Hi Aiden, we’re truly sorry to let you down on the defective K688 that you got. After our audio engineers replicate the use scenario as you did in the video as well as check up on the components, we suspect that the ADC IC is the culprit. And the likely reason is the electrostatic damage or cold joint solder of the IC. The defective rate of a malfunctioning IC is around 0.3%, which is not counted for the products that customers buy, but for the items that we test during the QC step. So it’s sort of the quality control issue. We use the word “sort of” because we run both the machine and manual tests of the components before they are resembled as well as the resembled items before they get shipped out to the warehouse. The whole process means that such a rather discernible noise should be found in one or two above-mentioned tests, but it’s not (sorry to make it sound like we’re blaming the shipping). We do admit that it is a defective product because of our inability to find it before it went out of the factory. And sorry again for the disappointment that you get with the very first product of FIFINE. It has been a while since the video was released, could we still send you another K688 to try out? Though we’re not able to get our hands on the exact one that you reviewed to examine it and confirm the issue for now, we think it’s quite likely to be the defective item. If you would like to give us another chance to receive one, we will continue to ship you one from our Amazon warehouse, in case there’s any possibility of us cherry-picking one. We can tell from the video that there're complaints about the sales channel as well as the troubleshooting as a customer who may buy this mic. It is nowhere close to the satisfactory customer service that we chase after if buyers can’t find the tech support page for a specific model. We will make a quick update in case any self-troubleshooting of the latest models is needed. And just a reminder that any other customers who experience any issue with the FIFINE products can reach us out at web@fifine.cc Our support team is 24/7 available. And any item from our Amazon official store is covered by a 2-year warranty. Despite the disappointment, as a seller, we definitely would make up for any fault of any of our products. Btw, we are not the oldest fans of your channel but have kept an eye on your videos (since the review of the AT2040 a year ago) for the suggestions that we can take on for the microphones that are being developed. But the more videos we watched, the better we know that you may not like the Amazon sellers of audio who mainly makes USB microphone. So we do not bother you testing out some of our models that we think may meet your demanding requirements. It’s kind of a double whammy to us, we failed you as our customer and as the audio pro whom we cherish the opinion of. The replacement of the K688 should not disappoint you this time and we do hope it could also bring back some of the confidence in our brands as well as the Amazon sellers (at least some of them).
@@FIFINE I still bought the same model of microphone, my model in particular is in perfect condition. Both my xlr and usb c connections work accordingly.
I have this mic and absolutely love it. I've used both USB and XLR. No issues with either. It's perfect for my voice. My husband loves microphones. He liked my K688 so much I had to buy him one because he kept borrowing mine. He loves it, but uses the XLR connection.
@@natsudes4745 All mics will pick up a loud keyboard to some extent. That's why most streamers use a keyboard that's quiet. There's just some things you have to do in order to get the best sound quality in your streams. One of them is sound treatment to the whole area that you will be streaming in. Hard surfaces cause echos, echos make for bad audio. Even the most expensive mics in the world won't help if the room they are in is terrible for audio production.
I bought this mic for streaming. For the price the sound quality is surprisingly good especially when its eq'd properly. I wish the plosive rejection was a little better and the mute functioned for both usb and xlr mode. other than that the mic is perfect for my application
Done Maono and FIFINE and never really had a problem for price to performance. I’m no audio expert or really worked with expensive mics yet so it’s coming from a standard user to somewhat educated perspective. As always I loved the video though!
I'm surprised how good or sometimes even better the Amazon mic sounds like. Someone online said to save the money and get that one and they were onto something
Just my musings on the usb issue, first try the supplied usb cable without the XLR plugged into the back of the mic. A number of devices I have worked with have a sense attached and can tell when something is plugged in or not. All the other reviews I have seen on this mic have either the XLR plugged in OR the usb not both at the same time. Food for thought.
Hi DocmurdocFPV, thanks for bringing up this assumption! In our tests, connecting both USB and XLR at the same time may cause the recognition problem once or twice, but haven't found it related to the noise issue. But when the test environment varies quite a lot, it might result in similar noises as Aiden's video showed, but that could still count as a defective problem.
I had that same issue with the knob but with the top one but I figured out by playing with it to pull it a tad bit and it’ll become loose like the other knob. You can actually take the whole knob off (which scared me at first) but you can put it back on but not too deep so it won’t be too tight to turn
Hello Aiden Thenx for great review ....if you had to choose between this mic and the FIFINE AM8, what would you choose between them and why? “I am speaking in terms of sound quality only.”
Sounds like an audio buffer issue to me. Something you can't really change in Windows, but perhaps they could update the USB driver the mic uses, or (even better) provide a control panel
You know, I think it sounds great except for the USB. I've had 2 of their mics, all on special deals. They both sounded great at first but over time the quality of the sound just faded. Now my podcasts are really low and I just can't afford to go out and buy yet another one. I don't know if it is me or the actual mic. Increasing the gain in the software doesn't really work all that great either. I have no clue. I just want my podcast to sound good.
Does the dual output (USB & XLR) of K688 operate alternately or can they be used simultaneously? If they can be used simultaneously, is it possible as a backup in case one of them encounters an issue? How about AM8? Can the USB & XLR be used simultaneously? I appreciate your help.
