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Rode NT55 Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone Demo

Small-diaphragm Condenser Mic with Cardioid and Omnidirectional Capsules, 3-position Pad, and 3-position Variable Highpass Filter
2 Write review Item ID: NT55d1

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Rode NT55 Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone
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The NT5's Big Brother!

The Rode NT55 builds on the success of the NT5, providing an excellent mic for practically any recording application. The NT55 utilizes the 1/2" externally biased gold sputtered true condenser transducer used in the NT5. The NT55 is a state-of-the-art low noise balanced output microphone, exhibiting a wide dynamic range and full frequency response. The NT55 comes with 2 different condenser microphone heads to provide a variety of polar patterns. The NT55 is complemented with a diverse range of accessories to better facilitate positioning.

Related Videos: NT55 Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone

Rode NT55 At-a-Glance:
  • Cardioid and Omnidirectional Capsules
  • 3-position Pad and highpass Filter
  • Versatile
Cardioid and Omnidirectinal Capsules

The NT55 has the same sound quality, ease of use, and reliability of the NT5, but with the added feature of an NT45-O Omni capsule in every NT55 kit. This along with the supplied NT45-C Cardioid capsule makes the NT55 an unbeatable package for anyone wanting the most versatile small capsule system on the market. From drum overheads to acoustic guitar to ambient miking, the NT55 will capture it all.

3-position Pad and highpass Filter

The NT55 circuit incorporates a 3-position variable pad: 0, -10 or 20dB attenuation, and a 3-position variable highpass filter that enables you to step from a flat response to 75 or 150Hz highpass filter. The pad is invaluable for close miking loud sound sources without distortion, such as a snare drum. The highpass filter will prove handy as a means to limit the amount of ambient low-frequency rumble from the kick drum if used as overheads, or simply to minimize low-frequency noise for close miking of acoustic instruments.

Versatile

Although clearly relevant to instrument miking, the NT55 is extremely well suited to situations where a small 'unobtrusive' but powerful microphone system is required. The NT55, is a state-of-the-art low noise balanced output microphone, exhibiting a wide dynamic range, and full frequency response. The result is a powerful and versatile condenser microphone intended for Live Performance, Studio recording, Film, Television, Broadcast, Theatre, Surround and Environmental recording applications or wherever your imagination takes you.

Rode NT55 Features:
  • Small-diaphragm Condenser
  • Cardioid and Omnidirectional Capsules
  • 3-position Pad
  • 3-position highpass Filter
  • For Stage or Studio
  • Requires +48V phantom power
Rode NT55 - very versatile microphone!

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Tech Specs

  • Microphone Type: Condenser
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid, Omni
  • Diaphragm Size: 0.5" (12.5mm)
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
  • Max SPL: 136dB (156dB w/Pad)
  • Output Impedance: 100 ohms
  • Signal to Noise Ratio: 79dB (A weighted)
  • Self Noise: 15dB (A weighted)
  • Low Cut Filter: 75Hz, 150Hz
  • Pads: -10dB, -20dB
  • Connector: XLR
  • Weight: 0.24 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: NT55

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Customer Reviews

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Incredible Mic !

I was completely blown away by the performance of this microphone. I called Sweetwater and said I need a mic that will pick up a 13 piece big band while still maintaining the live feel of the room with clarity and equal distribution of instrumentation. By using the NT55's omni-directional capsule, I accomplished exactly what I wanted ! (I am very picky) This mic went beyond my expectations. It is a great tool for anyone who films large events where you want to capture live instead of a studio sound.
by Sweetwater Customer on
Music background: Video Producer

Great mic, awful switches

I bought one of these microphones to replace an MXL 993 which I use to record snare drum, guitars, and occasionally other things. The mic sounded great for close micing a guitar cabinet to capture a fairly middle of the road (middle of the rode?) guitar sound, not to bright or dark and didn't color the sound as much as the MXL 993 did. I wasn't as happy on snare, because I actually like the way the MXL 993 boosts the high frequencies recording my kit in my room, but the Rode nt55 was certainly usable.

I also have a lot more confidence that the Rode, with it's 10 year manufacturer warranty is a better investment than the MXL 993. Credit where credit's due, MXL was great about repairing (or replacing?) my microphones over the course of the 3-year warranty they offer on their gear. While I actually like the MXL 993 quite a bit, it doesn't hold up so well over time and has been discontinued by MXL.

The nt55 differentiates itself from the nt5 in 2 ways:

1. It comes with an omnidirectional capsule, which I didn't try but might be useful for some people

2. It's got a switch low pass filter and pad, which are useful in principle but not very practical

The problem with the switches is that they are adjustable via a tiny little notch in the slider buried in a tiny recessed cavity. I was able to adjust them with some thumbtacks I happened to have, which were clearly not really the right tool for the job. What you'd probably want is a tiny flat head screwdriver. It's hard to exercise enough fine control to select the middle position on the 3-position pad (0/10/20 db attenuation), with the thumbtacks, I couldn't do it.

The more serious issue with the design is that it's very hard to tell what position the selectors are in. I had to shine a flashlight in at the cavity a bright the thing right up to my face to see what position the selectors were in.

While I was satisfied with the sound of the microphone, it didn't make sense to me to put up with the usability issues of the switching system, so I ended up returning the microphone. I would encourage anyone considering this microphone to buy the simpler, switchless nt5 (which also, according to Rode actually handles higher SPL levels than the nt55 anyway, evidently it can handle up to 146db which really, really loud) instead and either pad the signal at the preamplifier stage, or buy some inline pads. That's going to be easier than dealing with the switches on this thing.
by Fred from IL on
See also: Condenser Mics, Rode, Rode Condenser Microphones
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