Which USB Microphone Should You Buy?? | Best Mic Under $50
Summary
TLDRThis video script explores seven budget microphones under $50, aiming to identify the best option for viewers. The script details the features, build quality, and sound performance of each microphone, including popular models like the Fine K669B and the Razer Seiren Mini. It also compares microphone kits that include additional accessories like pop filters and mic arms. The review includes tests for sound quality with and without background noise, offering insights into which microphones excel in noise cancellation and overall value for the price.
Takeaways
- ๐ค The video reviews seven budget microphones under $50, aiming to find the best option for viewers.
- ๐ The microphones range from $25 to $50, with a separate video planned for those under $25.
- ๐ The Fine K669B has been very popular and is considered an upgrade to a previously mentioned model from the same company.
- ๐ฆ The Fine K669B comes with a sturdy mic stand and a volume knob, and is praised for its quality relative to its price.
- ๐ The volume slider on the Fine K669B is sensitive and can be adjusted to the user's preference.
- ๐ฎ The Fine Emply Game features a shock mount to reduce desk vibrations, enhancing audio quality.
- ๐ก The Razer S Mini is a budget offering from a mainstream brand, noted for its good value and hyper-cardioid pattern for noise cancellation.
- ๐ต The Blue Snowball Ice is a classic microphone with a sturdy USB cable and a 'studio-like' sound quality.
- ๐ง The HyperX SoloCast is similar in price and size to the Razer S Mini but includes a mute button.
- ๐ ๏ธ The Sud S800 is a microphone kit that includes a pop filter and a microphone arm, and is noted for its deep and full sound.
- ๐ The video concludes with a comparison of the microphones' performance in various scenarios, including with and without a microphone arm and in the presence of background noise.
Q & A
What is the price range of the microphones discussed in the video?
-The microphones discussed in the video are priced between $25 and $50.
Why is the Fine K669B microphone interesting according to the video?
-The Fine K669B is interesting because it is an older model that has been popular for a long time and is considered an upgrade to another model from the same company.
What is included in the box with the Fine K669B microphone?
-The box includes the Fine K669B microphone, a sturdy mic stand, and a volume knob.
How does the volume slider on the Fine K669B microphone perform?
-The volume slider on the Fine K669B is very sensitive and can be adjusted to the user's preference.
What feature does the Fine Emply Game microphone have that helps reduce desk vibrations?
-The Fine Emply Game microphone has elastics that act like a shock mount to reduce vibrations from the desk.
What is the Razer S Mini microphone's polar pattern?
-The Razer S Mini microphone has a hyper-cardioid polar pattern, which is super focused on the front and cancels out sounds from the back or sides.
What is the Blue Snowball Ice microphone's price in the video?
-The Blue Snowball Ice microphone is priced at $47 in the video, but a white version is mentioned to be cheaper.
What is the main difference between the HyperX Solo Cast and the Razer S Mini microphones?
-The main functional difference is that the HyperX Solo Cast has a mute button on top, while the Razer S Mini does not.
What is included in the Pseudo Tech SD800 microphone kit?
-The Pseudo Tech SD800 microphone kit includes a microphone, a microphone arm, a pop filter, and the mic itself which resembles an XLR mic but is a USB microphone.
Why might the Pseudo Tech SD800 sound different from the Golden BM800?
-The Pseudo Tech SD800 might sound different because it could have a different internal chipset and a mini audio interface that is not present in the cheaper Golden BM800 microphones.
What is the price of the Pseudo Tech SD800 microphone kit?
-The Pseudo Tech SD800 microphone kit is priced around $43 to $44.
What issue does the video mention regarding the sensitivity of the Pseudo Tech SD800 microphone?
-The Pseudo Tech SD800 microphone is extremely sensitive, causing peaking and distortion when spoken into loudly or placed too close to the mouth.
How does the video suggest using the pop filter with the Pseudo Tech SD800 microphone kit?
-The pop filter should be used to reduce popping sounds when speaking into the microphone, but the microphone should not be placed too close to avoid distortion.
