Neat King Bee Condenser Microphone Review / Test (Could this be the best $99 Condenser Mic???)

Today, I have the Neat King Bee Condenser Microphone in the Audio Hotline Studio! I have been looking forward to this review due to all of the BUZZ surrounding this bee themed mic. Today I take you through what comes in the box with the mic, we talk about some basics, the specs, we test the King Bee out and I give you my OPINION on this mic. Hopefully this helps you make an informed buying decision, and there are affiliate links below if you want to help this channel out!
BEFORE YOU BUY THIS MIC.... Be sure to check out the testing and audio samples and see if this is right for you! Every person has different expectations of audio gear. If the features are what you need, and you like the sound, then it is right for you!
Thanks for watching the Audio Hotline! I'll see you Audio Nerds next time!
*Affiliate Links Below*
Want to purchase the King Bee?
Links:
Amazon: amzn.to/2wobWFC
B&H: bhpho.to/2SBOa1F
GEAR I USE TO MAKE MY VIDEOS (w/ affiliate links):
Canon EOS R:
Amazon: amzn.to/2MEGTMV
B&H: bhpho.to/30IQere
Sony A7iii:
Amazon:amzn.to/2LopsyD
B&H: bhpho.to/3avonPE
Lumix GH5:
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B&H: bhpho.to/36h8sAW
Fuji XT3:
Amazon: amzn.to/2NuxfKF
B&H: bhpho.to/2TIqVDV
Canon RF 35mm f1.8:
Amazon: amzn.to/2L3gBSt
B&H: bhpho.to/2G9BwQe
Tamron EF 24-70 f2.8:
Amazon: amzn.to/2ZtQr0C
B&H: bhpho.to/2tDokk7
Canon EF 50mm f1.4:
Amazon: amzn.to/2HxnfOq
B&H: bhpho.to/2tCk9VC
Tamron E-Mount 28-75mm f2.8 Lens:
Amazon: amzn.to/2LxmZCb
B&H: bhpho.to/2sJw8QP
Sigma E-Mount 30mm f1.4 Lens:
Amazon: amzn.to/2Xu6Kw3
B&H: bhpho.to/2RcFLRA
Lumix 12-35mm f2.8 lens:
Amazon: amzn.to/2XbD5It
B&H: bhpho.to/3awdQnd
Fringer (EF-FX Lens Mount Adapter):
Amazon: amzn.to/2G9AvYq
B&H: bhpho.to/38rSRQz
Atomos Ninja V:
Amazon: amzn.to/2Ni79Ob
B&H: bhpho.to/36i2WhA
Rode Video Mic Pro+:
Amazon: amzn.to/34puql4
B&H: bhpho.to/37aQ8uJ
Aputure 120D MKii:
Amazon: amzn.to/2SE0wXg
B&H: bhpho.to/38pRTV2
Aputure Light Dome II:
Amazon: amzn.to/39kvKZJ
B&H: bhpho.to/2Gf1zWc
Hercules Mic Stand:
Amazon: amzn.to/2XaHnzK
B&H: bhpho.to/2Rz4SwS
Zoom H6:
Amazon: amzn.to/2MIoBdA
B&H: bhpho.to/2Rfc3LK
Zoom H5:
Amazon: amzn.to/2N7KHoM
B&H: bhpho.to/36iVQJz
Apollo Twin Quad:
Amazon: amzn.to/2XfwPiU
B&H: bhpho.to/2NL8gnp
Mogami XLR:
Amazon: amzn.to/2NiXNSp
B&H: bhpho.to/2NJ5tLi
Monoprice XLR (Cheaper XLR Alternative):
Amazon: amzn.to/2RJBwvp
SE Dynamite:
Amazon: amzn.to/2NybMUz
B&H: bhpho.to/2G9CQ5E
Manfrotto Tripod:
Amazon: amzn.to/2LodCVe
B&H: bhpho.to/2sOI7g8
Manfrotto Tripod Mini (PIXI):
Amazon: amzn.to/2ZUnH0a
B&H: bhpho.to/2RH2Haw

[@FlatMart]

Already bought it, just here to re-confirm my choice haha Thanks !

