Amazon.com: Customer reviews: RODE PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm

Top positive review

A Game-Changer for Studio Recording!

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2024

The RODE PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm has transformed my recording setup and elevated it to a professional level. This boom arm is a game-changer for anyone serious about studio recording.

The swivel mount design provides incredible flexibility, allowing me to position my microphone precisely where I need it. The build quality is top-notch – sturdy and durable, ensuring stability even with heavier microphones.

Setting up the PSA1 is a breeze, and it securely clamps to my desk without any wobbling or sagging. The cable management system keeps my workspace organized, eliminating any clutter.

What truly sets the RODE PSA1 apart is its smooth and silent swivel movement. Adjusting the microphone position during recordings is seamless, and the arm holds its place without any drift.

If you're looking for a reliable, high-quality boom arm for your studio microphone, the RODE PSA1 is the way to go. It's a sound investment that enhances both the functionality and aesthetics of your recording space. I highly recommend it to fellow creators and musicians!

One person found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Black

ITS SPRING LOADED....

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023

Oct 15th 2023
1. Despite being an expensive boom arm this is spring-loaded!? I don't understand why anyone would make a boom arm spring loaded, it does not stay where you want it to, it will just fly up. I'm using a Blue Yeti X which is heavier than recommended and it still just flies up with no tension adjustment to make it stay where you want it to.

2. The design for the thumb screws is severely miscalculated for anyone not wanting to use a shock absorber. They get in the way of both inputs on the bottom of the Yeti which broke the jack for my Headphones....thanks for that. So if you like to have your headphones plugged in with your mic, your SOL you can't have both. because the screws get in the way.

3. The attachment pin much like the arm itself is also not adjustable, so your mic just swivels left to right not stay in place. Any sudden movements and your mic will do a full rotation...

The only good thing about this is that yea..it fits my desk that has a metal frame on it, that's about it. I would not recommend this to anyone with a Blue Yeti X. Or anyone who uses both their aux inputs on their much without a shock absorber. But the fact it's springloaded and not adjustable, jesus....save yourself the trouble and time. I sincerely wish I never even considered this item had I known what a waste of time and money this would have cost me.

Oct 25 2023
Edit: I bought the Logitech for Creators Blue Radius III shock mount because I just needed something to extend my Blue Yeti X enough to plug in my headphones so I wouldn't have to continue using the back of my tower. Somehow the added weight from the shock mount plus the mic helped with the springloading. Its just the right amount of weight where it actually stays where you want it to without it floating back up. So I changed it from 1 star to 3.

13,911 total ratings, 3,539 with reviews

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From the United States

Isaac Beeson

A Game-Changer for Studio Recording!

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2024

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Mark Urso

Stays Put, Well Made

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

Sturdy construction, no visible springs. Best in class. I have two (so far). Worth the dollars.

Helpful

Jack Saunders

Exceptional Customer Service and Outstanding Product Quality!

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

I recently had an incredible experience with RØDE when I encountered an issue with my RØDE arm stand after a year of use. I am thrilled to share my story and express my genuine appreciation for their outstanding customer service and the remarkable quality of their product.

When I reached out to RØDE's customer support team about the broken part on my arm stand, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised by their swift response and eagerness to assist. They truly went above and beyond to ensure my complete satisfaction.

To my delight, RØDE promptly sent me a replacement part for my arm stand without any additional cost. This act of generosity demonstrated their genuine care for their customers and their commitment to ensuring that I could continue enjoying their product to its fullest potential.

When the replacement part arrived, I was thrilled to discover that it fit flawlessly, restoring my arm stand to its original functionality. The craftsmanship and build quality of the arm stand were truly impressive. It exuded a sense of sturdiness, durability, and meticulous attention to detail that clearly reflected RØDE's dedication to delivering exceptional products.

Since receiving the replacement part, I have been using my RØDE arm stand extensively, and I am continually amazed by its outstanding performance. It offers excellent stability, allowing me to effortlessly and precisely position my microphone. The arm stand's remarkable flexibility and smooth adjustments make it an absolute joy to use, whether I'm recording podcasts, voiceovers, or engaging in live streaming sessions.

Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend RØDE's arm stand to anyone seeking a reliable and top-quality solution. Not only does it provide superb functionality and unmatched durability, but RØDE's customer service sets an outstanding benchmark for excellence. Their willingness to go the extra mile, even after the warranty period, underscores their unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

RØDE has undoubtedly earned my trust and loyalty through their exceptional customer service and the unparalleled quality of their products. If you're searching for an arm stand that delivers exceptional performance and is backed by a company that genuinely cares about its customers, the RØDE arm stand is the perfect choice. Your investment will not disappoint. Hats off to the remarkable team at RØDE for their unwavering dedication!

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

DavesNotHereMan

Solid, handles the weight, virtually any angle you could need.

