Review on Technica AT2005USB Handheld Dynamic Microphone by Michelle Frey

I upgraded a Plantronics wireless headset because I wanted a more "professional" quality for podcasts. I tried Blue Yeti (Blackout Edition) but it picked up too much background noise for me. I'm typing on a call and have a mechanical keyboard with Cherry Brown switches, so that didn't help. I chose this dynamic mic over the Yeti condenser mic and loved the difference. I use Audacity to fine-tune audio and add other software fixes to fix potential bugs in Windows 10 when connecting to USB mics (suggest mic gain/gain levels for USB mics etc.). What I got was just amazing sound when connected to micro USB. The problem is that despite the care, the micro USB port shut down even with the slightest movement. It sits on my desk on an awesome short Gator Frameworks mic stand (I highly recommend it for desk work) so it's isolated from vibration and such, but I was concerned. use, why is it already having problems? I sent it to Audio-Technica following all the warranty instructions on their website and the only cost to me was the $8 it cost to ship there. They sent it back with a new mic. USB connection for free. The new Micro-USB connector is actually almost TOO tight and tight. While the previous one was a little wobbly, this one is hard to separate! I like the mic itself, so I just leave the cable permanently attached to the mic in the stand so that cycling it on and off doesn't loosen the connections and create another problem. Note: This is NOT a solution most people can afford or accept, and does not fix the fact that a port has become unreliable after weeks of little use! The mic also has an on/off slider, which I assume is essentially a mute button, but I don't use it. The only limitation is that it takes almost no pressure to move it from one position to another. I'm afraid I'll accidentally turn it off without realizing it, or vice versa, and wish I had a version without a switch. Four stars for amazing sound and no-questions-asked warranty support, and what appears to be solid build quality overall - it's beefy and looks well built. It also has an XLR output which I can't talk to but at least I can go that route if the USB eventually fails under warranty. It also comes with an XLR cable, which would be nice, and has its own little tripod. I doubt this will be enough for most people, but it's better than nothing. Minus one star for the micro USB port issue which I understand can be a common problem with this model. Also, a loose and easily toggled on/off switch seems to be a feature of a cheaper and inferior microphone. Overall I am happy with this microphone. If AT's customer service wasn't so good I would probably get two stars - treating your customers well and supporting your products goes a long way :)