iCON Dynamic — an affordable dynamic broadcast microphone
iCON has established itself with a wide range of microphones. The dynamic models designed for bloggers, streamers, and online broadcasting are especially interesting. They look good and cost relatively little, several times less than a Shure SM7B. This raises a natural question: are they worth considering? Today we will look at the iCON Dynamic broadcast microphone.
The manufacturer's official video shows the intended uses of the iCON Dynamic microphone.
iCON Dynamic specifications
| Capsule | Dynamic |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency range | 50 Hz–15 kHz |
| Sensitivity | -54.5 dB/Pa |
| Nominal impedance | 150 ohms |
| Low-cut switch | 400 Hz |
| High-boost switch | 2–6 kHz |
| Connections | XLR |
| Dimensions | 55 × 130 mm |
| Weight | 563 g |
| Package contents | Mount, foam windscreen |
The specifications are quite typical of a dynamic microphone.
The package includes a foam windscreen. The manufacturer says that the iCON Dynamic also has an additional built-in pop filter. We will check how well it works.
Build quality is high. The all-metal housing feels reliable. The diaphragm is at the end, so the microphone should be pointed toward the sound source, as with an end-address dynamic microphone.
Two familiar switches are on the rear: a low-cut filter to reduce boominess and a presence boost. Both filters work very effectively.
The iCON Dynamic documentation shows the frequency response, including the effect of the filters, and its cardioid polar pattern.
In a direct comparison, the recording meters showed sensitivity similar to other dynamic microphones: the SM58, SM57, and SM7B. A preamp with at least 55 dB of gain is therefore recommended, so that extra level does not have to be added during processing.
We connected the iCON Dynamic to a MOTU M2 audio interface and had enough gain. The microphone performed its intended task well. Recording quality was unexpectedly high: the voice was clear and its tone was reproduced correctly. The spectrogram shows coverage up to the specified 15 kHz. This is more than enough for speech and many musical instruments. The built-in filter controls plosives and sharp sibilants, even without the external foam windscreen. The switches are very helpful: they boost presence and reduce boominess when the speaker is close. The signal is therefore ready for online broadcasting without complex dynamics processing or EQ. The filters can also be switched off so that the user can process the signal as needed for the source and the creative goal.
Conclusions
The iCON Dynamic left a positive impression. It looks good, is very well made, and has a strong, carefully designed structure. It offers built-in pop filtering and a supplied foam windscreen. We think the microphone fully justifies its price and is a sound purchase. Keep in mind that, like any dynamic microphone, it requires significant preamp gain.
Note. This is an adapted machine translation into English. It follows the “In simple terms” approach. Read the original article at https://prosound.ixbt.com/microphones/icon-dynamic.shtml.