Audio-Technica AT2020 user reviews ( 8/10) - 22 user reviews

• 08/05/11

  James...'s review "Can't beat it for the price"

  Characteristics

  Nothing special. Just a cardioid condenser. Probably best kept in the studio. AT says it's an all purpose condenser. Obviously it's a budget mic.

  Overall Opinion

  I was in a Sam Ash last year browsing around. I know a few of the staff there pretty well and they take care of me. I started talking to a guy about condensers and said I was in the market for a good cardioid. I needed something to pair with an sm57 for micing electric in my studio. He recommended I do a shootout right in the store. We ended up trying about 12 different mics. Some up to $1500. I got a PRS CE22, played it through a Mesa electrodyne and miced up the speaker with an SM57. We went through the heard pairing condensers with it. Eventually we narrowed it down to 2. The 2020 and a U87. Now obviously the U87 is massively more expensive. I won't lie, I think it sounded a little better than the 2020. But can you guess which one I bought? Yeah.
  
  
  
  Since then I've used the 2020 extensively for cab micing. What I like to do is put 1 or 2 57's close to the cone area, and then put a 2020 about a foot or 2 back for ambience. It works great this way. I found the 2020 is good for acoustic guitar if you pair it with something like an sm81, oddly enough. It has a full sound that never gets bassy. For the price I think it's a pretty sweet mic. To me, it doesn't sound great with a lot of things. On vocals it's meh. Can't be used on drums. But when paired with another really good mic it can shine. Check it out. It's not a lot of money so it's not a total loss if you don't care for it. But I promise you will find SOME use for it. It just takes the right situation.
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• 06/29/11

  Kierkes's review "Very nice for the price"

  Characteristics

  The AT2020 is a solid medium diaphragm condenser microphone that very conveniently exudes a blatant "take me or leave me" vibe. The AT2020 has NO bells and whistles at all. It's fixed cardioid and lacks any sort of high-pass/low-cut filter or pad. Its sole merit is how it sounds.
  
  
  
  And it sounds good. It's clearly a vocal microphone, so it does have a tailored frequency response that is very subtly flattering and musical, unlike the disgusting high-end exaggerations of the AT2020's competition. The only things that's objectively objectionable about the AT2020 is its self-noise figure of 20dB, which puts it up there with many tube microphones. A lot of the entry level microphones do have this same noise figure though, so it's not worse than the other entry-level condensers.
  
  
  
  The strangeness of the 20-series seems to affect the AT2020 the worst, though; the sound does appear a bit narrow and contained. It lacks the enveloping sensation that the other condensers give you. However, it's far better than the piercing needle sound the AT2020's competition gives you.
  
  
  
  The AT2020, as with the other 20-series microphones, is that it's RUGGED. It's not like you want to hammer a nail with it, like you can with an SM58; it's still a condenser, and fragile, but much less so than others.

  Overall Opinion

  The Audio-Technica AT2020 is a very solid microphone that is musically flattering and still very versatile. It's not a microphone I would buy right now, because of its big brother, the AT2035, offering slightly better sensitivity, a more flattering (in my opinion) frequency response, and a lower noise-figure, for just a bit more with a shockmount.
  
  
  
  However, the Audio-Technica AT2020 is famous for a reason; it's a good microphone, and don't let those specs fool you; you are in for a treat when you first sing into the AT2020.
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• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Characteristics

  Key feature here is the performance you get for such an incredible price. Great mic for vocals!!
  
  
  
  Price paid: $140 CAD

  Overall Opinion

  Incredible!! This mic performs incredibly well, in comparison to ANY mic...let alone one for a mere $140.
  
  
  
  Just plug it on, and give it a little bit of phantom juice. Thats all there is to it.
  
  
  
  Beign that it is a condenser mic, its no secret that it needs to be treated gently. With proper care, this product will make you very VERY happy. I've never had any problems with mine.
  
  
  
  Great mic!! The only reason it doesn't have such a wow factor for me, is because I rarely record vocals. As a result, this piece of equipment isn't nearly as dear to me as say, my Fantom X.
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: street ninja ( 6-, 2005)
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• 10/30/08

  Marshall92's review

  Characteristics

  The Audio-Technica AT2020 is an inexpensive studio condenser microphone. It retails for about one hundred dollars. It's a basic microphone, meaning it doesn't have a high pass filter switch on it. Although the microphone doesn’t ship with a shock mount (I wish it did), it does come with a mic stand adapter, which fits any common mic stand. It has a cardioid pick up pattern, which you may love or hate. It’s ultimately up to the person and what they're using it for. Personally, I love it because it doesn’t seem to pick up as much access noise, unless you want it to.

  Overall Opinion

  I have been using the AT2020 for about 3 monthes now and love it more everyday. It's an exceptionally strong mic, and if you place it in an open area, it can pick up things your ears can’t even hear. One of the At2020’s hidden charms is that it's great at recording ambient noise for your work, just turn your pre amps all way up.
  
