Audio-Technica AT2005USB Review | 76 Data compared

The Audio-Technica AT2005USB is a budget-friendly dynamic microphone that stands out for its versatile dual connectivity, offering both USB and XLR outputs. Tested by experts at MusicRadar, this plug-and-play mic costs £79 / $79 and targets entry-level podcasters, streamers, and gamers. Its core strengths lie in its simple operation and excellent ability to reject background noise, making it a great tool for direct vocal speech. It features a simple black cylinder design with a clean metal grille, a 3.5mm headphone jack for built-in volume monitoring, and an overall solid weight that feels sturdy on a desktop. However, the review highlights some drawbacks, noting that the microphone is getting older and faces heavy competition from newer models. The biggest physical complaint is the flimsy, plasticky on/off slider switch, which feels cheap and could break over time. Additionally, it lacks an internal shock-mount system, meaning it does not handle being moved around or touched during a recording very well. Finally, because it is a dynamic mic rather than a sensitive condenser mic, it lacks fine acoustic nuance and requires a decent amount...

The Audio-Technica AT2005USB is a highly versatile, budget-friendly dynamic microphone that earns a 9.0/10 score for its strong performance in voice-based applications. Priced under $100, its standout feature is a hybrid dual-connection design providing both USB digital output for direct computer recording and XLR analog output for live stage setups or audio interfaces. It features a cardioid polar pattern that excel at blocking ambient background noise from the sides and rear, paired with a durable metal construction and a low-mass diaphragm that delivers a smooth 50Hz–15kHz frequency response. These features make it highly recommended for entry-level podcasters, streamers, and gamers who work in untreated home environments. However, the reviewer highlights a few notable drawbacks, primarily its low audio output. Being a quiet dynamic microphone, it requires a significant amount of gain to achieve optimal volume levels, which may force users to invest in a gain booster or fix the levels via compression effects in post-production. Additionally, the microphone lacks an internal shock mount, meaning it fails to manage desktop vibrations or handling noise effectively despite being packaged with a desktop...

The Audio-Technica AT2005USB is highly recommended as a versatile, budget-friendly microphone ($50) offering both USB and XLR connectivity, delivering a clean, punchy sound superior to many, more expensive, dynamic models. Key advantages include its high output efficiency—which reduces mixer noise—and convenient hardware features like a built-in headphone monitor and volume control. However, the microphone has a bright sound profile that lacks low-end warmth, often requiring external equalization to achieve a fuller voice recording. Additionally, while efficient, its cardioid polar pattern is noted to be less focused than more expensive alternatives, though it remains a strong performer for its price point.

The Audio-Technica AT2005USB is reviewed as a highly versatile, all-purpose cardioid dynamic microphone that excels in both field and studio applications. A major pro of this device is its dual-connectivity framework, featuring both XLR and USB outputs that seamlessly accommodate different setups, from direct computer recording to live PA system integration. It delivers crystal clear, dynamic vocal tones and features a built-in headphone jack with dedicated volume controls for easy monitoring. Additionally, the cardioid polar pattern is highly effective at reducing ambient background noise, and the microphone's adaptable design allows it to respond exceptionally well to various placements, even when miking a guitar amplifier. For hands-free workflows like podcasting or voiceovers, the package provides a highly convenient tripod desk stand. In terms of disadvantages, the review subtly points out that the microphone relies heavily on specific placements to achieve the best results when handling instruments like guitar amps. While it serves as an excellent all-around solution, users tracking instruments may need to spend extra time experimenting with positioning to get the ideal sound. Furthermore, the included desk tripod, while convenient...

The Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB and AT2005USB are budget-friendly, dual-output dynamic microphones featuring both analog (XLR) and digital (USB) connectivity. Head-to-head testing reveals that the sonic distinctions between the two models are negligible, sharing the same capsule, technical specifications, and general audio performance, which means buyers should choose between them based strictly on pricing and cosmetic preferences. A major advantage highlighted in the review is their impressive tone and accurate vocal representation for the price, making them highly versatile options that remain useful as a user expands from a basic USB setup to professional XLR outboard gear. However, the review details notable drawbacks, particularly regarding the onboard 16-bit USB performance. The digital output introduces an unpleasant high-frequency hiss that adds roughly 5dB of noise above 5kHz compared to using the cleaner XLR output with an external analog preamp. Furthermore, a surprising technical anomaly was discovered where the digital USB output exhibits inverted polarity (out of phase) compared to the analog XLR track. Both microphones also suffer from inadequate built-in wind protection, showing a high sensitivity to plosives at close range, which necessitates...