[@djsilent01]

I "LITERALLY" just purchased the King Bee off Amazon for $129 15 mins ago. The funny thing about it, I also "LITERALLY" just found out this mic even exsist about an hour ago... hahaha...

[@asiaticsabaah-7mathematics932]

Did you do vocals with it yet?

[@generalawareness101]

Damn thing is 300+ and no available nor is anything streamer/audio related.

[@edmedlin9018]

Another reviewer concluded both that, electronically, the King Bee and Worker Bee are identical to legacy Blue microphones, and that the Neat mics and legacy Blues sound better than the current Blue equivalents. He then went on to say that he thought Neat had gone out of business, and when I attemped to purchase a King Bee, one after another vendor site either didn't list them, indicated they had been discontinued, or said they wer out of stock, back ordered, and/or that the had no clue if/when they would be in stock. The good news is that that an e-mail to Neat yielded a very prompt and upbeat response-- they are still in business, and they issue re the King Bee is that they sold their entire stock. The soon will be producing and shipping more.

[@adrianmechelle3784]

I don't get distraction from this at all. Thanks so much for the review. I may be purchasing it for voiceover :)

[@LawrenceArnell]

Great review! I’m sticking with Dynamics until my studio is better treated tho. Love the channel bro! Keep it up! 💪🏾

[@flowmaka]

Great review and a very colorful one! Keep up the good work!

[@digitalkmultimedia]

A most excellent review. Truly covers the mic in good detail. The box it comes in is very premium. The mic is now discontinued and hard to find. There are some Worker Bee versions are out there still. This mic is insane. Thanks for reviewing it so well. Please review the Worker Bee version. Its $89 bucks right now.

[@xHadesStamps]

"If you can get past the look..." Already about 3 miles past.

[@GX700]

Just ordered it. Price to performance ratio is just great. Color can be easily modified with tape or paint, so no worries. I think a deep red for all the yellow parts would look cool (pop filter excluded).

[@Utkarsh_A]

Love your videos and glad to see that you are also a photography nerd along with an audio nerd haha

[@TexasHoldEm5656]

“So even though this microphone looks like a fuckin’ BEE… I still love the shit out of it.” This dude rules. 😂

[@EricksonFilmsYT]

Wonderful review!

[@enriquekahn9405]

(Before watching video) Thanks for doing this one. I basically hassled Obscure Mics into reviewing this months ago and ended up buying it. As far as I know his was the first review to come out after the massive price drop (these were like $350 before). Anyway, there is literally no reason for me to watch a review of a product I already own except to reassure myself that it doesn't secretly suck and I don't know enough about mics to tell. Anyway, my long-term almost-literally-everyday-using review of the mic: I do a high pass filter at 80 and do a moderate roll off of low-mids and lows because I close-talk the mic. That's it. That's all it requires for voice over, and it wouldn't even need that if I wasn't close-talking it. IMHO this is just a very natural sounding mic. My one complaint: there's no way to mount the mic without the included shock mount. I don't know what I'm going to do with it when the rubber bands inevitably rot. Who even makes a shock mount this will fit in? That said, I just don't see replacing this with anything that isn't way more expensive. Maaaaybe a Rode NT1, more probably something like a Roswell Mini K87. I really do like the sound of this mic, although it is pretty funny lookin'.

[@ambientpizzavstheworld883]

I have the worker bee and it "LITERALLY" sounds wonderful! ;)

[@douglasascencio9140]

That B-Roll was seexyyyyy!!!!