This was a strange one. I ended up buying two of these mics. I thought you may have had a defective one, so I rolled the dice. Both of mine work splendidly, though admittedly I use them both with only the XLR output. This thing is an example of how good of sound you can get at an extremely low price point. It's also one of the few mics I can get in the color pink, which is what drove my daughter nuts for it.
incredibly honest review this is amazing well done. i feel like this brand is all about marketing but i appreciate how they found you & wanted to fix the problem. I need a usb mic for now but might get into xlr later, i use old razer seiren x which takes every sound out there so i'm looking for a dynamic mic, i'd get shure mv7 but it's $400 here for some reason. do you have any recommendations ? should i get this one?
Unfortunately I think you just might have received a defective mic because I have the K688 & I’ve had absolutely no issues with it. When I first got it I started using it via the USB connect direct to my MacBook. I later got myself the Fifine SC-1 interface & began using the mic via the XLR connection - neither time did I have any issues. That said, I am considering using an inline pre-amp like the Coda MB-Stealth or the CloudLifter CL-1. My goal being for a louder, clearer voice output with a very low noise floor. That being the case, I might not need the pre-amp & might be able to do it with some good audio editing, but given I’m still very new at this I’m not exactly sure how to move forward. Any advice or thoughts on this from anyone? Would really appreciate it, thanks in advance 😅
I'm considering purchasing one of these microphones, but now I'm confused about which one to buy. Please help me decide: 1. Shure SM57 Dynamic Instrument Microphone 2. RØDE PodMic USB Versatile Dynamic Broadcast Microphone With XLR and USB Connectivity for Podcasting, Streaming, Gaming, Music-Making, and Content Creation 3. Elgato Wave DX - Dynamic XLR Microphone, Cardioid Pattern, Noise Rejection, Speech optimized for Podcasting, Streaming, Broadcasting, No Signal Booster Required, Works with Any Interface, for Mac, PC 4. FIFINE XLR Dynamic Microphone, Vocal Podcast Microphone with Cardioid Pattern, Studio Metal Mic for Streaming Voice-Over Dubbing Video Recording, Black-K669D 5. Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone, Black
Guys I just bought a k688 and it's an old stock and believe it or not the capsule placement is different! It's actually like the sm7b, much closer to the case of the mic the one u got was new stock and its at the top, I think fifine thought it was too quiet or something and moved it to the top but I'm actually a loud speaker so I actually prefer the sm7b design with the lower capsule placement on the old revision of the k688 which I got, also my k688 came with a 3 leg stand as well! I'm not kidding its sealed I didn't plant em in there neither did the shop I bought from, I bought it for only 40 bucks cuz they were clearing it cuz it wasn't selling well and they sold it to me for only slightly above cost price and I get these extras and better capsule placement, I couldn't as for more!
ye, sadly i was that one that have defected one too. Mic work really good with live monitoring via 3.5 mm, but usb is defeacted (several laptops was tested).
Interesting. I have watched dozens of reviews on the K688 ... this is the only one with the odd usb distortion. May be your set up ... being a cheaper mic, it may have been intended more to plug directly into a pc, laptop, etc. I ordered one, and it should be here tomorrow. When I test it, I'll update this reply. I will be plugging it directly into a fairly high end laptop running Windows 10 ..... should be interesting. I'm just going to be doing light volunteer voice over stuff, so don't have tons to spend. If I get an interface, I'll probably go with something like the UA Volt 276.
Is it worth upgrading from the 669B? My 669 has never had any of that static; use Windows 7; Windows 11 is defective. I'm not joking. I'm also not spending the extra on the XSLR hardware, so it would be in USB mode like the 669... so level playing field comparison. I point my microphone right at the side of my cheek, so plosives go right past it.
There you go.. The problem with the USB is Windows 11. I have the same problem with many audio interfaces. Most of the time, unplugging it and replugging it in solves the problem but sometimes it needs a reboot and sometimes, it just doesn't work. Most of the time, it's conflicting with another audio device.
I have seen so much people singing this mic praises to an absurd degree while the mic sounds good I don't think it should bw hyped as a mic that dethrones the sm7b
All those people got it for free and don't have a clue. This thing cant dethrone the Podmic let alone the sm7b. Ask one of them guys to disassemble one of these and do the same with the SM7B and let them praise it after.
@@BoobLover4Life maybe it’s just my voice but the K688 definitely sounded better for me than my podmic after tons of sound tests I decided to stick with the k688
@@jsetsuo I preferred the podmic to the fifine mics overall. Podmic is build like a tank as well and will last you a long time. These Fifine mics you will sell to buy another fifine in 6 months. Podmic will still be there. Mind you you can use the Fifine body to upgrade it with something better over time.
so i just got this mic and it sounds super choppy and robotic sounding when i use discord or any form of mic communication, i own an asus rog g14 zephyr us and wanted to know how to fix it
Yeah, if you're selling a usb microphone it has to be simple plug and play. That segment of the market doesn't have the training. knowledge or inclination to do complex troubleshooting.