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2017

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

I can't find much wrong with this boom stand. I have used it with several condenser mic's including audio technica, rode, blue, sennheiser, it's practically obligatory with a Shure SM7B which has been on it for a long time now. Fortunately, I have not had any metal grinding chalkboard sounds with mine. The average weight of microphones in use is 3-4 pounds, but it will do a light SM-57 very well. Although there are some newer products that may be a slight improvement over this classic design, this just works at a good price point. Some points that made this a good choice for me:
1.) It is almost entirely silent when moving. Yes, mine is silent, except for maybe the slightest little random spring "twang" that is hardly noticeable. Holds steady in very precise placement w/no droop ever, even with a pop filter clamped to it.
2.) Flexible mounting options, the edge of a wooden desk rack, edge or a desk, back, etc. or grommet mount anywhere on a surface. Then, if you want to change back, the arm just lifts out of the mount.
3.) The range of movement and distance you can cover is truly impressive. Dual adjustment allows for very precise vertically and horizontally angles of the mic itself. Examples with my studio setup: can swing it down to mic an acoustic guitar seated, back up for standing vocals/percussion/instruments, down and to the side to a guitar combo amp, swing it over the MIDI controller stand. Found the ideal placement of the mount and placed things around it. Covers basically every position required in songwriting/production and changes in a heartbeat. Then stows easily to the side folded up out of the way.

Word of caution that should be noted: CAREFUL when opening for the first time that the business end of the stand is not facing towards you! It's relatively easy to make this mistake actually. Face it out and away from you/on it's side, best way to avoid it smashing you in the face or something. Overall good value, happy with it after years of heavy use at this point.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

XOR42

3.5 Stars - Good but smallish, needs weight, no 3/8-1/4 adapter, loose shaft, limited swing.

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2014

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

After perusing countless reviews, I settled on the PSA1 boom arm for the SM7b mic that's on its merry way to me. All the booms I researched in the $100-180 range each had several problems. Overall, most reviewers found the PSA1 to be among the simplest, quietest, and cheapest, so I added it to my studio mic kit order.

Don't let my detailed enumeration of several issues dissuade you from this product until you have judged all the issues presented here in the light of your own scenario.

=== OOBE (Out of box experience):

The box is a typical keyboard-sized cardboard box within a slicker thin cardboard slip sleeve printed with the usual blurbs. It contained only 4 items: (1) fully assembled boom, (2) C-clamp style desk mount, (3) alternative bushing mount for a drilled hole in a desk, and (4) a small, odd-looking female-male mic thread size expander (not the expected reducer).

Removing the goods was a little tricky but not rocket science. There are no markings or instructions as to how to open the inner cardboard box or how to remove the inserts so you just start pulling it apart. It was easy but needlessly confusing. Put some arrows on it or add some "Pull Here" or "Open Here" labels. Ends up dropping the desk hole base and thread adapter since the way I guessed to open it let those items fall out.

=== Set Up

This was dead easy and very fast - only 2 minutes. You just clamp the desk mount to the edge of a table's top surface that can be up to several inches thick. Twist the screw till tight and drop in the boom's shaft. Done!

The C-clamp obviously cannot work desks that have a solid side that rises right up to the top surface without any "under area" to clamp to. For those, you might try the back or front top surface edges that may have clearance under them. Otherwise, you could drill a hole in the desk and use the included desk hole mount.

Another alternative is to get a small square of hardwood and screw it onto the top side edge of the desk so that half of it is on the desk and the other half hangs outwards in free space. You could then clamp the base to that or drill a hole in it for the desk hole clamp.

You need only install the clamp on a desk's edge surface, if you have one that sticks out like most then drop the boom's male shaft into the female mount's hole. Done. Well, almost, untill I tried to mount my LS-11 with 1/4-20 thread.

=== Limited Swing:

It also suffers the same back swing issue as do some of its competitors. That is, the lower boom leg, from the base to the elbow, only swings backward from vertical a scant 20 degrees. It doesn't go back further because the two arms that comprise the leg are already pressed together at that point.

Rode would need only increase the size of the elbow joints and add more space between the arms of each leg. That would allow significantly more back movement.

The limited back swing also means you CANNOT place the base of the arm near you, e.g., on the edge of a desk to your left. That is because, to clear the mic from your face, you would have to either lift the mic arm way high or to rotate the whole shebang to the side. What most would want is to simply push the arms directly backwards away from you. So, it's not a showstopper – just another disappointment. It’s a problem you just have to live with unless you go for one of the more monstrous arms you see in studios – and at studio prices!

=== Unexpectedly Smallish:

This is NOT a studio arm with lots of movement options. It is a simple but stable swing arm about the size of the arms you may have seen as part of the Luxo lamp line used for art, hobbies or precision work. I'd say it is “just” large enough for a hefty mic like the SM7b. The size of the PSA1, much like the Heil boom, is more like the base of a swing lamp where each arm of the boom is only 18-20 inches.

While waiting for the SM7b, I planned to use the arm with my Olympus LS-11 hand held audio recorder which compares well to $300-$500 condenser mics and is an excellent USB mic - apart from the expected terrible live-monitor latency which is normal for any unit without a specialized USB driver.