[@davidevans1420]

The specs on this microphone are outrageous not that I need anymore microphones, but would certainly recommend to some of musician friends. I think the noise stats of 6.5 dB, I think are comparable to my Neumann TLM103 or EV RE2000 which are considered some of the lowest. It really excelled on acoustic with richness and clarity. I would agree aesthetically, a little out there, but this could easily fit in situations where looks don't matter. I agree, not every microphone can bee (lol) as cosmetically gorgeous as the Neumann TLM103, but we are talking paradigms about looks. A guy starting out simply can't go wrong with what I just heard. This one is on my radar for purchase. Thanks for your video, well done!

[@adithyasatheesh127]

"Aren't jokes the best when they have to be explained" 🤣. Wait, am i the only one left in this world to learn to play guitar? This is your first video for me and I subscribed. Oh and i have the king bee, hated the look initially but it kinda grew on me. My favorite mic of all the ones I've tried except the Rode NT1A. A little broke to try the Neumann.

[@wtulin1970]

Another great vid. Keep in mind, this was developed and sold as a 350 dollar mic when Neat was under Gibson. Identical frequency response to the Blue Reactor. Neat was a creation of founders and former owners of Blue. Gibson went BK. This is not a 100 dollar mic, but since that's what they're selling for, It's insane not to add one. We found it almost identical in performance to the TLM 103. And yes, the widgets were an embarrassment! I have to edit this comment to add that your widget review was a youtube masterpiece.

[@rjb7569]

I think they used to be manufactured in the US. Are they still or are they made overseas now that the price has been reduced?

[@wtulin1970]

@@rjb7569 My understanding is that they have been manufactured in China since inception, but not sure. Also not sure if they continue manufacture, or if they are just clearing stock. This is the current parent company: www.stray-electrons.com/

[@mykar.418]

Did you ever get your hands on the king bee 2? Any thoughts on it if you did? 😊

[@GoreMelian]

Great 🐝 mic 🎙️ great review dude made me laugh 😂

[@nemospacexrunner7121]

Lol u are good buddy ...way to a mill subs

[@xray111xxx]

I just received 2 of these. For recording systems. Also as my bedroom project studio and guest mic, a winner. I could care less what or how it is perceived. It performs well, and yeah it looks cool. This is for me and could care less about how it is seen on camera. The sound is what counts. And this sounds great!

[@ivaniglesias2108]

would you compare it to the nt1?

[@porfiriolocascio4672]

HI, please review the Tannoy TM1

[@albertllubitmusic]

Wow,,, i'm loving microphones -_- i think this is addiction.

[@wintlock]

audiophillia can be a costly addiction for most, it is extremely hard for most to rid themselves of this disease. some have found success by discovering their "end game" but for most this never comes.

[@maximeheberttalbot4505]

I feel you 😂

[@BrettYoakum]

same. just bought this mic and it's my 3rd mic

[@viberge]

Its normal, no addiction = no pro. See this mic Fifine K670 if you want.

[@davidevans1420]

And believe me their is no cure... :)

[@schrm]

thx, subscribed now

[@jamesbtex58]

Would you ever consider selling your King Bee? I can't find one anywhere.

[@sidgillespie5879]

Please, review the Encore series from Blue. Thank you for your work!

[@sidgillespie5879]

@Jake42 well, let them review it and compare it to sm 58 and the we can nudge

[@AudioHotline]

I am in!

[@RCModSquad]

For $99 it’s a honey of a deal. I can use it to make stingers. Ok 👌🏻 maybe I’m taking this to un-bee-leavable extremes. I did like the mic!! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jeffmason6900]

Well played, sir. Well played inBEEd.

[@cunjoz]

it's the bees knees

[@RCModSquad]

bro wot Yep! 😃

[@rickyzain5897]

I can't find it anywhere i wanna buy yours 👀

[@TheQuikMix]

answer: "if you can get past the look of it, yes. it's unbeatable at $99"

[@StormHeflin]

I'm a twitch streamer and I just ordered this today, it arrives in a week. I've been doing a lot of research for microphones. I wanted a condenser mic, but I don't want or need a mic of such quality that it costs more than 100 or 200 USD. For my audio interface, I went with the Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 because it has good reviews and a usb port to connect to a computer. When it's setup, I'll update this post for anyone curious to see my review.

