Blue Yeti USB Microphone
Last updated: October 25, 2023
Our choice for Best Overall gaming accessory, the Blue Yetie USB Microphone is going to be your best choice. With buttons for easy access control and a place to plug headphones in, this product is super versatile. The zero-latency quality and countless directional options are excellent features to have when gaming either solo or with a crowd.
We looked at the top Laptop Microphones and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Laptop Microphone you should buy.
Product Details
In our analysis of 8 expert reviews, the Blue Yeti USB Microphone
placed 1st when we looked at the top 11 products in the category. For the full ranking,
see below.
From The Manufacturer
Yeti is the most advanced and versatile multi-pattern USB microphone available anywhere. Combining three capsules and four different pattern settings, Yeti is the ultimate tool for creating amazing recordings, directly to your computer. Blue Yeti can capture anything with a clarity and ease unheard of in a USB microphone. Featuring Blue innovative triple capsule array, Yeti can record in stereo or your choice of three other unique patterns, including cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional. Yeti utilizes a high quality A-D converter, a built-in headphone amplifier for zero-latency monitoring, and direct controls for headphone volume, pattern selection, instant mute, and microphone gain. With no drivers to install, Yeti is the most versatile USB mic lighting up the airwaves today.
Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
Physical buttons on the Blue Yeti let you control the microphone’s gain or mute your line. You can also plug your headphones into the mi
The Yeti's quality was clear and full in every test we gave its multiple patterns, though you may want to invest in a pop-shield for the best possible results. Its omni-directional mode captured a room full of chatting people clearly and loudly, the cardioid and bi-directional patterns were pleasingly precise (although you'll need to lean close to the mic to get the best from them), and its stereo pattern is perfect for podcasting, neatly separating multiple voices gathered around a table.
Gain control and headphone output allow for on the go adjustment
It provided the most reliably well-rounded, natural sound out of all the mics we tested―whether on Windows or Mac, or whether recording happened in professional studios or in a small square office.
Whether you're recording a podcast, an interview, or a concert, the Yeti's THX-certified sound quality, integrated gain control, and four recording modes (including stereo) make it a top choice for a USB microphone.
The Blue Yeti is well built, as the exterior is made entirely of metal, with the exception of the knobs and the thumb screws attaching the mic to its base.
The Blue Yeti Pro can be used standalone by connecting via XLR lead through a mixer or interface. That means you are almost getting two microphones for the price of one.
Blue Yeti sounds surprisingly rich for its cost. It is a sensitive mic so be prepared that it will be picking up both wanted and unwanted sounds alike.
What reviewers didn't like
Whether that range of functionality does enough to counter the Yeti's one obvious disadvantage – the fact that you're tethered to a single mic rather than a multi-head setup – is a matter of taste.
The only downside to the form factor (besides the fact that it almost weighs 4 pounds) is that the thumbscrews which connect the mic to the stand come loose pretty easily.
The biggest flaw with the Blue Yeti is not its sound; it's its build. The default stand is sturdy and heavy (2.2 pounds with the mic attached), providing stability and bump resistance. It’s taller than most mics, but still a bit low―fine for an average-height person recording at a computer desktop, tricky if you’re standing or if you’re a tall person.
The wobbly plastic knobs make us wary about durability.
With a 16-bit, 48KHz recording sample rate, it won't satisfy serious audiophiles, but for streamers, podcasters, and semi-serious users, it delivers superb results.
Large and heavy so not very portable
Non-standard size, hard to find a fitting shock mount
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