Sterling Audio ST51 Review

Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

98 reviews
sterlingaudio.net
Sterling Audio
  • Preamp: Class-A FET
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz”18,000Hz
  • Equivalent Noise: 22dB SPL”A Weighted
  • Sensitivity: 32mV/Pa
  • Maximum SPL: 134dB-144dB (adjustable w/pad)
  • Typical Load Impedance: >500 ohms
  • Output Source Impedance: 200 ohms transformer isolated
  • Dimensions: 7.5" long, 1.8" max. dia.
  • Weight: 1.2lb.
Average Rating (98 ratings)
82%
Musicians Friend ( 29 ratings )
90%
Guitar Center ( 27 ratings )
90%
Amazon.com ( 18 ratings )
66%
Amazon.cn ( 18 ratings )
68%
Reverb ( 6 ratings )
97%

Highlighted Customer Reviews

Showing 1 to 20 of 33 Reviews

Awesome!

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Jan 23, 2008

Reviewed by J-ride on Guitar Center

Got this mic as a present and i seriously love it. The vocal clarity on it is soo crisp and clean. I was very surprised. I use this mic with the M-Audio Mobile Pre USB audio interface. if you are a beginner with music. this mic is my recommendation for you. you wont be disappointed.

Honestly, this is a really good mic.

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Dec 31, 2008

Reviewed by strumNmelody on Guitar Center

I got this mic as a gift from my girlfriend who had no idea what she was buying. However, it turned out great because it is such a good mic for the price. I'm sure you can probably get impeccable quality from a more expensive mic in a more serious studio setting, but if you're like me and in my basement with a project studio, then this mic is a great starting point (and possibly a keeper as you move on). It's warm and smooth just like a good condenser mic should be. No glitches so far from my end. Note to the beginner, of course you need to power this puppy - so buy an interface or some sort of Phantom Power to make sure it works. PS - the black finish is so beautiful, my preference compared to a silver (kinda like a good SLR) ... More

Excellent mic for the price!

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Nov 28, 2007

Reviewed by David D. on Guitar Center

This mic is absolutely perfect for small studio applications. The vocal clarity is on the one and the details are impeccable. I would recommend this mic to everyone building a small home studio with a limited budget.

I LOVE THIS MIC

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Apr 1, 2008

Reviewed by Clifton L. Boyd on Guitar Center

I have this mic in my project studio and this is my mic of choice. I have about 3 other mics but this is the one I use on all of my vocals! It is so detailed and clear!! It picks up every little sound you throw at it. If your looking for a GREAT mic that won't burn your pocket, this is it. Try it, I know you will be pleased.

awesome!!!! worth every penny!!

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Jul 13, 2009

Reviewed by shawn on Guitar Center

i just bought this today, it was an absolute upgrade from my mxl 990. i did like my 990 and seemed to defend it quite often but bang for buck this one tops the charts. i recorded a female country vocalist with it today and the vocals were so warm and true. i almost am afraid to edit now. worth every penny!!!!

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Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone
$99.99
Guitar Center
Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone
Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone
$99.99
Musicians Friend
Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone
Sterling Audio ST51 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Reverb
Sterling Audio ST51 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Excellent

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Mar 30, 2009

Reviewed by tribe on Guitar Center

This is an excellent mic for just about anything. It captures every hint of vocals and is the closest thing to the human ear. For guitar amps it's a great room mic, it rounds out the frequencies and make the amp sound warm. Same thing for bass amps. I have not used it on drums yet but i own 2 ST31 and they are amazing. I highly recommend this mic for anyone that is on a tight budget.

Killer Bargain

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Feb 26, 2010

Reviewed by Justin on Guitar Center

I've used this mic for acoustic and for vocals and I am very impressed with the sounds it gets form my acoustic. The vocals are fairly clear. Overall this mic is a great tool for those with a small budget like myself.

Great Mic, Great price

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Jul 25, 2009

Reviewed by Christopher Adams on Guitar Center

I was pretty skeptical at first to be honest, for the price I didn't really expect much. But the clarity and response is quite good, my recordings pick up things i didn't even notice when playing. The bass reproduction is very good, maybe a little too good. This mic definitely favors the top and bottom end of the frequency spectrum, which is nice for me because it suits both my voice and my guitar (a parlor size).

