After a heck of a long time contemplating whether or not I should upgrade my mic, I finally decided to do so, thanks to your channel and these videos about the Fifine k688. Love your enthusiasm with this specific model, and with that I will cherish my new mic as much as you have with yours.
I have ordered it this morning, waiting for it to arrive. Can’t wait! Not gonna lie i came straight to your channel for some opinions on this mic. I found your channel when i brought fifine a8 plus. that mic was amazing however there are too many white noises since its a condenser mic i do understand that, it pick up too many backgrounds noises like rain and some random dog barking outside i usually use the mic for recording and singing thats why i wanted to change. And planning to do cover on youtube later. Your channel is really important to me when i have money to upgrade my setup lmaoo
@@Edu-Take Sorry for the late reply. Turn the mic volume up in Windows up to 75% and turn the microphone volume 80% and the volume should be louder. I hope that helps.
I'll consider this as one of my next microphone options. I like the portability since I tend to rent airbnb when recording since my home has noisy neighbors
@@ersamson Great to hear from you again! Definitely the K688. Although I used the Q2U in the past, my problem with it was always getting it to sound loud enough. It's micro usb and definitely showing signs of its age. For content creation, I do believe aesthetic is a massive factor in choosing a mic nowadays. Of course, that's just my take. :)
8 months of owning the K688, and my thoughts on it is still the same. What it lacks compared to its clear inspiration - the SM7B, it makes up for that the SM7B lacks. 😋
Thanks for the great review video, it was very helpful when buying the K688. If possible, I would love to see your comparison review of the FIFINE Tank3 next. Keep up the great work! 👍
Hey Dave. you might recognise me. I did get the fifine k688. It's so great. Your videos really helped with getting the right mic. Quick Question (I couldn't seem to find a video) do you know if i works if you plug it into a phone.
I recently got dat mic and in usb mode it has a bit of a white noise in background. I bought it after dexp u700 (it is Russian brand that makes kinda cheap devices and some other stuff even TV's water boilers washing machines and etc. Basically everything) and DEXP U700 was quite silent and my friends were annoyed of it. So i decided to buy a new one and i got K688. Now im looking for to buy a Behringer UM2 to make it clearer and a bit more louder. Seen a few test of UM2 and i think that buyin a used one for 35-40 bucks (3500-4000 roubles)is going to be a great deal and make my voice nice to stream and talk on Discord and in game voice channels. Kinda disappointed in USB (but maybe its just my pc motherboard sucks. Cant really check it) connection sound but really hyped to check it with UM2. Thanks for review btw. Keep up the good work fella.
@@DaveSoltura main reason of price for um2 in used market. I dont see a reason to buy something twice of a price that can do “just a bit better” than um2. So I think that I’ll stick with um2.
@@jetty3950 That's valid! I'm sure you've done a ton of research, and the used market is a wise decision. I do think the difference between the UM2 and the UMC22 is significant, not just a bit beter. If you're coming from the K688, the UM2 quality might even be a downgrade in terms of preamp noise. The UMC22 includes Behringer's Midas preamps, and Midas is the higher-end sister company of Behringer. The UM2 uses the entry-level Xenyx preamps. But if you feel the UM2 meets your needs, that's valid!
Just bought the Fifine K688 for under 40$ :D. The Fifine AM8 was at similar price but I like more the classic look of the K688 and the fact that is has all buttons on the back. If the price would've dropped also on the Tank3 I would've bought that, but seemed too much to pay about 80$ for the Tank3 only for the arm design which I like more than on the K688. Can't wait for it to arrive. Thanks for the review!
@@DaveSoltura from what I've seen in various reviews and due to the fact that my knowledge on mics is 0 also this being my first one, I'm sure of that!
Hey Dave! I bougth this K688 but I have a question. I saw in one of your videos that using a USB 3.0 cable had a better performance than using the K688 original cable (USB 2.0). Would you recommend me to buy a new 3.0 USB cable? Or I can live with the included one. Thank You! :D
I wouldn’t consider that an “upgrade”, as they’re two different mics. The AT2020 usb+ is great if you have a sound treated room. The K688 captures less environmental noise
I think you should also talk about the headphone outputs on these mics, they are terrible! Got the Tank 3 on your recommendation and immediately felt that my voice sounds kinda bad on it, figured it was the headphone output giving me the wrong picture, sadly no reviewer said anything about it except praising them and comparing them to the SM7B. The 7B is a legend and I am sorry but these comparisons don’t seem to be very viable
@@agambhasin I totally get where you’re coming from about the headphone amps-I wish they were better too. But considering that we even get headphone amps on USB mics that are also XLR expandable, that’s a pretty good deal. For the price of just an XLR mic, you’re getting the mic, a USB preamp, and a headphone amp. For example, the AT2020 USB+ had pretty average preamps for both the mic and headphones, and it was more expensive without the option to upgrade with XLR. If the headphone amps are really a concern, that’s where the XLR expandability shines-you can upgrade to an audio interface with better amps. So, having a functional headphone amp at this price point is more of a nice bonus than a must-have. That said, I’ll definitely keep this in mind and make sure to cover the headphone amps in future reviews. I already have for my upcoming Fifine A8 review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@@DaveSoltura See, the point is when someone buys a USB mic they generally don’t want to buy an XLR setup atleast in the short run, they want a single package which fulfils all their basic requirements, say for eg podcasting on the go or even streaming or video recording or voiceovers for youtube on the go or while travelling, having a usable headphone output is just so so handy in that scenario, most people are looking for viable solutions in that department. As far as XLR setups are concerned, after owning approx 60+ mics at present I totally know that they are far superior when it comes to preamps performance or even headphone outputs or connection stability etc. But the whole point of having a USB mic that offers gain adjustment and headphone monitoring, when the headphones tank on you, that feels like cheating and kinda defeats the purpose. I am sure your future videos will be more enlightening for your audiences, cheers!
