Neat Microphones is not a household name most gamers would know, but I bet they would recognize their parent company Turtle Beach. Little did we know the leadership behind Neat Microphones has over 30 years of professional audio industry experience with companies like Blue Microphones, ADAM Audio GmbH, Guitar Center, Harman, and AKG. Neat introduces us to the Skyline a multipurpose USB microphone designed for video conferencing, eLearning, Streaming, and Podcasting. Skyline features crystal clear 24 bit/96 kHz digital audio, an illuminated mute button, and a cardioid directional microphone priced at $69.99.
What you see is what you get with the Skyline, a free-standing microphone. It does not detach from the stand which severely limits your options for placement. This is a massive design flaw that we will cover later in this review. I really like a product like this for an on-the-road type setup. It is actually quite small at just over 7 inches tall making it perfect for a backpack rig. I have to be absolutely honest with everyone the Skyline does look kind of strange, I am not a huge fan of its appearance. It reminds me of that tall skinny tower in New York at 111 west 57th street, I guess that would explain the marketing video ? LOL! This microphone is not designed to be a looker it’s engineered around functionality and versatility. It’s simple, it gets the job done. A sleek minimalist design with an illuminated mute button for a quick pause.
Skyline boasts high resolution 24 bit / 96k kHz sound output powered by a permanently polarized condenser capsule with a cardioid polar pattern. I can absolutely agree Skyline has excellent clarity. However, you will not get the deep tones from this product due to its small diaphragm. We tested it on a desk with a full mouse pad surface. When Skyline was on the desk, we were getting that deep thumping sound when hitting keys (Cherry MX Switches). You will need to prop it up on something in order to eliminate this issue which is caused by not having a detachable stand. Without a sound threshold, the Skyline picks up every click and clack noise from your peripherals. If you are using this for streaming or broadcasting, make sure the broadcasting software has a sound threshold. On the flip side Skyline will work excellent for a side-by-side two-person broadcast. You are going to run into these types of issues with any microphone around this price point.
I think this product has great value for multiple applications. I like it mostly as a laptop companion you can take on the road and use for gaming, video conferences, or broadcasting. Its minimalist design gives it a more formal look suitable for a business setting. Sound quality is on par with its price point. If you are one of those hustlers who wear their blazers by day and nerd culture gear by night this might be the microphone for you.
