This is the review of the comparison between two microphones from two different brands such as the Blue and the Rode. The comparison here is between the Blue Spark SL and the Rode NT1-A. There is around eighty dollars difference in their price range and for the more pricey, you do get extra accessories and better performances. To know which one is good to buy, go to the detailed review.

Blue Spark SL	Rode NT1-A
BUY NOW	BUY NOW
PROS	PROS
Sounds Great. Great mic response. Amazing clarity. XLR connection for pro users. Natural and smooth sound on vocal. Applications are Flexible. Well priced. 100Hz high pass filter. -29 dB output signal.	Well balanced and detailed sound. Excellent Built quality. Reasonable price. Polar pattern and pad control fully variable. Comes with a shock mount and rigid case. Low self-noise.
CONS	CONS
Expensive. Bulky Stand. Picks up the Ambient noise.	Low-quality Pop filter. Hard case missing. Heavy due to all-metal body. To provide phantom power It requires another device.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Detail Review:

INTRODUCTION:

Blue Spark SL

The Blue Spark SL is another version microphone from the Spark line-up microphones. this microphone is retailing for around two hundred dollars currently on amazon. This is an XLR microphone therefore it needs an audio interface to get it connected. This microphone features the unidirectional polar pattern which is also known as the cardioid pattern.

Rode NT1-A

The Rode NT1-A is an XLR microphone and it is also the original version of the NT line-up microphones from the Rode. This is a mic that you can use for voiceover or for vlogging, anything along those lines. The Rode NT1-A is a mic that’s been out for a number of years over 10 years. It is a pretty good microphone which retails for around two hundred and eighty dollars currently on amazon.

DESIGN:

Blue Spark SL

On the microphone, you’ll notice that we have a high pass filter switch, and we have a negative 20 dB pad. In terms of build quality, there’s no flex on the grill. I also wanted to mention that this mic is a little bit smaller than the Bluebird SL and the Babybottle SL. It’s just a really nice sleek looking microphone, no complaints with the build quality.

Rode NT1-A

In terms of build quality, I think it’s pretty top-notch especially for the amount you pay for it. The body itself is very solid metal, I believe it’s brass so even if you drop it, it’s not likely to dent a whole lot, it might get some scratch. The grille itself up there at the top is pretty good, it seems pretty sturdy I’ve never had any problems. I think it would do a pretty decent job protecting the capsule which is inside of it.

FEATURES:

Blue Spark SL

The package is absolutely beautiful, and inside the box, you are going to get a wooden box that contains your microphone itself, a manual, a photo of the original Spark SL, you get a Blue sticker and a freaking shock mount. You can definitely tell the quality of a product by its packaging and the wooden box in that looks great and it’s got the Blue logo right there on it. Inside that wooden box, you do get a quality control certificate and your microphone itself.

This is a cardioid mic, it has a frequency response from 20 hertz to 20 kilohertz, and because it is a condenser mic it does require phantom power. I actually fell in love with this microphone, this is a Blue Spark SL. The Blue Spark SL is actually involved gears to a vocalist and lives instrument and if you don’t know, it is actually made for a great voice microphone. It looks beautiful, once you set it all up, it looks great. With a complete setup with the armbar and everything, it looks absolutely beautiful. The overall quality of it is absolutely stunning, I’m really happy with its construction. 

Rode NT1-A

This particular one has an XLR connector to it, so it’s made for use with an audio interface or a field recorder that takes an XLR input. For $229, it comes with the microphone itself, it comes with a shock mount which is isolated from the vibrations of the mic stand itself, it comes with a pop filter and it also comes with a leather pouch which is actually kind of a nice touch.

All mics have their internal circuitry and that internal circuitry makes a little bit of it introduces a tiny bit of noise to the overall signal that you capture and record. One claim that Rode makes about this mic is that it is the quietest mic in terms of self-noise in the industry. The shock mount is very helpful for isolating the microphone from the stands, so that’s going to reduce some of the rumblings that you might capture if someone accidentally bumps the stand, or there’s some other set of vibration in the room, or on stage or wherever you’re using it. It also comes with a pop filter which is very helpful for preventing that noise you get when you talk into a microphone and you say the letter P or B. What happens when you say those are there’s a little bit of a puff of air that comes out of your mouth and that can really kind of overwhelm the microphone.

