Microphones will affect your sound, and popular models like Aston Stealth Vs Spirit are great for vocals and suitable for instruments. These microphones sound very similar to each other with a slight difference. They come with some convenient features making the mics versatile for many users. If you wonder which microphone to go for, let’s look at how they compare below.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Why Microphones Sound Different
- What are Aston Stealth and Spirit
- How are the Built Quality of Aston Stealth and Spirit
- How are the Setups of Aston Stealth and Spirit
- How are the Sound Characters of Aston Stealth and Spirit
- What are the Features in Aston Stealth and Spirit
- How are the Performances of Aston Stealth and Spirit
- Aston Stealth Vs Spirit
Microphone Sound
If you have several speakers or smart devices, you must realize that they sound different when playing the same song or music. This is the same as a microphone because both sides of the recording purpose affect how we hear the sound. A microphone is a start where you record the sound, and this equipment will introduce some coloration to, for example, your voice. Some people prefer specific microphones because they complement their voice best, and as our voice or preference varies, the choice of microphone will differ too.
What affects the microphone’s sound is both the unit itself and the setup or environment. The microphone is designed to capture sound, but the way the unit is built makes them sound different from each other. For example, the size and shape of your microphone affect the sound. Larger objects than the wavelength of the sound that strikes the microphone change how the unit interacts with the sound. Microphones also have a grille, and when you touch it, there will be a sound generated as well.
The microphone has a capsule to house the component, including the diaphragm. There are plenty of materials that manufacturers can use to make these small crucial parts, and there are also various methods to construct the unit. All of them can affect how the microphone captures your sound if you are on a journey to find the ideal equipment. We will recommend trying the options first to see which you like better. You can also listen to the samples provided by the company or other users.
| Aston Stealth | Aston Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 10 x 5 x 4 inches | 10 x 5 x 4 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 2.16 pounds | 1 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | click here | click here |
About Aston Stealth and Spirit
There are plenty of microphones to choose from, which can be confusing. The basic usually tells you to consider based on the microphone types or between dynamic and condenser types. Connectivity is also important because not everyone has the same setup, and for some microphones, they will need more equipment to work. We can also shop based on the popular options among similar users, such as whether the mic is for vocals, instruments, speech only, or something that can do everything.
If you like a versatile microphone, the Aston Stealth and Spirit are two ideal options to consider. This British brand is very famous for its high-quality, decently priced microphones. We have talked about Spirit as one of the best large-diaphragm microphones for vocals ad instruments in Avantone CV-12 Vs Aston Spirit. The Stealth is more popular among broadcasters or for recording speech due to its sound character. However, we think the mic is also highly versatile.
The difference between Aston Stealth and Spirit is the sound character and features. They are versatile microphones for different purposes but also sound different. What’s unique is that Stealth offers features to adjust the microphone sound depending on who the user is and what you are recording. We love the male voice of this microphone because it sounds full-bodied and will be great for broadcasting since it is very comfortable to listen to. It has other voice settings if this one does not meet your preference.
On the other hand, Spirit is a popular choice for vocals and acoustic guitars. This microphone is inoffensive in a good way with a more balanced response, so if you like this sound character, the mic is a great choice. We also think it is a better-made microphone as a unit than Stealth, and in performance, it is better. Overall the Aston Stealth and Spirit are modern-sounding microphones ideal for broad applications.
Aston Stealth and Spirit Build Quality
Before checking what the Aston Stealth and Spirit can offer, let’s look at the unit first. Both Aston Stealth and Spirit come in regular cardboard with the mounting and adapter. But, Aston Spirit is more expensive, so it is not surprising to see the box comes with a shock mount and a pop-up filter. The microphones are about the same size, but Stealth is top-addressed while the Spirit is side-addressed, and it will affect how you will mount the mic later.
The Aston Stealth and Spirit are well-made, but they are not the same about build quality. We are happy to say that Spirit is made with a full-metal body and a robust grille. The Stealth most construction is metal, but the top cap or head is plastic, and it is a bit disappointing for something on the price point. Both microphones have built-in features in the unit, and Stealth is placing it at the bottom of the mic, which can be challenging to access.
Aston Stealth and Spirit Setup
Both Aston Stealth and Spirit are good microphones sharing some similarities and differences. Both are condenser microphones, so you will need to hook them into phantom power, such as an audio interface. They will not work with a USB adaptor if you record directly to the computer, so phantom power is necessary. However, this is not a must for Stealth because it works in passive and active mode, meaning no phantom power, no problem, yet it works better with one.
The Stealth is featured with a class-A preamp, which works exactly like a cloud lifter to help the preamp work not as hard. The mic will automatically detect the presence of phantom power or not and switch accordingly.
Sound Character
Now come to the most important part, let’s check the sound character of Aston Stealth and Spirit. We want to mention that Stealth comes with four different recording modes. These modes are V1 for male voice, V2 for female voice, G for guitars, and D for dark sound. The Spirit only has one mode but at three different polar patterns; the polar pattern for Stealth is only cardioid. First, let’s see the difference between modes in Stealth, especially on male and female voices.
We notice that the female voice sounds slightly brighter or has more of a top-end but also harsher at the same time. The setting seems to add more gain to the preset, and subjectively it is not as pleasant for speech compared to the male setting. Next, for the G setting, this adjustment is worse for speech than the female voice setting because it makes your voice harsh and too sharp. As for the dark setting, we are unsure what it will sound suitable.
But, it gives an effect like you are speaking inside cardboard, so it is not suitable for speech or vocals. On the other hand, Spirit is a balanced microphone because it doesn’t boast too much of its frequency range. It is a modern sound with a slight body on the low end and enough brightness to add details and presence to your voice. It is an excellent broadcasting sound but not as warm or full-bodied as the Stealth in a male voice setting.
As for the instruments, we love them for acoustics guitars because they sound bright and open. If you only record the guitar alone, the female voice setting seems like a great option because it can give a slight low end that will improve the overall presence. But, for a band application, the guitar setting is best. Subjectively, we think the female setting for guitar sounds similar to how Spirit captures the guitar sound.
Aston Stealth and Spirit Features
On the features, we mentioned that Aston Stealth comes with several recording functions, and they are versatile for different applications. The difference between one setting and the other is very noticeable, so you can see which sounds ideal for the purpose. This microphone has no polar pattern selections, but it can work with or without phantom power. With phantom power, our preamp doesn’t have to work as hard. On the other hand, Spirit comes with cardioid, figure 8, and omnidirectional.
Aston Stealth and Spirit Performance
Lastly, we have no particular complaints about Aston Stealth and Spirit’s overall performance because they are working well. But we do have some light issues with them, such as the accessories of Spirit are not high-quality, so you may have to buy other third-party products. The Stealth is not as good as Spirit at rejecting plosives along with noise from the mount, so you have to be careful when using it or keep the mount away from any possible bump or movement.
Aston Stealth Vs Spirit
Both Aston Stealth and Spirit are good microphones, depending on which you like better. The difference between Aston Stealth and Spirit is the sound and features. The sound is equally good, but if you prefer something more neutral, the Spirit is suitable. The Stealth, especially the male voice setting, is warmer and has more low-end. They are equally impressive for speech and acoustic guitars but still great for vocals depending on your voice. On the features side, Stealth offers more than Spirit because it can use phantom power or not.
Conclusion
There are so many good microphones, and these two are worth investing in. We recommend Spirit if you prefer a more natural sound or record a guitar. The Stealth sounds better for speech, so it is best for streaming or broadcast purposes. Its first setting is warm, making your voice sound pleasant and comfortable to listen to.