Thanks for this video. Great review! Perfect timing too. I've been looking into this mic. It's very intriguing (especially for that price). Tbh, I think it looks great and it actually sounds pretty darn good (for what it is). Not sure about that USB issue. I have a feeling that it's going to be a bit hit or miss for customers. Loved your Rode X mics review (XDM 100 specifically). Ideally, that's what I really want. Just waiting on if that Rode X software will finally be updated to work with Mac. Once it does, then that's totally where I'm going!
I read on another video that it could be the wrong USB cable. Seems like Fifine bundled in the USB-C 2.0 instead of the 3.0. Not sure if you have a cable to test but could be the issue. Other users who experienced the same distorted sound, reported that swapping the cable worked once they tried a 3.0 cable.
I tried this Mic and just didn't sound right for my voice. Fifine mics just don't work for me for some reason. They are OK and affordable but the high end sound is just too aggressive and you will get tired of it pretty quick. Great video on this Mic as always Sir. It's not defective just how it is.
You need a 3.0 usb c cable instead of what they include which is 2.0 to work a bit better on usb mode. I agree with you about they being very aggressive on the high end and getting tiring quick.
@@BoobLover4Life So I need to be an engineer and figure out why their supplied USB 2.0 don't work? Casual gamers and YT people want something that works and cheaper not buying extras for their mic not to work correctly out of the box.
Thanks for sharing your insight! It's true that heavy high ends are easy to lead to fatigue, but a dynamic microphone known to be deep in tone is good to be tamed with a bit more treble. And that's what we aim to tune the K688 for, a bit different from the other dynamic mics for the price. But it may not cater to every user's favor.
Oddly, my version sounds thin and somewhat boxy, it was quite disappointing, plus I get some very noticeable self noise, at least compared to my Thomann SC400 which both have been used on my Air 4 audio interface.
@@DarkCornerStudios Sorry about that, it's what Amazon sellers don't do well. Most of our sales come from Amazon, which makes our top focus turn to the experience that our customers get from the Amazon page. But we will get the self-troubleshooting section in our website updated as soon and well as possible.
Hey Aiden, love your content and the knowledge you drop in your vids Brotha, I preciate’cha! I gotta say mayne, this mic sounds good on you Bro. Keep up the great work, thx!
my mic does not sound even close to that with the usb connection it actually dosent sound too far off from what it sounds like when you have the xlr connected it sounds better then any other mic ive had and the only mic that you put it up against that sounded better was the first one the other ones i did not like compared even when the price was over 4 times as much for some of them the fifine in my opinion sounded better than the others.
Looks like your mic USB circuitry is probably broken. First problem fifine k688 I've seen in 10 youtube videos. Fifine k688 vs Shure sm58 - can't hear a difference with eyes closed. Fifine k688 vs DCM3 - DCM3 is way too bright (too hissy / too much high end) Fifine k688 vs SE Dynacaster - very similar can't pick which one is fifine Fifine k688 vs Shure SM7b - can't hear a difference with eyes closed.
Hi D Gillies, thanks for taking a closer look and hear of the K688 review video! And that's also what we assumed to be the problem of the noises, the defective IC.
No color grading at all. This is STRAIGHT out of the camera. It's a Canon T7i...and Canon is known for their color. As an aside though...the big winner here is the lighting. I have an Apurture 120d as my key light. Makes everything pop. Also gotta give props to my Sigma 18-35 f1.8 lens. It's sharp AF. Not a pun...but I'll leave that there
@@DarkCornerStudios Thank you so much for the prompt response, bro. Glad to see your explanation. I'll consider to buy Aputure to enhance my video quality...
@@DarkCornerStudios I'm now using Sony a6400 with Sigma lens and Sony ZV1. But still in consideration about what brand I have to choose for the lighting kit.
Kudos to FiFine for replying to this review and giving such a great explanation of the issue. That said, SM58, easy to forget how great that mic sounds until you hear it next to something like this.
A really good budget microphone for the price. As far as the USB issue, I think you got a bad unit. I seen another review of the mic and it did not have the same issue using USB.
I have compared this Mic with other expensive mics; it gave the quality I was looking for and I am shocked by the way you review it here which I think is not fair.
I got 2 creators I've watched. One here in our country and outside. It's sad that they have same issues. That's 2 out of 2 bad review. And defective on usb. I'll not take my chances. New subscriber. here. Any recommendation that can do good recording and podcasting ? Really like your voice ❤😊
I used this mic for 3 months. Worked really well BUT I believe I received a faulty one or the circuit within was fried. My mic muting button kept muting and unmuting itself like it was possessed. I tried every troubleshooting solutions but they weren’t helping at all! Going to return it back to Amazon and get me a Hyper X mic. 😳😢
Mouth always must be placed directly on Capsule... not in axes.. People use this method to protect themselves against plosives... but wrong usage.. missing all the valuable notes in voice
I went with the Manono PD200. It works fantastic to my ears. I produce local video podcast different voices mutual people talking @ once. I'm building a review of the Maono pd200. I send a link after my test is complete.