@@agambhasin It seems like we have different perspectives on what makes a headphone amp usable. You mentioned that this setup is intended to meet basic needs, and in my humble opinion, while the headphone amps aren't outstanding, they do fulfill those basic requirements. The key word here is "basic." If the amp can monitor your voice and handle playback at a consumer standard, that's not bad considering the price point. Plus, the overall sound quality, USB preamps, and build quality are still pretty solid. Typically, you'd expect to pay over $100 just for the sound quality alone. Not too long ago, usb mics at that price were just meh and couldn’t achieve a clean noise floor. For the price, having functional headphones with zero latency monitoring is a great deal. The mic offers very usable sound for content creation in USB mode without needing a cloudlifter, which adds even more value. I understand your concerns about the headphone amps, but I believe the mic's other features more than make up for it. If this were a $200 or even a $150 mic, I'd be more critical of the headphone amps. But since my content is focused on value-for-money, my recommendations consider both performance and price. Expectations should be managed accordingly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@@DaveSoltura Alas, I agree to disagree, if a microphone comes with a headphone output on its body it is indeed “Basic” that it actually provides the true idea about how the mic itself sounds, simply having zero latency monitoring for the sake of having it and then it being inaccurate to the point that it conceals how a microphone truly sounds is in fact a huge dent on the mic’s performance in itself. Value for money doesn’t mean shoving everything in a device and then making some of its critical features highly compromised, I am sure the majority of consumers out there would pay 15-20 bucks more for a good headphone output that actually serves some purpose rather than being just there for the sake of it. Sure, the sound quality is alright for the price, but where I am, this thing goes for 50-80 USD and for 20 USD more I can get the Rode Videomic Go II which works very well in all departments, or even better for 90-100 USD I can have a full XLR setup with the XM8500 which still throws every fifine mic out of the park for a lesser price and the entire setup including an audio interface and a decent pair of headphones could be achieved for a 100 or even less than that depending on regional pricing. As far as needing a CL is concerned most audio interfaces including things as basic as the Behringer UM2 completely eliminate the need for it even with an SM7B, and I have tested the setup myself. As far as the interpretation of the term “basic” is concerned, I don’t think that simply having something fulfils that criteria, that too something like an inaccurate headphone output on the mic body, imagine someone post processing their audio based on the provided output and then listening it back on other outputs/amps and finding it completely garbage, this can lead to a loss of several hours of fixing/re doing stuff for a creator who is already on a tight budget and who knows maybe in a time crunch. Matter of the fact is, people like youtube reviewers should urge these manufacturers to actually make things better with their products, highlight their serious flaws & provide the audience with an honest picture about how things truly are, but sadly this is not happening and new creators are falling prey to all the false propaganda until they realise after some time that they have been misled which led them to spend more money than they actually should have on something as basic as a beginner microphone setup for something that wouldn’t even recover their investments in the early years. Infact some reviews on these microphones are such where people are using their headphones into their computer jacks or audio interfaces while using usb/xlr simultaneously, some are not even wearing their headphones while giving reviews, lol. The sole purpose of me commenting about it is that viewers deserve to know that if something sucks, it sucks!! But sponsored reviews lack this objectivity & independence, I am not calling out you or anyone else specifically, but its happening in today’s world & sadly people are being misled.
@@agambhasin You’re definitely free to draw your own conclusions, but in my experience, the XM8500 is quite muddy, and the UM2 has some noisy preamps. I wouldn’t pair an SM7B with it because it tends to drive the noise floor too high. The Xenyx preamps don’t quite cut it, and the plastic chassis can be prone to interference. You might end up with a quiet mic because it simply doesn’t have enough gain, and the SM7B can lose some of its warmth in that setup. Sure, you can tweak the audio in post, and I get that’s where you’re coming from, but it’s not great raw audio. As for the Tank 3, the point is its smooth tone with inoffensive lows and articulate highs that aren’t too brittle. It’s not perfect, and beginners might struggle with EQing it, potentially making it worse the more they tweak. That’s why I don’t nitpick the headphone amps-they’re not fully accurate, but what consumer product is? It’s more about giving users the confidence to go live rather than spending hours tweaking settings. Most people will just find a quick tutorial and apply a preset. As for pricing, I’m not sure where you got the idea that most are willing to pay $15-20 more. At lower price points, every $15 counts, and if that wasn’t the case, the UMC22, UMC202HD, and UMC204HD wouldn’t exist. Behringer’s made a tiered ecosystem to suit different budgets, with the higher ones edging closer to pro use cases and the lower ones being just enough to get you started. I do agree, though, that we should point out areas for improvement.
