When it comes to your music, voiceover, drum recordings, or any other audio work, you need a good condenser microphone. Narrowing your options to just two vocal mics is difficult enough, but deciding between the Rode M5 and the Lewitt 040 isn’t easy either. Either way, you’ll get a good microphone, but one might just work better for you.
Rode M5 vs. Lewitt 040
You probably have already heard of Rode. It’s a company known for producing quality audio equipment, so you can expect its M5 to be a solid option for your microphone needs.
You may have not heard of Lewitt, though, but this up-and-coming company has started to make a name for itself with its wide dynamic range of mics that you can use for any purpose and in any setting.
Now, both of these condenser mics are small and powerful, with a generally stable performance that you can rely on. You will also receive a set of two microphones with each option. Let’s go into more detail.
Specifications
The Rode M5 is a cardioid microphone, which means that it will pick up sound from the front only. This is great for isolating sound since it will block out sounds from the back and the sides. You’ll notice that this is a small mic, just like the Lewitt LCT 040, which is a small diaphragm condenser microphone. That means that it’s lightweight and easy to carry around with you.
Sound Quality
While there are multiple factors to think about, realistically, you need your mic to have a good sound to it. The audio quality must be excellent for your microphone to be worth it.
With the Rode M5, you know that your mic will pick up a lot of specific sounds—that’s what the condenser capsule inside is for. The cardioid polar pattern will ensure that it grabs onto the sound in the front and does a great job with any audio that’s softer, even if you’re in a louder environment. These softer sounds will be amplified regardless of the frequency.
As you pick up the Lewitt LCT 040, the sound is rather impressive too. The audio quality is generally full-bodied and smooth, with a great transient response. Really, the sound is detailed and with solid stereo quality.
Design
When you pick up the M5, you should notice the build quality right away. It’s fairly sturdy since it has a double ceramic coating, so you can generally feel safe transporting this mic around with you.
You will receive a matched pair of the M5 mics with your purchase, both of which are pencil-styled. This means that they’re thin with a condenser mesh at the top, with the whole point of this style being to make them durable and stylish.
Pick up the Lewitt LCT 040, and you will also have a matched pair of mics, but on these, you should notice gold-plated XLR connectors as well. The design is also relatively minimal, even more so than other options. Actually, this is one of the absolute lightest mics out there, with no extra controls or switches on the outside.
Mounting
You do receive mic mounts with your M5. These are made to secure this mic to any microphone stand, and surprisingly, they don’t feel subpar or cheaply made at all. While you may have your own mounts that you’d want to use just for extra security, the included mounts are definitely something you can rely on when it comes to holding up your mic.
For the Lewitt LCT 040, you may need to buy your own mounts. We didn’t notice anything special with the mounts on this mic, so there may be an extra cost to you to pick up mounts that will work with this mic.
Best Used For
Use the M5 for acoustic instruments first. Since it’s configured to pick up sound from the front first, this means that it does a great job with the softer type of sound like an acoustic guitar. It will also block out sound from the sides and back, so especially if you’re recording acoustic guitar sounds, it will pick up the sound without a problem. Use it for your voice – it does great with choirs, singular vocals, and especially the male range.
If you need to record more detailed sound, this type of mic should work well for you.
Of course, the Lewitt 040 is great for all types of sound as well. Because of the natural, stereo style sound, it makes your recordings or instruments sound balanced. You can record drums on this quite well, although it does pick up acoustics and voice just as well. Thanks to the hyper-detailed sound, this is an excellent mic if you use your fingers for your acoustic guitar rather than a pick.
The sound might be richer with other mic types, but this small diaphragm condenser microphone does pick up on a lot of sound for its size.
Which Should You Pick?
The M5 mics are really solid in terms of build quality. You get a lot of extras with these mics too, including mounting stands and windshields, not to mention that the sound quality is definitely impressive. They have fixed, non-removable capsules, but this might be the mic for you if you can overlook that.
On the other hand, the Lewitt 040 is lightweight and works well, with an excellent capacity for picking up sound. No matter what type of sound, you can use this mic with ease. You don’t have as many extras with these mics, and may need your own mounts here, but with the quality of this mic, you may not mind much.
