There’s probably no USB microphone more iconic than the original Blue Yeti. It’s, basically, the microphone every desktop YouTuber and streamer used for what seemed like a decade since it first came out in 2009. The thing was so popular, in fact, they never bothered releasing a successor. That finally ends now with the Logitech Yeti 2.
To the unfamiliar, Logitech acquired Blue about eight years ago and they didn’t bother releasing a true follow-up to the original content creator microphone, either. Sure, there have been various editions of the original Yeti, some with a few updates here and there, but there has been no official second-gen model. Given that it’s been 17 years, now might be a good time to update it, which they’ve finally done in this new iteration.
The Logitech Yeti 2, basically, modernizes the classic USB microphone. Immediately noticeable is the cleaner, more contemporary design, as well as the built-in 1.3-inch LED display. That display is a lot more playful than you’d probably think, as it actually shows off a Yeti mascot that provides visual feedback on changes you make to the settings. Does it make things easier to understand compared to just some descriptive text and diagrams in there? We doubt it. However, it’s a lot better and probably more entertaining than just having the usual colored LEDs giving you a status alert. According to the outfit, you can also replace the Yeti with different avatars available through the companion G Hub software. Hopefully, there’s a way to just get a normal display with no avatar in tow.
The mic is equipped with a redesigned three-capsule array with five available pickup patterns (stereo, cardioid, super/hypercardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional). It’s equipped with a 3D proximity sensor that can detect where the speakers are actually coming from relative to the mic. When the pickup pattern is set to Auto, it will use those readings to automatically make directional adjustments on the fly, ensuring it chooses the correct one to maximize audio pickup at all times. The mic can also use the same proximity data to make gain and equalizer adjustments on the fly if you allow it, so you don’t have to worry about your mic’s settings whatsoever. This would be especially handy for setups where speakers are either moving around the room or coming from different areas around the mic.
The Logitech Yeti 2 lets you manually tweak most common settings using the multi-function dial out front with the integrated display adding visual assistance, removing the need to fiddle with the companion software for adjustments. The mic also gets an AI denoiser that can actively filter out all sorts of unwanted background noise, eliminating common creator audio clatter such as keyboard taps, mouse clicks, and fan noise. According to Logitech, the mic can record in 24-bit/38-kHz for high-fidelity audio for any kind of content you’re making, while a 10-band EQ offers versatile tonal control. Other features include a die cast body and stand, LED bonded glass screen, a capacitive button for quickly muting the mic, and five stored presets.
The Logitech Yeti 2 is available now, priced at $159.99.
