The Logitech Blue Sona is a feast for the eyes and ears, ready to shake up the worlds of streaming and podcasting as a new high-end XLR microphone that looks as good as it sounds. The Shure SM7B obviously has a big influence on its design, but don’t make the mistake of thinking the Sona is a knockoff: it’s an upgrade in almost every way.
It’s no surprise that this is the best gaming mic for high-end users when it costs $349.99 USD / £299.99 GBP, but do you think it’s really a good deal ? Not only does this bring down the $399 price of the Shure SM7B, it doesn’t require an expensive audio interface or mic amps like the Cloudlifter to operate. Yes, you can actually use it with a cheap preamp, and it will still sound smooth.
Logitech Blue Sona Design
Many words come to mind when I look at the Blue Sona for the first time: bold, modern, elegant. That’s because of its strikingly different appearance, ditching the cylindrical body we’re used to seeing in favor of a contemporary cuboid. Clearly Logitech wants this microphone to stand out in the best webcam setting.
It’s also unusual to see the mics come in different color combinations, but you can choose between a sleek black body or an off-white body. Both come with a black and red windshield in the box for different color combinations, and you can switch between them quite easily thanks to their magnetic connectors. Logitech says more colors are on the way, but we can only judge what’s ahead of us at this time.
I don’t know what pop filters are made of, but the best part is that they aren’t dust magnets. I’m a cat parent and always felt like the cover on my Shure SM7B needed its own cover, but the foam that surrounds the Sona’s pod barely catches a bit of lint. When it does, it’s easy to clean and retains its professional look.
You’ll need a pole or tripod, as the Logitech Blue Sona doesn’t come with its own stand, but the mounting system is just as flexible. The XLR input is conveniently located, without conflicting with the screw. The threaded ring lets you attach the device to a boom arm without turning the whole mic in circles, and the swivel knob locks it in place, so you can position it anywhere you want on its 360-degree tilt.
It works with a wide range of 24V or 48V phantom power requirements, thanks to its ClearAmp technology, giving you an extra 25dB to play. As mentioned above, this makes the Sona a much cheaper investment than something like the Shure SM7B because it works with a wider range of preamps and keeps your desk free of unnecessary accessories.
Logitech Blue Sona Performance
The Logitech Blue Sona sounds like butter, with a clear and neutral EQ out of the box, meaning it doesn’t favor any particular frequency. This can make vocals feel a little cold if you’re used to USB mics which often add a bit of bass to the mix, but it’s easier to add warmth to most interfaces than take it away.
Supercardiod mic designs are notorious for their lack of sensitivity, prioritizing your voice and leaving background noise where it belongs. Logitech doubles down on this technology with a dual-diaphragm approach, pointing one diaphragm toward you to capture your sultry tones and the other away from you to filter out any unwanted noise. That’s what makes it a great gaming and streaming microphone, because no one likes to hear the noise of their keyboard. It can’t work miracles, so you’ll have to be careful where you put it, but I’m quite impressed with its ability to muffle sound.
The Sona is as plug-and-play as an XLR microphone. Once connected to an interface, simply adjust the gain on the preamp. The Sona hides two switches under the Logi-branded magnetic plate, each having an instant effect on the sound of your microphone. One is the “Bass Cut” function, which is a high-pass filter that works in conjunction with the internal damper to minimize deeper sounds, like accidentally hitting your desk. You can make it quieter, you might want to compensate by adding more gain, but that has an instant effect. The other is called Presence, which is a feature that helps prioritize your voice in noisiest rooms, amplifying voices above all else.
While Logitech battles compatibility issues with its gain-boosting ClearAmp feature, you’ll need to make some adjustments when first setting it up. With such headroom, it’s easy for your audio to clip if you set it too high. The good news is that once you set it to your liking, you won’t need to touch it again.
Logitech Blue Sona Verdict
In that case, calling the Logitech Blue Sona a Shure SM7B killer isn’t just a misleading marketing gimmick. I really see no reason to recommend it over its nearest rival when the Sona is cheaper, more compatible, more versatile and arguably better looking.
It’s a hard sell if you already own a Shure SM7B and probably not worth trading in since you already have everything you need. However, those of you looking to upgrade from a USB to XLR microphone or to go from an entry level/midrange to a high end should have the Blue Sona on your radar.
$349.99 USD / £299.99 GBP isn’t an all-in price, as you’ll have to budget for accessories like a boom arm and XLR cable that aren’t included. That said, you won’t find this kind of value anywhere else. Logitech has thought about every aspect of the Blue Sona and created a camera-ready microphone that’s as much substance as it is style.
Advantage:
- Versatile mounting system
- Superior sound that minimizes background noise
- The built-in amplifier makes it a bargain.
Against :
- need phantom power
- Does not include XLR cable
Check out our guide to the best microphone for streaming and gaming for alternatives to the Logitech Blue Sona, including cheap champions and fancy flagships.
Blue Sona review by Logitech
The Logitech Blue Sona is a sleek, premium XLR microphone that takes the best out of the Shure SM7B and makes it even better.