INTRODUCTION

   Largely thanks to YouTube there are currently more streamers and video bloggers that we could ever possibly count (with more starting up each day that goes by) and as expected that has sky rocketed demand for quality USB microphones. In turn the appearance of such models has also made it possible for regular consumers to no longer rely on the low quality built-in microphones found in most web cameras and notebooks. This means that if you're using Viber, Skype, Facebook or any other program and/or platform for online calls an USB microphone is probably the best way to go with currently. Arozzi may count only 5 years in the PC gaming peripherals market but their share is far from small and after their very successful Gaming Chair, Desk, Eyewear and even Racing Simulator Stand lines they entered the USB microphone market with the Sfera, Sfera Pro and Colonna models all of which have been with us for just over a month now.

   Arozzi is a Swedish company founded in 2013. Arozzi gaming chairs are built in the spirit of Esports and feature ergonomic design with high levels of comfort. Our products have a refined aesthetic that draws inspiration from the world of motorsports. Each Arozzi chair can be finely adjusted to your needs to ensure you are in the best position achieve your next victory, whatever the game!

   Both the Sfera and Sfera Pro USB Microphones by Arozzi are condenser type microphones (capacitor microphones if you're in Great Britain) based on 14mm condenser capsules (1 at the front for the Sfera and 2 for the Sfera Pro - front and rear). Both microphones have 3.5mm audio outputs for use with headphones, boom arm mounts (in case you don't have enough room on your desk) and feature a frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz with 44.1KHz sample rate (also 48KHz for the Sfera Pro), 16bit bit-rate, 44dBA sensitivity and a maximum SPL of 120dB. The two main differences between the Sfera and Sfera Pro is the headphone amplifier of the Sfera Pro (15Hz-22KHz frequency response with 16Ohms impedance and 114dB SNR) and their polar/pick-up patterns so whereas the Sfera features a directional (cardioid) pattern which basically only records sounds coming directly from the front of the microphone the Sfera Pro also features the classic Omni-directional pattern which can record sounds equally from all directions (it also features a -10dB cardioid pattern in case you need to use it with very loud instruments and/or even voices). Now as some of you may know condenser microphones have the ability to produce superior sound quality compared to dynamic models (mostly used in concerts) since they feature widest frequency response, best transient response, higher sensitivity and reduced noise. Of course this mostly applies to professional grade microphones so two rather entry-level models like the Sfera and Sfera Pro may leave some people asking for more. This is where the Colonna comes in however since it has a total of 3 14mm condenser capsules (front, rear and top) and features a frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz, 44.1KHz-48KHz sample rate, 16bit bit-rate and a max SPL of 120dB. Just like the Sfera Pro the Colonna also features a headphone amplifier (15Hz-22KHz frequency response with 16Ohms impedance and 114dB SNR) but what really sets it apart from the other two models is its 3 different polar/pick-up patterns cardioid, Omni-directional and a bi-directional the last of which can be used to record sounds coming from both the front and rear of the microphone (side sounds are blocked). So let's move on with today’s review/comparison and see what each of these USB microphones by Arozzi has to offer.