The Turtle Beach USB Stream Mic could be exactly what you were looking for if you’re a gamer or podcaster looking for a low-cost USB microphone that produces crisp audio.  It has more digital signal processing (DSP) than almost every other mic that we have tried, which helps it to record finely and clearly from about any distance.

You can also swap between multiple polar patterns on the mic to get the best sound for certain situations. This, combined with its low price, makes it an excellent option for gamers on a budget.

Turtle Beach Stream Mic

About the Product

The Stream Mic by Turtle Beach is a low-cost USB microphone suitable for gamers with a variety of recording patterns to choose from. The Stream Mic is unique in that it does most of the processing within the device. This means that it can block out any background noise and provide a higher-quality final product, unlike most USB microphones.

When you are in a noisy setting, Turtle Beach’s mic will do much better than a Blue Snowball microphone wired directly to a PS4, but it won’t fit on the Xbox One. It can also be used for interviews, podcasts, and voice-over roles.

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Price: $140-$200

Product Design & Quality

The gray and black Stream Mic has a vintage-looking build and measures approximately 6.5 inches in height, 2.0 inches in width, and 4.5 inches in depth. However, its casing is made of plastic and seems to be a bit cheap.

It isn’t a major flaw given the product’s low price. The mic comes with a feature to swivel around to the position of a speaker thanks to the built-in desk stand, and its strong base means it won’t move on the desk. We discovered that the screws on either side of the mount cannot do a great job of securing the angle of the mic into position.

So you should be careful to not tug the cord and adjust the alignment of the mic unintentionally while using headphones plugged with the mic’s socket. The screws can also be taken off from the frame and screwed onto a regular mic stand with the adapter provided with it.

A mute button is located on the front screen, which is covered by a multi-colored LED band. The top parts of both front and back screens, and even the top part of the mic, are covered in the grille.

The Stream uses a multi-pattern valve on the inside. By using this pattern button you get the option to shift between the most common style for general voice recording known as the Cardioid, a pattern suitable for noisier situations, which refuses more sound from both the sides and back than other patterns known as Hypercardioid, and Omnidirectional ideal for catching sound from the entire room without refusing any sound from any position.

The modes are colored by LED as green, orange, and blue according to the patterns.

The supplied USB cable is extremely long and attaches to the mini USB connector at the rear panel of the mic.  In addition to the 3.5mm headphone socket, this panel comes with a volume button for the headphones, the aforesaid pattern button, as well as a key marked PS4/PC on one side and Xbox on another.

If you want to use this Stream mic to live stream, the purpose of this switch is pretty simple: choose the right choice for the system or device on which you want to stream live. The switch must be adjusted to PC if you intend on using the mic to record voiceovers or podcasts.

Product Features:

• Performance

First and foremost, depending on the recording device or game system, you can encounter some delays while using the in-built headphone port. Although you can use the Stream Mic as a standalone listening system without headphones, the recording software can only show it just like a recording unit, not as a device with outputs. The lag is a little bothersome.

When tracking with a GarageBand, for example, there is a small slap back pause when using the mic. Of course, it has no impact on the recording, but it does have an effect on a vocalist’s performance. About the fact that the different mic patterns seem to be a gimmick, there is a significant variation in how sound.

For example, the omnidirectional mode provides a really crisp, light signal, whereas the cardioid pattern sounds almost dull. However, as compared to the other cardioid mics we’ve checked, nearly all of them being rigid cardioid mics, the cardioid mode of a Stream Mic sounds rather equalized. To balance baritone or darker voices, the lows are improved, as are the high-mids.

• Versatility

Because of the built-in processing, you should be able to connect it to almost everything and it should run. If you have a PlayStation 4, an Xbox One, or PC and would want to do a variety of audio editing, the Stream Mic is an easy workaround.

Pros

• Many recording patterns are available
• Standard mic frames would be alright for positioning it
• The included USB cable is long enough for carrying it around bigger spaces

Cons

• Plastic contour seems to be made of low-cost material
• The mic stand’s side screws don’t always lock the angle in place

Bottom Line

The Turtle Beach USB Stream Mic allows you to handle the live streaming or recording phase in new ways for podcasting and gaming. Switching mic patterns becomes particularly helpful in multi-person situations.

Consider the more costly Beyerdynamic Fox or Blue Raspberry, or the less costly Blue Snowball for a much more pure signal from a USB microphone. The Stream Mic produces a stable, if highly processed, a signal which is less likely to upset gamers who’re looking for a USB solution under $100.

You may also like to read: Best Microphone for Streaming.