I have also been satisfied with the K688 for 2 months now and have 2 questions: Is it Worth Upgrading to a Better Pop Filter? Will the Shure SM7B Original Fit? thank you for this video
In my opinion, it’s better to upgrade your mic placement first. If your mic placement is fine, the pop filter shouldn’t be a concern. I wouldn’t “upgrade”, even if it did fit, as that pop filter was already designed for the K688.
Is the K688 dual output (USB & XLR) alternating or can the outputs be used simultaneously? If they can be used simultaneously, is it possible for backup in case one of them encounters an issue? Thank you." and How about fifine AM8? Can the dual output of AM8 be used simultaneously? I appreciated for your help.
Hey, thanks for this video! I also wanted to ask which mic would you suggest for me if I am on a budget of 100$ and have quite a lot of background noise (Keyboard, family etc.)? I don't plan on streaming or doing youtube so this is mainly for online classes or gaming with friends. Thanks again for the video because it was very helpful!
hey @DaveSoltura Can you help me out? Was just wandering if it's normal that when you plug the fifine k688 in an audio interface (i'm using the behringer UMC204 HD) the gain knob on the mic itself becomes irrelevant? I knew that the mute button only works on usb, but i'm surprised that it's the same for the gain. Thanks!
Yes, that is the case. The audio interface preamps/gain override the ones inside the mic. This is a good thing, because to achieve less noise, you want to eliminate the weakest link. The Behringer has better preamps and A/D conversion than the K688, so no worries!
@@DaveSoltura Hey! Thanks a lot for clearing that up for me. Really appreciate it! I started following you because i was deciding about which mic to get and i continued watching your vids because you're fun to watch :D Keep up the good work ;) Cheers from Slovenia!
Hello, I'm from Taiwan. No one in Taiwan has a youtube to test K688 and AM8, and I can't understand English. I need to rely on translation. I plan to create a youtube channel or podcast. My voice is relatively deep. Please tell me. Do you recommend am8 or k688?
@@DaveSoltura I was just thinking about how the am8 in Taiwan is $20 more expensive than the k688, but still considering all the questions, I came to ask you, thank you for your reply, and thank you very much for your quick reply!
K688 -$70USD vs AM8 -$55USD ??? I have a Scarlet Solo and I have it currently paired up with a pretty bad Bm-800 and a Boom Arm I got for free. Which would you pick. (I do gaming, discord, but have to also do professional Dev Logs)
Hi sir! Given the fact that in the past video you said that the am8 won so im sort of confused on what to pick since you released this video just wondering what would you choose between the two? Am8 or k688? Thank you!
Differences are negligible in my opinion. You really can’t go wrong with either! Am8 if you prefer clarity, K688 for smoothness. :) You can even pick based on appearance, and you won’t be wrong.
Hey, I've bought this microphone recently. Can you share some advices how to configure it to sound as good as yours does? Also what level of gain do you set on the microphone itself and volume level in windows?
For gain setting, I just perform the loudest sound I expect to do on a stream/recording, at performance level, then crank the gain down over so slightly until it stops clipping. :) Mine was mostly mic placement, and it is connected to a Motu M2 audio interface.
Yes! Although every product can still have quality control concerns every now and then. The new K688 that I got from them, thankfully didn’t have issues though.
No necessary, you might take the Tank3 as the alternative to the K688 for those who like the better build and different characteristics from the podcast tone.
If your mouth is close enough to the mic, it will be good enough for general content creation. You would still benefit from a bit of treatment, but it should be acceptable.
K688 is slightly better all around. A little less clear, but not bad. K66d is clearer but can be a bit sibilant/has harsh s sounds. Main difference is that the K669d needs an interface to work, and the K688 does not!
Hi Dave. Love your content. Infact I just subscribed. I'm on a budget. I think I've selected the maono PD100 as my mic but what about audio interfaces? Any suggestions?
Thank you for this. It means a lot. I'm posting a video on a new interface before the end of the year. Stay tuned! The Fduce isn't for sale in my country, so I can't say much about it. But a quick glimpse tells me, you really can't go wrong with the K688. Having lasted me a full year, I trust it a bit more.
I suffer a lot with keyboard, mouse, sounds from all around the house and even birds singing all day long. My room has no sound treatment, should I pick k688 or AM8?