Outlines
๐๏ธ Budget Microphone Showdown Under $50
This paragraph introduces a comparison of seven budget microphones, all priced between $25 and $50, to determine the best option for viewers. The script mentions an intention to create a separate video for microphones under $25. The Fine K669B is highlighted as a popular choice, with 2,000 units sold in the past month. The unboxing experience includes a sturdy mic stand and a volume knob. The sound quality is praised as exceptional for the price, and the script describes the microphone's performance at different volumes and distances from the user's mouth.
๐ฎ Fine Emply Game Microphone Features
The Fine Emply Game microphone is discussed, noting its popularity and its features such as an elastic shock mount to reduce desk vibrations. The microphone's build quality is compared to the Fine K669B, with the latter being more robust. The script also covers the RGB lighting that is not customizable and the mute function. The Razer S Mini is introduced as a value option from a mainstream brand, with a discussion on its hyper-cardioid pickup pattern and how it can be paired with a budget boom arm for improved performance.
๐ Testing Microphone Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation
The script details the sound testing process for the Blue Snowball Ice, a classic microphone known for its sturdy USB cable and studio-like sound. The sensitivity and noise cancellation capabilities of various microphones are tested, including the HyperX Solo Cast, which has a mute button and is compared to the Razer S Mini in terms of price and performance. The script also explores the sound quality and potential distortion issues of microphone kits, such as the Pseudo Tech SD800, which comes with a pop filter and a microphone arm.
๐ Comparing Microphone Performance in Various Scenarios
This paragraph outlines a series of tests to compare the microphones in different scenarios, such as on a desk, close to the mouth with a microphone arm, and with background noise from typing and mouse clicking. The goal is to evaluate which microphone performs best in noise cancellation and overall sound quality. The script also discusses the importance of microphone polar patterns and sensitivity, and provides a quick rundown of the sound performance of each microphone in various conditions.
๐ Final Thoughts on Microphone Testing
The final paragraph summarizes the microphone testing process, highlighting the performance of each microphone in terms of sound quality and noise cancellation. It emphasizes the importance of considering microphone sensitivity and the impact of using a microphone arm. The script also mentions the pop filter's effectiveness and the potential for distortion at high volumes. The Pseudo Tech ST800 is highlighted as a microphone kit that may offer a warmer and fuller sound due to its closer proximity to the mouth, despite being more expensive than other options.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กMicrophone
๐กBudget Microphones
๐กFine K669B
๐กSound Quality
๐กHyper Cardioid
๐กMic Stand
๐กPolar Pattern
๐กShock Mount
๐กRazer Siren Mini
๐กBlue Snowball Ice
๐กMic Kit
Highlights
The Fine K669B microphone is an interesting choice as it is an older model that has been upgraded, yet still remains popular for its quality and price.
The Fine K669B has been a top seller with 2,000 units sold in the past month, showcasing its enduring popularity.
The Fine K669B comes with a sturdy mic stand and a volume knob, offering basic but functional features.
The Fine Emply Game is an upgrade to the K669B, featuring a shock mount to reduce desk vibrations, enhancing audio quality.
The Razer S Mini is a budget microphone from a mainstream brand that offers great value and a hyper-cardioid pattern for focused audio capture.
The Blue Snowball Ice is a classic microphone known for its sturdy build and studio-like sound, despite being sensitive to proximity.
The HyperX SoloCast is similar in price and size to the Razer S Mini but includes a mute button for convenience.
The pseudo Tech SD800 is a microphone kit that includes a pop filter and a microphone arm, providing a comprehensive setup for the price.
The SD800 has a unique design that resembles an XLR microphone but functions as a USB microphone, indicating a blend of traditional and modern features.
The polar patterns of the microphones play a crucial role in their performance, with hyper-cardioid patterns like the Razer Mini offering excellent noise cancellation.
The Fine Amply Game, when used with a microphone arm, provides a warm and full sound, making it a popular choice in microphone kits.
The Razer S Mini, despite its small size, performs well in noise cancellation and offers a polished product design.