@@karls4346 lolz...the idea of buying a whole other cable makes me unreasonably upset...and if that is the fix...I would rather bury the mic in my backyard and forget I bought it
Like… I’m really confused here. We’re all here because of the quality of the mic. This mic sounds almost as good as the sm7b (they’re like 1 inch away) a mic 4 times more expensive !!!! To me, they’re actually in the same league, just a question of personal taste. I’m actually surprised that you took almost 2 minutes to bring down the value of this beautiful piece because of what is obviously a technical problem you alone brought up after all these amazing reviews I watched about this mic. You can do better than that c’mon sir
Lol. Tonnes of issues from a LOT of people. Don't get mad at me when a company is releasing a product with issues. I can only review what I get. What stupid reviewer decides to ignore a massive issue like this?
@@DarkCornerStudios I pronounced it the same way when I got my fifine mic, but supposedly it's pronounced Fine Fine. Which is totally weird. Great content btw. 👌🏻 Subbed.
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
This was a interesting review and I think that it was a defective product that was sent to you. I've also made a review on my channel in case anyone needs more reference about this mic!
You're not comparing the mics to each other. You're speaking into two mics at a time, and then asking which do we like. How do you hear each mic separately if you're speaking into two at a time? You have to speak into one at a time, and then give us a second to make the comparison. Your mic comparisons are terrible.
Hi there! @geloandjoyTV let me know that the USB-C works if you switch it to a USB 3.0 cable. I bought two of these myself and had the same issue and said the same thing about changing samples rates and all, but a USB 3.0 cable works! I just wish the right cable came with the box.
Hi Aiden, we’re truly sorry to let you down on the defective K688 that you got. After our audio engineers replicate the use scenario as you did in the video as well as check up on the components, we suspect that the ADC IC is the culprit. And the likely reason is the electrostatic damage or cold joint solder of the IC. The defective rate of a malfunctioning IC is around 0.3%, which is not counted for the products that customers buy, but for the items that we test during the QC step. So it’s sort of the quality control issue. We use the word “sort of” because we run both the machine and manual tests of the components before they are resembled as well as the resembled items before they get shipped out to the warehouse. The whole process means that such a rather discernible noise should be found in one or two above-mentioned tests, but it’s not (sorry to make it sound like we’re blaming the shipping). We do admit that it is a defective product because of our inability to find it before it went out of the factory. And sorry again for the disappointment that you get with the very first product of FIFINE.
It has been a while since the video was released, could we still send you another K688 to try out? Though we’re not able to get our hands on the exact one that you reviewed to examine it and confirm the issue for now, we think it’s quite likely to be the defective item. If you would like to give us another chance to receive one, we will continue to ship you one from our Amazon warehouse, in case there’s any possibility of us cherry-picking one.
We can tell from the video that there're complaints about the sales channel as well as the troubleshooting as a customer who may buy this mic. It is nowhere close to the satisfactory customer service that we chase after if buyers can’t find the tech support page for a specific model. We will make a quick update in case any self-troubleshooting of the latest models is needed. And just a reminder that any other customers who experience any issue with the FIFINE products can reach us out at web@fifine.cc Our support team is 24/7 available. And any item from our Amazon official store is covered by a 2-year warranty. Despite the disappointment, as a seller, we definitely would make up for any fault of any of our products.
Btw, we are not the oldest fans of your channel but have kept an eye on your videos (since the review of the AT2040 a year ago) for the suggestions that we can take on for the microphones that are being developed. But the more videos we watched, the better we know that you may not like the Amazon sellers of audio who mainly makes USB microphone. So we do not bother you testing out some of our models that we think may meet your demanding requirements. It’s kind of a double whammy to us, we failed you as our customer and as the audio pro whom we cherish the opinion of. The replacement of the K688 should not disappoint you this time and we do hope it could also bring back some of the confidence in our brands as well as the Amazon sellers (at least some of them).
Hello fifine, are you planning the europe distribution for this mic? Thanks
i can tell this one hurt
@@HennessyRose Yes, true. Disappointed by one of the UA-camrs that we really like with the product that we have high hope of.
@@FIFINE I still bought the same model of microphone, my model in particular is in perfect condition. Both my xlr and usb c connections work accordingly.
@@HennessyRose We really appreciate your support, hope you enjoy using the mic
I have this mic and use USB connection with ZERO problems. For the price, it sounds amazing. I have it eq’d for my voice. For the $$$ I love it!
Yeah he got a bad mic. I would love to see a new review with a new mic. My USB works great.
Can you share your eq with us
@@rowellmempin123 What EQ? I use XLR. The USB works great but doesn't sound as good as XLR.
@@rowellmempin123 no.
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I have this mic and absolutely love it. I've used both USB and XLR. No issues with either. It's perfect for my voice. My husband loves microphones. He liked my K688 so much I had to buy him one because he kept borrowing mine. He loves it, but uses the XLR connection.
@CanalDoPaixao XLR is better than USB.
CanalDoPaixao it's a great mic. We still use ours all the time.
I have a really loud keyboard und i will be using the mic while gaming.
Do u think it will be able to handle it?
@@natsudes4745 yes. It's a dynamic front address mic. Just aim it at your mouth. I have a mechanical keyboard myself.
@@ohmarnithis convinced me to buy it my brother HATES my blue switches hahahaha
Your K688 is faulty with USB mode. I have it and its absolutely ok with USB. Both knobs work smooth and easy
Bro i have a really loud keyboard do think it will handel it?