Microphones with coaxial cables are undoubtedly considered as some of the most common microphone models, offering a highly flexible performance despite the price point.  On the other hand, USB microphones are intriguing because they provide the required amount of versatility and accessibility. Most people choose one to the other, so why not get them at the same time? Fifine USB microphone is one such product that can fulfill both needs.

A brief overview of Fifine K668

In particular, the K668 USB microphone by Fifine incorporates the perfect combination of convenience and flexibility, effortlessly blending USB handheld portability with a condenser microphone.

It provides an all-around performance. Stay tuned to see what this amazing microphone has to deliver if you’re in search of a microphone that will help you boost the sound of any podcasts, interviews, vlogs, blogs, and also any recorded music.

We’ll learn about how Fifine’s K668 microphone looks like, what can it be used for, possible drawbacks, and also if it’s worth your money in the final analysis. Without further ado, we shall begin our review straight away.

Let’s have a look at the microphone’s components before moving on to the device itself. At first, you’ll receive a simple and concise useful guide that includes all the knowledge you need to know about Fifine’s K668 functionality, features, configuration, and program compatibility, along with the tiniest of specifics.

You can also get an organized, small bookmark as a bonus feature, but it isn’t considered a “main feature of the package. The Fifine K668 USB microphone sits just below these features. A USB cable is installed in the microphone, which is the first feature that we learn about it. While it helps you from losing or misplacing it, there seem to be a number of disadvantages to this design.

Fifine K668 USB Microphone

About the Product

The K668 USB microphone from Fifine is a portable condenser microphone. Among the most important aspects to consider when deciding whether to purchase this microphone or not is to understand what you are using it for.

It doesn’t have any ports to connect speaker or headphone, so the USB is the only way to connect it to the other devices.

Unfortunately, this renders it unusable for something other than filming in close proximity to your device. You may also combine its portability with a laptop for remarkably flexible performance. Although the microphone is reasonably flexible as a budget option, it is not well suited to most sound recording circumstances.

It has a lot of latency, meaning that even though you have an excellent interface, you’ll have to face almost unbearable lag times.

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Price: $-$$

Product Design & Quality

The tripod holder is a great feature of the package, particularly if you make blogs, vlogs, and videos for YouTube, or even work as an online influencer. It has metal stands with a solid plastic centerpiece, and it greatly improves the microphone’s stability and placement.

The microphone is thin in design, and it comes with a semi-adjustable plastic sturdy stand. It’s built within the microphone’s foundation, much like the wire.  You’ll even see the interior volume buttons, but that’s all about it – the K668 does not really come with a lot of options or functionality.

Sonic Performance

Unlike other microphones at their entry level, the Fifine K668 USB microphone has a dedicated series of operators that create a reasonably well-rounded sound system. The microphone retrieves on ultra-low wavelengths and has no trouble coping with an insanely high gain when it comes to the peaks.

Overall, the sound quality is superior to that of most low-cost microphones. It has a lot of clarity in its pitch, a strong presence that leaves no room for change, and it doesn’t have any significant issues with harmonic distortion, feedback, static or hissing.

Fifine K669 is beneficial to whom?

Primarily, this microphone is considered a budget microphone made of good quality materials. It can be used as an enhancement if you’re already using a lead-in microphone that has been subjected to years of abuse, tear, and wear, regardless of your needs.

We think this microphone will fit well on any desk of writers, YouTubers, and podcasters, based on its specifications and functionality. Its USB mode of service is ideal for these types of jobs, and its excellent sound quality can make the voice sound a little louder than it does on a low-cost microphone.

Musicians and studio engineers should stop using this microphone at all costs. And if you like the way it sounds, appears, and plays, you won’t be able to overlook the plethora of latency issues it has.

It also lacks any peripheral ports, so you’ll have to use it with a computer. About the possibility that its sound will not seem to be stellar at first sight, this microphone, if you’re not a musician, is actually very flexible.

Pros

• Provides a great sonic performance
• A good microphone at a reasonable price
• It’s very convenient to use and set up
• It’s small and light, but it’s still very sturdy
• Podcasts, blogs, and interviews will all profit from this
• Its quite durable

Cons

• The mesh hardtop is very thin
• The USB cable is built into the frame
• In order to record in a timely manner, latency can be a challenge
• Its future applications are limited due to a lack of bandwidth

Bottom Line

Overall, most users of the Fifine K668 USB microphone might have come up with an ambivalent conclusion with it. Basically, the poor accessibility can be disappointing at times, which isn’t what you’d expect from a USB microphone.

On another hand, it sounds amazing and is as practical as a reasonably priced microphone should be. To put it in another way, if you can deal with the disadvantages, you can be rewarded with extraordinary and incredible benefits.

You may also like to read: Best USB Microphone for Vocals in 2021.