The Blue Snowball, even as an older model, remains a bestseller and provides a good balance between price and performance.
The HyperX SoloCast demonstrates high-quality sound for its price, making it an impressive budget option.
The SD800's sensitivity can be an issue as it peaks easily, requiring careful management of distance and volume.
The Fine K669B shows consistent performance across various tests, maintaining its reputation for quality in the budget microphone category.
The video includes tests with and without a microphone arm and in different noise environments to evaluate each microphone's noise cancellation capabilities.
The comparison of the last two microphones, which appear to be based on the same model but differ in branding, reveals potential similarities and differences in internal components.
The video concludes with a quick test of all microphones to compare their performance in a realistic typing and clicking environment.
Transcripts
these are seven of the most popular
budget microphones under $50 and today
we're going to be trying to find out
which is the best one for you all of
these microphones are between $25 and
$50 because I want to make a separate
video for below 25 by the way this
microphone here has been hugely popular
in the last year all the mics will also
be linked in the description so you can
check them out whenever you want the mic
we're going to start with is the fine
k669b and this is a really interesting
one the reason that this microphone is
interesting is that the one I just
mentioned before is actually kind of an
upgrade of this one so both of these
mics are actually from the same company
they are both from fine and this mic
here which came before this one the fine
k669b has been a hugely popular
microphone for such a long time you will
hear this in a bit but the quality of
this microphone is crazy for the price
2,000 people bought it in the past month
now what comes in the box is very simple
the microphone a mic stand which is
pretty sturdy it doesn't look the
prettiest of course it's a budget
microphone but it's very sturdy it works
and it also gets the microphone pretty
high and besides what I already
discussed we also have a volume knob
here okay and the microphone should be
connected right now so I will put it on
my desk you can see the distance from my
mouth this is what the microphone sounds
like and I will get it closer to my
mouth so you can get a feeling of that
but as I mentioned we will test all of
that for all microphones the volume
slider is very sensitive it's pretty
much at a minimum now and if I get it to
like 1/3 you will hear that it's pretty
much peing and especially if I turn it
on even more but you can definitely
adjust this microphone to whatever works
for for you now next we have the fine
emply game and I'm not going to go too
in depth on this microphone because I've
been mentioning it quite a bit now as
you can see on the bottom of the
microphone it also has elastics that act
like a shock mount and a shock mount
like this helps to make sure that
vibrations from the desk are not
traveling through the mic stand and then
to the microphone this is especially
handy for a microphone standing on your
desk because whenever you're touching
your desk for anything usually you would
definitely hear it okay so the
microphone has been plugged in now I'm
going to turn up the volume to the
maximum okay so this is the max
sensitivity you can already see the RGB
by the way it does look great it's not
changeable so you cannot connect it to
software and then manage it yourself
overall for the price itself this mic
sounds amazing just like the previous
one however do note that the build
quality of this microphone is less than
the previous 5in k669b this one is
purely plastic extremely light oh I
almost forgot you can also I'm switching
to the shotgun now but you can mute it
by tapping on top and then like this you
can just get it back now the next
microphone is a razor s mini and this is
the first microphone by a mainstream
brand you might think Razer doesn't
sound like a great budget brand but for
their streamer line and they cheap
microphones they really do have great
value now the one that we have is this
one here also amazing reviews and a lot
of them we're going to test it but this
being $38 means that under 50 or for
around 50 you could buy this microphone
together with a microphone arm I'm going
to take it with me for a second already
but this is a typical cheap microphone
arm and as you've heard in previous
tests when you test the mic when it's on
your desk pretty far away from your
mouth and then you bring it closer it
gets much more warm and full and study
alike and so buying a microphone arm
that's around I think $14 makes a huge
difference I'm going to test all of
these microphones together with an arm
later and this microphone is hyper
cardioid which means it's super focused
on the front and everything that's
coming from the back or from the side on
the back is getting canceled out it is a
pretty polished product like look at
this if I plug in the USB here it
completes the design and it looks super
clean now a big downside of the mic is
how tiny it is I mean it's a nice mic
and it being tiny is pretty cool overall
however this means that it's very far
away from your mouth and I'm going to
show you the cardioid pattern so on the
front it's very sensitive but then when
we move it to the back and we talk to
the microphone like this I'm much more
quiet than muffled and so this mic is
very good at canceling out background
noise the next microphone is the Blue
Snowball ice and this is a true classic
I don't even have the packaging of this
microphone because it was the first mic
that I ever bought for the channel it
comes with a very sturdy USB cable I'm
going to check out the exact price so
right now it costs $47 and if you check
out the white one ooh all right so this
is much cheaper I'm going to use that
price as a comparison in this video
we're comparing budget microphones so
the color shouldn't matter that much
hello hello test test okay the
microphone is working I think it sounds
more thin than the previous ones it does
sound very Studio like though like it
sounds processed at least that's what it
sounds like in my headset now now I'm
going to go to the Windows sound
settings let's move it up to like 90 so
the mic is is definitely more sensitive
now if I hold it closer it will be too
loud I think also you shouldn't talk
directly into the microphone you should
always talk next to it because then look
you still kind of Hur the P sounds but
if you do it into the mic it's much
worse and let's test the microphone from
the back so this is what it sounds like
in the front I'm going to move it I'm
going to move it this is what it sounds
like from the back so really interesting
tests coming up next we have the hyperx
solo cast and this is a mic I've tested
one time before on the channel I tested
this mic in my console streaming setup
where I explained how to stream at a
console this was the mic I used there
and I was very impressed at that time
now the mic makes me think of the Razer
S mini these are both very small
microphones they are around the same
price let me look it up hyperx solo cast
so this one is $40 I see that the S mini
was 38 so pretty much the same price the
only difference in function between
these two mics is that the hyperx has a
mute button on the top I feel like these
two mics are going to perform very
similarly this is important to note look
at what happens if I touch my desk
that's very loud it doesn't really have
a shock mount but this is something to
keep into account however I think the
same was through with the siren mini a
lot of these mics have that especially
cheaper mics I don't think that this
microphone right here the 5an amply game
had this because it did have the shock
mount Let's test the mute button I'm
okay so it actually works and I'm going
to test the mic far away from me on the
desk I did have the P sound as next to
the mic okay so that's better but this
sounds very warm and very high quality I
really like this microphone now the next
microphone this is a very special case
not only because it's a microphone kit
which it is it comes with a microphone
arm it comes with a pop filter and then
of course the mic itself which looks
like an XLR mic but which is actually
USB microphone but there's another
reason why it's a pretty special
microphone because it was part of my
previous mic comparison which is more
than a year old people give me negative
comments when I say that it sounds cheap
because people really like microphones
sounding full and processed however you
can clearly hear that they tried to make
it sound expensive by really boosting
the fullness of this microphone I want
to show you something first so do you
recognize these microphones you probably
do these are the golden bm800
microphones they are very popular but
the reason that Amazon is full of it is
that this is one of the products that
you can buy probably on Alibaba or like
in Chinese warehouses they make a bunch
of these and then companies put their
own spin on it and then publish it
online you can buy these on wish.com on
AliExpress so they just connect XLR here
and then they put the ox into the PC and
it doesn't sound that good I've tested
these microphones it sounds very bad
actually so what I think they've done
with this microphone is probably taken
the internals of these types of
microphones I'm not entirely sure but I
think so and then there's a mini audio
interface in the microphone and you can
even see it on the box look on the box
they say professional sound chip set I'm
not sure how professional it will be but
this chipset is not part of this cheap
bm800 microphones but it is part of this
microphone and that's why they can
change how it sounds and also why they
can make it USB you can also hear that
it sounds pretty flat there's no depth
in the voice there's no highs and lows
it's just all very processed so it comes
with a clamp for on your desk you're
just tighten the screw on the bottom and
then you shoving the arm overall a
pretty nice kit for the price it's about
$43 $44 which is a really good price for
a microphone arm with the mic itself I
mean this is a nice kit and let's listen
to it I wanted to give it another chance