I game mostly but saw another review and the mic wasnt that good blocking the keyboard
@@natsudes4745 All mics will pick up a loud keyboard to some extent. That's why most streamers use a keyboard that's quiet. There's just some things you have to do in order to get the best sound quality in your streams. One of them is sound treatment to the whole area that you will be streaming in. Hard surfaces cause echos, echos make for bad audio. Even the most expensive mics in the world won't help if the room they are in is terrible for audio production.
I bought this mic for streaming. For the price the sound quality is surprisingly good especially when its eq'd properly. I wish the plosive rejection was a little better and the mute functioned for both usb and xlr mode. other than that the mic is perfect for my application
Surprisingly, the Fifine K6888 sounded better to my ears than the sE Electronics DCM3...
The fifine had a touch more bass than the other one. The DCM3 had more highs and mids
Done Maono and FIFINE and never really had a problem for price to performance. I’m no audio expert or really worked with expensive mics yet so it’s coming from a standard user to somewhat educated perspective. As always I loved the video though!
With that voice any mic sounds good haha
Thanks for the review
Thanks!!
I'm surprised how good or sometimes even better the Amazon mic sounds like. Someone online said to save the money and get that one and they were onto something
Just my musings on the usb issue, first try the supplied usb cable without the XLR plugged into the back of the mic. A number of devices I have worked with have a sense attached and can tell when something is plugged in or not. All the other reviews I have seen on this mic have either the XLR plugged in OR the usb not both at the same time. Food for thought.
Hi DocmurdocFPV, thanks for bringing up this assumption! In our tests, connecting both USB and XLR at the same time may cause the recognition problem once or twice, but haven't found it related to the noise issue. But when the test environment varies quite a lot, it might result in similar noises as Aiden's video showed, but that could still count as a defective problem.
I had that same issue with the knob but with the top one but I figured out by playing with it to pull it a tad bit and it’ll become loose like the other knob. You can actually take the whole knob off (which scared me at first) but you can put it back on but not too deep so it won’t be too tight to turn
I only order stuff like this from Amazon because of the 30 days no question return policy. This is the first review where I've heard the usb issue
Hello Aiden Thenx for great review ....if you had to choose between this mic and the FIFINE AM8, what would you choose between them and why? “I am speaking in terms of sound quality only.”
$58.00 right now on Amazon.
Sounds like an audio buffer issue to me. Something you can't really change in Windows, but perhaps they could update the USB driver the mic uses, or (even better) provide a control panel
Great review, I was seriously considering the fifine, but I think I will go with the sm58. Old school 😊
You know, I think it sounds great except for the USB. I've had 2 of their mics, all on special deals. They both sounded great at first but over time the quality of the sound just faded. Now my podcasts are really low and I just can't afford to go out and buy yet another one. I don't know if it is me or the actual mic. Increasing the gain in the software doesn't really work all that great either. I have no clue. I just want my podcast to sound good.
Does the dual output (USB & XLR) of K688 operate alternately or can they be used simultaneously? If they can be used simultaneously, is it possible as a backup in case one of them encounters an issue? How about AM8? Can the USB & XLR be used simultaneously? I appreciate your help.
This was a strange one. I ended up buying two of these mics. I thought you may have had a defective one, so I rolled the dice. Both of mine work splendidly, though admittedly I use them both with only the XLR output. This thing is an example of how good of sound you can get at an extremely low price point. It's also one of the few mics I can get in the color pink, which is what drove my daughter nuts for it.
incredibly honest review this is amazing well done. i feel like this brand is all about marketing but i appreciate how they found you & wanted to fix the problem. I need a usb mic for now but might get into xlr later, i use old razer seiren x which takes every sound out there so i'm looking for a dynamic mic, i'd get shure mv7 but it's $400 here for some reason. do you have any recommendations ? should i get this one?
Unfortunately I think you just might have received a defective mic because I have the K688 & I’ve had absolutely no issues with it. When I first got it I started using it via the USB connect direct to my MacBook. I later got myself the Fifine SC-1 interface & began using the mic via the XLR connection - neither time did I have any issues. That said, I am considering using an inline pre-amp like the Coda MB-Stealth or the CloudLifter CL-1. My goal being for a louder, clearer voice output with a very low noise floor. That being the case, I might not need the pre-amp & might be able to do it with some good audio editing, but given I’m still very new at this I’m not exactly sure how to move forward. Any advice or thoughts on this from anyone? Would really appreciate it, thanks in advance 😅
I'm considering purchasing one of these microphones, but now I'm confused about which one to buy. Please help me decide:
1. Shure SM57 Dynamic Instrument Microphone
2. RØDE PodMic USB Versatile Dynamic Broadcast Microphone With XLR and USB Connectivity for Podcasting, Streaming, Gaming, Music-Making, and Content Creation
3. Elgato Wave DX - Dynamic XLR Microphone, Cardioid Pattern, Noise Rejection, Speech optimized for Podcasting, Streaming, Broadcasting, No Signal Booster Required, Works with Any Interface, for Mac, PC
4. FIFINE XLR Dynamic Microphone, Vocal Podcast Microphone with Cardioid Pattern, Studio Metal Mic for Streaming Voice-Over Dubbing Video Recording, Black-K669D
5. Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone, Black
Thanks for the review!
