of time and it still rocks every time.

i love the versatility, compactness, small size that can be taken anywhere, and all the settings and sounds and styles that it has.

i would lie if i say that i haven't had problems, but i expected it. on of the connections in a cable went bad after a while, but it was for using it so much... as i said expected. nothing that a little fixing couldn't take care of.

i still believe it is worth every buck.

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This is the biggest piece of crap. Save your money and buy a Roland TD 4 for $749. with Free Shipping. Quality

Product. Sounds Amazing, Awesome Resale Value. This is Just a TOY! Don't get BURNED!!! Also, They should outlaw

LOL. This is a Pyle of S%*T! LOL!

BeoPlay H6 Black

BeoPlay H6 Black
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $399.00
Sale Price: $379.00
Today's Bonus: 5% Off
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They sound is superb and well balanced; the construction is solid, light & stylish; they feel divine; and, they are convenient to cary around. I am a medical student. I spend hours in the library studying. My old head phones hurt my ears after a few hours of use. These are so soft and light, I can go all day and forget they are on! The lambskin-memory foam cups are softer than described and provide a nice sound barrier. The fold-flat storage and bag works great in a backpack. Two months in and I still get excited to use them!

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Great quality and can feel it'd be comfortable to wear for hours!

But definitely not for all kind of music.

They perfectly balanced for Classic,Instrumental,Rock(not heavy)!

But they lack on bass while listening heavy metal or hip hop/rap.

Still,I'l keep them for some music since they feel right on head.

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The first thing you notice about these headphones is how comfortable they are. I'm a medium size adult male and I'm surprised at how many headphones don't fit me well. I'm just not that big. These fit me perfectly with room to spare for a larger person. They seem comfortable on the first wearing, there's nothing to get used to, they just fit. To describe their sound, the key word is "revealing". The first music I listened to with the H6 was "Live at Leeds" from an mp3 I ripped myself at a very high bit rate. Frankly, I was disappointed. The music was a little harsh and I had trouble picking out the bass notes. But even Pete Townsend says it's a bad recording so I quickly moved on. Next, I tried listening to iTunes Radio, the Raggae station. Oh, my word, was the bass clean and loud. Next, I listened to some Diana Krall mp3s I had downloaded from Amazon. Again, I was stunned at the clarity and presence of the bass. Overall, the sound was balanced, with no weaknesses that I could hear. I wouldn't go as far to say these headphones aren't great for listening to rock and roll but I will say you are going to hear what is there. Listening to "Who's Next" for the millionth time, I was hearing nuances and subtle sounds I had never noticed before. The only minus here is that they don't come with a carrying case but I'm never going to carry these anywhere, these are strictly for staying home use so they deserve a 5 start rating in my book.

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MXL USB 009 24BIT/96KHZ USB Condenser Mic

MXL USB 009 24BIT/96KHZ  USB Condenser Mic
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $294.66
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  • 24-bit A/D and D/A 96 kHz recording
  • 114 dB dynamic range, Zero latency monitoring
  • Analog gain control before A/D
  • Includes Mic, Aluminum flight case, Desktop stand, 10 feet USB Cable, cleaning cloth, manual.

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For years I've been working with traditional XLR cardioid condenser mics (love my Neumann TLM) but I've had to travel a lot lately, and humping the XLR cables, pre-amp, and heavy mics through airports and hotels has gotten to be a real bother, so I started The Hunt for a Great USB Mic.

Now, there are good USB mics out there for under $100, and Blue's Snowball is adequate. At ~$70 you get what you pay for. It is ok for podcasting, if you aren't too picky about sound quality. I had one shipped to me, didn't like that background hum, sent it back thinking it was a problem with the mic, and got another one that sounded exactly the same. (And yes, I read all the instructions and advice and made all the adjustments. I even tried it on Mac, Laptop, and PC--so spare me the "oh did you try this, and you're an idiot because you didn't try that" Snowball fanboy snarkiness ;).

So, when I returned the Snowball, I considered getting Blue's Yeti, but it's sheer size disqualified it -the mic is way too big and heavy to be considered remotely portable, and since I like to record standing-up instead of sitting down, I worried that it would be too heavy for my boom.

Having eliminated Blue's mics, I tried the Samson G Track at ~$120 and the AudioTechnica AT2020 at ~$110. I like that the Samson has the headphone output and the gain controls (which the AT does not) and better recording quality versus the AT2020 at 48kHz versus 44.1kHz. However, the Sampson weighs a half-pound more. For both mics the sound quality is great for podcasting, and while vastly superior to the Blue Snowball, and certainly adequate for most vocals that will be supported with background music, neither mic produces recordings clean enough and of high enough quality (limited to 16bit) for pure narration (IMHO).

So I upped my price-point again. And found THE perfect USB mic for voice-overs at ~$275. The MXL USB.009. It records at 24Bit/96kHz -a huge improvement over the 16Bit/44.1kHz of all the other mics. It has the benefits of a mic jack and knobs for gain control like the Samson G Track, and is Plug and Play. I don't have to tweak anything on my Mac or my PC. It is lightweight, so I'm not worried about my boom tipping, and there is no background hum. I like the steel carrying case -it weighs about 6 pounds with the mic and USB cable -and makes it easy to carry through airport security.

Yes, the MXL USB.009 is 4x the cost of the Blue Snowball and 2.5x the cost of the Samson G Track and the AT2020, but for me, it is worth it. I not only do podcasting, but I do professional voice-over work, and I need something that will give me the convenience of direct USB recording with near-studio quality.

