One peripheral that we overlook is the microphone. If you’re just taking normal calls or attending casual online meetings, the built-in microphone in most earphones and headsets will suffice. But for more professional applications such as podcasting, streaming, and voiceovers, or if you simply want better audio quality for your Zoom calls, you need a better microphone. That’s where Fifine microphones come in, specifically, the Fifine K683B condenser microphone with USB-C support.
So, what’s in the box? We have the microphone, a heavy metal desk stand, a 6.6-inch Type-A to Type-B & Type-C USB cable, pop filter, and manual.
The Fifine K683B looks like a professional microphone. It comes in black and has a metal body. The pivot mount, though, is made of plastic.
Found on the front are the mic capsule, the gain knob, the LED indicator to show if it’s live (green) or muted (red), and the mute button.
The knob and the button are made of plastic. However, the mute button feels flimsy and loose.
Down at the bottom is the USB-B port.
While at the back is the 3.5mm headphone jack for monitoring and playback of the audio.
Setup is easy as everything is screw type. Just attach the metal tube to the base, then the pivot mount to the tube. You can easily adjust the angle of the microphone by loosening the thumbscrew.
Next, you’ll just need to plug the cables. Since it’s USB, it’s just plug-and-play. There’s no need to install any special software. If you’re using Windows, it will automatically install drivers. Place the pop filter and you’re good.
One of the things we like about the Fifine K683B is the support for the USB-C interface. This is not a problem if your laptop has USB-A, but most ultrabooks and MacBooks dropped USB-A for USB-C. This microphone solves that dreaded requirement of having to purchase an adapter.
When it comes to audio quality, it’s definitely miles better than your earphone or headphone microphones as well as some other budget mics. It has a very strong pick-up even when the gain knob is just set in the middle. The recorded audio is rich and full especially when placed in front of your mouth.
However, it’s also effective in recording background noises including fan noise, the clack of the keyboard, thumps from your mouse, and bumps on your desk. It’s better to adjust the microphone volume from your laptop or PC or use background noise suppression software if available. If you’re going to do voice-overs, it’s highly recommended to record in a quiet room. Using a boom arm and a shock mount will also help eliminate vibrations or rumbles emanating from your desk.
The Fifine K683B is a great microphone that is easy to set up and use and is priced competitively. It is available at M One Enterprise’s official Lazada page for PHP 4,000 but is now priced at PHP 3,099 (discount voucher available here). If you want to upgrade from your typical built-in headphone microphone for your streaming, podcasting, voiceovers, online meetings, and other WFH needs without breaking the bank, we can recommend this one.
For more Fifine products, click here.
