BM

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

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

Excelvan BM-8000 Condenser Mic Review

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

  1. Microphone
  2. Metal Pop Filter
  3. XLR to 3.5mm Cable
  4. Shock Mount (5/8" to 3/8" Stand Adapter NOT Included)
  5. USB Soundcard
  6. 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

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Versus Series: NW-700 vs BM-700

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NW-700 BM-700
Cost $23.00 $27.00
Microphone Type Condenser Condenser
Frequency Response 20Hz - 16KHz 20Hz - 20KHz
Polar Pattern Cardioid Cardioid

When looking at the specifications, you may think that the BM-700 should have been the microphone that came out on top, but when listening to the actual sound produced by each microphone the NW-700 is the real winner.

The NW-700 had a much tighter low end and provided more accurate audio reproduction. This led to less booming with the acoustic guitar and vocals, and much better electric guitar sounds.

Both microphones require a minimum of 4.5v to work well, but can run using a full +48v of phantom power without damaging them. Either microphone would be a fine addition to your cheap microphone collection, but if you only have the budget for one, I would recommend the NW-700.

Buy the NW-700: http://amzn.to/1oeCLm6
Buy the BM-700: http://amzn.to/1ThRwQB

Floureon BM-100FX Condenser Microphone Review / Test

Today I tested out the Floureon BM-100FX and it is ridiculous. It will run you about $32 on amazon, and it has built in effects. When I say built-in effects, I mean built in EFFECT. One effect. Lets look at this some more.

What's In the Box

This microphone came in the same box as pretty much every other mass produced chinese microphone that I have purchased. Inside you will get the Microphone, Pop Filter, Mic Stand, Mic Clip, Microphone Cable, & Specifications Sheet.

The mic stand feels very cheap and I don't think it will last very long, and the mic clip can barely fit the microphone. If you have some extra money after purchasing the microphone, I would definitely recommend picking up a different mic stand and shock mount. 

Performance / Features

The frequency response on this mic is 30Hz - 20KHz which is pretty comparable to other microphones in the same price range.

The polar pattern is 180-degrees. In front of the mic you will get good sound and behind the microphone you will only get low-mid frequencies being picked up. This is good if you are recording in a loud room or if you are recording while you are typing on a keyboard. (Just make sure to place anything you don't want to be heard, behind the microphone).

As I mentioned the BM-100x also has an onboard effect (echo). This allows you to add a delay effect to your audio. Regardless of how cool the idea is, I don't see any practical applications of this feature.

Lastly, the cable is XLR to 3.5mm/USB. This allows you to plug into your computers microphone input (which records the audio) and the USB port (which provides power to the microphone).

Pros

  • The microphone cable has USB jack to provide power to microphone
  • There is a microphone gain knob on the microphone
  • 180-degree polar pattern (it does not pick up noise all the way around the microphone)

Cons

  • The cable is XLR to 3.5mm/USB, this is too specialized of a cable, and will make it difficult to replace.
  • The knobs on the microphone feel flimsy.
  • The effect does not provide enough control
  • It is only one effect that I don't think has any practical applications
  • The microphone stand is cheap / Mic Clip hardly fits microphone
  • Slightly more expensive than similar sounding microphones that do not have effect

Conclusion

Overall, I think this mic falls short. It has some cool features that I think can be applied to microphones in the future more successfully, but they don't succeed here. The echo does not allow for enough control to make it a useful effect, the cable is too specialized, and the accessories feel like an afterthought. However, if you are interested, I have included a link to the microphone down below.

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. 

Buy it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Mu2Ods