Today I am testing out a really cool looking microphone, the ECOOPRO EO-200. If you are interested in this mic, it would set you back about $40 on amazon, but it is completely sold out. I was also unable to find this microphone on any other sites, so it seems that I reviewed a microphone that no longer exists. But we'll go ahead and move on.
What's In the Box
In this box you get 4 things.
- Cardioid Condenser Microphone (XLR)
- Microphone Mount (5/8" mic stand - unsure if 3/8" adapter was provided)
- Microphone Cable (XLR to 3.5mm)
- User Manual / Spec Sheet
As I mention above, I believe that the box was missing 5/8" to 3/8" microphone stand adapter. However, if you buy a neewer microphone boom arm to use with this microphone, you will get an adapter with the stand.
Performance / Features
First thing I should note is, this microphone requires power to function. The specifications dictate 3v - 48v. I recorded this using a USB adapter which provides 5v, and it seemed to work perfectly fine.
This microphone is very hot. What I mean by that is, it is very loud. I had my computer input gain set at 2% and I was still clipping. I know that I could have set the microphone farther away, and avoided this problem, however, I try to create an environment that most youtubers/gamers will be in. Getting excited, talking loudly, basically, not caring about proper microphone technique, because that's not what's important to them. What most youtubers will be focussed on is their game or what they're going to say.
I am uncertain of the actual frequency response of this microphone, as no numbers are given, however, it appears (through the confusing dual line graphic) that it is 50Hz to 10KHz, but that seems incorrect. It is also uni-directional at 1Khz, and that is very clear in the demonstration. This microphone also did very well at isolating my voice over the keyboard / mouse noise.
This microphone is full metal construction (metal body & grill), and it is very heavy. It was so heavy that I took it apart to try and see if they added weights, but didn't want to rip out the circuit board to find out. On the front of the microphone, you will find an LED light, that did not work for me. I am assuming lights up when it is provided sufficient power.
Pros
- Good at Isolating Voice from Keyboard
- XLR Microphone (can use different preamps, interfaces, etc.)
Cons
- Extremely hot signal
- Unclear specifications
- Captures a Lot of Pops
- Limited Frequency Response
Conclusion
I don't like this mic. It sounds like what you would expect out of a $40 microphone, but that's no longer acceptable. There are microphones like the Neewer NW-700 that I have tested out that sound much better. If you need a cheap microphone, save yourself a few dollars and pick up an NW-700. I will consider revisiting this mic using a mixer, and pop filter, but for now I am not a fan. I do not recommend this microphone. That is why the thumbnail says "A mic to be used as a weapon", because I think that's the only thing it's really good for, a tool to bludgeon someone with.
I should note that I hook this microphone up using a $6 USB Audio Adapter which provides 5 volts of power, improving the audio quality. If you have any questions about the microphone, leave them in the comments down below or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks for watching & reading.
ECOOPRO EO-200: http://amzn.to/1lFZyX0
Neewer NW-700: http://amzn.to/1MyTl7V
