For $169 — the same as the outgoing mic — the NT-USB+ attempts to settle the big “what should my desk rig include?” question. There’s the microphone, yes, but also a tripod, a pop shield, and the USB cable you’ll need to connect it to your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android device. It works as a microphone, of course, but also as a headphone output.
The microphone itself is built like a proverbial tank. Its 540 grams comes from a tough-as-nails metal body and a sturdy mesh. A blue light glows through the grille when it’s powered up. On the bottom is the USB-C port, as well as a screw ring that allows you to remove the preinstalled pop shield.
The pop shield is made of plastic but still feels reasonably sturdy. The tripod mount, meanwhile, is metal. Rode pre-attaches it to a ring mount for the supplied fixed-leg desk stand, both of which are plastic. They feel sturdy too, though there’s definitely some wobble overall, and the fact that you can’t fold up the tripod’s legs means transporting it may be more of a pain. On that note, the padded carry pouch that you used to get with the old microphone is no longer included.
