Samson’s Q2U is a cardioid dynamic USB microphone that also has an XLR output.
A USB microphone is a microphone you can plug straight into a computer by USB. You can start streaming or recording without an audio interface.
In this article we rate it on 4 criteria using only the specifications the manufacturer publishes, and show how it ranks among the 11 USB microphones we compare.
Disclosure: This site takes part in affiliate programs. Specifications are as of the date we checked them and can change.
Score 2.8 / 5 (average of the 11 models compared: 3.0)
- Specs last checked
- 2026/10/19
- Type
- Dynamic
- Pickup pattern
- Cardioid
- Recording
- 16bit/48kHz
- Connection
- USB / XLR
- Price (store, date)
- Not disclosed
Figure: SoundBounty
Summary
Among the 11 USB microphones, Q2U is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5) gives 2.8.
Strengths
- Controls at hand (3 of 5, 4 points): You can control mute and volume at the microphone.
Things to keep in mind
- Switchable pickup patterns (1 pattern, 1 point): It has one pickup pattern.
Who it suits: judging from the specifications, it suits people who want to control mute and volume at the microphone.
Main features of Q2U
Supports both USB and XLR
The USB output is for computers and the XLR output is for mixers. The page says no driver installation is needed.
Headphone jack and mute
A 3.5 mm headphone jack with a volume control lets you monitor with no delay. The mute switch cuts both the USB and XLR outputs.
Included accessories
A microphone holder, a desktop tripod stand, a windscreen, and a USB cable and an XLR cable are included.
Video: “Samson Q2U Recording and Podcasting Pack Product Overview” (official Samson YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube
Where it is useful
- Starting streaming, calls or narration easily
Rating by criterion
Recording detail: 3 / 5
How finely it can record the sound (the sampling rate).
Q2U: 16-bit/48 kHz. That is a standard rating among the products we compared.
Switchable pickup patterns: 1 / 5
How many pickup patterns (directions it listens in) you can choose from.
Q2U: 1 pattern. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. It has one pickup pattern.
Controls at hand: 4 / 5
How many controls you can operate at hand, such as mute, a gain knob and a headphone jack.
Q2U: 3 of 5. That is a high rating among the products we compared. You can control mute and volume at the microphone.
Range of connections: 3 / 5
How widely it connects: an XLR output, and whether it can be used with a smartphone.
Q2U: 1 of 2. That is a standard rating among the products we compared.
The gray marks in the figure below (the dotted line on the pentagon) show the average of the 11 products we compared. Price is not part of the score.
How we score (USB microphones)
| Criterion | Basis | 5 pt | 4 pt | 3 pt | 2 pt | 1 pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recording detail | Highest supported sampling rate | 192 kHz | 96 kHz | 48 kHz | 44.1 kHz | Lower |
| Switchable pickup patterns | Number of selectable pickup patterns | 4 or more | 3 | 2 | — | 1 (no switching) |
| Controls at hand | Mute, gain knob, headphone jack, headphone volume, mix control | 4 to 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | None |
| Range of connections | XLR output and smartphone (iOS / Android) support | 2 | — | 1 | — | None |
Scored only on the specifications published by the manufacturer. Price and accessories are not part of the score. USB microphones often do not publish the sensitivity or self-noise that ordinary microphones do, so they are compared on the things that make a difference when you plug straight into a computer: recording detail, switchable pickup patterns, controls at hand and range of connections. Smartphone support counts only where the manufacturer states iOS or Android compatibility. Weight is shown in the table for reference.
Q2U connection and getting started
| Connection | USB (computer) / XLR |
|---|---|
| Power | USB bus power |
| In the box | Microphone holder, desktop tripod stand, foam windscreen, USB cable, XLR cable |
Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on October 17, 2026.
Compared with other USB microphones
Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.
| Product | RankAvg. score | Type | Pickup pattern | Recording | Connection | Mute | Headphone jack | Weightg | Price (store, date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio-TechnicaAT2020USB-X | B 2.8 | Condenser | Cardioid | 24bit/96kHz | USB | ● | ● | 373 | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT2040USB | B 2.8 | Dynamic | Hypercardioid | 24bit/96kHz | USB | ● | ● | 600 | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaATR2100x-USB | B 3.3 | Dynamic | Cardioid | 24bit/192kHz | USB / XLR | ● | ● | 268 | Not disclosed |
| RØDEPodMic USB | B 3.0 | Dynamic | Cardioid | 24bit/48kHz | USB / XLR | — | ● | 900 | Not disclosed |
| RØDENT-USB+ | B 2.8 | Condenser | Cardioid | 24bit/48kHz | USB | — | ● | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Logicool GBlue Yeti | B 3.3 | Condenser | Cardioid / bidirectional / omni / stereo | 16bit/48kHz | USB | ● | ● | 880 | Not disclosed |
| ShureMV7+ | B 3.3 | Dynamic | Cardioid | 24bit/48kHz | USB / XLR | ● | ● | 574 | Not disclosed |
| ShureMV7 | A 3.5 | Dynamic | Cardioid | 24bit/48kHz | USB / XLR | ● | ● | 550 | Not disclosed |
| SamsonQ2U | B 2.8 | Dynamic | Cardioid | 16bit/48kHz | USB / XLR | ● | ● | 320 | Not disclosed |
| SamsonQ9U | B 2.8 | Dynamic | Cardioid | 24bit/96kHz | USB / XLR | ● | ● | 970 | Not disclosed |
| RØDENT-USB Mini | C 2.5 | Condenser | Cardioid | 24bit/48kHz | USB | — | ● | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Specifications are the manufacturer's published values (official pages and datasheets), checked October 19, 2026. The official page for the RODE NT-USB+ does not state a weight. The weight of the Blue Yeti is the microphone body without the stand.
Before you buy
- It connects straight to a computer by USB. It also connects by XLR. You can start recording without an audio interface. Later you can switch to an audio interface over XLR.
- It records at up to 16-bit/48 kHz. For ordinary streaming and singing, 48 kHz is enough. A bigger number records in finer detail, but the files are larger.
- Controls at hand: mute, headphone jack, headphone volume. Anything not on that list (gain, for example) is adjusted in software on the computer.
Read next
- ATR2100x-USB: features and rating (rank B)
- Blue Yeti: features and rating (rank B)
- MV7: features and rating (rank A)
- NT-USB Mini: features and rating (rank C)
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