PERFORMANCE:

Blue Spark SL

This microphone performs its function really well for the price. If you move in up closer to the mic, you will start to get the proximity effect and it will get very sensitive, more response in the lower frequencies. If you back up almost a meter obviously, it’s a lot quieter but you also start to pick up a lot more of the room noise. So, it’s kind of the optimal range for this mic. I found if you’re going to be working in a room that isn’t acoustically treated and that’s almost every one of us in most of our houses or apartments or wherever we live, we’re going to be working environments where we need to get up pretty close on this mic like six to eight inches to get good sound quality out of this.

Rode NT1-A

It sounds pretty good and one really important thing to consider when you’re looking at a mic considering whether to buy it is its frequency response chart and what that refers to is, it shows you how sensitive a mic is to sound at different frequencies. The frequency response curve followed that center line exactly all the way across that would be like a perfect mic in terms of sounding perfectly natural, it wouldn’t emphasize or de-emphasize any particular frequencies.

WHICH TO BUY?

In my opinion, the Rode NT1-A is a fantastic mic for the money to buy for you as you get a shock mount, you get a pop filter, you get a dust cover, and you get a can XLR cable it comes with it, so all you need beyond that is your audio interface. If you’re looking for your first mic for voice over you want something that’s pretty neutral, under most circumstances like it can be used with a variety of different voices, in a variety of different situations, and getting a pretty good overall recording then the Rode NT1-A is a good choice for you than the Blue Spark SL. The Blue Spark SL mic is probably better suited for someone those have a lot of sizzlings in their voice.

Expert Reviews of Blue Spark SL:

By gear diary
That microphone I’m speaking about is Blue’s Blackout Spark SL. A tried and true condenser microphone, my use of this particular microphone does come with a disclaimer: While it’s not a DYNAMIC microphone (which is more ideal for recording podcasts both solo and with groups), the Blue Spark SL is…

By music connection
Blue Microphones Blackout Spark SL is a cardioid (only) condenser microphone designed for professional recording, podcasts, drum recording–really just about any application you can think of as I found out myself in the…

By performer may
Housed on top of the satin red housing is a well-guarded condenser capsule that functions in a cardioid pattern. The only variables are a 100Hz Hi-pass filter, as well as a -20Db Pad. It’s fairly universal, working well with pretty much any acoustic…

By GADGETYNEWS
I have no qualms in saying that, if you are serious about podcasting, game casting, radio presenting, or want to up your home music recording game, then the Blue Blackout Spark SL will not disappoint. Yes, I do like the black finish, but my love for this mic is more than…

By techguysmartbuy
The original Spark SL came out earlier this year and more recently the Blackout version has arrived. The Blackout Spark SL being more on the pro-side than the entry-level side, it doesn’t feel like it. This is a super-lightweight mic…

Expert Reviews of Rode NT1-A

By sound review
The Rode NT1A produces quality results on a budget. It has low self-noise, a reasonably high SPL rating, and is suitable for use on both vocals and a range of instruments. The tone of the mic is considered pleasant by many although there are…

By sound on sound
Rode’s new designs have really increased expectations of what can be achieved in microphones at this UK price, particularly when it comes to circuit noise — they are typically 6-10dB quieter than most of the competition. You don’t get the fudgy warmth of a tube mic or even a transformer-coupled model, but…

By musicianonamission
The NT1 is a large-diaphragm condenser mic from the folks over at RODE Microphones. The large-diaphragm condenser is considered to be the clearest of all the microphones. It’s very sensitive to sound, meaning it…

By MusicRadar
The NT1 has a sleek, fuss-free, and clean design – with no switches for the bass roll-off or a pad. It is finished in a very dark shade of grey. The machined aluminum body is nickel-plated to resist corrosion, while a military-grade ceramic coating…

By SOUNDGUYS
The Rode NT1-A is still a best seller for a reason. If you’re looking for a good condenser mic to record vocals, this is a good choice whether you’re upgrading to your first XLR microphone or replacing an old one in your studio…