Microphones are an essential part of any audio recording system.
They pick up sound waves and convert them into electrical energy that can be processed by electronic amplifiers and audio processing systems.
There are many different types of microphones out there, but Blue Yeti and Blue Yeti Pro microphones are two of the most widely used microphones.
They not only meet your needs but also give a good return on your investment.
However, there are some critical differences between them, making it a bit challenging to choose one.
In this article, we’ll compare the original Blue Yeti and the Blue Yeti Pro mics based on the following aspects to help you decide which one is right for your needs:
- Key Specifications
- Design & Build Quality
- Setup
- Performance on Equal Ground
- Price
Let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
Blue Yeti vs. Blue Yeti Pro: Bottom Line Up Front
If you don’t have time to read the whole article and just want to know which is better, the original Yeti Blue or the Pro Blue USB microphone, here’s a quick summary of our findings:
- Blue Yeti Pro is an updated version of the standard Yeti USB microphone that comes with additional features.
- The Yeti is easier to set up because it only connects to a USB port, while the Yeti Pro has a USB port and an XLR cable, which makes setup a little more complicated.
- The Yeti standard mic has a silver finish, and Yeti Pro has a black studio finish.
- The output in the Pro modal is smooth and flat, while in Yeti Blue, it’s bumpy.
- The Yeti pro has a more balanced frequency range that has low distortion levels, while its competitor seems to be louder at high-end frequencies, which leads to distortion.
- The Yeti standard microphone is less expensive than the Yeti Pro.
- The standard Yeti is an excellent microphone for general purpose use, while the Pro is a better choice if you’re looking for more professional results.
Overall Winner: Blue Yeti Pro
Runner-up: Blue Yeti
Now it’s time to break it down point by point to see how these two microphones fare in each category and which is the better fit for you!
Get the best Blue Yeti and Blue Yeti PRO deals here!
Blue Yeti vs. Blue Yeti Pro: An Overview
Before we start looking at the key differences between these two mics, let’s take a quick overview of each one.
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti mic is one of the most popular and well-known USB mics available on the market.
It offers four pattern options, cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo, allowing you to record in multiple scenarios. It has a 16-bit/48kHz resolution.
This microphone is an excellent option for novice podcasters, YouTubers, music producers, and gamers. It’s easy to use and set up and basically plug-and-play.
Also, the mic is easy to connect via USB. It lets users easily record sound, podcasts, Skype calls, and conferences too.
The original Yeti offers good recording sound quality and is less expensive than the Pro.
Blue Yeti Pro
The Blue Yeti Pro is an upgraded version of the standard Yeti. It offers a more professional look and feels while still providing the same outstanding sound quality.
Blue Yeti vs. Blue Yeti Pro: Bottom Line Up Front
If you don’t have time to read the whole article and just want to know which is better, the original Yeti Blue or the Pro Blue USB microphone, here’s a quick summary of our findings:
- Blue Yeti Pro is an updated version of the standard Yeti USB microphone that comes with additional features.
- The Yeti is easier to set up because it only connects to a USB port, while the Yeti Pro has a USB port and an XLR cable, which makes setup a little more complicated.
- The Yeti standard mic has a silver finish, and Yeti Pro has a black studio finish.
- The output in the Pro modal is smooth and flat, while in Yeti Blue, it’s bumpy.
- The Yeti pro has a more balanced frequency range that has low distortion levels, while its competitor seems to be louder at high-end frequencies, which leads to distortion.
- The Yeti standard microphone is less expensive than the Yeti Pro.
- The standard Yeti is an excellent microphone for general purpose use, while the Pro is a better choice if you’re looking for more professional results.
Overall Winner: Blue Yeti Pro
Runner-up: Blue Yeti
Now it’s time to break it down point by point to see how these two microphones fare in each category and which is the better fit for you!
Get the best Blue Yeti and Blue Yeti PRO deals here!
