Neat Microphones Bumblebee II is designed to be an affordable USB-style microphone built for audio recording, streaming, podcasting, and gaming alike. A medium-size diaphragm microphone with a built-in mounting system for a desk or a boom arm setting. The Bumblebee II features full-range 24 bit/96 kHz audio, a Cardioid polar pattern microphone, USB C output connector, and a zero-latency high fidelity monitoring headphone amp priced at $99.99.
I was a bit shocked at how small the microphone was when I pulled out of its giant box. Its box must be about 5 times bigger than the microphone itself. Inside you will find a completely refined version of the original Bumblebee. It looks absolutely nothing like its predecessor. Now featuring a sleek all-black case seamlessly attached to a metal Y frame which is then connected to a desktop mount. Bottom line if you are serious about streaming or recoding get a boom, a desktop mount will never eliminate the keyboard stroke bass sound. Bumblebee II’s metal Y frame does disconnect from the desktop mount allowing you to mount it to a boom arm easily. It does feature some non-intelligent lighting around the button on its front side, but no RGB lighting system. It’s a clean design I like the directions Neat is headed with their new microphone products.
Neat created the Bumblebee II to be an easy-to-use style microphone. Its USB Type C to Type-A cable easily allows you to plug and play it with any windows-based PC or laptop on the market. This really comes in handy for voice conferencing, content creators, streamers, podcasters, gamers, vocalists, musicians, and voiceover artists. You will get a ton of work productivity along with your broadcast usage. Its 24 bit/96 kHz digital audio output gives the microphone excellent clarity. A single internally shock-mounted, medium-sized 25mm condenser capsule does give it excellent depth. When it comes to getting that radio voice sound analog will always be king but I was impressed with the sound the Bumblebee II had to offer. You can also monitor your playback with its zero-latency high fidelity monitoring headphone amp that can be controlled for simultaneous monitoring of source and playback. Neat has really put together a great sound quality package at this affordable $99.99 price point.
There is absolutely a ton of value when it comes to the versatility the Bumblebee II has to offer. Its size makes it easy to carry around in a backpack for use on the road and for other daily work tasks. I do however think it’s priced a bit high, I would like to see this product at around $69.99. I really like this product for an entry-level content creator who is wanting to push their audio quality up to a professional level.
Specifications:
Transducer Type: Permanently polarized 25mm condenser capsule, internally shock mounted
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sample Rate: 96 kHz
Bit Depth: 24 bit
Sensitivity: 16.0 mV/Pa at 1 kHz (1 Pa = 94 dB SPL)
Maximum SPL: 128 dB SPL (0.5% THD)
S/N Ratio: 80 dB-A (IEC 651)
Noise Level: 14 dB-A (IEC 651)
Dynamic Range: 114 dB (@2.5k ohms)
Power Requirement: 3.3 V – 5 V
Product Weight: 0.88 lbs. (0.4 kg)
Product Dimensions: 8″ x 5″
Connectivity: USB
