Rode NT5 Matched Pair Compact Condenser Microphones Reviews

Rode NT5 is excellent for live sound with very good feedback rejection for choir.

I have had these litte mics for many years. So many of the reviewers have described the matched pair of NT-5 so very well. I use them mostly for XY stereo recording of singer/guitarists. They capture the sound and performance
of guitar and vocal as one organic mix beautifully. they are crystal claer with great presence if positioned about two feet away on a stereo bar. I previously usd a pair of Audio-Technica AT-4031 small diaphgram mics. They were nice too but did not have the overall depth of the Rodes and the sensitivity in my opinion. In particular, these mics capture vocals so very well for a small diaphgram microphone when recording this way. I have not tried recordng wth the avaialble omni capsules but my do so in the future. I was surprised to see that a few of the revierwers felt the NT-5s were overly bright. i find the overall sound full and blanced tone wise and I think
it's ability to pick up lower frequencies is better tha many small d's out there. I thing that is why male vocalsits especially baritones are captured so well by it. Again, I used it only in XY (guitar and vocal as one unit) for a point of reference. Love these mics!

Love these. They are crisp, clear and a great price.

Only had a few days but these are fantastic for classical guitar recording. These are tremendous for the price. Crisp, clean and clear would be my takeaways so far. I wish it came with 3/8 to 5/8 mic adapter but no big deal. I like them so much I am buying the M5s for my Saramonic Smartrig.

These are excellent microphones. Makes your source sound very natural. They hold their own against other acclaimed, more expensive SDC's. And for the price, you can't beat them.

I am so impressed with these little microphones. So far I've recorded only acoustic guitar in an XY pattern in a small project studio. The guitar sounds so natural, that I barely need to do any corrective EQ at all. This is the best price on a matched pair of pro grade condenser microphones by far. I've been looking for more than a year seriously and these totally fir the bill. Great sound, low noise, great price and the small size makes them really easy to position.

Love the sound of the matched pair. What a difference between just using two mics and these. No hole in the tone, just rich and true sound. Love them!!!

Second pair for our choir. Great mix and true acoustic sound for the background instruments and voices. Excellent recommendations from the Sweetwater staff.

I run the sound system for our High School Choir. We host a choir competition every year for 30+ Choirs, ranging from jazz to acapella to show choirs, with a whole day devoted to show choirs. This year, I wanted to improve the sound quality, particularly for the show choir. Show choir is particularly difficult, as you have a lot of movement, with varying abilities. After looking for general advice on line, I found the consensus was to use two condenser mics, 8' on center, above the heads of the performers., pointed to so I sought out advice from a Sweetwater engineer. He recommended a matched pair of the Rode NT5's. I placed them on extra tall stands to get them over the front row of performers.

This past weekend was our competition. Friday, during the concert, jazz, and acapella competition, one of the judges asked what mics we were using, because of how good the sound was. Then on Saturday during the show choirs asked the same thing. In addition, the videographer gets a feed from our sound board, and he said that the sound was the best he has had in a long time.

I am very satisfied with these microphones, and would highly recommend them.

The matched pair of Rode NT5's is AWESOME!!! So much so, that they picked up my crackling fire in my fireplace, and some "creaking" in my log home...a great distance from where I play my harp...But, to top THIS off, they picked up the sound of my "spinner" ring around my wedding band!! Had to remove the ring while recording...unbelievable!!! I bought the matched pair so I could mic my harp in the upper and lower registers...after several different placements, I think I found where they will not only pick up some ambient sound but articulation as well. You never know how you sound until you hear yourself on a recording! And, with additional experimenting with placement and audio software I am sure these 2 mics will be all that I need, be it recording myself for a learning tool, or making a demo later on this winter. Thanks for the great recommendation! Now I just have to be sure I don't need a fire in the fireplace when I want to record!

These are simply a steal at their current price. I bought them to do field recordings of ambiance and various sounds for effects. Some people say the high end is a little harsh on these, but I honestly couldn't tell. When I put my headphones on to listen to what these recorded through my Zoom H6 (96khz/24bit) I looked around confused a couple times because I didn't expect a certain sound around me. I had to take my headphones on and off several times just to establish what was recorded was different than the sound going on out. Granted I am not a hardcore audiophile but I didn't expect these to sound nearly as good as they do.
Highly recommended to anyone looking to do field recording on a budget.

Best Bag for your buck on Small Condenser(s). Works great for both micing Drums Overheads and micing Choirs.

I've had these mics for a year and a half now, and I'm a big fan. I use them all over the place, from drum overheads, strings, acoustic guitars, room mics, auxiliary percussion and grand pianos. I even use them in a handheld ORTF rig into a Zoom H4N to collect background sound for short films and sound libraries. I've traveled with them, pushed them in extreme climates from the desert to the Malaysian monsoon season, and recorded very high SPL's. They've never complained or sounded any different. They sound awesome for the price range, and are arguably some of the most robust small diaphragm condensers around too. I'll probably be back for another pair in the near future!