=== Poorly described "3/8 adapter":

In today's world with ever shrinking component sizes, if you see a smallish boom with a 3/8 thread size and the box says it includes a “3/8 adapter”, I'd wager a good many non-pro users would assume that to be a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter and not the 3/8 to 5/8 adapter that it is. As a pro, I still did a quick head scratch since several of my current recording devices now have 1/4-20 threads.

I grant that 5/8 is the standard size of mic stand threads and the mics that screw onto them, but Rode should include a 3/8-1/4 reducing adapter, as well, for use with the ever-increasing number of devices that have 1/4-20 threads such as cameras, recorders, small mics, go pros, web cams, and smartphones.
Hey, Rode, why not just make a really GREAT unit by adding a small cheap ball head with 1/4, 3/8, and 5/8 threads. Voila, you’ll have a hands-down winner.

=== Spring-Balance Issue:

A significant problem occurred while I tested the arm with my smaller mics, like the Olympus LS-11 handheld USB recorder and on-location mic. This arm barely works for them. The problem is that the elbow units are spring-loaded to counteract the weight of larger mics. With small mics or no mics at all, the arm swings upwards on its own when the mic arm is less than about 30 degrees downward from horizontal. Without adding weights, the arm has to be pulled down to about -40 degrees below horizontal where the elbow spring increases their torques and the arm refrains from rising on its own.

You should plan on needing at least 1-2 pounds of weight on the end of the arm to keep it from swinging upwards on its own. Without the weight and when the mic arm is anywhere above -30 degrees horizontal, it swings upwards to about 10-20 degrees above horizontal. In such low weight cases, you’ll have to pull the mic arm down to about -30 to -40 degrees from horizontal before the knee joints decide to hold the arm there. That effectively disallows movement from -30 to +10 of horizontal.

To be fair, this is a low cost boom and the matter is moot with pro mics that typically weigh 1-4 pounds.

=== Loose desk mount shaft hole:

The C-clamp desk mount hole that receives the boom’s mounting shaft seems rather large for the size of the shaft so it loose. However, as others have noted, since the arm is almost always swung out to the side to some degree, the cantilevered weight pulls the shaft sideways making the mounting feel solid.

Another potential issue with a loose mounting pivot shaft is that if the desk mount is not absolutely level, the entire boom could rotate in the direction of the tilted mount. This is not a common case and should not occur for most people when mounting to a level desk surface.

=== Bottom Line:

I gave the PSA1 3.5 stars because, despite its flaws, it is low cost, very easy to install, is relatively quiet, and most mics above $100 weigh at least a pond or two so it just works. Of the other booms I’ve seen reviewed, they seem to have their own issues such as the Heil’s less mounting sturdy base. I recommend this arm if you understand all of the issues I presented and you have deemed them to be of little consequence for your needs.

21 people found this helpful

Helpful

Noah G

Skip the cheap options

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

I've had a few budget mic arms, and I regret not just getting this to begin with. Always holds its position, never sags or bounces around. When you set your mic it stays. simple as that. The base is super sturdy and the fluidity of the movement is amazing. Skip the cheap ones, you won't be disappointed.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Don

Awesome and the VE20 works on it too !!!

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2012

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

I got this next day service and sure enough UPS had here before the time it should have been. This boom is awesome, It came with a cool desk top insert that requires drilling a hole through your desk which is by the far the best way to go, --you insert this super nice polished chrome insert which the boom fits into very professionally and tight. The insert fits flush on your desk top. Or you may use the vice clamp --Not recommended. --mistake, I cranked it down to make sure the boom would never move, well I bent the screw in the vice. It's really too small of a screw and the "T" twist for the vice is almost wire like, super El'Cheap`O. However, since I'm an engineer to make things work, I redesigned the under desk clamp --(the part that's not seen). The top part of the clamp ontop of the desk I never touched it, I ONLY beefed it up (Over kill if you will) on the vice screw. As far as the boom itself, I wished it was in gunsteel or a tarnished nickle but black is OK, at least it's not white. Very stiff coming out of the box, works smooth and so very nice. Don't waste your time with the Velcro wire wraps which are very cheap items and look silly. Go with very small black wire ties (which you can pick up anywhere these days), they're far more professional looking. This boom would work with any mike on the market !!!! It holds my super heavy VE20 --folks this could hold anything. Best boom I've seen yet. I uploaded a photo connected to the desk. (Hopefully they will publish it)

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Cupid_fox

Works great!

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2023

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

The arm stand is still standing strong on the bookshelf and hasn't fallen off. And easily to reposition to see my monitor

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Danasiah

Its very nice!

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

I haven’t used it yet but it was easy to assemble, I’m still trying to figure out how to keep it in position ( pretty sure I have to tighten it) because of the springs.

Helpful

Asylum Escapee

The best mic arm Ive ever owned

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024

Style: Desktop StandsVerified Purchase

Ive gone through a half dozen cheaper quality mic arms and they all start losing tension after a few months. I bought this mic arm in 2018 and it still is exactly as mobile as it was when I first bought it. Any position I move it to, it stays.

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RODE PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm

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