CAD U37 vs Blue Snowball - Comparison and Review
Jan 12, 2022
Looking for a comparison and review of the CAD U37 vs Blue Snowball? If so, you've come to the right place.
Over the years, many budget microphones have been released to the market. Two of the most popular budget products are the Blue Snowball and the CAD U37. But which of these microphones are the better option for content creators?
In this article, you will learn:
Blue Snowball vs CAD U37
Which One Should You Buy?
Read on and learn everything you need to know about both the Blue Snowball and the CAD U37 microphone.
Blue Snowball vs CAD U37
Since they're both budget products with similar features, the Blue Snowball and the CAD U37 are often compared to each other. The thing is, they have some differences between them. Depending on your needs, these differences might sway you to purchase one over the other.
Blue Snowball
The Blue Snowball is one of the most popular microphones among content creators. It has been around for many years now and is the most recommended budget option for beginners. While it is a decent product, there are some downsides that one should be aware of.
Specifications and Features
- Capsule: Condenser
- Polar Pattern(s): Cardioid or Omnidirectional
- Frequency Response: 40-18 kHz
- Dimensions: 4.87" x 7.87" x 10"
- Weight: 1.01lbs (0.45kg)
Is It Good?
Upon holding this microphone, it's easy to see why it's a budget option. Maybe it's the shape, or maybe it's the fact that it's all plastic (aside from the metal mesh grille). Regardless, this mic does not have a premium feel to it- but it costs less than $100.00, so that's expected.
Sound-wise, it sounds decent. The cardioid polar pattern is the mode that should be used to capture audio. Omnidirectional picks up far too much background noise to make it an option worth using (unless you're recording multi-person audio).
Speaking of background noise, this microphone picks up a lot of it. As was mentioned above, omnidirectional picks up the most noise. However, the cardioid mode also picks up a lot of noise. So, it would be ideal to record audio in a quiet environment.
If you're looking for an affordable microphone that can capture decent-sounding audio, the Snowball is a good pick. However, it should be noted that it picks up a lot of background noise and has no zero-latency monitoring, so it'll need to be used in a good environment.
Pros
- Ease of use
Cons
- No zero-latency monitoring
- Build quality
- Background noise
CAD U37
While it hasn't been as popular among content creators for as long as the Snowball, the CAD U37 is another one of the most recommended budget microphones for beginners. Like the Snowball, it has some issues that affect the recording quality of audio captures.
Specifications and Features
- Capsule: Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Dimensions: 7" x 9" x 2.50"
- Weight: 2lbs (0.90kg)
Is It Good?
It's easy to see why so many people would be attracted to the CAD U37. It's an affordable product and it's also beginner-friendly. However, after testing this microphone out, it's easy to see why it has such a small price tag.
Put simply, this microphone is loud. Even with the -10db switch turned on, it's still far too sensitive. This is an issue because it captures a lot of background noise, which affects audio quality greatly.
For sensitive microphones, zero-latency monitoring is a must-have. Unfortunately, this mic does not have this feature. So, this makes it difficult to adjust audio recording levels on the go, which is something that should be done to ensure the best quality audio is recorded.
The build quality of this product isn't terrible, but it does feel cheap. The mesh grille does flex when pushed, so it's important not to drop this product. Along the same lines, the body is made of plastic, so you need to make sure it doesn't fall on the floor by accident.
Pros
Cons
- Lack of control
- No zero-latency monitoring
- Background noise
Which One Should You Buy?
At this point, you're probably wondering- which microphone should you buy? Should you go with the more popular, proven Snowball? Or, should you take a chance on the lesser-known CAD U37?
Of these two mics, the best option is the Blue Snowball. It's a more proven product and features more flexibility than the CAD U37. Also, the build quality of the Snowball is better than the U37.
With the Snowball, you can use a pop filter and mic stand to help reduce background noise, whereas the U37 will capture noise regardless due to how sensitive it is. Meaning, one product can be improved upon, while the other cannot.
At the end of the day, both of these products have a similar price. You're much better off purchasing the product that can be improved through the addition of equipment and post-processing than the one that cannot.
Conclusion
You now know everything you need to know about the CAD U37 vs Blue Snowball microphones. The U37 might look like an attractive option, but in most cases, the Snowball is a better option for content creators looking to record high-quality audio.