Fabulous mic for a great price

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Feb 2, 2010

Reviewed by Mary on Guitar Center

This microphone was given to me as a gift and I was pretty amazed at the clarity and sound that it produced. It does require phantom power but that problem is solved with an interface. This microphone boasts beautiful sound and I am absolutely in love with it (and thankful that the person who bought it for me didn't go broke doing so!) I highly recommend this, starter mic or not, it's wonderful.

great mic

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Jul 1, 2009

Reviewed by the green eyed monsta on Guitar Center

i wish i had 4 hands so i could give this mic 4 thumbs up. i love this mic. i made my vocals sound that much more crisp. its a steal .. highly suggest this mic for professional sounding vocals in your home or professional studio

Amazing

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Mar 31, 2011

Reviewed by Bill Friar on Guitar Center

I started an independent dance music label so that me and my friends can create from our passion and love of dance music. Because we started with just the passion and not much money, we weren't sure if we could afford the right equipment. After doing long intense research on the internet, I found what I thought would be perfect for our situation. So off I went to Guitar Center feeling confident knowledgeable, and wise. I told the sales person EXACTLY what I wanted and why. He (being more knowledgeable & wiser) talked me out of it. He suggested that I get Sterling Audio ST51 microphone along with the Native Instrument's Guitar Rig Session I/O USB Processor. I was skeptical but I went with his suggestion and glad that I did. He not only pointed me in the right direction for my needs, but saved me over $250.00 as well. ... More

Can't beat it for the price!!!!

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Feb 26, 2010

Reviewed by TRAXX 1 on Guitar Center

I have three other supposed to be higher end mic's and they don't have the clarity or sound as crisp as this mic. Every since I have purchased this mic. I have not used any other mic. It sounds good in padded and open rooms recording vocals or whatever. I strongly recommend using this mic. you will get the sound you want without it costing a lot of money!!!!

Great low cost microphone

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Jan 16, 2016

Reviewed by Chrisjames on Guitar Center

This microphone is great if you use a decent preamp to power it. This is my second one, the price has dropped significantly since the first purchase. The sound is crisp, responds well to gain, and will give professional results. If you have great EQ and compression settings and a good preamp, that is. Only downside is the sensitivity. It's a super fragile mic. If it's dropped, it's done for. If it shakes even a little too much, watch out. I wouldn't even advise shipping this mic, because mine arrived dead on arrival. So now I have to go into the store and exchange it. So be careful... ... More

Great for Voiceovers

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Oct 5, 2012

Reviewed by Mark Howell on Guitar Center

I'm a professional VO artist, and I use this mic for lots of my work. It's an EXCELLENT mic, but you may want to boost the highs a bit (easily done w/an equalizer or w/nearly all audio software that has equalizer-adjusting ability). A GREAT MIC, especially at this low price!

Great mic!

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Aug 25, 2011

Reviewed by Tom Mandrackie on Guitar Center

I use this mic for broadcasting a music show on and making promos for an internet radio station. The sound quality is awesome for this application! I have gotten many compliments on the quality of sound from my listeners, some of who've been in terrestrial radio for years! I would put this up against any other mic for this type of work.

the best mic i've ever had

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Dec 22, 2010

Reviewed by Cedric on Guitar Center

i bought this mic a couple months ago, and i've never had any problem with it. It picks up amazingly!! I use it for vox and acoustic guitar. My PA system is not the greatest but, whenever I use this mic, it sounds beautiful. I use this for some concerts, but mainly recording. I 100% recommend this mic. It's one of the best purchases i've ever made from Guitar Center.

just gain my respect!

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Nov 28, 2010

Reviewed by frankie on Guitar Center

soo let me just say i didn't want to spend the money for mic like this i didn't think it would of be worth it and i never heard of the brand before. but hey it was black friday so i brought it. when i used it for the first time. i was amazed! it is worth every penny. actually made my vocals sound good. its kinda of heavy but not a problem. perfect mic for the budget i would even pay more for the sound this mic puts out. get it!

St51 Microphone

Sterling Audio ST51 Cardioid Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Dec 5, 2019

Reviewed by Demetris B. on Reverb

I would love to have the experience of visiting a professional studio. I want to know what a $2000+ (u87) mic sound like. With that said, i have learned that you truly don't know how a good low budget mic sound. But I was able to compare the Sterling ST51 to the MXL 990 I own. I thought the MXL 990 sound good, it was the only mic i used but compared to the St51 it sounds like mud. The St51 is clear and clean and the top frequencies are not has harsh as the MXL 990. Needless to say the MXL will not be getting much now. ... More

Works on everything

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Sep 29, 2009

Reviewed by Paul on Guitar Center

I've been using this mic for one full year now. I was recording a band and the vocalist brought over this ST51 to try on vocals and screaming, I was like sure why not. Ever sense then I have not used another mic.

WOOOOOOW!

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone Review

Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone

Aug 26, 2009

Reviewed by geminitwinworld/youtube on Guitar Center

this mic is excellent! it can pick up a mouse going across your floor in the background! (not that i have any mind you)but thats how sensitive,the pick-up is so you definately need foam surrounded booth for this mic(a must have) i recomend it for all beginners in the production software game if your just getting started this is your mic the price is right if guitar center keeps it that way? it will sell massively!bravo sterling and guitar center for the price for the struggling producers.... THANK YOU!!!!

Showing 1 to 20 of 33 Reviews