Stellar x2 vs RE20 vs RE27ND Microphone Review

[@TheNotaRubicon]

I used the Stellar X2 (Mfg'd right down the street from me!) for a while, but was much happier with the RE20 which is what I use now because my room is not sound-treated and the Stellar is too sensitive. Your voice makes them all sound good!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah OK, thanks for the feedback.. My RE20 does pick up some "boom" in my new mic position here in my studio, so I have to drop 160Hz down 5dB on a sharp notch. Seems to work!

[@chrisbartlett6022]

Loved the impact test 🙂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes!!

[@munk0821]

Hi Callum Thanks for all of your videos it's a great source of information for newly licensed amateurs like myself. If i were to purchase a RE20 could you give me some idea which adapters you would typically need to connect it to a rig please? Also do i have to use some form of mixing desk? Many thanks Mat

[@DXCommanderHQ]

RE20? I would look at the RE27ND, it's got a hotter output.

[@donaldmittelstaedt500]

Laughed when you proceeded to drop the mic as soon as you got it out of the bag. Haha that was great. Stellar sounded excellent to me, although the pop filter of some kind will be mandatory. Has a lot more plosives.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes agreed..

[@daveg8htfadlibaudio250]

Hi Callum, the Stellar sounds quite good for the money but the RE20 seems to have a bit of a lift in the 80 -120 Hz area and also a bit more in the 8-10 kHz area this is what I detect on your voice, it would be interesting to here both of them with an Orban Optimod unit, something for you to try out as you like audio things as well as radio stuff. Regards Dave Fletcher.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hmmm. Interesting!

[@michaelmohr9700]

Hi Callum , thank you for this video. The Stella have nice sound ! It is nice to heart the different V/R ! Of the Stella ! Best regards Michael

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MattHeere]

Got lucky. Bought my X2 back when it was first introduced and only paid $199 US for it. Been a great mic, although like all condensers it really wants either a nicely dampened room or a pretty aggressive gate. Pairs up beautifully with a dbx286s if you're working live, otherwise it seems to require pretty minimal processing in post. My biggest problem is sibilance, and the X2 is silky smooth between 6k and 8k where it matters most for me.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Copied Matt.. Little processing. And I normally run a gate anyway (although.. read on I might not need to).. So I've had a major issue with my RE20.. Tracked it down to a noisy XLR lead. Can you believe it? I have spent months finding it - its the bloomin patch lead between my Coudlifter pre-amp and the mixer. Geez! Should be fixed soon when I get around to making up a really spanky XLR lead...

[@JaredRoderick]

Sounds good! Good job!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Rock on!

[@JohnStruemph]

Nicely done as always. The Stellar at half the price works very well but you lose the mine is bigger than yours factor! 😀

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Very true! LOL!

[@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z]

sounds like a nice mic!!!! The RE's are just amazing, but that Stellar is holding its own.

[@gaptastic]

Holt crap! I have a hard time buying radios more than $500 (and i have, several). You sir, are an audiophile! Much respect!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

They sent me that one free. The only mic I spent on full price was the RE20 (and I got a trade deal on that!)

[@g0fvt]

All sound good, the Stellar might be a slightly thinner sound but I like it.

[@ifpo238]

how do you use these condenser mics with a ham radio? is it just a matter of supplying phantom power, running a line in to the mic jack on the transceiver, and fiddling with levels? I wouldn't wanna fry my rig...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I don't know.. I use RE27ND direcxtly to my Kenwood.. Talk to your dealer / user groups about Icom.

[@gaptastic]

Callum? AM Sound? I think i know what ur saying but would like to make sure. Is it "that bass"?

[@michaelmazoch3196]

Callum, when you do a mic, indicate if itplays nice with Icoms, and what workrounds are needed.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No idea sorry..

[@db3mi]

Hi Cal, if you use the studio mics on your TRX, do you connect them directly or via the X-Air? Most TRXs have a voltage on their mic in line to feed the electred capsules used in their own mics, too less for studio condensers but perhaps too much for a dynamic capusle. Could easily be separated with a small cap ...Very nice signal chain would be: good preamp (X-Air ...), lowcut, nice compression, (Aux-) Out to the TRX, decoupled with cap and perhaps even 20dB deleveled via a simple voltage divider to not overload the TRX mic input. But is that overengneered? best regards, bemi (who has a nice collection of mics, too ...)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so the only mic I use directly is the RE27ND. Never tried it with a mixer. I will do - but we'll need to isolate the audio and the rf.. It would be cool do do some outboard compression etc..

[@chrisvernon960]

The Stellar x2 sounds really good, great price.

[@rogerm1cdq407]

love to see a compare to the bm700/bm800 mics that a few hams use

[@kaiaussachsen]

I would not be surprised if they Sound the Same and has the Same internals. I use a NW800 directly on my IC 7300 and it Works great...

[@AK7DX]

Hi Callum! What mic do you like better for DX the RE20 or RE27? Thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Both! OK.. Seriously, for recording (with a Cloudlifter), RE20 is extremely smooth. RE27 extremely handy if you need more gain into a mixer. Long debate on that one..! I am more recently recording RE20 about 30cm / 1-foot away from my mouth for convenience so it's not quite as smooth. Basically, I've "got over" my addiction!

[@erpece]

The X2 sounds quite nice, but that RE20... BTW the XR18 gain should max out at around -10dB instead of the usual 0dB. Mics will be OK, but a bass or synth will distort at 0dB. Had me going crazy for a while until I saw a Behringer tutorial...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, I can get some clip over 0dB

[@BenButler1]

Sounds good however it does need the wind cover.

[@edcozart9916]

never been a RE20 fan, the stellar sounds to give it a run for the money but I'll keep my Heil mics to me for the money they are great mics cheers W9US

[@edk4590]

Still like the RE20, but It was a very good alternative to my ears.

[@supermaurino1]

Pse do more mic review!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, it's about time I put them ALL together and worked it out!

[@michaelmazoch3196]

What program do you use as a mixer.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

that program is X Air edit. The mixer Cal is using has no hardware controls just the virtual control set provided by X Air edit software.

[@michaelmazoch3196]

@@RobB_VK6ES Thx.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I will make a short video about the X-AIR sometime..

[@gaptastic]

I 'm sure you'll care ... But Stellar ain't as NICE as the other Electrovoices. I think Electrovoice has more depth and range where Stellar is MID.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yep!

[@TheSidlu]

they even made a case to protect the mic from impacts, but even that didn't help ... :D p.s. poor filming guy... has hit with hammer nails of all fingers working in your shop...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA!