Blue Encore 200 Review

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Why Trust Me for This Product Review

I’ve been an active musician and home studio owner for nearly two decades. I purchased a few Blue Encore 200 mics around ten years ago, taking advantage of a promotion. I’ve used this microphone dozens of times during that time. 

After exploring how the Encore 200 sounded and performed, I used it much more for live stage situations than in the studio. But I’ve also attempted several different recording projects with it, although I’ve never quite been satisfied with its performance. 

This hands-on use of the Encore 200 in various situations gives me a solid understanding of how it performs, sounds, and its overall value for other studio owners and musicians. 

Blue Encore 200: What’s In the Box?

• Blue Encore 200 dynamic microphone
• Mic clip
• Cloth mic bag 

Blue Encore 200: Technical Specifications

Here’s a quick look at the tech specs for the Blue Encore 200: 

• Mic Type: Active Dynamic 
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 50Hz-16kHz
• Output Impedance: 25 ohms
• Sensitivity: 2.25 mV/Pa
• Connector: XLR
• Dimensions: 7.3 in Length/1.97 in diameter
• Weight: .88 lbs

What’s It Like to Use the Blue Encore 200?

The Blue Encore 200 looks and feels like other commonly known and used dynamic stage mics, such as the Shure SM58. It is likely modeled after these classic high-performers while having a more alluring housing. 

I was excited to get my hands on this mic because of its beefed-up features compared to a standard dynamic microphone. It also has a durable-looking design that I thought would hold up well in the studio and on the road, but more on that in the sections below. 

I liked how this mic performed when it worked, but I had durability issues after a few months of steady use. Some of the connections/solders came apart inside the capsule, rendering the mic useless without repair. 

How Does the Blue Encore 200 Sound? 

The Encore 200 does have a good sound. It has all the clarity and response you expect from a good dynamic mic. Being an active design, it actually has a bit of condenser-like presence that really shines on the stage. 

I don’t like how the mic performs in the studio, and I’ve tried it as a vocal mic and for some instruments. It picks up almost too much high-end, which I need to deal with in post. On stage, this isn’t a big deal, but I don’t like to deal with it in the studio. 

Durability issues have certainly impacted my overall opinion of the Encore 200, but if you get a mic that works, it does sound good. You can expect a very clear and accurate response, which is why it makes a solid budget-minded vocal mic.

Who Should Get the Blue Encore 200?

The Blue Encore 200 is not a mic that I recommend. While it does sound pretty good on stage, I’ve had durability and customer service issues that I’d rather not have anyone else have to go through. 

That said, it is a decent mic at a budget price. So it can work for singers, musicians, or home studio owners who are more entry-level than professionals. Just keep my disclaimer in mind if you do choose to buy this one.  

What is the Blue Encore 200 Good for?

If you choose to use the Encore 200, its best application is a live vocal microphone. It has solid clarity and presence that will help your vocals shine through the mix with warmth and good tone. The built-in amp also helps reduce the possibility of hum and buzz.

It could also be used as a vocal or instrument mic in the studio and will deliver the same warmth and presence that can add to your mix. But I think there are better options out there for this purpose, although it’s always good to experiment.   

Detailed Review of Blue Encore 200

Here is an in-depth review of the Blue Encore 200 to help you understand how it sounds and performs.

Sound Quality

The Encore 200 has a good overall sound quality that delivers slightly above its price tag. The active dynamic design gives you exceptional clarity that can help your vocals shine, especially in a live band mix. 

The mic has a very natural sound, which means your vocals will ring true without being too heavily altered. This, again, is a solid feature for live performance, and the warmth is nice for all types of singers. 

I don’t think the mic holds up in the studio as well. It still sounds good, but it doesn’t have enough depth or texture for me to use in most situations. On stage, it’s a good option, but it’s definitely lacking when it’s time to record. 

Practical Applications

In live performance settings, the Encore 200 will shine. It’s a worthy consideration for a live vocal mic, especially if you want something that is still affordable and delivers a similar performance to the tried-and-true SM58. 

It can be used in the studio, although I think it doesn’t quite hold up in those situations. Every engineer/producer is different, so if you get this mic, give it a shot during a recording project and see what you think for yourself. 

The Encore 200 can also be used as an instrument mic, although it doesn’t work as well for this as an SM57. Still, the dynamic nature and cardioid polar pattern give you the specs you want when micing a guitar or other instrument.  

Design

This mic features a pretty intriguing design. It’s an active dynamic mic, meaning it’s a bit fancier than standard stage mics you might be used to. You need phantom power to use it, but this boosts the overall sound quality for the better. 

The Encore 200 also has a built-in amplifier, which is another unique design characteristic. This adds to the natural sound quality of the mic but also helps reduce buzz and hum. That can pay off quite a bit in live situations. 

Besides those two prominent aspects of the mic, everything else is pretty standard. It has a good feel, making it easy to hold on stage, and appears to have a solid enough construction to work on the road. In theory, anyway. 

Construction/Durability

The construction and durability of the Encoure 200 is my biggest issue with this microphone. I’ve used two of these mics, and both ended up breaking far before you’d assume they should, which is more than frustrating. 

While the mic has a durable-looking design that you would expect to hold up well during all sorts of situations, the connection points in the capsule failed two times for me. One time might be an anomaly but twice makes me doubt that these mics are built with longevity in mind. 

So be warned, this is not a durable mic. While it appears well-constructed and tastefully engineered, the results speak for themselves. I don’t recommend using this one for touring musicians, but there’s a good chance it will fail on you like it did for me. 

Value

The Encore 200 is an affordable mic that sounds solid, which would generally lead me to give it high marks relating to value. But because of the durability issues I’ve experienced, I don’t recommend the microphone or think it’s a good investment. 

I think microphones should last, no matter what type of situation you use them in. And seeing the Encore 200 break twice, without abusing them or putting them through the rigors of the road, left me with a sour taste. 

If you get one of these mics and it holds up, I think it could be a decent value. This is especially true for beginners or anyone looking for a nice-sounding dynamic stage mic. But just know the risk of failure is real with this model. 

FAQs

Here are a few quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to the Blue Encore 200. 

What is the Blue Encore 200 best for? 

The Blue Encore 200 is a somewhat decent dynamic microphone that can be used in live stage situations or in the recording studio. Its best application is as an affordable live vocal mic if you don’t want to use a more standard option. 

Is the Blue Encore 200 worth it? 

The Blue Encore 200 does not perform at professional levels, so I don’t recommend it for many people other than possibly entry-level home studio owners looking for a budget-priced dynamic microphone. Some similar models perform much better. 

Does the Blue Encore 200 need phantom power? 

The Blue Encore 200 does need phantom power, making it somewhat unique amongst cheaper dynamic microphones. The Encore 100 does not require phantom power, but the slightly upgraded 200 does. 

What are most dynamic mics not good for? 

Most dynamic mics aren’t that great at picking up higher-end frequencies, meaning they aren’t the best choice for cymbals or other instruments with a lot of that audio range. Depending on the situation, this can also affect how they perform as a live vocal mic. 

Final Thoughts

While the Blue Encore 200 sounds decent as a live vocal mic and has some unique design characteristics that help achieve solid overall sound, I don’t recommend it because of the durability issues I’ve experienced. 

The mic is affordable, which might make it worth taking the chance if you are on a budget. But other dynamic mics out there will deliver similar performance with much less worry that it will break during regular use. 

What have you used the Blue Encore 200 for? Do you know of any other active dynamic microphone models? Let me know in the comments below.