Name: Rode NT1
Brand: Rode
SKU: fedb0376-51a1-4d1a-8dbc-e51243e46479
Rating: 9.9 (1749 reviews)

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The Rode NT1 is a high-quality studio condenser microphone that is particularly well-suited for recording vocals and acoustic guitars. It produces cle... more

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Experts prefer Rode NT1 over Sennheiser MD 421 II

On 3 Jan 2025 (11 months ago) we went through 92 Microphone expert endorsements .

Currently, Rode NT1 received 2 endorsements from PCMag (26 Nov 2024) and Music Radar (26 Jun 2024). Meanwhile, Sennheiser MD 421 II did not receive any endorsements this month.

Rank	Change	Price	Microphone	IGN	PCMag	MusicTech	Music Radar	PianoDreamers	PC Gamer	SoundGuys	CNN Underscored	Tom's Guide	Wirecutter
16	+1	Check price	Rode NT1 The Rode NT1 is a high-quality studio condenser microphone with a wide frequency response range, low self-noise, cardioid polar pattern, dual connectivity options, and durable construction, making it a versatile and reliable choice for recording vocals and acoustic guitars.	-	6	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	-
N/A	N/A	$399	Sennheiser MD 421 II	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Curious to see this month's entire Microphones ranking? It's here

About our ranking methodology

Endorsement summary:

On 26 Nov 2024 PCMag ranked Rode NT1 as #6

Rank Microphone Comment

... ... ...

#6 out of 8 Rode NT1
Best for USB and XLR Inputs

... ... ...

Source: www.pcmag.com
On 26 Jun 2024 Music Radar ranked Rode NT1 as #6

Rank Microphone Comment

... ... ...

#6 out of 22 Rode NT1
The best affordable condenser mic for vocals

... ... ...

Source: www.musicradar.com

MetaRanking Common points from expert reviews summarized.

As can be seen below, Rode NT1 is mentioned by key experts in Jan 2025, while Sennheiser MD 421 II is not.

Rank	Change	Price	Microphone	IGN	PCMag	MusicTech	Music Radar	PianoDreamers	PC Gamer	SoundGuys	CNN Underscored	Tom's Guide	Wirecutter
1	-	$100	Blue Yeti The Blue Yeti microphone is a versatile and durable device with four directional patterns, a built-in headphone jack, and compatibility with a wide range of devices and software, making it a popular choice among content creators, podcasters, and gamers.	-	-	11	-	-	-	-	1	1	-
2	-	$99	Shure SM57 The Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded for its exceptional sound quality, durability, versatility, and compatibility, making it a popular choice among musicians, producers, and recording engineers for capturing instruments and vocals in various live and studio settings.	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-
3	-	$120	Elgato Wave 3 The Elgato Wave 3 is a versatile and reliable USB microphone designed for content creators, podcasters, and live streamers, featuring a cardioid polar pattern, two connectivity options, advanced features, and compatibility with both PC and Mac.	8	-	-	-	-	-	1	3	-	-
4	+12	$279	Shure MV7 Plus	5	7	-	-	-	6	-	-	3	-
5	-1	Check price	Blue Yeti X	1	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
6	-1	$149	Shure MV6	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	4	-
7	-1	$297	SteelSeries Alias Pro	3	4	-	-	-	7	-	-	-	-
8	-1	$399	Shure SM7B The Shure SM7B is a highly regarded dynamic microphone that delivers exceptional sound quality, particularly for recording vocals, with its wide frequency response range, flat frequency response, presence boost, and effective noise isolation.	-	-	10	12	8	-	-	-	-	-
9	-1	$35	Razer Seiren Mini The Razer Seiren Mini microphone is praised for its sound quality, directionality, and compatibility, making it a highly recommended choice for clear and focused audio recording in various applications.	-	-	-	-	-	2	5	-	-	-
10	-1	$186	Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set The Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set is a USB microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, frequency response range of 20Hz to 20kHz, and several useful features, making it a great choice for streamers, podcasters, and content creators.	-	3	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-
14	-	$119	HyperX QuadCast S The HyperX QuadCast S is a versatile and reliable USB microphone suitable for podcasting, streaming, gaming, and vocal recording, with four polar patterns, built-in pop filter and noise reduction technology, and two connectivity options.	6	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-
15	-	$279	Shure MV7 The Shure MV7 microphone is a versatile and adaptable option for podcasters, streamers, and content creators, offering excellent sound quality, noise-cancelling capabilities, and connectivity options.	-	-	4	8	-	-	-	-	-	-
16	+1	Check price	Rode NT1 The Rode NT1 is a high-quality studio condenser microphone with a wide frequency response range, low self-noise, cardioid polar pattern, dual connectivity options, and durable construction, making it a versatile and reliable choice for recording vocals and acoustic guitars.	-	6	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	-
17	+1	$449	Electro-Voice RE20 The Electro-Voice RE20 is a dynamic broadcast microphone with exceptional sound quality, advanced noise reduction features, and a wide frequency range, making it a versatile and reliable choice for professional audio recording and broadcasting applications.	-	-	8	13	-	-	-	-	-	-
18	+1	$3595	Neumann U87 Ai The Neumann U87 Ai is a top-of-the-line condenser microphone that delivers warm, crystal-clear, and detailed sound quality, making it ideal for recording vocals, acoustic guitar, and spot microphones for individual instruments in a sound-treated recording space.	-	-	13	-	11	-	-	-	-	-
Show all rows

Expert Reviews There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

Expert reviews [16]

84

Total expert reviews: 16

with a score: 5
without a score: 11

Highest score by microphonegeeks.com	100
Average score based on 16 reviews	84
Lowest score by Tom's Hardware	70

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

Expert reviews [6]

95

Total expert reviews: 6

with a score: 3
without a score: 3

Highest score by Music Critic	100
Average score based on 6 reviews	95
Lowest score by shout4music.com	90

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

From Seller:

Extremely Low-noise Large-diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone with SM6 Combination Shock Mount Pop Screen
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From Seller:

Rugged professional microphone with clear sound reproduction, excellent for most recording conditions and broadcast applications
Large diaphragm, dynamic element handles high sound pressure levels, making it a natural for recording guitars and drums
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