Samson claims that their Q8X dynamic has a flat response with a slight lift at 8kHz. What my ears told me was that it seemed to be a little more pronounced in the lower mid-range, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It basically makes vocals jump out, placing them right up in the front of the mix even before you do any EQ work. Sure, it could have had a little extra low end to it, and maybe it sounds a little too mid-heavy for some, but it certainly sounded alright considering the price-point. It’s a super-cardioid capsule design, so it’s a little more directional that many other vocal microphones, but will pick up sound from directly behind itself too. It offers great side rejection, so it will just depend on how your monitors are placed as to how it goes with feedback issues. In all, it’s a good microphone that sounds like it is punching above its weight.
Construction-wise the Q8X feels extremely solid, and pulling it apart revealed a neodymium capsule housed in a comfortable support. It had a little movement to it, enough to reduce noise with some rough handling, but not too much that it would affect operation. The cage over the microphone, whilst rather light, still had a decent structure, so it should hold up with being dropped from time to time. The XLR connection at the base was pretty standard, with a Neutrick connection clipping in with only a little force, and offering no room to move once in place. So, it seems pretty tough, with a good overall weight, which should allow it to keep up with the rigours of live stage use.
