Samson Meteor Mic USB studio microphone: Solid quality in a compact package

Depending on how you look at it, the Samson Meteor Mic USB studio microphone (US$149.99 SRP, available from online retailers for about $100) looks like a little rocket, a silver bullet, R2D2’s best friend, or just another mic. I had an opportunity to try out one of these portable USB mics, which can be used with any Mac or iPad (with the Apple Camera Connection Kit), and found that it is very handy for anyone who needs to record and monitor high-quality audio on-the-go.

Design

The first thing that attracted me to the Samson Meteor Mic was the design. Unlike the traditional design of the IK Multimedia iRig Mic we reviewed a while back, the Meteor Mic immediately catches your attention. Don’t let the cute design fool you, though — this mic is surprisingly stout and looks as if it could survive a lot of abuse.

There are three legs that fold down on the Meteor Mic. The legs, also made of metal, are tipped with rubber to prevent the mic from sliding on a surface. Each leg can be adjusted separately in order to point the mic in a specific direction. Behind one of the legs is a mini-B size USB connector for connecting the mic to your Mac, PC or other device, as well as a 3.5 mm stereo jack for connecting headphones or studio monitors.

Continue reading this review on the next page, and be sure to view the gallery below.

Gallery: Samson Meteor Mic