Guys I just bought a k688 and it's an old stock and believe it or not the capsule placement is different! It's actually like the sm7b, much closer to the case of the mic the one u got was new stock and its at the top, I think fifine thought it was too quiet or something and moved it to the top but I'm actually a loud speaker so I actually prefer the sm7b design with the lower capsule placement on the old revision of the k688 which I got, also my k688 came with a 3 leg stand as well! I'm not kidding its sealed I didn't plant em in there neither did the shop I bought from, I bought it for only 40 bucks cuz they were clearing it cuz it wasn't selling well and they sold it to me for only slightly above cost price and I get these extras and better capsule placement, I couldn't as for more!
Do u recommend the mic?
ye, sadly i was that one that have defected one too. Mic work really good with live monitoring via 3.5 mm, but usb is defeacted (several laptops was tested).
It sounds shockingly close to the Shure Mic at a fraction of the price
What computer did you connect fifine k688 microphone to and can it also connect to an Apple Silicon M1 processor
I had kind of the same problem and it happens only when usb and xlr where plugs at the same time
Interesting. I have watched dozens of reviews on the K688 ... this is the only one with the odd usb distortion. May be your set up ... being a cheaper mic, it may have been intended more to plug directly into a pc, laptop, etc. I ordered one, and it should be here tomorrow. When I test it, I'll update this reply. I will be plugging it directly into a fairly high end laptop running Windows 10 ..... should be interesting. I'm just going to be doing light volunteer voice over stuff, so don't have tons to spend. If I get an interface, I'll probably go with something like the UA Volt 276.
How was it?
Is it worth upgrading from the 669B? My 669 has never had any of that static; use Windows 7; Windows 11 is defective. I'm not joking. I'm also not spending the extra on the XSLR hardware, so it would be in USB mode like the 669... so level playing field comparison. I point my microphone right at the side of my cheek, so plosives go right past it.
i wish you had tapped on the mount with all other Mic's like you did with the K688 because the K688 picks up massive noise from the mount arm.
There you go.. The problem with the USB is Windows 11. I have the same problem with many audio interfaces. Most of the time, unplugging it and replugging it in solves the problem but sometimes it needs a reboot and sometimes, it just doesn't work. Most of the time, it's conflicting with another audio device.
I have seen so much people singing this mic praises to an absurd degree while the mic sounds good I don't think it should bw hyped as a mic that dethrones the sm7b
Lol...not even close...that said it is pretty sweet for the $79 price tag.
The QA scares me and my money though
All those people got it for free and don't have a clue. This thing cant dethrone the Podmic let alone the sm7b. Ask one of them guys to disassemble one of these and do the same with the SM7B and let them praise it after.
@@BoobLover4Life maybe it’s just my voice but the K688 definitely sounded better for me than my podmic after tons of sound tests I decided to stick with the k688
@@jsetsuo I preferred the podmic to the fifine mics overall. Podmic is build like a tank as well and will last you a long time. These Fifine mics you will sell to buy another fifine in 6 months. Podmic will still be there. Mind you you can use the Fifine body to upgrade it with something better over time.
My most trusted source for audio related review. Thank you!!
so i just got this mic and it sounds super choppy and robotic sounding when i use discord or any form of mic communication, i own an asus rog g14 zephyr us and wanted to know how to fix it
have you fixed it yet? my solution was setting the audio affinty to cpu 0, all founded in the task manager
Yeah, if you're selling a usb microphone it has to be simple plug and play. That segment of the market doesn't have the training. knowledge or inclination to do complex troubleshooting.
Yes, quite right about the USB and that's what audience the USB microphones target at. Sorry to fail to do this with the very K688 in the video.
Thanks for this video. Great review! Perfect timing too. I've been looking into this mic. It's very intriguing (especially for that price). Tbh, I think it looks great and it actually sounds pretty darn good (for what it is). Not sure about that USB issue. I have a feeling that it's going to be a bit hit or miss for customers.
Loved your Rode X mics review (XDM 100 specifically). Ideally, that's what I really want. Just waiting on if that Rode X software will finally be updated to work with Mac. Once it does, then that's totally where I'm going!
Updated version of this?
I read on another video that it could be the wrong USB cable. Seems like Fifine bundled in the USB-C 2.0 instead of the 3.0. Not sure if you have a cable to test but could be the issue. Other users who experienced the same distorted sound, reported that swapping the cable worked once they tried a 3.0 cable.
You still had the xlr connected to the microphone, when you put the usb in. Unplug the xlr, and see if that works
that is deffective cause mine works , I just prefer the xlr options sicne I do have a decent audio interface
By the shockmount being hard mounted, does that mean you cannot remove it or change it?
Yes
I tried this Mic and just didn't sound right for my voice. Fifine mics just don't work for me for some reason. They are OK and affordable but the high end sound is just too aggressive and you will get tired of it pretty quick. Great video on this Mic as always Sir. It's not defective just how it is.
You need a 3.0 usb c cable instead of what they include which is 2.0 to work a bit better on usb mode. I agree with you about they being very aggressive on the high end and getting tiring quick.