[@abbedong492]

Please update us, because I have the exact setup but I'm not getting any sound through at all and it's absolutely irritating!

[@StormHeflin]

@@abbedong492 I will probably be another week or maybe more. I'm having a hard time finding the audio interface I want.

[@markussdaniels]

I suggest Scarlett or Steinberg UR22 is a REALLY good sound interface.

[@StormHeflin]

@@abbedong492 I was able to find one, though at 3 times the price. I went with a Rode Ai-L for my audio interface. It was $130 on the Best Buy app. The only thing I'm worried about now is my mic arm. I'm not sure it can hold the weight of the behemoth mic.

[@StormHeflin]

@@abbedong492 The mic is arriving by the end of this week. The audio interface is arriving by the end of next week.

[@dharmageek3732]

Well really this mic was first released at a 399.00 price and was only reduced when they realized the design concept was killing them. Once they reduced the price they flew out of the warehouses. And now you are lucky if you own one because no retailer has any. Are they going to release a redesigned version?

[@ricardocorazon6533]

What do You think about neat bee worker? At2020 vs bee worker, which is better for voices or acustic instrument?

[@---pp7tq]

Worker Bee's better according to Sound Speed review.

[@ezragonzalez8936]

NEAT is own by Gibson Musical Instruments of Les Paul Explorer Firebird fame! And the reason these are so good is because the original price was $399 for the king bee and $349 for the smaller Worker bee! They are a steal!!!

[@AudioHotline]

Sadly they are owned by Turtle Beach now… a gaming oriented company. I am worried they will cut corners on the quality 😔

[@craigwallis2794]

brand new to this and wondering what interface for under $150 works best with this mic and for a slightly deep voice (vo work only)? I'm looking at an evo 4, focusrite solo..etc.

[@bryanburns7517]

Craig Wallis You have to check out the new M-Audio AIR series interfaces

[@BrettYoakum]

Did you end up deciding on an interface?

[@craigwallis2794]

@@BrettYoakum yes.. i bought MOTU M2, but is fried the 2nd time turning it on.. So i returned it and got the Komplete Audio 1.. works great. The amp isn't quite as strong so it picks up less mouth noise with the King Bee which works out fine.

[@rars0n]

I'm torn between the King Bee and the Lewitt LCT 440 Pure. I know the Lewitt is significantly more expensive and a bit brighter on the top end, but I feel like it sounds a bit more natural overall. Additionally, the King Bee, styling aside, is just huge and heavy while the Lewitt is small and very sleek looking. Portability of the Lewitt is going to be a lot better than the King Bee, and I feel like it'd be much easier to deal with mounted on a desk as well. Even the Worker Bee is significantly heavier than the Lewitt. I think it's really, really hard to ignore the King Bee for its price (which is currently $129 on Amazon) or even the Worker Bee for $89. I just wish it (both, actually) was a bit smaller and lighter.

[@maximeheberttalbot4505]

The Lewitt is a piece of art, its light, small, sturdy, beautiful, I really like mine a lot! It has such clarity and it is really good on spoken word! You can get a warm/clear and open sound if you use the proximity effect, I use it on almost any sound source! It is a bit brighter but not harsh, if you look for a warmer alternative, more neutral I’d suggest the Rode Nt1, (not the nt1a this one is too bright) and if you want a budget mic right between the two, not too bright not to neutral, and you are not bothered by its design go with the king bee, you wont regret any of those mics

[@rars0n]

@@maximeheberttalbot4505 I do think the King Bee sounds great, and even the Worker Bee, but I can't help but love the Lewitt's compact design. I also like it's clarity, and if it's at all too bright, there's always EQ. I think I would enjoy using the Lewitt more being able to move it and store it a lot easier seeing as how small it is. In short, I can't really convince myself that it's not worth paying $250 for this mic even despite the value of the King Bee, so I think I'm going to go with the Lewitt. Thanks for your reply!

