Samson C01 Condenser Microphone
When it comes to condenser microphones, you have a plethora of choice, yet one stands out among the crowd. The Samson C01 condenser microphone may well be the best one that no one is talking about. You will have a hard time finding a condenser microphone with more positive reviews at such a low price.
Best Bang for your Buck.
One of its core advantages is its affordability. Both end customers and experts are raving about the quality you get for the low cost of this microphone. Typically this large diaphragm condenser microphone costs around $70. Make no mistake, this is a lot cheaper than similar products.
It’s only natural that people look at the price tag and assume it will not perform to the high standards they need their microphones to perform at. But that’s far from the case here. You won’t compete with high end mics necessarily, but that’s not what the Samson C01 was built for. It simply is a great microphone that people on a budget can purchase for recordings that don’t necessarily need to sound like they were recorded in a professional studio.
Standout Feature.
Obviously the Samson C01 microphone has everything you would want from a condenser mic. It’s large diaphragm produces a rather smooth flat frequency response. This is true for most good condenser microphones, but the C01 at the same time is very forgiving in recording, for example when you work with a singer who moves a lot. There’s simply not much loss in volume to the sides of the mic. The C01 outperforms most average large diaphragm mic in that regard. It seems like a small detail, but it beats having to constantly adjust the microphone in order for it to sound good.
Durable.
The Samson C01 is also extremely well-built and durable. It is about as rock solid as microphones come, which means it stands the test of time. Most users had it for years and it’s still working flawlessly. It will last for many years without loss in sound quality, which make it a great sustainable choice if you are just starting out and continue using it as an option the years to come.
Accessories.
The Samson C01 works great by itself, but we suggest adding a few accessories that will make recording with it even better. Most reviews suggest the Samson SP01 Spider Shockmount and a decent pop filter. When you use the C01 with Spider Shockmount and a pop filter, we can assure you it will exceed your wildest expectations.
Conclusion
So why is no one talking about the Samson C01, when most customer and expert reviews rave about it? In my eyes it’s mostly due to the price. Larger sized condenser microphones which are listed under the price of $100 simply don’t get the attention they deserve. The common assumption is that cheaper studio microphones won’t produce studio-quality recordings. Some microphones like the Shure SM57 managed to cement its position as a low budget go-to mic. But aside from the SM57 most people in the market for a good microphone won’t even bother to look at anything under the $100 mark.
Another option is also the Shure SM58, for a similar price. This article breaks down the differences between the Shure SM57 vs SM58.
This is not to convince you that the Samson C01 is the end all be all of condenser microphones, but I hope I got you to consider it before spending a ton of money on a product that essentially works and sounds just the same as the Samson.