@@BoobLover4Life So I need to be an engineer and figure out why their supplied USB 2.0 don't work? Casual gamers and YT people want something that works and cheaper not buying extras for their mic not to work correctly out of the box.
Thanks for sharing your insight! It's true that heavy high ends are easy to lead to fatigue, but a dynamic microphone known to be deep in tone is good to be tamed with a bit more treble. And that's what we aim to tune the K688 for, a bit different from the other dynamic mics for the price. But it may not cater to every user's favor.
Oddly, my version sounds thin and somewhat boxy, it was quite disappointing, plus I get some very noticeable self noise, at least compared to my Thomann SC400 which both have been used on my Air 4 audio interface.
Did u find out the issue?
Same, sounds like a decent headset microphone
It sounds much better on your voice than mine. I got one and while it works fine, to my ear, my voice sounds bad on it
The Q/A for this company is rough from what I am hearing...
@@DarkCornerStudios what you're hearing not from what you've seen.
@@DarkCornerStudios Sorry about that, it's what Amazon sellers don't do well. Most of our sales come from Amazon, which makes our top focus turn to the experience that our customers get from the Amazon page. But we will get the self-troubleshooting section in our website updated as soon and well as possible.
So I have this mic, and the capsule on mine is a fair bit further away from the grill. Possibly a newer revision?
Do u recommend this?
Glad to see you buddy. 💜
Cheers brother
Hey Aiden, love your content and the knowledge you drop in your vids Brotha, I preciate’cha! I gotta say mayne, this mic sounds good on you Bro. Keep up the great work, thx!
What is the name of the mic that give you this sound ?
Fifine USB worked fine for me. Sounds like you mic is broken/tech issue for it to not work on USB. Good mic for its price
The Fifine still sounds better than all of the one he showed even it costs like a fraction of a "branded" microfone lmao
The usb sounds like what happens when I use Voicemeeter banana and discord. Usually changing my affinity solves it
my mic does not sound even close to that with the usb connection it actually dosent sound too far off from what it sounds like when you have the xlr connected it sounds better then any other mic ive had and the only mic that you put it up against that sounded better was the first one the other ones i did not like compared even when the price was over 4 times as much for some of them the fifine in my opinion sounded better than the others.
Looks like your mic USB circuitry is probably broken. First problem fifine k688 I've seen in 10 youtube videos.
Fifine k688 vs Shure sm58 - can't hear a difference with eyes closed.
Fifine k688 vs DCM3 - DCM3 is way too bright (too hissy / too much high end)
Fifine k688 vs SE Dynacaster - very similar can't pick which one is fifine
Fifine k688 vs Shure SM7b - can't hear a difference with eyes closed.
Hi D Gillies, thanks for taking a closer look and hear of the K688 review video! And that's also what we assumed to be the problem of the noises, the defective IC.
Hi bro. Great review as always.
But I'm getting interested with your camera setting. How the way you got nice color grading like that?
No color grading at all.
This is STRAIGHT out of the camera.
It's a Canon T7i...and Canon is known for their color.
As an aside though...the big winner here is the lighting.
I have an Apurture 120d as my key light.
Makes everything pop.
Also gotta give props to my Sigma 18-35 f1.8 lens.
It's sharp AF.
Not a pun...but I'll leave that there
@@DarkCornerStudios Thank you so much for the prompt response, bro. Glad to see your explanation. I'll consider to buy Aputure to enhance my video quality...
@@nata.sasmita what gear are you rocking?
Lighting makes a massive difference.
Also rear lighting with LED strips also helps
@@DarkCornerStudios I'm now using Sony a6400 with Sigma lens and Sony ZV1. But still in consideration about what brand I have to choose for the lighting kit.
@@nata.sasmita those are great options there
Kudos to FiFine for replying to this review and giving such a great explanation of the issue. That said, SM58, easy to forget how great that mic sounds until you hear it next to something like this.
From what I have seen, Fifine resolved the issue with a USB 3 cable vs the original USB 2 one
Trouble shooting 101: try the mic in a known good usb input port and a mic that worked in that port in your lap top.
Would you recommand it over the Elgato Wave DX
That's a tough one.
Wave dx does have some features for eq...so probably not
@@DarkCornerStudios But what if you dont have access to their eq, because I dont want to buy their XLR Interface
@@tonynguyen4918 then this for sure
@@DarkCornerStudios Do you have a specific reason for that? Is the sound better or is there something that is not so good at the Wave DX
A really good budget microphone for the price. As far as the USB issue, I think you got a bad unit. I seen another review of the mic and it did not have the same issue using USB.
I have compared this Mic with other expensive mics; it gave the quality I was looking for and I am shocked by the way you review it here which I think is not fair.
What wasn't fair?
@Dark Corner Studios he just wanted you to blow smoke up his ass so he feel like he made a good buying decision
Oh no… Fifine is serious. Listen to the quality. I own the K688 it’s flawless
I got 2 creators I've watched. One here in our country and outside. It's sad that they have same issues. That's 2 out of 2 bad review. And defective on usb. I'll not take my chances. New subscriber. here. Any recommendation that can do good recording and podcasting ? Really like your voice ❤😊
I have the same issue. If you use usb the sound is too low
I used this mic for 3 months. Worked really well BUT I believe I received a faulty one or the circuit within was fried. My mic muting button kept muting and unmuting itself like it was possessed. I tried every troubleshooting solutions but they weren’t helping at all! Going to return it back to Amazon and get me a Hyper X mic. 😳😢
I reckon u got the quadcast. how is it? I heard it picks up every noise even keyboard and such even when on a boomarm? did u have these issues?