Blue Yeti vs. Blue Yeti Pro: An Overview
Before we start looking at the key differences between these two mics, let’s take a quick overview of each one.
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti mic is one of the most popular and well-known USB mics available on the market.

It offers four pattern options, cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo, allowing you to record in multiple scenarios. It has a 16-bit/48kHz resolution.
This microphone is an excellent option for novice podcasters, YouTubers, music producers, and gamers. It’s easy to use and set up and basically plug-and-play.
Also, the mic is easy to connect via USB. It lets users easily record sound, podcasts, Skype calls, and conferences too.
The original Yeti offers good recording sound quality and is less expensive than the Pro.
Blue Yeti Pro
The Blue Yeti Pro is an upgraded version of the standard Yeti. It offers a more professional look and feels while still providing the same outstanding sound quality.

This microphone is an excellent option for those who want to take their recording to the next level.
It has a 24-bit/192kHz resolution and offers four different pattern settings to provide you with the best possible recording in any situation.
The Pro mic has the ability to record sound four times faster with better quality than the standard Yeti mic.
Also, the mic comes with an XLR (analog) cable and a USB port. Both the digital and analog side of the yeti Pro is equally balanced and very convenient to use.
It also features an adjustable design so that you can find the optimal mic placement.
Blue Yeti vs. Blue Yeti Pro: A Detailed Comparison
Now that we’ve got a general overview of both microphones, let’s compare them in detail to see how they differ from each other.
Specifications
Let’s take a look at the key specifications of each microphone.
Features |
Blue Yeti |
Blue Yeti Pro |
Sample Rate |
48kHz |
192kHz |
Bit Depth |
16-bit |
24-bit |
Capsules |
3 Blue-proprietary 14mm condenser capsules |
3 Blue-proprietary 14mm condenser capsules |
Frequency Response |
20Hz – 20kHz |
15 Hz – 22 kHz |
Max SPL (sound pressure level) |
120 dB |
120 dB |
Polar Pattern |
Four Polar Patterns (Cardioid, Omni-directional, Figure-8 & Stereo ) |
Four Polar Patterns (Cardioid, Omni-directional, Stereo, Bi-directional) |
Connector Type |
USB |
USB & XLR |
Compatible Devices |
Personal Computer, Headphone |
Personal Computer |
Weight |
0.55 kg (mic), 1 kg (stand) |
0.55 kg (mic), 1 kg (stand) |
Color Options |
7 colors (Blackout, silver, midnight blue, slate, teal, whiteout, & 10yr Anniversary Custom Finish) |
Black |
Warranty |
N/A |
2-Year Warranty |
Design & Build Quality
The Design is an important aspect because this is what creates the first impression the user gets of the product.
Every manufacturer spends a lot of time and effort to come up with an appealing design for their products, and Blue is no exception.
Let’s see how these two blue microphones differ in design.
Blue Yeti
This USB mic has a unique and unconventional design but looks very classy. The standard Yeti mic has a silver finish. It has a metal exterior and plastic knobs and feels extremely durable.
One thing we don’t like about Yeti is its buttons and knobs. It seems like they’re much lesser quality when compared to that of the Pro, and they’re also a little loose too.
The mic also comes with a metal base stand and weighs 3.4 lbs with the stand or 1.2 lbs without the stand.
In addition, this mic has a bright red mute button, which is quite handy when recording music and you want to mute out noises. When in use, this button blinks.
Buttons on the front of the Yeti mic
There is also a Gain knob on the Yeti’s rear that controls the sensitivity of the input signal, as well as a switch for its four different pickup patterns.
These internal settings let you focus the microphones Audi capture on the front, all around, or behind it. The pattern control button on the original Yeti is a little awkward to use, but Blue Microphones’ later models have fixed this issue.
Blue Yeti Pro
This mic has a retro black studio finish that gives it a nice touch of luxury. The Pro mic looks similar to a 1960s tube processing equipment, but it’s a brassy patina. Its unique and appealing design certainly makes it stand out.
