Excelvan

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

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Versus Series: BM-8000 vs NW-1500

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These two mics have very different numberings, but they are placed in the exact same body. Again, the Excelvan out shines the Neewer in terms of specifications, however, unlike the last three versus series, the Excelvan actually wins.

Not only is the Excelvan about $10 cheaper than the Neewer microphone, but it has a much better sound. The frequency response captures all the way up to 20kHz, and the low end is not overly boomy.

All around the BM-8000 is a better sounding microphone, and it saves you so money too!

Buy the BM-8000: http://amzn.to/1QPnbXZ
Buy the NW-1500: http://amzn.to/1M0DLVR

BM-8000

  • Price: $28.00
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid

NW-1500

  • Price: $38.00
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 16kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
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Versus Series: BM-800 vs NW-800

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BM-800

  • Price: $28.00
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid

NW-800

  • Price: $27.00
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 16kHz
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid

In the second installment of the Versus Series, we had a much closer match. Based on the specifications, once again the BM-800 should have won. But when it comes down to actual performance, the victor was the NW-800.

The sound quality between these two microphones was very close, however, the NW-800 provided a slightly cleaner tone. This was apparent in the acoustic guitar performance, as well as electric guitar performance. 

Although the NW-800 is limited in the frequency response arena, I believe that it makes up for in a tighter, and less boomy low end, and cleaner all around tone. 

Buy the NW-800: http://amzn.to/1pFyYiK
Buy the BM-800: http://amzn.to/22e7FKa

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

Excelvan BM-800 Mic Test / Review

It's Tuesday which means it's time for another microphone test / review. One of our viewers "Ugly Potato" has requested that I test out the Excelvan BM-800 which is what I am doing.

What's in the Box

First lets cover what comes in the box.

  1. Cardioid Condenser Microphone (XLR)
  2. Microphone Shock mount
  3. Microphone Cable (XLR to 3.5mm)
  4. Ball Pop Filter
  5. User Manual / Spec Sheet

I do want to remind you that it does not include a microphone stand. It only includes the shock mount. Therefore you will need to invest in a microphone stand, and you can pick one up for about $13 (Neewer Boom Stand).

Performance / Features

This microphone states that it requires 48v of phantom power, however, I have completed multiple tests using a USB audio adapter (which provides a maximum of 5v to the microphone) and it seems to work perfectly fine. It DOES require some amount of power to function, and plugging it directly into your computers microphone port will not work (at least that's what I'm told from many viewers).

This microphone boasts a uni-directional polar pattern, and it works relatively well at isolating the sound source from background noise. The frequency response is 20Hz - 20KHz, and it does a really nice job of capturing the audio.

Conclusion

To be blunt about it, this mic sounds good. It doesn't just sound good for a $40 mic, it just sounds good for a mic. I did notice that this mic is quite a bit brighter than your typical American microphone, but a difference in tonality is to be expected. Basically, this mic produces a lot more high end than a Shure SM7b. If you want to hear a sample, check out the video above; the whole video was recorded with the microphone.

Overall, this mic is a great starting podcast microphone, especially if you are on a budget. But before picking it up, make sure that your recording device can supply power to the mic, or just pick up a USB Audio Adapter (the one I use is linked below). If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments on this site or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP.

BM-800 on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1LGYo7Z
USB Audio Adapter on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Pe0uyq