NEAT Microphones King Bee II Review - Budget XLR broadcast sounding microphone

[@Podcastage]

Absolutely outstanding video like always Curtis! Keep up the incredible work.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Bandrew!

[@Dracomies]

This is a really great microphone for the money imo! I'm really glad this review was done with the Honeycomb removed. I always found the Honeycomb circle made the audio sound more boxy and it never was good for plosives.

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, me too. That pop filter needs a re-design.

[@djtoman6875]

I love this mic and the way it complements my voice. It sits perfectly mounted on the Elgato low profile boom arm.

[@Boofcan]

Hey Curtis what would you recommend as a third party pop filter for this mic? Btw love the videos. Your thoroughness and production quality is amazing

[@LeLabSecret]

As always, fantastic. Everything you do is soo clean and well done. Bravo !

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Eric.

[@VidMashUp]

I'm getting rid of my TLM-103 and MKH-416, and maybe my LCT540S and getting a King Bee 2. Thanks for the info, Curtis. You convinced me.

[@curtisjudd]

👍 Happy recording!

[@ChadWork1]

It's a nice, full sounding mic for VO! I like the tone.

[@curtisjudd]

I'm with you!

[@MrHamit64]

Ah you found an NT-1. That's the new 1. It is quiter and flatter then the NT1-A. Verry much awesome.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@hisnameisrentoo]

I kinda miss the yellow and black, but it does sound great to my ears.

[@curtisjudd]

🐝

[@OH8STN]

Sounds magnificent!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@bryanbarajasBB]

I bet you can record an orchestra with two King Bees and with Chorus four! 😅

[@curtisjudd]

🎙👍

[@danielpaulson8838]

It sounded really good. I have sibilant issues as well. As far as looks, it's black and will fit in or readily subdue in pretty much any visual setting. I would like to see a condenser mic designed to minimize sibilance but still maintain as much air as possible. But that's what 'post' is for, isn't it? Thank you for a fine review as always, Curtis.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Just One Truth.

[@ZachariahConnor]

I love mine. Sounds excellent on VO, vocals, and acoustic instruments. Pop filter is not great, and the shockmount could be better at rejecting rumble. Very heavy, but at least it will last.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@Boofcan]

Hey Curtis what would you recommend as a third party pop filter for this mic? Btw love the videos. Your thoroughness and production quality is amazing

[@curtisjudd]

I don't have any specific recommendations for pop filters. Almost any of them available at B&H or Sweetwater should do the job.

[@OrenArieli]

Thank you for the review: I like a "thick" sound in my microphones, but the "thicc" build on this one might be overkill.

[@curtisjudd]

Can't be said that they skimped on the build.

[@OrenArieli]

@@curtisjudd You should do a teardown. Maybe they filled it with lead slugs (looking at you, Beats headphones).

[@808_fuck]

King bee ii vs stellar X2 🔥 very similar

[@Dracomies]

They're quite different in person. The Neat King Bee has more lowend imo

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, I found that the X2 was more mid-forward. Good mic, but sounded different to me.

[@thedoodler882]

thanks for the awesome vid as always!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks the doodler.

[@badplatanogaming]

Great review! I'm on the market looking for 2 microphones for a podcast, will these work in a podcast environment with 2 people, or should I go with 2 dynamics? Thank you!

[@cosmic040]

If your room already is pretty quiet (i.e. no audible street noise, close-by computer fans, air conditioning, …), has pretty dry acoustics (simply clap to check for reverb. Helpful: carpet, thick curtains, sound blankets, …) and maybe (not a must) even has some decent sound treatment (like real absorbers, not the cheapest foam from amazon), then yes: a condenser mic like this one should work fine. Otherwise I'd actually prefer dynamic mics. Way more forgiving when it comes to BG-noise / room-sound.

[@curtisjudd]

I agree, really depends on where you'll record. Dynamic microphones are generally a better option for rooms with poor acoustics.

[@djtoman6875]

Consider two SM57s, with A2-WS foam covers and Shure A55M shock mounts. Total will be just over $200.

[@codybonds]

Would you recommend the Neat King Bee II over the Rode NT1 for a sibilant male voice?

[@curtisjudd]

Hmm, no. I’d try positioning the mic differently and use a de-esser.

[@billhallsongs]

Great review Curtis! I would love to hear a couple of those mics in XY Stereo into the mixpre 3 on a singing acoustic guitarist..I bet it would be a great sound

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@FVDaudio]

For that price...!! Excellent. Better coming from AKG P120, P220 at the same price range.... Depends of overall use too; is a upgrade of AT 2020 because the soundprint is similar of NT1 (not NT1a that is worse for nose/sibilance on voices).

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@RustyTube]

I think your voice sounds much better with this mike than with the Røde.

[@curtisjudd]

Fair assessment.

