What that means in practical terms is that the Yeti X has a broader language for different loudness levels and is able to capture a much wider dynamic range than the original model. In audio terms, the Yeti X’s biggest improvement over the Yeti is in its improved recording quality, up from 48 KHz/16-bit to 48 KHz/24-bit.
This time, four capsules comprise the Yeti X’s internal workings, and while the original could still manage four polar patterns - cardioid, stereo, omnidirectional and figure-8 (also known as bidirectional) - just the same as this one, in theory having an extra condenser capsule could improve the sensitivity and smoothness of the sound across those configurations. The first notable difference is in the capsule design itself. It was the go-to mic for a reason, earning its stripes for full-bodied, punchy sound that delivers vocals sitting in the mix perfectly and instrument recordings that sounded close enough to, if not discernible from, studio mic samples for $130. There isn’t much we want to improve about the original Yeti’s sound.