The Pro modal of the Blue mic has digital volume controls. It also spins infinitely, and what’s even better is that the operating system remembers your last level. All of these simple aspects enhance the overall user experience.
It also comes with a bright red mute button that’s hard to miss. You can use this button when recording music to mute out background noise. When in use, this mute or unmute button blinks in the USB version of Yeti Pro. It does not blink in the Yeti Pro cable version. So remember that.
Overall, The design of Yeti pro is unique yet appealing, and the build quality is extremely durable.
Winner: Blue Yeti Pro
In terms of build quality and overall design, Yeti Pro is slightly superior to Yeti. Its retro look makes it more appealing than the standard version. This microphone also has digital volume controls, making it much more convenient to use. That’s why Yeti Pro wins.
Setup
Setup is key when you pick a microphone because you want something that’s easy to use and doesn’t require any special software. Let’s see how both fare in this category.
Blue Yeti
The Yeti mic is very easy to set up and use. You simply plug it into your computer’s USB port, and you’re ready to go.
With the stand, you can place the Yeti on your desk or mount it on a boom arm. It’s best to use a shock mount to avoid interference from accidental contact with the microphone.
To replace your computer’s default output and input device, choose Yeti Stereo Microphone. The mic will automatically set up, and you will soon hear the audio input from your computer.
After the mic is set up, you’ll speak directly in front of it instead of speaking on its top. This is because its diaphragms are placed front, back, and to the sides instead of upward-facing like most TV mics.
Thus, the Yeti can pick up the sound from different directions and offers more preference control, which means its placement is different from what you’re used to.
Blue Yeti Pro
The Pro modal is not as easy to set up as the yeti standard. You need to download a driver to set up the Pro. It is available on Blue’s website. This driver may vary depending on your operating system and the version you have.
The drivers are available only from XP to 7 in Windows and in Mac, you must have a 10.6.4 or higher operating system. They do not work with any other device.
Once you download the driver, the rest you have to do is adjust it according to your specifications. You can find all this info in the user manual, so refer to it when in doubt or if something isn’t working properly.
To understand why there is such a difference in setup, you have to keep in mind that the transition between digital and analog is long and requires many changes from your end.
Since the Pro mic comes with an XLR cable, it means that it has both digital and analog sides. That’s why it’s more complicated to set up than the Yeti.
However, it doesn’t mean it’s a totally bad thing. It’s just that the digital to analog process takes more effort and it is important to understand this aspect before jumping to any conclusion.
Winner: Blue Yeti
When it comes to ease of setup, the Yeti standard takes the cake because it is effortless to set up. All you need is to plug it into the USB port, and you’re ready to go.
In contrast, Yeti Pro is not as easy to set up as the original Yeti USB microphone because you need to download a driver. It requires a steep learning curve. Even though the process is more complicated, it’s not a deal breaker.
Performance On Equal Ground
Design & Build Quality
The Design is an important aspect because this is what creates the first impression the user gets of the product.
Every manufacturer spends a lot of time and effort to come up with an appealing design for their products, and Blue is no exception.
Let’s see how these two blue microphones differ in design.
Blue Yeti
This USB mic has a unique and unconventional design but looks very classy. The standard Yeti mic has a silver finish. It has a metal exterior and plastic knobs and feels extremely durable.
One thing we don’t like about Yeti is its buttons and knobs. It seems like they’re much lesser quality when compared to that of the Pro, and they’re also a little loose too.
The mic also comes with a metal base stand and weighs 3.4 lbs with the stand or 1.2 lbs without the stand.
In addition, this mic has a bright red mute button, which is quite handy when recording music and you want to mute out noises. When in use, this button blinks.

Buttons on the front of the Yeti mic
There is also a Gain knob on the Yeti’s rear that controls the sensitivity of the input signal, as well as a switch for its four different pickup patterns.