[@tjzuppe]

Just got this mic -- your review was one of several that helped me make that final determination -- and to this point, I love it. Curious how you think it compares to the Stellar X3.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks and glad to hear you love it! The Stellar X3 seemed to produce a bit less high frequency energy but to be honest, I never compared them side by side.

[@przybylskipawel]

Great review, as usual. Low frequencies sounds slightly more... overwhelming, a bit boomier than on NT1 but this is barely noticealbe to me at least on my headphones. BTW you recorded with BMPCC 6K?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, Pocket 6K.

[@SeitanicPanicc]

Hey Curtis, I was wondering whether You were going to review the Zoom F3? Would be great to know if it's a good budget recorder and how it compares to the F6. Love Your videos!

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, waiting for my pre-ordered F3 to arrive.

[@SeitanicPanicc]

@@curtisjudd Looking forward to hearing Your thoughts!

[@MrHamit64]

If you still have that Rode NT-1 at hand, would you be so kind as to demo it with the F6 please?

[@curtisjudd]

Will do that when I get the chance, yes.

[@hamitcampos4989]

@@curtisjudd Thank you verry much friend.

[@lancesullivan1884]

Great video. Well researched as usual. I'm looking for a budget solution to stream and record the audio (4-6 players) for a boardgame in the common room of a game shop, 8 or 9 other games going on simultaneously. I have no idea if I should go lav or boom. Do you have a link to a audio system that would work for this situation. Video is on a G7.

[@curtisjudd]

Maybe a Zoom H1n? It'll be tough to capture great sound in this situation on a budget, but the easiest would be a stereo recorder like the H1n.

[@Design475]

Hey Curtis, I was wondering if would consider creating video on the SE Dyncacaster microphone, I would love to hear your opinion on it! Thanks.

[@curtisjudd]

Will do what I can. No promises, but will try.

[@Design475]

@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis!!

[@jasonkeuma1986]

Sweet

[@curtisjudd]

Sweet, indeed!

[@AzCcc]

Hi Curtis, I'd really appreciate your input on this. I have at least 3 online meetings a day. However, I share an office with 4 other people. I'm tired of not sounding professional due to the noise from my end. After watching many of your videos, I'm considering a dynamic microphone instead of my current setup which is a simple wired earbuds. Am I correct to assume this will be the best approach to minimize the noise coming from other people speaking around me?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, a dynamic mic very close to your mouth is probably the best approach. I'd keep the mic about 3 inches from your mount, just off to one side but aimed at your mouth.

[@AzCcc]

@@curtisjudd Thanks man !

[@Trevellian]

Would this effectively diminish background noise in an office with HVAC that cannot be turned off and regular audible road noise? The noise is not loud, but it's audible.

[@ZachariahConnor]

Depends on where your noise source is, a dynamic mic is better for background noise reduction

[@curtisjudd]

The directionality/polar pattern of this mic will help, but I'd recommend a dynamic microphone and close miking if you're recording where you cannot turn off the noise source.

[@DrewProject]

Hey man have you done a dji mic vs rode wireless 2 review yet? Are you going to? Been waiting for this video from you but it never came 😢

[@curtisjudd]

I haven’t yet. Sorry about that!

[@DrewProject]

@@curtisjudd hey man no worries at all. I just hope you’ll consider doing it. You’re literally the only one I trust when it comes to these things. All the other reviewers on here are ok, but no audio professionals, hence don’t count for me 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@GoodBaleadaMusic]

I wanna bust studio quality rhymes with my smart phone. Is there an audio interface with phantom power that isn't made by iRig?

[@curtisjudd]

Recorders, yes. Zoom F series, Sound Devices MixPre Series.

[@spritual_enlightenment]

They could improve the logo a little bit.

[@curtisjudd]

Maybe you could send them a proposal. 🙃

[@spritual_enlightenment]

@@curtisjudd, Never thought about it. 😅

[@user-be9uu8je3c]

I am afraid that the King BEE 2 ist the worst sounding microphone I ever had. The Marantz MPM 1000 is half the price and much better. I cannot follow your recommendation and must warn everybody that the KB2 is a dull sound.

[@curtisjudd]

That's fine if you do not like it. I think people who listen to this video can make that choice for themselves.

[@fotowissen]

@@curtisjudd I think y r misleading those Visitors into buying a dull mic with no heights. It is a question of taste but please tell me you did not receive the mic for free and recommend it for the sake of it?

[@curtisjudd]

@@fotowissen I don't know what you mean by "dull microphone with no heights." I disclosed that this was given to me by Neat Microphones. If people like the sound of it from this review and feel it would be a good purchase for them, then I think that's fine. For its price, it seems like a pretty good option to me. I have so many microphones, I don't need more free microphones. Compared to the other microphones I've used in this price range, the King Bee II sounds quite good.

[@cosmic040]

As always: Great Review & interesting Budget-Mic! BUT the body indeed is "resonant like a bell!" (Bandrew @podcastage ). Neat Microphones should really fix that by simply adding some cheap dampening inside the body.

[@curtisjudd]

👍