I purchased this mic on recommendation from my sweetwater rep - Matt because the mic I wanted (Studio Projects) was not available. With much trepidation I purchased a matched pair. OK so now all I have to say is that these mics are way more awesome than the studio projects. Big warm sound - no thinness in the upper frequencies when gain is pushed. I love these on Cellos, Clarinets, Bassoons, and Acoustic Bass. (love my english syntac.. I know ya do) Try for yourself. I own 4 now

I do broadcast and video production projects. There are often times when we record local bands and there's no feed from the mixing board, or there are orchestra (big band to quartet and the like) instruments that aren't mic'ed. Using the NT5 to get great quality live sound is simply amazing. I thought we'd have to go with a much more expensive rig than this, but nope, these little puppies are amazing. I also use them individually in the studio for music work, and they are very pleasing to the ear. I love them!

These microphones take my acoustic guitar recording to a new level. Wonderful overall mic. Nice presence.

A big thumbs up on the sound quality of these two little gems. Wonderful in front of an acoustic guitar, under a snare drum, or over a drum set. I love this company (RODE). I also own the K2, an original NT-1, and a NT-2A. Don't think I don't have anything else to compare these mics to. I've heard a vintage pair of KM84's, and these compare well with the big boys. If you can't get your tracks to sound good with these, then the microphone is not the problem.

I primarily do location recording with a wide variety of groups, and I can easily say that these are some of my favorite mics to use.
I've used them on drum overheads, close-miking trombone and trumpet, and main stereo pairs for choral work, big band jazz, concert bands, brass quintet, and baroque ensembles. They've helped me out significantly, even in the worst rooms imaginable (think high school gym). At the same time, they've also stressed my need for accurate placement as well.
These give you plently of bang for buck, and that's important for a student like myself. I'm looking into either getting more of these, or trying out some of Rode's other offerings.

Currently running them into a Presonus Firepod then into Cubase 4 on a laptop based mobile recording system.

I use these for live stereo field-recording and in the studio to mic my Martin D-28. Simply put,they sound incredible. I also have two Neumann KM184's and I feel that the Rode NT5's are just about as nice for ALOT less money! Very detailed and smooth sounding, and IMO better than anyone else's comparibly priced 1/2" condensers.

I've always had kind of a boomy, boxy sound when recording finger style on my acoustic. I used these in a stereo recording on my Martin and got the most balanced, even, pleasant sound I've ever been able to record. I plan on using these on violin & possibly as choir overheads, too. I tried them on piano as well, but wasn't as impressed. This is definitely a handy and not too expensive pair of mics with good quality sound.

they do cymbals good..... and are perfect for an accoustic guitar player sitting down. also, i used these in this coolio 2 mic drum micing method where they are both above n behind with one pointed straight down at the snare and the other over the opposite shoulder aimed at the kick drum beater... all the other drums and cymbals are picked up by just 2 mics and they r all there. try it!! google 2 mic drum methods.... these rodes are so classy........

I love my matched pair. I have used them on acoustic guitars, resonators, and a B3/"Leslie", and they sound great with minimal EQ. I found the highs to be a little bit harsh on the acoustic guitar (flat EQ), but moving the mic a bit & a splash of EQ always seems to do the trick. I am considering investing in the additional "omni" pattern capsules that Rhode sells. That might save me from buying a pair of KLMs :)

I was very impressed with these low-cost microphones. I used them to record an in-home piano recital where I wasn't able to place the microphones optimally (I didn't want guests to bump into mic stands). So I used a pair of NT5s, bought specifically for this purpose, mounted about 5 inches apart at the tail of the piano, pointing to the front.

Because we had the top of the piano on the "short stick" (it's a big Bosendorfer piano in a little living room), there was some problems picking up the bass but I think that was more because of the effects of the top than a fault of the microphones.

I'd like to try one of these mics in conjunction with a large diaphragm bi-directional condenser in a mid-side arragement (using the NT5 as the "mid"). I think that would work very well.

I bought these mics for choral recording as well as instrument recording and I'm very glad I did. These are a great value! I used them on a live choral tour I recorded. They pick up everything. I mean details like crazy. The director had a pair of headphones on which were hooked up to my recording console while practicing and he told the choir he could hear the singers breath! These mics pick up very well in front of them and don't pick up noise behind them. I also like them for guitar and especially mandolin. The only thing I wish was different is how they tend to exaggerate high frequencies a bit. Otherwise no complaints. I love the fact that they aren't made in China.

These mics sound awesome with my acoustic guitar. Granted, I have a rad DigiMax Pre-Amp, but I think these mics give me great sounds. With a good Pre-Amp, these mics sound awesome. I haven't tried them on overheads yet. Fingerpicking and strumming sound excellent.