These internal settings let you focus the microphones Audi capture on the front, all around, or behind it. The pattern control button on the original Yeti is a little awkward to use, but Blue Microphones’ later models have fixed this issue.
Blue Yeti Pro
This mic has a retro black studio finish that gives it a nice touch of luxury. The Pro mic looks similar to a 1960s tube processing equipment, but it’s a brassy patina. Its unique and appealing design certainly makes it stand out.
The Pro modal of the Blue mic has digital volume controls. It also spins infinitely, and what’s even better is that the operating system remembers your last level. All of these simple aspects enhance the overall user experience.
It also comes with a bright red mute button that’s hard to miss. You can use this button when recording music to mute out background noise. When in use, this mute or unmute button blinks in the USB version of Yeti Pro. It does not blink in the Yeti Pro cable version. So remember that.
Overall, The design of Yeti pro is unique yet appealing, and the build quality is extremely durable.
Winner: Blue Yeti Pro
In terms of build quality and overall design, Yeti Pro is slightly superior to Yeti. Its retro look makes it more appealing than the standard version. This microphone also has digital volume controls, making it much more convenient to use. That’s why Yeti Pro wins.
Setup
Setup is key when you pick a microphone because you want something that’s easy to use and doesn’t require any special software. Let’s see how both fare in this category.
Blue Yeti
The Yeti mic is very easy to set up and use. You simply plug it into your computer’s USB port, and you’re ready to go.
With the stand, you can place the Yeti on your desk or mount it on a boom arm. It’s best to use a shock mount to avoid interference from accidental contact with the microphone.
To replace your computer’s default output and input device, choose Yeti Stereo Microphone. The mic will automatically set up, and you will soon hear the audio input from your computer.
After the mic is set up, you’ll speak directly in front of it instead of speaking on its top. This is because its diaphragms are placed front, back, and to the sides instead of upward-facing like most TV mics.
Thus, the Yeti can pick up the sound from different directions and offers more preference control, which means its placement is different from what you’re used to.
Blue Yeti Pro
The Pro modal is not as easy to set up as the yeti standard. You need to download a driver to set up the Pro. It is available on Blue’s website. This driver may vary depending on your operating system and the version you have.
The drivers are available only from XP to 7 in Windows and in Mac, you must have a 10.6.4 or higher operating system. They do not work with any other device.
Once you download the driver, the rest you have to do is adjust it according to your specifications. You can find all this info in the user manual, so refer to it when in doubt or if something isn’t working properly.

To understand why there is such a difference in setup, you have to keep in mind that the transition between digital and analog is long and requires many changes from your end.
Since the Pro mic comes with an XLR cable, it means that it has both digital and analog sides. That’s why it’s more complicated to set up than the Yeti.
However, it doesn’t mean it’s a totally bad thing. It’s just that the digital to analog process takes more effort and it is important to understand this aspect before jumping to any conclusion.
Winner: Blue Yeti
When it comes to ease of setup, the Yeti standard takes the cake because it is effortless to set up. All you need is to plug it into the USB port, and you’re ready to go.
In contrast, Yeti Pro is not as easy to set up as the original Yeti USB microphone because you need to download a driver. It requires a steep learning curve. Even though the process is more complicated, it’s not a deal breaker.
Performance On Equal Ground

Getting the right microphone for you means knowing how well it can record audio.
We tested both USB microphones under the same circumstances. And we recorded different sounds from different locations to see which would work better.
Now let’s see how these Blue microphones perform.
Blue Yeti vs. Blue Yeti Pro Performance
In our testing, we found significant differences between the Yeti and Yeti professional condenser microphones from Blue. The Pro is smooth and flat, while the standard Yeti is bumpy at the mid-to-high levels.
In Yeti, the cardioid polar pattern seemed to pick up sibilant sounds more readily than in the Pro model.
When it comes to self noise level, both Yeti mics performed well, though the Pro modal had a richer and smoother tone. The standard model sounded a little flat.
