Gearank

Gearank High Notes

• 2019.10: Highest Rated USB Condenser Mic Under $100
• 2018.02: Equal Highest Rated USB Condenser Mic Under $100
  Tied With:
  Samson Meteor Mic
  

Gearank Recommendation

The C01U Pro appeared on our recommended list for USB Microphones from November 2017 through to March 2021.

It also appeared on our list for Condenser Mics Under $100 from February 2018 until March 2022 when it was out-ranked by other mics.

Overview

The first generation Samson C01U was the first USB condenser microphone on the market when it came out in 2005.

Its successor, the C01U Pro improves upon the original mic with a built-in headphone amplifier for latency-free monitoring and improved signal-to-noise ratio.

It comes with a large (19mm) internal shock mounted diaphragm and a hypercardioid polar pattern that allows for good sonic detail capture and good background noise rejection.

It's is housed in a solid die-cast form factor with a heavy gauge mesh grill with a shock-mounted element within for minimizing handling noise/vibrations while recording.

And includes a tripod stand and swivel mount for desktop use.

Compatibility

USB Class Compliant
Windows: Windows 8 or higher
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher
iPad (cable included)

Suitable For

Home Recording, Mobile/Field Recording, Voiceovers, Podcasting, Streaming, and Content Creation.

If you're looking for a mic that can get you started while being versatile and clear enough for more professional applications, the C01U Pro will take you a long way before needing any sort of upgrade.

Tech Specs

• Type: Condenser
• Polar Pattern: Super-cardioid
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 18kHz
• Sampling Rate: 44.1/48kHz
• Bit Depth: 16 bit
• Maximum SPL: 130 dB
• Power Requirements: USB bus powered via Mac, PC or iPad

Polar Pattern

Frequency Response