I hear why people like this microphone
it does sound very deep and full and
processed also the pop filter kind of
doesn't work oops it's peing let's see
if we can adjust again here so let's
make this 70 for example okay hello
hello closer still Peaks let's try 30
hello hello ah still Peaks okay so
there's not much range in that sense so
you can't be too close and then talk too
loud because it's going to keep peeking
and again I understand why people like
the sound of this it sounds full it
sounds processed it sounds deep in this
price range that might be just what
people are looking for all right now
next is the last microphone that we're
testing out today and this one makes the
whole thing even more interesting
because this probably reminds you of the
previous microphone and I don't really
remember if I've tested this before and
I mean come on this microphone just
looks like the previous one I mean
there's actually not really a doubt
these are the same base microphones that
have been released by different
companies you can also see it on the
back they're exactly the same however
the top is very different and what's
inside might also be different so that's
why I want to test both of them so the
base of the microphone and probably the
magnet that picks up the vibrations and
then turns it into a signal that's
probably the same but maybe the chip
that they use on the inside that we also
saw on the other product box is
different however to be fair I think
they might be exactly the same and I'm
saying this because look on the back we
have the frequency response here and
this graph is exactly the same as this
graph right here and then also this
table specifications is exactly the same
as this table right here so they
probably use exactly the same internals
also the chipset I might have been too
gullible with thinking that they would
use a base microphone and then design
their own chipset in order to process
the sound and make it digital oh by the
way I forgot to check the price and I
think this might be a bit of a downside
here currently it seems like it's 54
actually 55 now I'm not going to exclude
it from this test for $5 especially
since I'm interested to see if it's just
a more expensive version of this one
here so I definitely want to test it but
just know that this one is 55 which is
very similar to the price of these other
mics together with a mic arm so if you
buy a mic arm all of them will be around
$50 so we are back at the first
microphone now I'm going to cycle
through all of the mics one by one so
you can compare them I'm going to do it
four times for four tests all right so
this is the second mic I will put all
information on the screen maybe now you
will hear that this one sounds very
similar to the previous one so this is
the third microphone I will quickly go
over the fourth four tests we're going
to do the first one is this here all the
mics on the desk out of the box the
second one will be all of the
microphones close to my mouth with a mic
arm and then the third and the fourth
test are also going to be really
important because I'm going to do the
same tests without a mic arm and with
one but with background sound while
clicking my keyboard clicking my mouse
and that way you will be able to hear
which microphone cancels out the
background noise the best fourth
microphone the Blue Snowball my first
mic ever now please be careful when
looking for these mics on Amazon because
a lot of the times there are listings
that are more expensive I will make sure
that all my links in the description go
to the official product pages on Amazon
now something really important to note
the next two microphones the last two
ones are both going to be microphone
kits and they will sound better than
these microphones or at least they will
sound warmer and more full but it's
because they're closer to my mouth with
a microphone arm all right so next is
the first microphone kit the hugely
popular at least on my channel but I
think in general pseudo Tech sd800 it
looks pretty premium I'm going to be
honest I'm going to do one test for you
the pop filter so without the with this
one and then with this so I will blow
pop sounds into the microphone
itself okay I listen to it myself and
this definitely does the job you cannot
move the mic too close to your mouth
because it's impossible to lower the
sensitivity and as you hear now there is
some peaking and some Distortion and you
can't really get rid of it it's on the
lowest sensitivity so you need to move
it a bit further all right now I'm
talking quiet because this microphone I
think I forgot to test it I might have
actually forgotten it was yesterday but
hey we're testing it now and this mic is
extremely sensitive I have to keep it
further away from me and it might not
sound a big deal from there but look
from the side this mic is really far
away from me and it still sounds very
warm and very full now if you look on
the box they also show the mic from the
top but even now it will Peak when I
talk too loud like hey see it has
distorted and I know there will be
comments of people saying hey you need
to adjust the microphone sensitivity but
it doesn't work look at this I'm going