In a ProVideo Coalition review, author Allan Tépper compares the Audio-Technica AT2005USB dynamic microphone and the budget-friendly Plantronics.Audio 326 headset, justifying the "unfair" comparison by focusing on mobile, multi-track audio solutions. The evaluation highlights the AT2005USB's superior audio quality, featuring a cardioid design that offers excellent vocal isolation via USB or balanced XLR connections, though it is heavier and requires more desk space. Conversely, the Plantronics headset offers high portability and low-cost audio capture, but suffers from a fragile, easy-to-break plastic design and reliance on plugin power.

The Audio-Technica ATM610a is a traditional dynamic handheld microphone designed with a hypercardioid pick-up pattern limited to 100 degrees, making it highly effective at rejecting off-axis feedback from sources like in-ceiling speakers. It features a frequency response of 40Hz to 16kHz, with a 6dB bump around 4kHz to accentuate voice intelligibility and a smaller bump at 12kHz that introduces "air" to the performance. Reviewer John McJunkin highlights the mic's tight directionality and excellent sound quality as its standout pros. However, a notable con shared by both evaluated models is that the metal grip area is overly slippery, making a rubberized surface a preferable alternative. The ATM610a is priced at a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $259, with a street price around $149. The Audio-Technica AT2005USB is a highly versatile cardioid dynamic microphone tailored for speech applications like podcasting and field-recording. Its core advantage lies in dual connectivity, housing both a traditional 3-pin XLRM connector and a USB Mini B jack, accompanied by a 3.5mm headphone jack with an integrated volume control for real-time monitoring. Its frequency response spans 50Hz...

This ProVideo Coalition review by Allan Tépper evaluates hybrid XLR/USB/iPad dynamic microphones, such as the Audio-Technica AT2005USB, highlighting their high-quality internal preamps and analog-to-digital converters. A key advantage is the ability to achieve broadcast-ready sound and bypass expensive external preamps, dispelling the myth that dynamic microphones inherently produce lower quality. ProVideo Coalition The review confirms the flexibility of recording at 48 kHz via USB with iPad compatibility and praises the inclusion of zero-latency monitoring. However, limitations include the need for manual software configuration to switch sample rates and a maximum USB resolution of 16-bit, which is lower than the 24-bit potential of the analog XLR configuration. Medium ·

iOS 7 introduced a significant, unannounced update allowing iPhones and iPod Touches to support external USB microphones and audio interfaces, a capability previously restricted to iPads and desktops. This enhancement enables high-quality, direct digital recording by bypassing internal hardware, turning devices into portable, studio-quality recording tools. The primary advantage is vastly improved, pristine audio quality, coupled with broader compatibility for driverless, USB Class-compliant accessories. Conversely, the feature is undocumented, requiring users to test device compatibility, and it faces limitations due to strict USB bus power constraints on mobile devices.

The ⁠Audio-Technica AT2005USB is a highly versatile cardioid dynamic microphone reviewed by Bandrew Scott on Podcastage. A major pro of this microphone is its dual functionality, offering both a digital USB output for direct computer plug-and-play and an analog XLR output for connecting to mixers or audio interfaces. It features a built-in, latency-free 3.5mm headphone jack complete with its own volume control wheel, allowing users to monitor their audio in real time. Built with a rugged, all-metal chassis, it delivers a very usable, crisp sound for spoken word, acoustic guitars, and vocals. Its cardioid pickup pattern also functions exceptionally well at isolating speech and rejecting off-axis background noise, making it an excellent starter tool for podcasters and streamers operating in untreated rooms. YouTube · However, the review highlights a few notable cons regarding its physical build and technical performance. Bandrew points out that the on/off toggle switch feels somewhat cheap and plasticky, which raises structural longevity concerns compared to the rest of its sturdy metal body. Sound-wise, the microphone suffers from a relatively low output gain—a common limitation among dynamic...