RØDE PSA1+ Professional Studio Arm with Spring Damping and Cable Management,Black

Product Information

But this is the point of the PSA1 – a live-streamer isn’t going to sit completely still, they will be animated and moving around, and Rode clearly realized this when designing this stand. So once I got used to the flexibility of the PSA1 I started to realize that this would be a really useful bit of kit to have. Maybe not one that I’d deemed necessary in the past, considering I could just tolerate the annoyance of a floor stand, but definitely one that I was starting to wish I’d invested in earlier. Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the UK, EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided. Alternatively, there is the option of a desk clamp mount if you do not have a cable hole in your desk or want to be able to take your microphone away from your desk. One item that would have made a nice extra is a storage or carry case. Chances are, if you are fixing the Rode PSA1 to your desk, you won’t be travelling with it. But as the boom arm is spring-loaded it does make it a little awkward to store (unless you want to keep the original box).

Impressively, there is also an inclusion of a rubber attachment on the mount, which ensures that you are dampening any sound from the desk that may come up through the arm. It’s these little add-ons that help the PSA1+ stand out from the crowd. The PSA1 Studio Arm boasts a 360-degree design, allowing you to find the perfect position for your microphone. This can be useful in podcast and broadcast situations when positioning your microphone on the fly is desirable. It provides a horizontal reach of 820mm and a vertical reach of 840mm. It also comes supplied with Velcro cable wraps, a desk clamp and desk insert for flexible mounting options. The PSA1 Studio Arm is designed for use with the Rode Procaster and the Podcaster microphones but can also support various other microphones between 700g and 1.1kg in weight Features Collection and delivery costs are included for the first 2 years in the event of an item becoming faulty Not only do they add a level of sleekness to the appearance of Rode PSA1+, the sleeve houses an innovative cable management system, making it much easier to keep your microphone cables looking neat and tidy. However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers.The real test for the Rode PSA1 is during recording. As I’ve mentioned, one of the best aspects is the ability to move the position of the mic without having to unscrew nuts or make any adjustments. So to make the most of this review I used the PSA1 in a recorded interview and was really impressed with how different it felt.

As I’ve mentioned, setting up the Rode PSA1 was very simple and probably took a maximum of 10 minutes. Boom arms can be a little fiddly to get in place and this was something that I did feel was a bit of an issue with this product at first. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission & see how we test. Straight out of the box you can tell that the Rode PSA1 is built to a high standard of quality. This should be of little surprise to existing RØDE customers, who appreciate the strong build quality of their products.

Rode PSA1 Studio Arm Overview

The easiest way to mount the PSA1+ is to use the included table clamp. It works with most desk surfaces with a ledge, but won't be able to grip anything with a flush edge. We found the clamp to be a bit sturdier and less likely to budge than the one that came with the previous model—rubber end pieces are a simple, but notable, improvement. The arm plants into the recessed top portion of the clamp and can pivot 360 degrees once you attach it. Alternatively, you can mount the arm to a desk with the threaded desk mount insert, though this method requires you to drill a sizable hold into your desktop. The metallic base for this insert feels exceptionally sturdy in any case. The PSA1+ also comes with a 3/8-to-5/8-inch adapter, so you shouldn't have any issues attaching whatever mic you use. The studio boom arm itself is spring-loaded and so without a microphone in place, it will jerk up and leave you wondering how on earth this is going to work whilst recording.