to do it really low look if I set this
to 10% I mean it's really quiet right
now but like hey even if I all close
then it distorts so it doesn't really
help the mic needs to be far away if you
shout hey that's how it will sound and
if you talk really quiet then this is
how this mic will sound all right back
to the first microphone the fine k669b I
removed the stand I'm going to go
through them a bit quicker right now now
something useful to know is that all of
these microphones will have a different
polar pattern and it basically shows the
area around the microphone and then the
red is where the microphone will be
sensitive from the Razer mini for
example is a hyper cardioid mic which
means that it's hyper sensitive from the
front and then pretty much all the way
around the microphone most noise gets
canceled all right this is the Blue
Snowball on a microphone arm and as we
discussed before this is a very old
microphone it released such a long time
ago but it's still one of the
bestselling microphones out there all
right this is the hyperx solo cast and
I've listened to it before with my
headset this sounds really good for the
price all right and we are back at the
microphone kits we've also talked about
most INF for you need to know about the
polar patterns and the closeness to your
mouth so I'm going to go quickly through
all the remaining tests now I'm not even
listen to this Distortion this mic from
close is very bad and from far I mean
it's going to be a lot of echo compared
to the other ones on a microphone arm
it's also more expensive than the
previous one if you want the mic kit I
wouldn't really go for this one I'm
going to exclude it from the next test
tell me in the comments if I did
something wrong I don't think so I don't
really like this one a last test from
really far away I'm going to show you
peeking hey like even that Peaks I don't
really know about this one I sound like
the other one okay so as promised the
test will be very quick right now what I
will do is I will talk into the mics
first on the desk then on an arm and
while doing that I will be typing my
keyboard plus clicking my mouse now and
then and I will be able to hear how loud
you hear the keyboard and the mouse with
all of the M I'll start right now this
is a test of the fine k669b with some
keyboard clicking on the desk all right
next microphone this is the fine amply
game with exactly the same test I still
feel like they sound similar right now I
feel like the clicking is much louder
with this microphone compared to the
previous one all right same test with
the Razer siren and mini now I feel like
this mic has a huge disadvantage AG
because look at this from the side it is
super small and it's really close to my
keyboard and far from my mouth compared
to the other microphones okay next we
have the hyperx solo cast and this
microphone is also pretty small but it's
a bit taller than the Razer siren mini
so it might perform a bit better also
depends on the Polar pattern but this is
how it sounds all right next is the Blue
Snowball I feel like it's performing
pretty well in terms of removing the
clicks but it doesn't sound that good in
my headphones in terms of sound quality
all right this this is the sud s800 and
you will see that it's a bit further
away from my mouth than the other
microphones that I tested on a mic arm
and the reason is that if I put it too
close to my mouth then it will start
peeking so this here is about the safe
distance and this is what it sounds like
when I type on my keyboard I will now go
through all of the other mics on a
microphone arm okay so this is the fine
k669b on a microphone arm while I'm
typing on my keyboard clicking my mouse
next the fine amply game now really
important this mic is being sold in a
microphone kits to together with an arm
it's a very popular microphone kit the
mic sounds great with an arm it has a
pop filter it has RGB I'm really a fan
of this microphone and I think a lot of
people are going to go to this
microphone here all right next the razor
sarin mini and listening to this I would
have to listen to the other microphones
Al together also the previous one
because I was really positive about it
but this one sounds really good as well
it sounds very warm I barely hear the
keyboard and the mouse clicks it's very
good at canceling it out all right next
we do have the Blue Snowball this mic
actually looks like a snowball it also
looks pretty high quality for the price
I remember that's what I liked when I
bought a microphone in the first place
all right we have two microphones to go
this also definitely sounds good this is
a really good microphone for the price
so far while talking I really like this
microphone as well all right and this is
the last microphone this is the pseudo
Tech st800 I'm really curious how this
will compare to all of the other ones as
I said before the legit listings to the
official product pages of all of these
microphones will be in the description
thank you so much for for watching I
really like making these videos and I
hope that I will see you in one of the
future ones have a nice day
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