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Following in the footsteps of it's older, similarly named brother, the iCE version of the Snowball by Blue Microphones does away with the three polar pattern selector on the back of the mic and gets a fixed cardioid pattern.

Because of this feature being taken out, the Snowball iCE positions itself at a more affordable price point than the previous generation.

Applications

Voice recording, podcasting, conference calls, streaming.

Features

The Blue Snowball iCE features a cardioid polar pattern, tripod desktop stand and a USB Cable.

Compatibility

Windows: Windows 7/8.1/10 with USB 1.1/2.0/3.0
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher with USB 1.1/2.0/3.0

Specifications:

• Type:Large Diaphragm Condenser
• Polar Pattern:Cardioid
• Frequency Response:40 –18 kHz
• Sampling Rate: 44.1/48 kHz
• Bit Depth:16 bit

Pros

The majority of users note its astounding sound quality for the price. Reviews from retail sites, community forums and Youtube channels consistently recommend it as the best value entry into high fidelity broadcast and recording.

Cons

Several reviews note the stand to be flimsy. The microphone is said to be easily knocked over while on the tripod. Several have resorted to mounting it on a suspension boom stand. Pops and plosives are easily picked up at close proximity and several reviewers recommend the use of a separate pop filter.

Overall

The Blue Microphones Snowball iCE is a great, affordable microphone that can definitely bring up the quality of your broadcasts and recordings.

There are options available that have higher ratings - you can see them in our guide to The Best USB Microphones.

Polar Pattern

Frequency Response