Super helpful!
Conect the mic only with the usb cable, no with the other, only one cable
I'm about to buy this one but I'll check another one. Thanks for this.
Dcm3 had a weird metallic empty sound to me
Mouth always must be placed directly on Capsule... not in axes.. People use this method to protect themselves against plosives... but wrong usage.. missing all the valuable notes in voice
Lol...I think I'll get by
Any thoughts on the Maono PD100? 🙂
I went with the Manono PD200. It works fantastic to my ears. I produce local video podcast different voices mutual people talking @ once. I'm building a review of the Maono pd200. I send a link after my test is complete.
thanks for the INFO!!!!
My Mic did this same distortion thing. Tried a usb 3.0 and 2.0 cable. Had to find one that eventually worked.
This was the cable that came with the mic...lolz
Yea both didn’t work for me which is on Fifine. If you are looking to make it work, get a USB 3.0 cable.
@@karls4346 lolz...the idea of buying a whole other cable makes me unreasonably upset...and if that is the fix...I would rather bury the mic in my backyard and forget I bought it
Yea I totally get it. I was just trying to fix my issue, but yes we should not have to fix their out of the box issue.
@@karls4346 lol...not yelling at you...just flabbergasted that the fix is to spend more money.
Utter trash.
I think you got a defective Mic. We have one and the USB is fine.
amazing review, complete! you need a lot more views and likes!
I agree!
Reduce buffer length to fix clicks😂
I bought it off ali for less than 40 bucks. Just what is going on with the prices lol
Lol, a great bargain, even the Black Friday Deals' prices aren't even that low.
I received a K688 and it broke after 10 minutes. The replacement lasted even less than 10 minutes. Complete garbage.
-58Db? Almost ask quiet as the sm7b? NO SHOT! Do you need a cloud lifter for this? Love the detailed reviews brother. +1 sub
Mannnn I like the USB sound for a distortion sound
Lol, a new way to do earrape.
@@FIFINE I bought two, one for music one for streaming
@@ifincstudios Wow, thank you very much for the support!
other videos ive seen you need a usb 3.0 but idk
I have the older version of this mic. There definitely interesting
Like… I’m really confused here.
We’re all here because of the quality of the mic. This mic sounds almost as good as the sm7b (they’re like 1 inch away) a mic 4 times more expensive !!!! To me, they’re actually in the same league, just a question of personal taste.
I’m actually surprised that you took almost 2 minutes to bring down the value of this beautiful piece because of what is obviously a technical problem you alone brought up after all these amazing reviews I watched about this mic.
You can do better than that c’mon sir
Lol.
Tonnes of issues from a LOT of people.
Don't get mad at me when a company is releasing a product with issues.
I can only review what I get.
What stupid reviewer decides to ignore a massive issue like this?
Came here to ask for a review of the Maono pd400x and he trash3s them in the first 5 seconds lol
Oops
Este tipo siempre esta desacuerdo con todo…
Love the irony - you're not F@#$#!n Fine at the time of video release. Get well matey.
Is this plastic?
Yeah...very much so
@@DarkCornerStudios Thank You...❤️
I believe it's pronounced "Fine Fine"
That would make sense...lol
@@DarkCornerStudios I pronounced it the same way when I got my fifine mic, but supposedly it's pronounced Fine Fine. Which is totally weird. Great content btw. 👌🏻 Subbed.
@@severlightgaming cheers!
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
@@bobkabala8407 I speak for everyone when I say...
What did I just read????
This was a interesting review and I think that it was a defective product that was sent to you. I've also made a review on my channel in case anyone needs more reference about this mic!
Lol...subtle dude...
Too much man
I have had this microphone for six months and I have no problem with USB. Your USB test is meaningless
Lol...perhaps you should re-evaluate your life choices if you get upset over a review of a product
@@DarkCornerStudios Sorry, I was quick to judge. apparently the microphone was wrong.
sounds like a mom complaining about a minor inconvenience
Yeah...weird that I got a defective mic.
What a moron...lol
Good one though...good one
You're not comparing the mics to each other. You're speaking into two mics at a time, and then asking which do we like. How do you hear each mic separately if you're speaking into two at a time? You have to speak into one at a time, and then give us a second to make the comparison. Your mic comparisons are terrible.
If you pay attention you will notice I only play audio back from one mic at a time.
Your complaints are terrible.
Work on those
Hi there! @geloandjoyTV let me know that the USB-C works if you switch it to a USB 3.0 cable. I bought two of these myself and had the same issue and said the same thing about changing samples rates and all, but a USB 3.0 cable works! I just wish the right cable came with the box.
Hi Dave, sorry to hear that you also experience the issue. Do you mind letting us know where did you get your K688?
@@FIFINE Hello! Both of them from the official store, via Lazada in the Philippines. It turns out you would need a USB 3.0 cable to make them work.