Looking for a banging microphone for your recording set-up? If you’re a podcaster, gamecaster, or vocalist recording your voice, a great mic is at the top of your gear list.
But, with hundreds of makes and models out there, how the heck do you choose the best mic for your needs?
A lot of factors are important when choosing a mic…
From how loud it is to how much noise it can cut out, all the way to what it looks like. It’s got to be solid and dependable, sound great, and be easy to use. And, of course, it has to be good value.
So, in my in-depth Logitech Blue Sona Review, I’m going to take you through all the ins and outs of this microphone to help you decide if this is it for you.
The Logitech Brand
If you’re not familiar with Logitech, here’s the breakdown. This company isn’t affiliated with Apple, though it was founded in the town of Apples in Switzerland! Since the 1980s, they’ve been making computer accessories like mice, keyboards, webcams, Bluetooth speakers, headsets, and microphones.
Logitech created the first commercially available mouse in 1981, the clunky wired P4. But now, the focus is on wireless interface devices. The company now has HQs in both Switzerland and the US and is a leader in the interface device industry.
Logitech Blue Sona Overview
The Blue Sona is designed for professional and semi-professional use. Therefore, it’s a great microphone for home studio recording, but it is also capable of more demanding environments.
This mic comes in two colors, “Graphite” (basically black) and “Off-White” (basically white). Each finish comes with an additional color feature. You can swap out the standard black windscreen that comes with the mic for a hot red one to change the look in a snap.
Or, in this case, a magnetic click…
The mic comes with a swivel mount that gives you 290 degrees of movement on any stand. It also comes packaged with a 3/8” mic stand adapter that lets you connect to any standard stand or boom arm.
There’s also a built-in shock mount within the mount to keep unwanted bumps and bangs out of your audio.
Like most studio mics…
The Blue Sona is a passive microphone. That means it needs to be powered by phantom power at +24V or +48V. It connects to your audio setup (usually an audio interface/mixing board/pre-amp) using a standard XLR connection. The mic does not, however, come with a cable, which is normal.
A Dynamic Supercardiod Mic
Right, so what does that mean? This breaks down into two parts. First, the “dynamic” part means that it uses a voice coil and magnet to turn sound into an electromagnetic pattern. These are some of the best microphones for live shows and loud vocals or any other type of loud performance.
The “supercardiod” refers to the area they pick up sound from…
Supercardiod mics have a very narrow spread of just 150 degrees, which means that a mic like this will be highly focused on only what’s in front of it and not noise coming from other directions. So, if you’re doing relatively loud live vocal work in a studio, this type of mic is a good choice.
In addition to being the right kind of mic for loud audio, this mic also has a built-in +25 decibel boost. This feature will ensure that your audio will be loud enough for any application without forcing you to work with a mic booster, as some other mics require.
OK, so how does it sound?
The Blue Sona was engineered with game streamers, podcasters, and YouTubers in mind. So, there’s a focus on the qualities of the human voice rather than a broader application to instruments as well.
You’ll find a bass boost here and also a “presence” enhancement setting to help maintain that vocal focus. Overall, there is a warm body to the sound quality here and extended highs for when things get exciting.
For a microphone that retails at a little over $300, the Blue Sona has a great sound profile, quiets outside noise effectively, and is pretty darned snazzy looking.
Logitech Blue Sona Microphone – Top Features
Now that we’ve had a basic overview, let’s step in for a closer look at the Logitech Blue Sona’s top features.
Appearance
This mic is going to get top marks for looking great on camera if that’s something that you’re looking for. As I mentioned, the body comes in two finishes, essentially black and white, and then you get two windscreens for your mic.
One is standard black, and the other red, which really pops against either the black or white body. These windscreens are magnetically attached and pop on and off easily with a satisfying click. You can change them super quickly, especially if you want to keep things clean and hygienic between guests.
The overall look is sleek and modern…
It’s sort of rectangular-pill-shaped if that’s a thing. The mount is minimal and works well to keep the mic where you want it. It looks very cool right-side-up on a stand as well as upside-down on a boom arm, depending on what your setup is like.
It doesn’t come with a cable, but let me tell you why that’s not a big sticking point. You might think that for over $300, a basic XLR cable should be included. But that’s the problem – you’d get a short, poor-quality cable if it was packaged for free.