I tried looking for it before but the product was gone for some reason. This one seems like a good option. The mic holder is removable, and the K688 has an adapter. www.lazada.com.ph/products/maia-metal-weight-disc-lift-microphone-desktop-stand-holder-i2443327180-s11144371531.html?c=&channelLpJumpArgs=&clickTrackInfo=query%253Atable%252Btop%252Bmic%252Bstand%253Bnid%253A2443327180%253Bsrc%253ALazadaMainSrp%253Brn%253Afa29420aa39705e28679f217d06bd48a%253Bregion%253Aph%253Bsku%253A2443327180_PH%253Bprice%253A68%253Bclient%253Adesktop%253Bsupplier_id%253A500167464329%253Bbiz_source%253Ah5_internal%253Bslot%253A2%253Butlog_bucket_id%253A470687%253Basc_category_id%253A21395%253Bitem_id%253A2443327180%253Bsku_id%253A11144371531%253Bshop_id%253A1782993&fastshipping=0&freeshipping=1&fs_ab=2&fuse_fs=&lang=en&location=Metro%20Manila~Caloocan&price=68&priceCompare=skuId%3A11144371531%3Bsource%3Alazada-search-voucher%3Bsn%3Afa29420aa39705e28679f217d06bd48a%3BunionTrace%3Aa3b546a717207013805457047e%3BoriginPrice%3A6800%3BvoucherPrice%3A6800%3BdisplayPrice%3A6800%3BsinglePromotionId%3A900000028279146%3BsingleToolCode%3ApromPrice%3BvoucherPricePlugin%3A1%3BbuyerId%3A2770796%3Btimestamp%3A1720701381039&ratingscore=4.858823529411764&request_id=fa29420aa39705e28679f217d06bd48a&review=425&sale=1975&search=1&source=search&spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.2&stock=1
What problem do you refer to? The USB one? Our reply to that issue was still under Aiden's review video. The issue has been fixed ever since we found it two years ago, and there are no such defective units left on the market that haven't been used. So as long as you get it from our official sales channel or the authorized reseller or distributors, there won't be any connection that you will run into. If there are common ones like the driver installation, the mic is still covered by warranty.
@@DaveSoltura I can be 3ins or much closer and it's still very thin, you wouldn't think it's the same mic. I actually noticed when trying it using the USB cable the mute button doesn't always respond so I think it must be faulty so I'll try returning it 👍
still rocking after 5 months. If you are using USB mode and need extra noise cancelling just DL Nvidia Broadcast. Even your mom is on beast mode just keep streaming, No noise at all ahahahahaha
@@DaveSoltura Yeah I hope so. BTW I also use Maono AME2 Soundcard and when I have zoom meeting with my client they always say "Are you ready to sing?" when I added the reverb effect ahahaha from voice over to streaming to karaoke always ready.
It may sound a bit prejudiced about the budget audio gear. Those artificial highs may still exist in some $30ish USB condenser mics, but they get much less noticeable from those more advanced models, especially from a dynamic mic.
the main thing is that he doesn't say anything about the microphone, which means that he doesn't understand anything about microphones or is cheating for money from the Chinese, what's good is that the sound from the microphone is not bad, it makes little noise and is enough, the sound is very close to the head and is not enough, the sound from afar is for recording in bad conditions, this is good, and the rest is terrible, it is impossible to touch the microphone and the wire, it's a bomb in the ears, no isolation of the head from the body, USB recording 16 bit 44 kilohertz and the sound is much worse than through the wire, a very weak signal comes through the headphone output and is distorted, good luck to everyone
I'm still stuck between the K688 and AM8, and I have no idea what to do. I use a mic for discord calls, game chats, and some streaming.
After a heck of a long time contemplating whether or not I should upgrade my mic, I finally decided to do so, thanks to your channel and these videos about the Fifine k688. Love your enthusiasm with this specific model, and with that I will cherish my new mic as much as you have with yours.
I'm glad this video helped! Honestly, this video was kind of like a letter to a dear friend. :) Hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
I have ordered it this morning, waiting for it to arrive. Can’t wait! Not gonna lie i came straight to your channel for some opinions on this mic. I found your channel when i brought fifine a8 plus. that mic was amazing however there are too many white noises since its a condenser mic i do understand that, it pick up too many backgrounds noises like rain and some random dog barking outside i usually use the mic for recording and singing thats why i wanted to change. And planning to do cover on youtube later. Your channel is really important to me when i have money to upgrade my setup lmaoo
I have been using it for 2 years now and love it! I wish the usb volume was louder, but the xlr sounds even better.
Agree on all points! Amazing that it’s lasted you that long.
iwas going to ask about that, i use the usb and the volume is so low that i have to boost it all the way up. do you have that problem/
@@Edu-Take Sorry for the late reply. Turn the mic volume up in Windows up to 75% and turn the microphone volume 80% and the volume should be louder. I hope that helps.
I'll consider this as one of my next microphone options. I like the portability since I tend to rent airbnb when recording since my home has noisy neighbors
Would like to see another follow up video, as well as a comparison video, between the K688 and the Fifne Am8 would be nice👍🏽!
Any K688 users, or future users out there? 😀
I might be a future user, though given the price would you consider this over a Samson C01U Pro or Samson Q2U? (I watch/follow Podcastage as well)
@@ersamson Great to hear from you again! Definitely the K688. Although I used the Q2U in the past, my problem with it was always getting it to sound loud enough. It's micro usb and definitely showing signs of its age. For content creation, I do believe aesthetic is a massive factor in choosing a mic nowadays. Of course, that's just my take. :)
@@DaveSoltura makes sense, thanks Dave!
Yeah, my k688 arive yesterday but came with problem :(
gonna be a future user on Christmas!
8 months of owning the K688, and my thoughts on it is still the same. What it lacks compared to its clear inspiration - the SM7B, it makes up for that the SM7B lacks. 😋
Thanks for the great review video, it was very helpful when buying the K688.
If possible, I would love to see your comparison review of the FIFINE Tank3 next.
