Stellar X2 Vintage Unboxing and Test VS Rode NT1 - Condenser Microphone Under $300

Today we are unboxing the TZ Audio Stellar X2 Vintage Condenser Microphone. This affordable $270 microphone is one of many great options in the $300 and below price range. This microphone is modeled after the classic Neumann u47 FET microphone and it does share some similarities to that microphone legend. The microphone comes with a shock mount and wind filter and is quite sturdy. In this video, we also compare the X2 Vintage to another similarly priced microphone, the Rode NT1.

The signal chain in the audio examples is Microphone - Mogami Gold XLR - Art Pro MPA II Tube Preamp - Line In Apollo X6 - Pro Tools. No processing was used in any of the audio examples.

The guitar featured in this video was the Eastman e20OM.

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TZ Audio X2 Vintage Microphone

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0:00 Introduction to the X2 Vintage
0:58 Unboxing of the X2 & Accessories
6:12 Audio Test Vocals X2 vs Rode NT1
7:11 Audio Test Acoustic Guitar X2 vs Rode NT1
8:11 Conclusion and final thoughts

[techtechuw]

If you can hear the Stellar self noise while recording voice or music instruments in a studio, then its either a defective product or you are doing something wrong. You shouldn''t be hearing any noise unless you crank up the gain by an insane amount and try to whisper to it from 10 meters away. I am using my favorite Sontronics STC-2, which has an 18dba by its specs and even that is not audible if used correctly. One of the most famous Condensers - the Sony C800G is 18dba too, and lots of other extremely expensive mics. If you are recording very quiet sounds like the nature, then less than 10dba is suggested, since you'd often need to raise the gain by a lot.

[reviewersrevival]

The TZ Audio Stellar X2 is very nice, but I much prefer the flat, well-balanced Rode NT-1. The NT-1 has a much smoother top end and much less sibilance-enhancing. The NT-1 doesn’t lack upper frequency response, but it’s smooth and controlled.