  To me, the AT2020 sounds just as good as microphones that cost twice as much as it does. It sounds great when you're micing guitars, once you get it in the right position. The microphone does really well all around, I have used it many times for vocals and it does an outstanding job. Another plus with At2020 is that it’s extremely well built and very rugged. This mic survived a six foot free-fall onto a tile floor from a mic stand, and landed without even getting a scratch. I think Audio-Technica could easily raise the price of this mic by 50 bucks and sell just as many, because it's really good. Eventually, once I get the money to upgrade mics, I won’t be selling this one. I can almost assure you, I'll be staying in the Audio-Technica family of microphones because I was so blown away by the quality and workmanship of the AT2020.
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• 10/23/08

  victormelamade's review

  Characteristics

  The AT2020 is a pretty nice large diaphragm condenser mic. I used to own 2 of these to use as a stereo pair but I ended up selling them after I could afford better ones. Overall they are pretty good mics, and they are very cheap for how they sound so they're a good value. The one's I got did not come with a case or a shock mount, just a normal hard clip and a bag. I was a little disappointed about that because with any condenser mic the manufacturer should give you a case so they don't get broken. Luckily they are pretty sturdy mics, because I dropped one in the bag one time and it still seemed to work just fine. They are cardioid mics which you can't switch to other polar patterns. They don't have any other nice features that better mics have like a high pass filter or a pad. The sound quality of the mics is average. They sound just a little bit cheap, like what you recorded is being played back through lousy speakers. The sound is just not as clear and smooth as you would normally want to get from a condenser mic. The transients that you hear through this mic also sound kind of flat and not very animated.

  Overall Opinion

  I had two of these mics for about a year a while ago but I ended up selling them. I thought they were good while I had them but I quickly got tired of their sound, which is not that great, and upgraded to a better pair of stereo mics that were large diaphragms. The price is very good on these though since they are only about 100 dollars per mic. Overall I wouldn't really recommend these mics because you just aren't going to get a great sound. I wouldn't get it again.
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• 10/14/11

  Chahriyâr's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Very good value!"

  Characteristics

  Everything has been said about its characteristics.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for 3 years.
  
  Before this one I had a Rode NT3 and I much prefer the Audio-Technica.
  
  It seems to be fairly neutral and it is much less "hiss" that NT3.
  
  I use a pop filter (as with any condenser microphone) and it does not disappoint me at all.
  
  For its price, I think it's a very good deal for the home studio base.
  
  To get an idea, you can listen to my super composed,) and possibly to ask your opinion! hehe! ^ ^ (For info, it goes directly into the Focusrite USB6 no special treatment for voice)
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• 10/02/11

  Rémy BDR's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Tip Top for the price"

  Characteristics

  Micro static capacitor.
  
  A microphone to do anything if one has the right preamp behind. Its very clear (almost too) So pay attention to SIFL and HF are difficult to remove from the mix. But let's be clear, for € 98 you get a lot for your money. It's simple, really better for triple the price should be. Lack of options type low-pass-XDB or pad, but if it has good preamps or a good table, all that has no need for someone equipped prériphériques. It is the deliberate bias by the manufacturer I think, since it came out the same with all that, but of course more expensive.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for about a year in home studio and I am satisfied. Yes I compared with a little of everything, but it remains the most versatile and more linear in its price range. You really have to type in the above range for a difference in outcome that justifies the investment. We agree, no one Neumann either huh?
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• 09/03/11

  r2-d4's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Good Product"

  Characteristics

  We only regret the absence of a high pass or low cut.

  Overall Opinion

  After an apex compared to tube a little more upscale, this microphone really surprised me.
  
  It's really a micro ideal for vocals or spoken rap / rnb, because it takes a lot at the top of the spectrum. Thus, from the apex which is much lower in the medium. I really like to highlight the diction of a text, for clarity of words.
  
  However I would take less easily to the singing range because of this extra treble.
  
  
  
  However, an excellent micro.
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• 07/18/10

  arakno1's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " cool"

  Characteristics

  Rap, guttural cry, vocals, acoustic instruments.

  Overall Opinion

  A microphone is less than 200 euros which greatly satisfied and fulfilling its role.
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• 01/31/10

  paradies's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  See data sheet.
  
  No-10db attenuator as in 2035, which can be annoying for certain specific uses.
  
  The ssss are nice and clear, the anti pppp priests pass very well.
  
  updated review of el in some time with sound sax.

  Overall Opinion

  I've tested it today on a decision-type voice "voice".
  
  directly connected to the preamp to the digi 002 with the phantom power. Very satisfactory result. Many time saving, not just cleaning blast.
  
  I essairai soon with an external preamp, but sui spas whatsoever necessary, except perhaps to mitigate or warm alampe al ...
  
  I've used up a tbone here at home, studio and standards for equity and commercial voiceovers.
  
  Live a vintage and beyerdynamic shure.
  
  J in a home studio using the dynamic up here. AT2020 This is an excellent addition to the price.
  
  To see what gives akg precision 120 in a same price range.
  
  Value for money secondhand good ...
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