Keep up the great work! 👍
Thanks for the review!
Hey Dave. you might recognise me. I did get the fifine k688. It's so great. Your videos really helped with getting the right mic. Quick Question (I couldn't seem to find a video) do you know if i works if you plug it into a phone.
I recently got dat mic and in usb mode it has a bit of a white noise in background. I bought it after dexp u700 (it is Russian brand that makes kinda cheap devices and some other stuff even TV's water boilers washing machines and etc. Basically everything) and DEXP U700 was quite silent and my friends were annoyed of it. So i decided to buy a new one and i got K688. Now im looking for to buy a Behringer UM2 to make it clearer and a bit more louder. Seen a few test of UM2 and i think that buyin a used one for 35-40 bucks (3500-4000 roubles)is going to be a great deal and make my voice nice to stream and talk on Discord and in game voice channels. Kinda disappointed in USB (but maybe its just my pc motherboard sucks. Cant really check it) connection sound but really hyped to check it with UM2.
Thanks for review btw. Keep up the good work fella.
If you want cleaner preamps, you'd want to at least get the UMC22. Background noise will be significantly quiter from the UM2.
@@DaveSoltura main reason of price for um2 in used market. I dont see a reason to buy something twice of a price that can do “just a bit better” than um2. So I think that I’ll stick with um2.
@@jetty3950 That's valid! I'm sure you've done a ton of research, and the used market is a wise decision. I do think the difference between the UM2 and the UMC22 is significant, not just a bit beter.
If you're coming from the K688, the UM2 quality might even be a downgrade in terms of preamp noise. The UMC22 includes Behringer's Midas preamps, and Midas is the higher-end sister company of Behringer. The UM2 uses the entry-level Xenyx preamps.
But if you feel the UM2 meets your needs, that's valid!
Just bought the Fifine K688 for under 40$ :D. The Fifine AM8 was at similar price but I like more the classic look of the K688 and the fact that is has all buttons on the back. If the price would've dropped also on the Tank3 I would've bought that, but seemed too much to pay about 80$ for the Tank3 only for the arm design which I like more than on the K688. Can't wait for it to arrive. Thanks for the review!
You won't regret it!!
@@DaveSoltura from what I've seen in various reviews and due to the fact that my knowledge on mics is 0 also this being my first one, I'm sure of that!
Hey Dave! I bougth this K688 but I have a question. I saw in one of your videos that using a USB 3.0 cable had a better performance than using the K688 original cable (USB 2.0). Would you recommend me to buy a new 3.0 USB cable? Or I can live with the included one.
Thank You! :D
K678 is far better -- they've sent me both and in every way, the 678 outdoes it.
The K678 is cardioid, and the K688 is dynamic. They serve different purposes and needs. Thank you for leaving a comment!
I currently use an AT2020 USB+. Would you say it's worthwhile upgrading from it to Fifine K688 with its quality on USB?
I wouldn’t consider that an “upgrade”, as they’re two different mics. The AT2020 usb+ is great if you have a sound treated room. The K688 captures less environmental noise
I think you should also talk about the headphone outputs on these mics, they are terrible! Got the Tank 3 on your recommendation and immediately felt that my voice sounds kinda bad on it, figured it was the headphone output giving me the wrong picture, sadly no reviewer said anything about it except praising them and comparing them to the SM7B. The 7B is a legend and I am sorry but these comparisons don’t seem to be very viable
@@agambhasin I totally get where you’re coming from about the headphone amps-I wish they were better too. But considering that we even get headphone amps on USB mics that are also XLR expandable, that’s a pretty good deal. For the price of just an XLR mic, you’re getting the mic, a USB preamp, and a headphone amp. For example, the AT2020 USB+ had pretty average preamps for both the mic and headphones, and it was more expensive without the option to upgrade with XLR.
If the headphone amps are really a concern, that’s where the XLR expandability shines-you can upgrade to an audio interface with better amps. So, having a functional headphone amp at this price point is more of a nice bonus than a must-have.
That said, I’ll definitely keep this in mind and make sure to cover the headphone amps in future reviews. I already have for my upcoming Fifine A8 review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@@DaveSoltura See, the point is when someone buys a USB mic they generally don’t want to buy an XLR setup atleast in the short run, they want a single package which fulfils all their basic requirements, say for eg podcasting on the go or even streaming or video recording or voiceovers for youtube on the go or while travelling, having a usable headphone output is just so so handy in that scenario, most people are looking for viable solutions in that department. As far as XLR setups are concerned, after owning approx 60+ mics at present I totally know that they are far superior when it comes to preamps performance or even headphone outputs or connection stability etc. But the whole point of having a USB mic that offers gain adjustment and headphone monitoring, when the headphones tank on you, that feels like cheating and kinda defeats the purpose. I am sure your future videos will be more enlightening for your audiences, cheers!
@@agambhasin It seems like we have different perspectives on what makes a headphone amp usable.
You mentioned that this setup is intended to meet basic needs, and in my humble opinion, while the headphone amps aren't outstanding, they do fulfill those basic requirements. The key word here is "basic." If the amp can monitor your voice and handle playback at a consumer standard, that's not bad considering the price point. Plus, the overall sound quality, USB preamps, and build quality are still pretty solid. Typically, you'd expect to pay over $100 just for the sound quality alone. Not too long ago, usb mics at that price were just meh and couldn’t achieve a clean noise floor.