Furthermore, different creators need different lengths of cables rather than a low-quality factory standard. And, you will for sure want to shell out on a high-quality XLR cable that you can depend on for years of recording.
Sound
There’s no point getting a great-looking mic that sounds bad, of course. But that’s not an issue here – far from it.
Logitech has been perfecting their mics for decades, and they’re in a very good place here. This mic has a frequency response of 40Hz – 18000Hz, so you can see that while the lows are low enough, the highs are well extended to capture the tip-top of the human vocal range.
Honestly, the bass response doesn’t need to be that low, unless you’re Barry White. So, it’s great that they’ve built in a high-pass filter on the mic, hidden under the back panel. It’s called “BASS CUT” and does a very effective job of keeping low rumblings out of your vocals.
Under that same panel…
You’ll also find the “PRESENCE” switch. This turns on a tone-shaping feature that focuses on the normal range of the human voice.
This boost pulls forward sounds in the normal human vocal range, making your voice come through all the more clearly. However, there is a slight noise gate effect with this function turned on when you’re recording at high volumes, and is something to be aware of.
If that’s not enough, the mic has a built-in +25 dB gain boost they call their ClearAmp technology. This is A LOT for extra juice. That means your vocals are going to be nice and loud and clear, so you won’t need an external mic boost before you put everything through the mix.
Hey, wanna talk specs?
The Blue Sona has a maximum sound pressure level (SPL) of 129 dB @ 1% THD and up to 138 dB @ 5% THD. This is well outside the range of normal speaking and singing voices, even a trumpet at maximum blare. So, you’re in good hands if you want to shout and rant to your heart’s content.
A relatively low total harmonic distortion (THD) of just 0.06% @ 1kHz, 94 dBSPL, means you’re going to sound very clear up until things go absolutely bonkers. All in all, this mic sounds crystal clear and is one of the best voice recording microphones you can buy.
Noise Control
There are two main features built into this mic to control unwanted noise. The first is the internal shock mount that I mentioned earlier. This mount insulates the capsule from the actual mounting body. This keeps random bumps and bangs from coming into your audio.
The second is a lot more creative. Logitech has been very clever here by designing this mic with a dual-diaphragm construction.
The front-facing diaphragm is almost two inches back from the front of the mic, which means that even when you get up close and personal, your articulation is going to sound smooth and far less explosive than with most mics. The other diaphragm faces backward from the capsule towards the mount.
Why is that creative?
Well, they’ve taken a page out of the active noise cancellation handbook here. Essentially, this second diaphragm listens to line noise and then cancels it out, leaving your audio super-clear. They’ve also built in a humbucker coil to prevent hum and interference from lights and other electric devices.
Pretty darned smart, if you ask me. Combined with a high-pass filter and that supercardiod pattern, only the sounds you want are going to get into this microphone. It is easily one of the best-sounding vocal microphones out there.
Logitech Blue Sona Review – Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great look.
- Clear, distortion, and interference-free sound.
- Includes +25 dB gain boost.
- Handles high volumes with high max SPL.
Cons
- High price.
- Needs phantom power.
- Some noise gate effect with the PRESENCE boost on.
In the Market for Amazing Microphones?
We can help with that. Check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Microphones For Recording Vocals, the Best Live Vocal Mics, the Best XLR Microphones, the Best Dynamic Microphones, and the Best Condenser Microphones you can buy in 2023.
Also, have a look at our detailed reviews of the Best Microphones For Discord, the Best Microphones For YouTube, the Best Voice-Over Microphones, the Best Computer Microphones, and the Best Microphones For Gaming currently on the market.
Logitech Blue Sona Review – Summary
The Logitech Blue Sona microphone is the type of thing you should be looking at if you’re a content creator or a studio owner who works with creators. Yes, it is priced pretty high, and you have to take that into account for sure.
The big things that might win you over are the cool look and the extra gain boost to punch up your volume. This is a mic that’s going to perform well in small studios and even somewhat noisy home studios that aren’t soundproofed yet.
So, if you have the cash to dish out and you want to up your creation game, this could be just the mic for you.
Until next time, make yourself heard.