Neewer NW 800 vs Blue Yeti are two very affordable microphones. These are great choices for beginners who are just about to start their career in music, streaming, or podcasting. However, Neewer NW 800 and Blue Yeti have very different designs and features. You need to understand how they differ in order to choose the best mic for your purpose.
Continue reading our discussion below to learn further about:
- The design of Neewer NW 800 vs Blue Yeti
- Which microphone is generally more portable and easier to bring along
- What accessories are included with Neewer NW 800 and Blue Yeti
- The additional features on Neewer NW 800 and Blue Yeti
- The sound quality comparison between Neewer NW 800 and Blue Yeti
- Which microphone is easier to use and more versatile
- Whether you should get Neewer NW 800 or Blue Yeti
Neewer NW 800 vs Blue Yeti: Design
As a matter of fact, Neewer NW 800 is actually one of those cheap mass-produced mics that some companies buy to just put their names on the products before re-selling them. However, this shouldn’t make you underestimate Neewer NW 800. Despite being very cheap, the mic actually has decent quality, and it is very hard to beat Neewer NW 800 in the price range.
Neewer NW 800 is a condenser mic. It is possible to use the mic without phantom power, but Neewer NW 800 performs best when supplied with some voltage. A simple adapter that provides 5V is sufficient to power up the mic. Or, even better, you can plug the mic to an audio interface that provides 48V phantom power. Read also: Blue Yeti vs Blue Yeti X.
The build of Neewer NW 800 feels fairly robust. Both the body and the grill are metallic. The black finish of the body and the golden color of the grill combine into a nice stylish look. The included shock mount is also fairly robust and able to do its job well.
Blue Yeti is quite a different thing. This is a USB condenser microphone designed specifically for streaming and podcasting, and it offers the simplicity of plug-and-play operation. This is a perfect choice for people who don’t want to think too much about how to set up a microphone.
One major benefit of the USB connectivity is that Blue Yeti does not need any additional device to work. All you have to do is plug it to your computer. As a condenser microphone, Blue Yeti indeed requires some sort of power, but this is also supplied via the USB cable.
Blue Yeti is quite larger and heavier than a typical mic, but that’s only because Blue Yeti already includes a stand, a built-in preamp, and a built-in converter, all in a single unit. Blue Yeti has an integrated desktop stand and a bunch of built-in features and controls ready for use.
| Neewer NW 800 | Blue Yeti | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 8.15 x 7.09 x 2.76 inches | 4.9 x 4.7 x 11.6 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1 ounces | 3.2 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | click here | click here |
Neewer NW 800 vs Blue Yeti: Accessories
It is very nice to see the stuff that comes with Neewer NW 800. The price tag is already quite low for a microphone alone, so the included accessories greatly increase the value of Neewer NW 800 even more. That said, there is one essential thing missing.
Neewer NW 800 comes with a shock mount, a stand adapter, a pop filter, an XLR-to-3.5mm cable, and the user manual. Unfortunately, there is no XLR-to-XLR cable, which is actually needed to connect the microphone to your audio interface or mixer. The included XLR-to-3.5mm cable is meant for transferring the output from the audio interface or mixer to your computer.
On the other hand, Blue Yeti does not come with many things, mostly because the microphone itself does not require anything else to start working. Inside the box, you will find the microphone along with a USB cable and the user manual. The USB cable is 3-meter long, which is really nice. The lengthy USB cable will allow you to put your computer at some distance away from the recording area.
Neewer NW 800 vs Blue Yeti: Features
When it comes to features, Neewer NW 800 is a very simple mic. It does not have any additional features like what Blue Yeti offers. On the positive side, the included accessories work well. The shock mount is highly effective for eliminating handling noise, and the pop filter is able to noticeably minimize wind noise and sharp plosive sound.
Blue Yeti, in contrast, comes with several useful features that enhance the mic’s usability and versatility. First of all, it has a 3.5mm headphone output that is located beside the USB port. This will allow you to perform direct monitoring on the mic’s sound. Then, on the front, there is a control knob for adjusting the volume of the headphone output. There is also a mute button, which is very handy for quickly disabling and enabling the mic’s sound.
On the back, there are two control knobs. The first one is for adjusting the mic’s gain. The second one is for selecting the polar pattern. Thanks to having three built-in condenser capsules, Blue Yeti is able to switch between cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo polar patterns to suit different conditions and purposes.
As a result, Blue Yeti is very easy to use. When streaming or podcasting, the built-in controls are very useful – you won’t need to switch windows to adjust the mic’s settings, you can do that right on the mic. The integrated stand enables the mic to sit neatly on your desk. With the adjustable polar pattern, you can use this mic for doing interviews, group discussions, and music recording.
Neewer NW 800 vs Blue Yeti: Performance
Performance-wise, Neewer NW 800 is good. One may be tempted to say the performance is impressive, considering the price of the mic. The thing is, if you give Neewer NW 800 enough power, you will be rewarded with bright, accurate, and highly detailed sound.
Neewer NW 800 has a frequency response range of 20 Hz – 16 kHz. It has a tendency to put more focus on mids and highs, and the bass is relatively subdued. This makes the microphone particularly suitable for recording vocals in music, especially if the singer’s voice is in the tenor or alto range. The microphone also works well for recording narratives and podcasts.
Neewer NW 800 is sensitive. It is able to capture plenty of fine details within the pick-up angle. However, it doesn’t capture sound from the rear side. Also, if you try to use the mic without supplying power, it will sound very quiet, so powering up the mic is very important.
The performance of Blue Yeti is great and very comparable to its competitor here. It has a frequency response range of 20 Hz – 20 kHz, so it is able to handle higher notes better. The sound character is similar that Blue Yeti also puts more focus on mids and highs, with subdued bass. It works really well for streaming, podcasting, and recording audio for other types of online content.
Although Blue Yeti does not claim to be a professional studio microphone – and we shouldn’t really compare it against such models – it is able to record vocals and musical instruments just fine. It has high sensitivity, and it can capture fine details really well. However, this also means that the microphone is rather prone to environmental noise, so you need to prepare your recording room accordingly.
Neewer NW 800 vs Blue Yeti
Conclusion
Both are very good, affordable microphones. However, Blue Yeti is generally more recommended because of a few reasons. First, it is much easier to use. It has an integrated desktop stand, built-in controls, and plug-and-play USB connectivity. Second, the adjustable polar pattern makes it more versatile. Third, it has a wider frequency response range and provides great performance. Neewer NW 800 is only recommended if you prefer the XLR connectivity for use with an audio interface or mixer.