For the price, having functional headphones with zero latency monitoring is a great deal.
The mic offers very usable sound for content creation in USB mode without needing a cloudlifter, which adds even more value.
I understand your concerns about the headphone amps, but I believe the mic's other features more than make up for it.
If this were a $200 or even a $150 mic, I'd be more critical of the headphone amps. But since my content is focused on value-for-money, my recommendations consider both performance and price. Expectations should be managed accordingly.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@@DaveSoltura Alas, I agree to disagree, if a microphone comes with a headphone output on its body it is indeed “Basic” that it actually provides the true idea about how the mic itself sounds, simply having zero latency monitoring for the sake of having it and then it being inaccurate to the point that it conceals how a microphone truly sounds is in fact a huge dent on the mic’s performance in itself. Value for money doesn’t mean shoving everything in a device and then making some of its critical features highly compromised, I am sure the majority of consumers out there would pay 15-20 bucks more for a good headphone output that actually serves some purpose rather than being just there for the sake of it. Sure, the sound quality is alright for the price, but where I am, this thing goes for 50-80 USD and for 20 USD more I can get the Rode Videomic Go II which works very well in all departments, or even better for 90-100 USD I can have a full XLR setup with the XM8500 which still throws every fifine mic out of the park for a lesser price and the entire setup including an audio interface and a decent pair of headphones could be achieved for a 100 or even less than that depending on regional pricing. As far as needing a CL is concerned most audio interfaces including things as basic as the Behringer UM2 completely eliminate the need for it even with an SM7B, and I have tested the setup myself. As far as the interpretation of the term “basic” is concerned, I don’t think that simply having something fulfils that criteria, that too something like an inaccurate headphone output on the mic body, imagine someone post processing their audio based on the provided output and then listening it back on other outputs/amps and finding it completely garbage, this can lead to a loss of several hours of fixing/re doing stuff for a creator who is already on a tight budget and who knows maybe in a time crunch. Matter of the fact is, people like youtube reviewers should urge these manufacturers to actually make things better with their products, highlight their serious flaws & provide the audience with an honest picture about how things truly are, but sadly this is not happening and new creators are falling prey to all the false propaganda until they realise after some time that they have been misled which led them to spend more money than they actually should have on something as basic as a beginner microphone setup for something that wouldn’t even recover their investments in the early years. Infact some reviews on these microphones are such where people are using their headphones into their computer jacks or audio interfaces while using usb/xlr simultaneously, some are not even wearing their headphones while giving reviews, lol. The sole purpose of me commenting about it is that viewers deserve to know that if something sucks, it sucks!! But sponsored reviews lack this objectivity & independence, I am not calling out you or anyone else specifically, but its happening in today’s world & sadly people are being misled.
@@agambhasin You’re definitely free to draw your own conclusions, but in my experience, the XM8500 is quite muddy, and the UM2 has some noisy preamps. I wouldn’t pair an SM7B with it because it tends to drive the noise floor too high. The Xenyx preamps don’t quite cut it, and the plastic chassis can be prone to interference. You might end up with a quiet mic because it simply doesn’t have enough gain, and the SM7B can lose some of its warmth in that setup. Sure, you can tweak the audio in post, and I get that’s where you’re coming from, but it’s not great raw audio.
As for the Tank 3, the point is its smooth tone with inoffensive lows and articulate highs that aren’t too brittle. It’s not perfect, and beginners might struggle with EQing it, potentially making it worse the more they tweak. That’s why I don’t nitpick the headphone amps-they’re not fully accurate, but what consumer product is? It’s more about giving users the confidence to go live rather than spending hours tweaking settings. Most people will just find a quick tutorial and apply a preset.
As for pricing, I’m not sure where you got the idea that most are willing to pay $15-20 more. At lower price points, every $15 counts, and if that wasn’t the case, the UMC22, UMC202HD, and UMC204HD wouldn’t exist. Behringer’s made a tiered ecosystem to suit different budgets, with the higher ones edging closer to pro use cases and the lower ones being just enough to get you started.
I do agree, though, that we should point out areas for improvement.
do you have any links for xlr set up for this mic ? I wouldnt mind using your link.
I have also been satisfied with the K688 for 2 months now and have 2 questions: Is it Worth Upgrading to a Better Pop Filter? Will the Shure SM7B Original Fit? thank you for this video
In my opinion, it’s better to upgrade your mic placement first. If your mic placement is fine, the pop filter shouldn’t be a concern. I wouldn’t “upgrade”, even if it did fit, as that pop filter was already designed for the K688.
Is the K688 dual output (USB & XLR) alternating or can the outputs be used simultaneously? If they can be used simultaneously, is it possible for backup in case one of them encounters an issue? Thank you." and How about fifine AM8? Can the dual output of AM8 be used simultaneously? I appreciated for your help.