Although both these mics performed well in some patterns, they did not do so well in figure 8. There was a noticeable imbalance between the front and rear end, so this isn’t a good choice for recording duets.
The imbalance was present in both low and high bit rates, so we would not recommend using these mics with this pattern.
The acoustic guitar test also showed a difference. On the Pro, it sounded warmer and smoother when recording acoustic guitar. We could easily tell that it was an acoustic guitar.
The Pro’s higher quality ADC made for low levels of distortion and more balanced frequency response. On the other hand, the standard Yeti was louder at higher frequencies and produced substantial coloring and distortion.
As a result, we wouldn’t recommend the standard Yeti model for acoustic guitars since it sounded unpleasant.
The final test was on vocals. Once again, the Pro version sounded warmer and more professional than the standard model. There was also less self-noise and sibilance present in the Pro’s recording vocals.
Interestingly, the standard Yeti actually has a higher output gain than the Pro model. This means that you can get the same level of recording from the standard mic at less than half the volume.
Another difference between the two models is in their headphone monitor circuits. The Pro version has a dynamic and rich sound, while the standard Yeti’s output is noisy and breezy.
So, overall, the Pro outperforms the standard Yeti model in terms of audio quality. However, it’s worth mentioning that the analog output of the Pro is significantly better than the digital side. This means that if you want the best possible output, you should tap into the analog side of the mic.
Winner: Blue Yeti Pro
When it comes to performance, the Yeti Pro is the clear winner. It gives a more refined and polished output compared to the standard Yeti.
With the Pro version, you get better sound, self-noise, and overall frequency response. For some users, the standard Yeti may be the better choice, due to its higher maximum gain output. The Pro model has a lower output gain.
Pricing
Price is also one of the most important factors, especially if you’re on a budget. Why? Because you want an affordable option with the best features you want.
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti is very affordable and costs around $89.99 on Amazon and bluemic.com.
This is a good option if you’re on a budget and looking for a good microphone. This microphone offers good value for money, and its sound is quite amazing.
Blue Yeti Pro
The Pro microphone costs around $249.99. With this professional condenser microphone, you get more features and a more detailed sound.
The Pro modal offers a lot of flexibility, making it well worth the extra money. As we discussed earlier, the Yeti Pro mic can work in both digital and analog formats, so this versatility is a big plus.
Aside from versatility, the sound is also excellent. In most cases, you can get rich and warm tones, along with no distortion or coloration even at high volumes, enhancing the quality of recordings.
Winner: Blue Yeti
When it comes to price, the Yeti standard mic is the obvious winner. It is less expensive than the Yeti pro and offers excellent value for money.
In comparison, the Yeti Pro is more expensive, but its versatility and excellent sound quality make it worth the cost.
Get the best Blue Yeti and Blue Yeti PRO deals here!
Conclusion
The Yeti and the Yeti Pro microphones from Blue are two very popular microphones. Both offer excellent sound, features, and value for money.
The following are the winners in each category of our comparison of Blue Yeti vs Blue Yeti Pro:
- Key Specifications – Blue Yeti Pro
- Design & Build Quality – Blue Yeti Pro
- Setup – Blue Yeti
- Performance on Equal Ground – Blue Yeti Pro
- Price – Blue Yeti
And the overall winner is…
Blue Yeti Pro
The Yeti Pro mic offers more features and better sound than the Yeti Blue, so if you want the best possible performance, get it.
Even though it costs a little more than the Yeti, its features and high-quality sound make it worth it.
If you’re a new streamer, Youtuber, or podcaster and want a good quality, reasonably priced microphone that’s easy to use and set up, the Blue Yeti is your best option.
It is versatile and provides excellent value for money and good sound quality.
We hope this article helped you decide which Blue microphone is best for you.
Now I’d love to hear from you!
Which microphone do you prefer? And Why? Let me know by leaving a comment below!