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I have worked in radio for a lot of years and used many excellent microphones in various studios, some costing thousands of dollars. With this microphone, I am able to get very close to that level of quality in my home using my personal computer. I bought the mic from Amazon.com when I started producing a new show where I needed to do the introduction and close to each episode. Dynamic range is outstanding, great deep bass response, and very clean and clear. If you are shopping for a USB microphone and hoping to get pro-level results, this is a good choice.

Here's a warning, though. When you plug the mic into your computer, it wants to take over as the sound card for output also. It has a headphone jack for monitoring your voice during recording, but I was very surprised when I started playback in Adobe Audition, and I heard those headphones fire up. So that's a little weird. I've adopted the practice of plugging in the mic when I want to record, starting Audition, recording, then saving the file, closing Audition, UNPLUGGING the mic, before restarting Audition and moving on to the edit phase. Clunky? Yes, a bit. But I'll still use this mic for its quality over some others that I've tried. I do hope that hearing about the sound card part in advance helps at least one person avoid the head-scratching I faced for a few minutes.

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I'm writing this to help save time for those looking to get a pro level USB mic as I spent quite a bit of time reading reviews (amazon and pro music reviews) listening to mic shootouts and leg work on USB microphones so I though I would see if I can help others save some time. I'm a bit retentive when it comes to my audio gear. I spent 10 years looking for the perfect studio monitors and finally found a slice of heaven in the ADAM s3A's.

I have a professional recording studio and consider my 20 years of listening experience worthwhile in doing an unbiased review.

My goal was to find a usb microphone able to perfectly capture vocals and instruments without adding color (anything but the pure sound) to use with my ipad for audio work.

Microphones and monitors are very subjective in my opinion . Different people like the way different gear sounds. I was simply looking for sonic clarity and depth.

I settled on the Blue Yeti Pro and the MXL 009 and bought them both. I surmised these were the two top picks (based on user and pro reviews) out of the 5 or so at the top including the non pro yeti.

This is my first time owning a blue or MXL mic. I have a couple of Shure ksm44's and a few Neumanns

I ran a series of comparisons between the Yeti Pro, THe MXL 009 and my goto in the studio which is the ksm44 running through an Avalon ad2022 pre through an RME Fireface UFX into an 2011 Imac. I used two sets of headphones and my monitors to listen to the audio recorded. As set of audio technica m50s, and a pair of Sony MDR7509's and the s3a's. I recorded vocals, shakers and tuning forks at both 48k 16bit and 24bit 96k sample rates to see if it made a difference. It does make a difference but its slight and if you were making a song you probably couldn't tell in the mix. If you were doing a podcast or talkshow you woud notice slightly richer deeper clarity with the 96k 24bit setting.

The results were very surprising to me mostly because I was blown away that a $300 microphone can compete with 7K in studio gear. I think I need to tell Toto were not in Kansas anymore. Rating scale 10 = amazing 1=Sucks

The MXL 009 If you want the best sounding Mic and dont care about the rest this is your mic.

Features = 7 (lack of traditional xlr out limits to digital use)

Easy of Use = 7 You need to get your gain levels set prior to using or you will get pops and clicks in your audio. This could be a bummer if you just did a big long take and now have to edit to remove a few clicks. Set your gains and you will be without issue. ( would be nice if they had a clipping indicator on the mic since this is such a big issue). Maybe they will correct it with a soft or firmware update.

Set up = 10 ( I literally just plugged it in and selected it in logic pro used to record the audio)

Sound Quality = 10 The MXL009 was a bit more transparent and honest with the sound. It is really a beautifully accurate mic.

Accessories = 9 desk stand is rock solid but not as cool looking as the yeti. Its a basic stand. It comes with a cool metal case if you travel with your mics.

Look and Feel = 9 Very nice looking and solid feeling. The blue led is a nice touch to show its connected

The Yeti Pro If you are looking to get just one mic then this is your pick because of its feature set. Its built like a tank. Has the 4 different switching options which is very useful for getting different sounds. You could put it on a table for an interview and hear both people as an example. Also has standard xlr out, could be nice if you want to use it with standard gear. The stereo out is a nice feature (unless you want mono).

Features = 10

Easy of Use = 10 quick adjustments of gain and are forgiving if your not spot on.

Set up = 10 ( I literally just plugged it in and selected it in logic pro used to record the audio)

Sound Quality = 8 The MXL009 was a bit more transparent and honest with the sound.

Accessories = 9 desk stand is rock solid and cool looking

Look and Feel = 8 Very nice looking and solid feeling but kinda bulky. Sexy sitting on the desk if you care. They get -2 points as the Blue logo was slightly off level which most people probably would not or could not notice. (retentive)

The verdict is that they all sound amazing. If you were not doing a sise by side A/B you would miss the subtle differences. The Shure has a slight lead for overall sound but the MXL009 is not far behind and the Yeti pro is right up there with them. Its not quite as good sonically but as far as getting bang for your buck the yeti pro is an amazing choice for everything you get for less than $300. Unbelievable! My hats off to both companies for such great products.

I am keeping them both unfortunately as they are that great for different reasons.

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This microphone is worth every penny. Studio quality sound, at home through your USB.

If you're simply doing voice overs to your computer, this USB mic is the one. Great sounding, easy to set up, and very flexible. The controls and audio monitor on the mic give this USB microphone the real time monitoring and controls you don't get with other USB microphones. And I appreciated the carrying case this came in.

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When Jeff Fisher and I wrote 'The Voice Actor's Guide to recording at Home and on the Road" we tested every USB mic available at the time and hands down the MXL.009 was the winner. It's a big mic and not in-expensive but it alone rivaled the sound of traditional condenser studio mics but with the plug and play simplicity of USB. If size and cost is a concern matching a "regular" microphone to a quality analogue to digital USB converter like the Mix Port Pro might be a better solution.