Three stereo microphones noise and sensitivity comparison.
Shure VP88 – Rode NT4 – Audio Technica BP4025
This recordings include a spoken word from pocket radio at very low volume and ticking alarm clock in 1,6m distance. The volume settings on the radio was so low, the sound was hardly audible with bare ears. Noise from radiator pipeline is audible in the background. Miscellaneous bird life is outside and should be also clearly audible.
Keep in mind. This test is only noise and sensitivity comparison. High sensitivity and low noise is VERY important for nature recordings. This comparison does not give any information how this microphones sounds for music recording or how they withstand high pressure sound level.
See spectrogram and pictures
Quality headphones recommended while listen.
Shure VP88, Rode NT4 and Audio Technica BP4025 direct from recorder. All at same gain level at 55dB.
All three recordings are now independently level normalized up to 0dB.
Links to the products:
Shure VP88
Rode NT4
Audio Technica BP4025
Interesting test Magnus. I’d be interested to hear what your conclusion is. My preference is for the NT4 – but then I’ve got one so I might be biased.
For quiet nature recording I think BP4025 is the BIG success. It is also the smallest and lightest mic in the test.
I will soon continue and make some comparison test between BP4025, Rode NT1a and Sennheiser MKH20 for nature recordings.
That does not mean I do not like NT4. It is perfect for spoken words, guitar and other normal sound pressure level source. So I will continue to choose NT4 on the top of lectern, as usual.
Even the noisy VP88 surprise me in this test. The “stereo image” of VP88 is the best of the test (adj. at „M“ mode). If you switch fast between VP88 and NT4 on the „normalized file“ they sounds pretty equal (without the noise). I have heard recording of very loud performance recorded with VP88 and it sounds really nice.
Thank you very much for this very helpful comparison.
Nice to hear that Dan 🙂
Thank you for the test.
I have the BP-4025 myself and I like it. I use it for nature recordings only, and for the size, price and weight it’s really nice. I would like less noise, but I guess that it would cost more then.
I also use it in a Telinga parabolic dish.
Looking forward to the next test.
I am totally agree with you Hákon, and probably also Des Coulam at Soundlandscapes here above. BP4025 does not sound really nice. NT4 is maybe the winner. But because of the size, wight and low noise, BP4025 is the winner for quiet nature recording.
Used a lot the VP88 for a part of the http://www.k146.org/ project ~ stereo image is fine, but my main problem was dealing with (heavy) handling noise – i’ve never been able to avoid it despite many systems. That’s why i don’t use it anymore.
What about you ? How do you use it ? Boom ? Thanx
I don’t own VP88. In this test it was my friend´s microphone.
If Shure just update this product with lower noise items….and probably make it smaller too, It would be the big success.
Thanks for posting this. There is not enough familiar sound for me to judge which has the most accurate tonality, but the lower noise floor of the ATBP4025 is obvious and, to me, it has the best stereo image.
Great test-very helpful. thanks. I have an NT4 with me to make recordings in west Icleand this coming week, so I will be listening to my results with interest.
Thank you for a very good test! Exactly what I was looking for.
As an Australian I was intending to buy the Rode. But after hearing this comparison I think the Audio Technica is more suitable for my field work in very quiet natural environments…But I still will continue use my „stereo“ XY Rode NT1a’s.
A very useful comparison and sorry it took me so long to come across it. I am a big fan of the BP4025. I often take it with me as a back-up when using more expensive mics. It has never let me down!
I need to make field recording in very quiet places, so I’m interested in a very quiet microphone solution. The BP4025 seems adapt and not too much expensive. Have you tested the new Rode Videomic X? They say 12db of self noise and spatial image should be nice. I haven’t found a noise comparison like yours and I can’t decide.
I just tried the Rode VideoMic X in the field. Sound went bad when the humidity came up.
-Dan
>
No, I have not test Videomic X.
I don´t know what you are going to record, or if you have a quality preamplifer with Phantom power.
If you are just going to use the mic-input in the camera I think VideomicX can be a great mic.
But if you have a quality preamps, then I would recommended a pair of AT4022. With a pair of omni you will have option for wide range of mic setup. Spaced omnies (AB setup), a Jeclin disk and Olsen desk. You can even make your own SASS or Binaural head.
AT4022 is very low noise at acceptable price. The noise is audible equal as MKH20 (you should not take specification numbers too seriously).
You have not a wide selection of quiet mics on the market.
They are:
Rode NT1 and NT1a and probably NT2a
Sennheiser MKH20 and probably MKH8020
Audio Technica AT4022 (and probably BP4025 olso)
If you are going to buy AT4022, you should try to have the serial number as close to each other as possible. I think +/-100 is OK
I have a Fostex FR2-LE recorder and an old Crown SASS-P but it’s too noisy, for this reason a was looking for a quieter microphone solution. I was looking at BP4025 or Videomic X beacuse of their portability but I have to admit I liked the NT1a, a friend borrowed me time ago, I know how it sound. Thank you for your time.
This was an interesting thread as I use the AT4022’s (have also 2 pcs of BP4025 but don’t like the sound) but is pondering to buy a pair of 8020 (!)
Just wondering is the upgrade worth the price as it’s not so small investment for me. The AT’s otherwise nice, but maybe a little dumpy, have to do a eq about +3 to +5 in the upper end.
BTW, very nice the Stalavik sea recording, enjoyed it really!
Jan, Finland
http://www.rupuranta.net
I am agree with you.
I don´t like the sound quality in AudioTecnica either.
But for „quiet recordings“ the sound quality is not the big issue. It is more important the mic can capture the sound without drown everything in electrical self noise.
MKH8020 have much better sound quality, especially if you are going to record music. 8020 have slightly more noise than 4022 and MKH20 but most of the noise is above 15khz.
It is hard for me to advice other to invest in 8020. But I can not be without MKH mics today. I use them everywhere + 4022 and NT1a for quiet recordings.
You get what you pay for 🙂
[…] Источник: Stereo microphone comparison | HLJÓÐMYND — SOUNDIMAGE […]
[…] Stereo microphone comparison | HLJÓÐMYND — SOUNDIMAGE Ссылка на статью с […]