Faisal Ghaffar 
Quick Overview
The original Bumblebee USB microphone from Neat really stood out with its distinct visual design. As it happened, we liked it. However, going bold with the visuals of any video content component is capable of turning off as many people as it attracts. Streamers have distinct aesthetics to adhere to, and the first-generation Bumblebee was not about to fade into obscurity and blend in with anything.
Design + Features
The second generation of Bumblebee removes all but two physical controls, with a multifunction button beneath the cage that cycles among both mic gain, able to monitor volume, and headset mix, each denoted by various colors on the outer ring when selected. There’s a mic mute toggle below that, and that’s all your fingers should be doing with the above mic.
Although the overall design seems more in sync with the average of the market, resembling Kingston and the relatively small modeling techniques in the Razer streaming lineup, the stand retains some of the unusual neat design. It’s heavy and wide, and it keeps the mic capsule free to float from above, with an entirely voluntary boom arm connection at the capsule base.
To add to the noise, when you use the mic mute switch, it emits a very audible click, which is sure to annoy Discord friends and Twitch viewers.
The first two issues can be completely avoided when using a boom arm, and it appears that many manufacturers now make the assumption this is how we’ll use their microphones.
If you take your time positioning the Bumblebee II correctly, at the aforementioned 4-5 inch range, it makes it sound competitive with HyperX and Razer’s smaller, budget-end models. It’s sharp, helps boost the rising mids, and cuts through some kind of mix that might otherwise be filled with harrumphing gunfire or engine tones.
However, where you can hear the price concession is in the way it encapsulates the low end. There isn’t much of it replicated during verbal recordings, which deprives it of the richness of more expensive mics like the Shure MV7. Still, for the price, it’s an impressive performer, and engineering care has clearly been taken. It’s a significant improvement over even the devices such as tablets headset mics in terms of fidelity.
It’s worth noting that the microphone capsule is front-facing, rather than top-down like a classic Shure SM58-style handheld condenser. That’s standard for USB streamer microphones, but the contour of this one invites you to talk into its upper edge if you don’t know any better.
Should you invest in the Neat Bumblebee II?
Despite some vexing design flaws, such as the USB port layout and stand measurements, Neat’s second Bumblebee maintains both sound quality and value. However, a boom arm is almost always required.