[@AudioHotline]

I’d have a hard time picking the King Bee over the LEWITT. Both are great mics, but I just really struggle with how big the king bee is, and how ridiculous it looks... but the price is INSANE, for how good it sounds. I care a little too much about professionalism, so if I am going to record someone that is paying me, the last thing I want to do is put a microphone that looks like a damn bee in front of them haha. If you don’t care about the look and are on a tight budget, the king bee is good. Otherwise, get the LEWITT.

[@rars0n]

@@AudioHotline Yeah, I'm not a fan of the design of the King Bee, but I wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't so freaking BIG. Edit: By the way, I've enjoyed a lot of your mic reviews as well! Thanks!

[@alessandrotorres3537]

Are you using the Hercules mic stand with the king bee?

[@AudioHotline]

Yes! I am.

[@wintlock]

its a little goofy lookin' but i like it, and for $100 its a good deal in my opinion. mostly for that bee toy, i need one of those on my desk. all i could ask for is a higher MaxSPL but thats just being picky

[@W0rldViralDaily]

Lil Kim was Queen 👑 Bee 🐝 Beyonce is Queen B. Also Lil Kim had a rap group she funded called The Bee Hive. It was short lived as they never got a record deal but they would dress in all yellow. I'm sure they would love this mic lol

[@kastlesonacloud]

I’ve has a King Bee for about 7 years and I paid a lot for it. Like $530 CAD. Did they rerelease them at a lower build quality and price?

[@AudioHotline]

Supposedly it is the same microphone... I can't be 100% sure though because I haven't tested it next to an old one or compared the internals or anything. The story goes that once Neat Microphones left Gibson, they decided to drop their prices quite substantially. They never came out with a statement that says the mic is different from before, so according to Neat, it is the same mic.

[@hesaideverythingwouldbefine]

What is your mic stand I have the same mic and mine is struggling to keep up the weight

[@AudioHotline]

I use the Hercules MS533B EZ Clutch mic stand. It is a super strong mic stand. I have used it for the last 6 years A TON, and I haven’t had a single issue with it. You can check it out at either of these places: Amazon: amzn.to/2XaHnzK B&H: bhpho.to/2Rz4SwS Thanks for watching!

[@hesaideverythingwouldbefine]

Audio Hotline thanks you so much!

[@thebusinessfirm9862]

Sounds bloody nice, this mic. I don’t like how ‘kiddie’ it looks, though.

[@rylandweet7750]

I can’t find this mic at all for $100 ... someone link me

[@abbedong492]

I'm not a tech savvy person at all, but I had recently purchased this mic and need of some desperate assistance. I connected the mic to my interface that's connected to my macbook and for some reason it's not picking up any sound at all. When I replace the king bee with my former mic, it picks up sound just fine. I don't want to say I got a faulty mic, but that I'm just not tech savvy enough to know why I don't hear anything. Please help :(

[@AudioHotline]

What kind of mic are you using before this? This particular microphone does require phantom power. So there should be a button or switch on your interface that says “+48v” that will need to be on so this mic has the power it requires. Do you have that already turned on?

[@abbedong492]

Audio Hotline I had a Neewer nw-800 and yes it was turned on

[@AudioHotline]

Abbe Dong one more quick question to hopefully narrow down the issue: what kind of audio interface are you using?

[@abbedong492]

Audio Hotline Behringer U-Phoria UM2. I did just order a Focusrite Solo, but still waiting for that to come in

[@AudioHotline]

It is possible that your UM2 isn’t supplying it with enough power. Are you using an XLR to XLR cable or are you using an XLR - 1/4” cable?

[@seanwu1968]

A+ Must BEE good. :-)

[@patricksmith7063]

"f" the looks...I love the looks BTW and I own and LOVE this MIC!!!

[@AudioHotline]

I call in love with this mic more and more everyday

[@stevenmeyers5088]

The plastic pop filter doesn't really 'bug you.' I see what you did there.

