An Audio (Technica) Upgrade: Can You Hear Me Now?
NOTE: Audio Technica provided products in exchange for this review (but I also bought some before…haha)
Despite my (somewhat) regular foray into podcasting, I hadn’t really explored a proper microphone. I had a Yeti nano that I got a number of years ago on Amazon, and while it did the trick, I was interested in getting a more “proper” setup. After going to PAX West last month, I spent some time at the Audio Technica booth, where I admired their lineup of microphones: particularly the AT2020 model. The base model AT2020 is pretty well known for its affordability and quality. At just $80 (though you can find it at a good deal on ebay and other online vendors), the 2020USB+ has a fantastic combination of durable build, great sound quality and ease of use.
This was the mic that I picked up in an initial bundle when I decided to take the plunge and upgrade my setup a couple of weeks ago:
Also included was a boom stand (for ideal mic setup/placement) and the ATH M20X headphones. I’d been rocking the Omen Mindframe headphones for some time, and while they’ve been good to me these last few years, they were well overdue for a replacement.
Now, you ever buy something or install something and immediately afterwards ask yourself why you didn’t do it years earlier? Yeah, that was pretty much my experience the moment I finished getting my boom set up. It was a super simple process, and clamped onto my desk with ease. Mounting the AT2020USB+, I connected the headphones to the mic and was up and running in about 10-15 minutes.
If you’re interested in content creation - whether it’s streaming, podcasting, making Youtube videos…like with any trade it’s all about having the right tools. This kit definitely made me feel like I was now properly equipped for the task of making content.
The headphones were also solid - crisp audio quality and the lightweight design made it comfortable for extended periods of wear. From the sound of crackling electricity and fire in Lies of P to 30 Seconds to Mars blasting into my earholes, the M20X delivered some great overall performance, and as part of this bargain bundle, I’d say it brought great value.
Now, I had tweeted out when the bundle arrived, and called out Audio Technica because I was excited to test out my new toys. I had previously reached out for some potential review product following PAX West, but hadn’t heard anything back, so I had written that avenue off for the time being.
So you can imagine my pleasant surprise when, a few days ago, a box arrived on my doorstep with some new goodies inside…
First, let’s talk about the microphone - the AT2020USB-X builds upon the build and sound quality of its predecessors, while still maintaining a very competitive price. It also features a handy quick-mute button on the mic, which shifts the internal light from blue to red for a handy visual that uh… you’re on mute.
Similar to the USB2020 and 2020+, the mic features easy audio adjustment knobs on the front, which can control the volume of your connected headphones, as well as the balance between your mic/input volume and your computer volume.
There is no gain control directly on this microphone, which can be a bit of a hassle at times if you need to tweak those settings, but a bit of digging in the Windows device configuration and I was able to get things squared away without too much of a headache.
The cardioid condenser microphone in the 2020USB-X is pretty sensitive, I will say that. It’s important that you have a good setup - positioning the mic near your mouth, ideally in a room with carpeting and/or other items to help create an environment more conducive to recording.
Overall, the quality is great. My buddy Lance helped me test out my new mic the other day (he also got a new microphone - the Shure MV7 - a spectacular microphone in its own right…at about twice the price). Here’s a quick listen:
While I don’t have many direct recordings or tests of my old microphone for comparison’s sake, you can take a listen to this podcast (I have a section around the 5 minute mark) and hear a bit more of a “tinny” sound, not quite as full-sounding as my new-setup, and certainly not as smooth. I’m excited to see what the pop filter does to further enhance the quality, and am confident that this microphone will satisfy my needs in terms of content creation for years to come.
Also included with this awesome microphone was the impressive ATH-G1 premium gaming headset. Designed to provide top-tier quality audio for console or PC gaming, the G1 is priced at $169 - on the higher end of things when it comes to audio headsets. While the materials aren’t quite as luxe as I might expect at this price point, I found it to be extremely comfortable. The generous cushion on the earcups are complemented by a lightweight design that offers stellar sound and comfort.
The headset also has a detachable boom microphone that you are supposed to be able to use to communicate with your gaming pals, but as of this writing I haven’t been able to properly test its quality. I attempted to use the splitter to connect the headphone/mic to my computer, but only picked up static and pops. Unfortunate, but if I’m able to get the mic to work I’ll be sure to share my thoughts on the quality with a follow-up.
A key selling feature of the G1 was the integration of Immerse Gaming’s Embody system - a personalized spatial audio setup that allows you to capture a photo of your ear and craft specific game presets to deliver an optimized audio experience.
I decided to tinker with this system and - admittedly I haven’t experimented too much with spatial audio before - I found that it was pretty awesome. I set up the Awaken Mode while jamming out to the viral video of Chad Smith playing 30 Seconds to Mars and it was as if I was in the studio. Just stellar sound quality.
Jumping back into Lies of P, I turned on the Close Combat mode to get a sense for how close I could feel to the action, and it was compelling. You definitely appreciate good sound design a lot more with a quality pair of headphones.
Besides not being able to really test out the mic, my only other comment would be that I wasn’t a huge fan of the loose cabling on the headset. Again, for the price point I would hope for something a bit more contained/sleek.
Still, minor aesthetics aside, these are seriously some of the best sounding headphones I’ve had the privilege of wearing.
Overall, Audio Technica has really helped me elevate my game - both in delivering smooth, crisp audio through the 2020USB-X, and experiencing the audio of my favorite video games and media through their G1 headset.
You can find these products and many more on Audio Technica’s website here, and we look forward to spotlighting more of their products in the future!