In Podcastage's review, he used them simultaneously
please reply sir. what should i but maono pd400x or this? thanks
It will arrive today hope it will be better than my razer mic
Hey, thanks for this video! I also wanted to ask which mic would you suggest for me if I am on a budget of 100$ and have quite a lot of background noise (Keyboard, family etc.)? I don't plan on streaming or doing youtube so this is mainly for online classes or gaming with friends. Thanks again for the video because it was very helpful!
hey @DaveSoltura Can you help me out? Was just wandering if it's normal that when you plug the fifine k688 in an audio interface (i'm using the behringer UMC204 HD) the gain knob on the mic itself becomes irrelevant? I knew that the mute button only works on usb, but i'm surprised that it's the same for the gain. Thanks!
Yes, that is the case. The audio interface preamps/gain override the ones inside the mic. This is a good thing, because to achieve less noise, you want to eliminate the weakest link. The Behringer has better preamps and A/D conversion than the K688, so no worries!
@@DaveSoltura Hey! Thanks a lot for clearing that up for me. Really appreciate it! I started following you because i was deciding about which mic to get and i continued watching your vids because you're fun to watch :D Keep up the good work ;) Cheers from Slovenia!
Hello, I'm from Taiwan. No one in Taiwan has a youtube to test K688 and AM8, and I can't understand English. I need to rely on translation. I plan to create a youtube channel or podcast. My voice is relatively deep. Please tell me. Do you recommend am8 or k688?
I tend to recommend the AM8 for those with deeper voices. :)
@@DaveSoltura thanks
@@DaveSoltura I was just thinking about how the am8 in Taiwan is $20 more expensive than the k688, but still considering all the questions, I came to ask you, thank you for your reply, and thank you very much for your quick reply!
K688 -$70USD vs AM8 -$55USD ???
I have a Scarlet Solo and I have it currently paired up with a pretty bad Bm-800 and a Boom Arm I got for free. Which would you pick. (I do gaming, discord, but have to also do professional Dev Logs)
wsp i really like ur reviews can u compare the feduce sl40 and the fifine k688 new gen
It would be a better comparison between the AM8 and the SL40, which are in a much similar condition.
thanks a lot!!!! incredible explain. Whats camera do u use?
The Sony ZV-e10 with the Sony 11mm/1.8 lens!
Hello! what do you think sounds better k688 or am8?
I answer that here! ua-cam.com/video/MuqeHgctbBA/v-deo.html
@@DaveSoltura tnx!
Hello! Which is better, k688 or maono pd200x?
On paper, it’s the Pd200x. But the K688 does sound good. You can’t go wrong with either! Maybe I should make a versus video?🤔
Hi sir! Given the fact that in the past video you said that the am8 won so im sort of confused on what to pick since you released this video just wondering what would you choose between the two? Am8 or k688? Thank you!
Differences are negligible in my opinion. You really can’t go wrong with either! Am8 if you prefer clarity, K688 for smoothness. :) You can even pick based on appearance, and you won’t be wrong.
Hey, I've bought this microphone recently. Can you share some advices how to configure it to sound as good as yours does? Also what level of gain do you set on the microphone itself and volume level in windows?
For gain setting, I just perform the loudest sound I expect to do on a stream/recording, at performance level, then crank the gain down over so slightly until it stops clipping. :) Mine was mostly mic placement, and it is connected to a Motu M2 audio interface.
Did they fix the usb port problem?
Yes! Although every product can still have quality control concerns every now and then. The new K688 that I got from them, thankfully didn’t have issues though.
Does Tank3 dethrone the K688?
In value? It does not. Just for build quality, and sound (subjectively).
No necessary, you might take the Tank3 as the alternative to the K688 for those who like the better build and different characteristics from the podcast tone.
is it good for VO in an untreated room with lots of reflections?
If your mouth is close enough to the mic, it will be good enough for general content creation. You would still benefit from a bit of treatment, but it should be acceptable.
i want to know if the K669D is the same or better than a k688 it could be the a good cheap option for xlr if xlr is what we already have
K688 is slightly better all around. A little less clear, but not bad. K66d is clearer but can be a bit sibilant/has harsh s sounds. Main difference is that the K669d needs an interface to work, and the K688 does not!
Hi Dave. Love your content. Infact I just subscribed. I'm on a budget. I think I've selected the maono PD100 as my mic but what about audio interfaces? Any suggestions?
I'm also curious if you've heard of the Fduce SL40x microphone
Thank you for this. It means a lot. I'm posting a video on a new interface before the end of the year. Stay tuned!
The Fduce isn't for sale in my country, so I can't say much about it. But a quick glimpse tells me, you really can't go wrong with the K688. Having lasted me a full year, I trust it a bit more.
@@DaveSoltura alright thank you... Love from Nigeria 🙂. Keep up the good work
Fifine k688 or PD400x for podcasting ?
Both are great! I like the PD400x a bit more but choose what works for your budget
I think you should do the pd200x vs k688
Hope this does the trick for now! ua-cam.com/video/NdM7I9EVrs0/v-deo.htmlsi=Btz5IYW9AChU_WSi
I suffer a lot with keyboard, mouse, sounds from all around the house and even birds singing all day long.
My room has no sound treatment, should I pick k688 or AM8?
The K688 will pick up bird sounds very slightly less than the AM8. You can’t go wrong with either!
Kuya, what's your headset?