What a great set of mic's. I just finished a choir recording, and I have never enter into that world, so to speak... but it came off crystal clear for me. The vocals were right up front! These mic's are great for drum over heads as well and I also use them for acoustic guitar.

I don't know what I would do without them now.

They are bright, and Metallic sounding. Their off axis sound is a bit wonky to me, and for that reason I don't like them as drum overheads, and they can be too bright on some hihats. What they really shine at is surprisingly bass and guitar amps, and close mixing cymbals. They are also my go to mic for tambourine.

These mics will always have a place in my mic locker, which has had over 40 mics. If you know how to use when to use these, and how to place them, they can add extreme detail to a sound.

Good solid design. Great for overheads. Great for rooms. Great for acoustic guitars. Maybe a little more mid-rangey in terms of frequency response than I like. A rolloff and pad would be handy, But otherwise I have no real complaints.

These are a great pair of mics for the price. In my studio we mainly use them to mic the Hi-hat and the ride, or as overheads. To be honest I was very suprised you could get sound like this out of mics for this price. Only issue I can see with them is you may want to back them off a bit because the signal comes in very HOT! Close miced to the ride and the hi-hat they would clip even with the gain set at 0, if only they had a built in pad.

These mics are extremely versatile, but, depending on what sound you're going for, they may not be the mics for you. I've used these on acoustic guitar, overheads, and I tried one once on a female vocalist. The mics excelled when it came to the overheads, and when I say excelled, I really do mean they were stunning. However, I wasn't pleased with the results on the guitar or vocals. That isn't to say that they didn't accurately replicate the recording, I just wanted to go with something a little bit darker. My advice, if you want some air and a lot of high-end crisp, go with these babies. If, however, you're looking for a darker sound, but still want to retain your clarity I'd go with a pair of mk-012's or something similar.

Just aim and press record. I am trying to mater the 3 mic drum technique and these make it easy. The sound is crystal clear and very accurate.I run them direct into my API 3124+pre along with a bass drum mic and its all I need. The HiHat shimmers and the snare punches. The cymbals are perfect. Love em....

Based on other reviews I decided to pick up a pair of these guys because of the quality vs. price ratio. Overall, I'm pretty pleased. Here's the pros vs. cons.

Cons
- My pair didn't come in the nifty padded case shown here, but in a hard plastic case with a padded top. A shortcut by Rode to save some $$ ? (Note: I didn't purchase my pair from Sweetwater.)
- The matte nickel finish scratches pretty easily, especially when taking them in and out of the hard plastic case.
- These mics can get a little noisy when cranked up.

Pros
- Cosmetics aside, I set these babies up in a spaced pair on my Taylor 315 and was quite pleased with the sound. The high end is not tinny, but smooth and detailed. The mids and lows are solid and present.
- No part of the frequency range seems unnatural. Just the sound of the guitar like you hear it in the room.

Overall, these mics provide detailed, relatively uncolored sound for a small diaphragm condenser, but I wish I had the cushy padded case shown in the photo instead of the molded plastic one. Anyone know where I can find one?

Years ago I owned a pair of these. Since then I've had a few opportunities to try them out again. Most recently, I've been working on some mixes for a band that used them as overheads.

I would not recommend the NT5. I'm only referring to their application as drum overheads, but for that purpose, I would encourage folks to look elsewhere. Again and again, I've found that these mics bring out a harsh quality in cymbals and set you up for a headache mixing.

They may be well suited to other applications where a lot of top end bite and detail is more welcomed.

I had an nt5, and was not happy with it. This mic is overly bright and 'clinical' sounding...maybe to the point of some harshness. It is well made, and will last, but at this price point there are many other choices to consider. I was very unahppy with the sound and have since sold it. I don't regret selling it at all.

I use these primarily as piano mics, and their range and fullness is simply amazing for small diaphragm condensers, in both studio and live applications. Very quiet, the polar pattern is good and tight, and the sound is round and transparent. You can't beat the price/quality ratio of these.

Recently got to put these mics up against others in their price category, MXL 603 and the Studio Projects C4. Overall, I'd say these mics are by far the most full sounding of the bunch. They definitely have capture the full range on things like acoustic guitar. Compared to the MXL 603, the NT5 have a much more detailed bottom, and a much richer sound from about 900-3k (the MXL seems scooped in comp). Against the SP 604, the NT5 have a fuller everything. And the NT5's transients don't seem as fast, meaning you can compress them easier (the SP mics are just too icepicky). In reality, the NT5s are the best sounding (to my ears) of the bunch. By far the fullest and least colored of the bunch. There are better for $$$$, but for $400, these are a steal. Just one guys opinion....

I used the NT5 pair as durm overheads at a concert I was working. They sounded great! I was really pleased to find that although I had inadvertenly routed the overhead signal to the drum monitor speaker, I had no hint of feedback. A testimony to the NT5's tight cardioid pattern. I later listed to the recording of the sterio feed from the board, and couldn't believe how great the durms sounded with little EQ.