it would be best to save up for an interface because the quality of the components in that is much better. the phantom power preamp would also become useless if you got an interface in the future
#Would be a good idea to get a XLR condenser with a Phantom (no audio interface) plugged into PC?
harsh iris
maiden hare
What are you using the microphone record? What is your use case?
Is your reasoning to use an XLR microphone, because you have one you are set on getting? If so, what microphone are you planning on getting?
From previous experience with individuals located in some parts of South America, the available gear to select from can be a major limiting factor.
maiden hare
Most on here will be reluctant to recommend an XLR cable to USB directly in a computer sound card. The reason being two fold. First, computer sound cards are not great for the transference of audio into the computer. Not only has the technology of computer sound cards not advanced much over the recent years. For the most part, they have reduced in performance quality. With the introduction of USB ports, almost all the focus for input technology has been focused in that direction. Sound cards no longer have the priority for quality advancement as they once did. Except maybe on Apple devices (lol). In my understanding, because they are not the preferred input/output, internal sound card are one of the components manufacturers can save money & internal space with.
The second reason, is due to the lack of quality associated with the XLR to USB cables. Most offer Audio to Digital Conversion (ADC), only after a poorly made cable, lacking in proper shielding, has tainted the signal. Then the ADC chip used is the cheapest, lowest quality performer in this task. Also lacking the other interior circuitry needed to produce clean audio. These cables DO NOT offer the phantom power needed to power true condenser microphones. While there are some cheap microphone's, like the class that includes the Neewer BM-700 type, they usually don't get recommended here either. The tonal quality of those, shoot well below the level most people here are trying to achieve.
We tend to recommend XLR/USB microphone like the Samson Q2U, Audio Technica AT2005, or MaMaono AU-Hd300t. These can be used as direct USB microphones now. And when an audio interface upgrade happens, they are also XLR microphones. Plus, being dynamic mics, they do much better when used in acoustically untreated recording spaces.
Will leave this here for now.