We recently got a pretty good microphone. It is suitable for both the more professional and the average person who knows nothing about recording. And if you want to improve the quality of your recordings later, you only need to change a cable. That’s how convenient it is. Fifine K688 USB/XLR DYNAMIC MICROPHONE, a microphone for most people.
What’s in the box?
What do you get if you buy the K688? A User’s manual, a 5/8″ male to 3/8″ female adapter, an 8.2ft (2.5m) USB C to USB cable, and a microphone with shock mount.
Design
The Fifine K688 has a simple look, no flashy styling, and no RGB lighting. The only thing that lights up is the mute button, and you can tell if it’s in mute mode by the color. This button is a non-pressable touch button, so it also reduces the possibility of damage outside.
This large circular structure is the shock mount, which can reduce the noise brought about by the resonance of the desktop. The microphone is connected to the metal ring by four rubber bands, and you can clean them without any disassembly.
There are two knobs and three ports on the back. The knob is used to control the mic gain and monitor volume. the 3.5mm headphone hole is no doubt for you to access the monitoring headphones. The remaining two ports: a USB C port and an XLR port, according to the use of anyone can choose to access your device.
Why does the Fifine K688 have two audio jacks on the back? Their official website gives the answer: It is anyone’s mic. If you don’t have knowledge about microphones, you just connect to your device with the USB in the box and it will work correctly. But if you know more about microphones and want to improve the quality of your recordings, then the XLR interface is for you.
If you are new to microphones
A sensible voice reminds you of choosing a microphone based on the use environment when the budget is tight. Because most of the time recording especially streaming was done in environments that are not treated. With hard surfaces all around your room, the sound is going to bounce off and bounce into your mic. The excessive noise floor is the top deal-breaker for most people.
What you really need to muddle is the background sound, and the dynamic cardioid capsule does let the Fifine K688 shine through in that aspect. Normal users do not have any sort of special acoustical treatment in the rooms. A dynamic microphone will come in super helpful in this circumstance because it does not pick up much distracting background or reflected sound.
If you are expert in microphones
The audio quality may come down to what interface you are running the mic through if you are using the XLR connector. But basically, it is not the general type of dynamic mics where the mids are prominent while the brightness is lacking. Inheriting from FIFINE’s bloodline, the treble is something that will not miss but it is not so much to assault your ear with harshness.
If there is such a necessary, or maybe for a special two-PC setup, you can even send the signal from the mic to two different places, like your PC and an audio interface or a PA when using it outdoors.
So, this is the fifine K688, a microphone for everyone. It is currently priced at $79.99 USD, which shouldn’t be too expensive for a microphone that is easy to use and has room for upgrades. As long as you can afford it, I recommend buying it as your main microphone.
*Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
