Samson

Samson SACSMIC CS Series Capsule Select Microphone: Vocal & Instrument

4.4 (40 reviews)
XLR

Two professional-grade dynamic capsules in one body — switch between supercardioid vocal tuning and tight instrument isolation without pulling a second mic.

$89.99*
In Stock on Amazon.com
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Samson CS Series is built around a practical insight: most performers and home studio operators end up buying a vocal mic and an instrument mic separately, carrying two cables and two stands, and spending twice the money. The CS Series consolidates that into a single machined handle body that accepts two distinct neodymium capsules — the CS1, tuned and voiced for vocal performance with a supercardioid pattern, and the CS2, designed for the transient-heavy demands of drums, guitar cabinets, and brass with a tighter polar pickup. The gold-plated XLR connects cleanly to any standard interface or console, and both capsules are dynamic, meaning no phantom power is required and impedance matching is straightforward across virtually any preamp.

For live sound, the CS1's supercardioid polar pattern is the key differentiator. Supercardioid configurations reduce the acceptance angle compared to standard cardioid dynamics, giving front-of-house engineers more headroom before feedback when monitors are in play. The CS2's tighter pattern solves a different problem: isolation. Close-miking a snare in a drum kit or a guitar cab in a loud rehearsal room demands that the capsule reject bleed aggressively, and the CS2's design addresses that directly. The mic clip and carry case are included, making this a self-contained kit for working musicians who need to travel light without sacrificing versatility.

Key Features

CS1 Vocal Microphone capsule - Neodymium capsule tuned for vocal performance. Super cardioid pickup pattern for excellent feedback rejection

CS2 Instrument Microphone capsule - Neodymium capsule tuned for drums, guitar cabinets, brass and other preferred instruments, tighter polar pattern for greater isolation

Threaded twist-off handle design

Gold-plated XLR connector

Also includes mic clip and carry case

Specifications

Brand
Samson
Model
SACSMIC
Capsule 1 (CS1)
Neodymium, supercardioid — vocal
Capsule 2 (CS2)
Neodymium, tighter polar pattern — instrument
Connector
Gold-plated XLR
Power Requirement
None (dynamic capsules)
Capsule Change
Threaded twist-off handle
Included Accessories
Mic clip, carry case, CS1 and CS2 capsules

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The interchangeable CS1 and CS2 capsules deliver two purpose-tuned microphones from a single handle body, eliminating the need to carry and cable a second dedicated instrument mic.
  • The CS1's neodymium supercardioid capsule provides measurably tighter off-axis rejection than standard cardioid dynamics, directly improving gain-before-feedback in loud stage environments.
  • The CS2's tighter polar pattern reduces bleed from adjacent sound sources when close-miking drums or guitar cabinets in live or tracking scenarios.
  • The twist-off capsule design allows tool-free swaps in seconds, making mid-session changes practical rather than disruptive.
  • The gold-plated XLR connector resists oxidation at the pin contact surface, sustaining reliable signal transfer in high-humidity or touring conditions.

👎 Cons

  • The CS1's supercardioid pattern requires more precise mic placement relative to the vocalist's mouth than a standard cardioid — small off-axis deviations produce more noticeable coloration.
  • Neither capsule includes a pad switch, which limits the CS2's headroom when close-miking loud sources like kick drum or heavily driven guitar cabinets that can exceed 140 dB SPL.
  • No frequency response or sensitivity specifications are published, making it difficult to predict exactly how these capsules will sit in a mix relative to known reference microphones.
  • The lack of a low-cut filter switch means any proximity effect buildup on the CS1 must be managed at the console or interface, adding a step to the gain staging workflow.
  • The twist-on capsule connection point is a wear surface — repeated capsule changes over years of touring will eventually introduce connector slop that affects signal reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Both the CS1 and CS2 are dynamic capsules, which generate signal passively through electromagnetic induction. Phantom power is not required and will not damage the capsules, but it provides no benefit — these mics draw nothing from the power rail.
Supercardioid patterns have a narrower acceptance angle — roughly ±115 degrees versus ±130 degrees for cardioid — which tightens rejection off-axis and pushes the null points to approximately 126 degrees rather than directly at the rear. On stage, this means better feedback rejection from monitors positioned in front of and to the sides of the mic, but you must keep monitors outside those narrower null zones to benefit.
Yes. The threaded twist-off handle design allows capsule changes with a simple rotation — no tools, no disassembly. The capsules thread directly onto the same handle body, so swapping between the CS1 vocal and CS2 instrument capsule takes seconds.
The CS2 is tuned for drums, guitar cabinets, and brass. Its tighter polar pattern increases isolation from bleed sources in a live or multi-mic recording environment, which is particularly valuable when close-miking a snare or guitar cab in a dense mix.
Gold plating on the XLR pins resists oxidation over time, which maintains consistent contact resistance at the connector junction. In practical terms, this reduces the chance of intermittent signal or tonal degradation in humid or touring environments where bare copper connectors would oxidize faster.