BM-700

Price: $29.00
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz

BM-800

Price: $27.00
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz

BM-8000

Price: $26.00
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz

Today we are comparing three Excelvan microphones to determine which is the best. The mics are the BM-700, BM-800, and BM-8000.

The construction of the microphones bodies is the exact same. The only difference is the microphone capsules enclosure on top, but this doesn't seem to effect the sound too much.

In all honesty, the microphones performance was nearly identical. There were some very small differences in EQ's between the microphones, but nothing too noticeable. The BM-700 did seem a bit boomy, and had a bit hotter of a signal which led to some clipping, but other than that, not much difference.

It was difficult to pick, but after very close analysis of the sound, I think that BM-800 is the winner. It provides a slightly cleaner sound, and better tone. Also it saves you a few dollars as well. Hope this helped you decide which microphone is right for you.

Buy the BM-700: http://amzn.to/1qACnzD
Buy the BM-800: http://amzn.to/1MmSsDd
Buy the BM-8000: http://amzn.to/1S9BR81

I am back with another review of one of the mass produced Chinese microphones that are insanely cheap. This time, it is the Excelvan BM-8000.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $29 on Amazon.

WARNING: This microphone will require phantom power to function. So if you plan on purchasing this, make sure to purchase a phantom power supply, or make sure your audio interface is capable of providing sufficient voltage.

What's In the Box

Microphone
Metal Pop Filter
XLR to 3.5mm Cable
Shock Mount (5/8" to 3/8" Stand Adapter NOT Included)
USB Soundcard
Documentation

Performance / Features

The build quality on this microphone is relatively nice. It is an all metal body, and metal grill, but it still feels relatively cheap. With the form factor of this microphone, the neck seems like a weak structural point, so I would be careful. The mic cable seems decent enough, the shock mount does it's job, and the USB Soundcard is a piece of junk (only providing 2.43v to the microphone.

The specifications sheet lists the frequency response as 20Hz - 20kHz, which is great. When doing the music test, it seems like the low end is boosted quite a bit. This makes the acoustic guitar sound a bit boomy, but the vocals sound nice.

The polar pattern is listed as "Uni-Directional" but it does tend to pick up audio all the way around the microphone. As you move around the back of the mic, the high end drops off exponentially. The mic did perform well at eliminating background noise when we did the keyboard test.

I should note that this microphone will not perform at it's best if it receiving subpar voltage. It requires a minimum of 4.5 volts to sound decent. So keep that in mind. If you are only utilizing the provided soundcard, you will lose performance in terms of frequency response, noise, and over all fidelity.

Pros

Cheap
Good vocal sound
Good shock mount
Full frequency response (with Phantom Power)

Cons

Boomy low end with acoustic
Soundcard lacks sufficient power
Incorrect documentation?

Conclusion

This is a pretty good deal for $30. The audio quality sounds pretty good if you plan on doing voice work. It will pick up a bit of background noise, but other than that, it's a good option. If you do plan on purchasing this microphone, I implore you to pick up a phantom power supply & a boom arm. With that set up, you should be good to go.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP.

Excelvan BM-8000: http://amzn.to/1RVRlLg
Phantom Power: http://amzn.to/1QASfYc
Boom Arm: http://amzn.to/21kRVrR

BM-700 vs. BM-800 vs. BM-8000 Comparison (Versus Series)