@@MidnightMaria143 Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250 Ohm in this video, but it needs an audio interface. But the 80 Ohm version is better for most people
@@DaveSoltura what's the differences between 250 and 80?
can i get the link for the the stand?
I tried looking for it before but the product was gone for some reason. This one seems like a good option.
The mic holder is removable, and the K688 has an adapter.
www.lazada.com.ph/products/maia-metal-weight-disc-lift-microphone-desktop-stand-holder-i2443327180-s11144371531.html?c=&channelLpJumpArgs=&clickTrackInfo=query%253Atable%252Btop%252Bmic%252Bstand%253Bnid%253A2443327180%253Bsrc%253ALazadaMainSrp%253Brn%253Afa29420aa39705e28679f217d06bd48a%253Bregion%253Aph%253Bsku%253A2443327180_PH%253Bprice%253A68%253Bclient%253Adesktop%253Bsupplier_id%253A500167464329%253Bbiz_source%253Ah5_internal%253Bslot%253A2%253Butlog_bucket_id%253A470687%253Basc_category_id%253A21395%253Bitem_id%253A2443327180%253Bsku_id%253A11144371531%253Bshop_id%253A1782993&fastshipping=0&freeshipping=1&fs_ab=2&fuse_fs=&lang=en&location=Metro%20Manila~Caloocan&price=68&priceCompare=skuId%3A11144371531%3Bsource%3Alazada-search-voucher%3Bsn%3Afa29420aa39705e28679f217d06bd48a%3BunionTrace%3Aa3b546a717207013805457047e%3BoriginPrice%3A6800%3BvoucherPrice%3A6800%3BdisplayPrice%3A6800%3BsinglePromotionId%3A900000028279146%3BsingleToolCode%3ApromPrice%3BvoucherPricePlugin%3A1%3BbuyerId%3A2770796%3Btimestamp%3A1720701381039&ratingscore=4.858823529411764&request_id=fa29420aa39705e28679f217d06bd48a&review=425&sale=1975&search=1&source=search&spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.2&stock=1
@@DaveSolturais it detachable? Hindi siya mukhang compatible eh
@@DominiqueDeGuzman-f5e It should be. Most mics stands have removable holders. Thread sizes are universal
Can you provide the link of your 80c stand for the k688? :)
As I mentioned, it’s from a Philippines platform, but here it is! s.lazada.com.ph/s.89SNO
I just bought the k688 and using it usb and my voice is low and nobody can hear me is there a solution?
The k688 has plenty of gain. Try getting much closer!
am8 or k688 in your opinion pls i need
He made a video about AM8 VS K688. You should check out.
Is there any problem about the connection guys?
What problem do you refer to? The USB one? Our reply to that issue was still under Aiden's review video. The issue has been fixed ever since we found it two years ago, and there are no such defective units left on the market that haven't been used. So as long as you get it from our official sales channel or the authorized reseller or distributors, there won't be any connection that you will run into. If there are common ones like the driver installation, the mic is still covered by warranty.
@FIFINE that's it, as you said.
Alright, thanks a lot 👍🏻
do this video for yhe fifine am8 WE NEED
the*
just bought mine
My K688 is really thin and boxy, it sounds completely different to other videos I've seen
How close are you from the tip of the mic when you speak?
@@DaveSoltura I can be 3ins or much closer and it's still very thin, you wouldn't think it's the same mic. I actually noticed when trying it using the USB cable the mute button doesn't always respond so I think it must be faulty so I'll try returning it 👍
So.. apparently from where I'm from. I can get K688 cheaper than AM8. Does that justify getting it over AM8?
I’d get it if I were in your place!
still rocking after 5 months. If you are using USB mode and need extra noise cancelling just DL Nvidia Broadcast. Even your mom is on beast mode just keep streaming, No noise at all ahahahahaha
Great buy, isn't it? Hope it lasts you even longer! And that's a great tip for Nvidia graphics card owners!
@@DaveSoltura Yeah I hope so. BTW I also use Maono AME2 Soundcard and when I have zoom meeting with my client they always say "Are you ready to sing?" when I added the reverb effect ahahaha from voice over to streaming to karaoke always ready.
Nvidia Broadcast requires RTX GPU btw
The AM8 won your mic duel, shouldnt that make it the king?
I see what you mean. Though I did say “a” value king, not “the” value king. 😀 The K688 still has its own merits.
I wish I could afford a K688 but I am ✨Poor✨
All this budget mics have this fake unnatural brightness that is tiring to listen to long.
It may sound a bit prejudiced about the budget audio gear. Those artificial highs may still exist in some $30ish USB condenser mics, but they get much less noticeable from those more advanced models, especially from a dynamic mic.
the main thing is that he doesn't say anything about the microphone, which means that he doesn't understand anything about microphones or is cheating for money from the Chinese, what's good is that the sound from the microphone is not bad, it makes little noise and is enough, the sound is very close to the head and is not enough, the sound from afar is for recording in bad conditions, this is good, and the rest is terrible, it is impossible to touch the microphone and the wire, it's a bomb in the ears, no isolation of the head from the body, USB recording 16 bit 44 kilohertz and the sound is much worse than through the wire, a very weak signal comes through the headphone output and is distorted, good luck to everyone