[@gutpunchnews4000]

It's been around for a while, but it was priced at $299. For $99, it's great.

[@AudioHotline]

Gut Punch News yeah I remember around 2016ish seeing them for about $349... but I have a bit of a conspiracy theory about the whole “discounted price” and it’s a big reason I didn’t once mention that it was “on sale” for $200-$250 less than before. Hahaha yeah, i am a paranoid serial mic killer.

[@gutpunchnews4000]

Audio Hotline yes. Yes you are. Although, they are selling a bunch of them.

[@kidsonicofficial]

3:37 haha puns. I would buy it but it looks too garish for my taste. Sounds ok but a little bit dull.

[@garystackhouse5787]

1:50... what's an "insuck"?

[@garystackhouse5787]

7:10... and what are "peanutses"? Are they what male peanuts have between their legs?

[@AudioHotline]

Gary Stackhouse insects. Everyone used to get bugged when I said penises, so I made up a word that sounded even worse. Mr word police over here.

[@danielerlichofficial]

That bees sound just gave me the chills. Don't. Ever. Do. It. Again.

[@ivanriobla]

is 289 at amazon :/

[@jwk6343]

Are...are you John Ritter from 3’s Company?

[@AudioHotline]

Who told you?

[@pbasswil]

For pro uses, I'd just tape off (or carefully paint) the yellow stripes.

[@pbasswil]

@Stefano Pavone Enjoy!

[@rycbusinessit]

the pop filter doesn't "bug" you, ha!

[@EricksonFilmsYT]

They should just make an all black version to address the design

[@mrufino1]

Paint the yellow bands black and you’re all set. But the mic sounds great so the looks don’t bother me at all.

[@AudioHotline]

I am actually planning on doing this! Bought the paint the other day!

[@EricksonFilmsYT]

Audio Hotline sweet! That should look really cool. I just bought a Blue Kiwi and understand these mics have similar sound

[@Squonk06]

A+? I'd have given it a B(ee)...

[@TheLTGamer]

FIRST!!

[@anandmalu7194]

agh....not available HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ffffffffffffffffffffffff

[@thebreakfastmenu]

You know what, if a band can't look past the aesthetic, or if they don't have a sense of humor, I would definitely not want to work with them.

[@AudioHotline]

I personally blacked out my King Be and it looks sick now! hahaha It is more about looking the part, and having your studio look the part. By that I mean, looking like a professional... not a newbie audio engineer that has a mic that looks like a child's toy that was picked up at Target... On Sale. Being professional, relating to your artists, contributing creatively, and just straight up murdering the mix is all WAY more important than the microphone look. Although, if I am going to take myself seriously, I want my studio and the gear inside of it to reflect that. You're right though, it isn't just about the look of a mic.... and honestly once you become a hugely famous producer or audio engineer you can record with a mic that looks like a damn cucumber and everyone will think it is genius. As an up and comer I think it is important to represent yourself well... That's all I really meant by that when I said it.

[@jeffersongomez7330]

Ngl i don't like ur voice, i have watched a lot of ur videos with different microphones but with this mic , ur voice sounds really good.

[@scotteepunk]

This is not a professional condenser. It is entry-level so no one gives a damn about the way it looks. It's an A + :)

[@AudioHotline]

scotteeglover i just got done painting mine today... looks so much better 😂

[@ethanreynolds4942]

that last pun was shit. take my sub. ♥

[@BukanIbuMu]

This thing is $300 in my country

[@kentonbailey7238]

It was originally $350 in America. The brand was part of Gibson or something and now it's independent, so they were able to change the price.

[@BukanIbuMu]

@@kentonbailey7238 the problem is it's still 300 usd here.

[@kentonbailey7238]

@@BukanIbuMu Yes, that is unfortunate.

[@izecrevive]

@4:23 wait.. is that h3h3?

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

King bee is U87ai of poor people studio.

[@gnatinator]

Hello younger, better, podcastage.