Fifine A6T mics… Trust me they are not the cheapest, not the best quality, probably. And while I have encountered the brand before, Fifine might not be as famous as other brands, but guess what? It was a superstar on Amazon! People were buying it like crazy back in January, and even now, months later, it’s still on top. But why? That’s what I’m going to figure out! We’ll dig into why Fifine is such a hit. Maybe there’s something special about it that others haven’t noticed yet.
The Case for Fifine A6T Mics
I guess the first question is why not the Fifine A6T? It’s $47 at the time I’m writing, has overwhelmingly positive reviews, works on PC, Mac, and PlayStation, and it includes absolutely everything you need to get started. The mic itself, a boom arm, a desk clamp, a shock mount, and even a cute little pop filter with a smiley face on it, as it works with PC, Mac, and PlayStation! With all these features and glowing reviews, you’d think it would be flying off the shelves. But why isn’t it getting as much attention as it deserves? It’s a mystery, but one worth solving. Maybe Fifine has some secrets that lets them offer such a great deal.
The Anatomy of Microphones
Fundamentally, every microphone from the very cheapest all the way to the most premium is the same in that it captures the sound that’s coming to it via vibrations in the air and then outputs that as a mic level signal, which is basically inaudible. You then need a preamplifier to convert it to a line level signal that humans can actually hear. And finally, you need an analog to digital converter to convert the waves of analog data into digital data that your computer can understand.
And yes, all of that is packed into the devices in your setup, even if you can point to the discrete components or not. The difference is that in fully integrated solutions, they just might be really, really tiny and or well, really, really cheap, which raises a huge question here. I mean, if you can make all the necessary pieces so small and so affordable, why does anybody spend the extra on these overkill setups like this one?
Quality vs. Affordability
- Quality Comparison: The A6T microphone may not match the quality of studio-grade microphones like the one used for the WAN show or the one you’re currently using. However, it’s important to consider that the A6T is often bundled with other accessories, effectively making it a budget-friendly option.
- Fair Comparison: Comparing the A6T to high-end studio microphones might be unfair due to the significant price and performance differences. A more reasonable comparison could be made against basic or entry-level audio equipment, such as old wired earbuds, where the A6T would likely perform better.
- Accessory Package: The A6T often comes with an accessory package, which adds value to the overall purchase. These accessories can enhance the usability and versatility of the microphone setup.
- Performance Comparisons: Deeper performance comparisons between the A6T and other microphones will be discussed later. This could include detailed assessments of audio quality, frequency response, noise handling, and other relevant factors.
- Advantage of XLR Setup: One advantage of a more advanced XLR setup, like the A6T with its XLR option, is its upgradability. XLR setups allow for individual component upgrades, such as upgrading the microphone or audio interface separately, providing flexibility for future improvements.
The Advantage of XLR Setup
Here are the key points about the A6T microphone:
- Dual Connectivity: The A6T microphone has both USB and XLR connectivity options, which provides flexibility for different setups and needs.
- Investment Consideration: Initially, investing in a setup with the A6T might require a larger upfront investment compared to a simple USB microphone. However, it has potential for long-term cost savings.
- Modular Design: One advantage of the A6T is its modular design. If your needs change in the future, you can upgrade or replace either the microphone or the audio interface separately without needing to replace the entire setup.
- Simplicity vs. Quality: Some users prioritize the simplicity of a single USB-C cable over potential quality or future-proofing advantages offered by a more complex setup like the A6T.
- USB-C Compatibility: The A6T utilizes a USB-C connection, which is becoming increasingly common and offers advantages in terms of speed and compatibility with modern devices.
- Quality Assessment: To fully evaluate the A6T, a closer examination of its features, build quality, audio performance, and user experience is warranted.
Review of Fifine A6T Mics
According to me, The voice quality is excellent and so is the silicone isolating bands. The quality all around for the price is hard to beat. The arm itself cheap, but for the price it’s reasonable. I think It’s not much better/different than the <20 dollar options for just the arms themselves from other brands which look identical. So for this price range, it’s fine. If you were doing this professionally, the arm would be the first to upgrade.
Build Quality
The mic feels quite a bit cheaper than it looks in the pictures, actually. It’s shockingly light. While it may not meet expectations in terms of weight and build quality, its functionality is praiseworthy.
Exceptional Sound Quality
The microphone captures clear and crisp audio which provides professional-grade sound suitable for streaming, recording gameplay videos, and online gaming sessions. It enhances engagement for both the user and their audience.
Side Address Design
The A6T microphone contains a side address design, meaning you speak into the side of the microphone rather than the top. This design is complemented by the pop filter, which only attaches in one orientation, ensuring correct placement.
Boom Arm Performance
The included boom arm effectively keeps the microphone in place, but its lightweight construction creates concerns about its durability over time.
Accessories and Cable Ties
While cable ties are included with the A6T microphone, they may not meet expectations. I think Upgrading to better cable ties might be necessary for a more secure cable management solution.
Ease of Setup
The FIFINE USB Microphone is plug-and-play, requiring no complicated setup or additional drivers and is accessible for users of all levels of experience which makes it a hassle-free option for everyday use. No additional apps are required; simply plug it in, and the RGB lighting confirms its activation. However, the inability to customize or disable the RGB lighting without muting the microphone may be a drawback for some users.
Mute Button Convenience
The microphone features a built-in mute button for added convenience and control. It allows instant muting without disrupting the flow of content during live streaming or quick breaks.
Long-Term Durability
Despite its affordable price of $50, the microphone has been reliable over a span of two years and serves well for everyday PC use, chatting, gaming, and streaming.
Noise Suppression Considerations
The microphone lacks custom software for noise suppression which may lead to picking up background noise, such as mechanical keyboard sounds. However, this can be addressed using third-party software like OBS audio filters or Discord’s built-in noise suppression.
Overall Value
Despite minor issues with noise suppression, the microphone’s quality, convenience, and affordability make it a highly recommended option, specially if you pair it with additional filters for improved performance.
Performance Comparison
- Gain Control: The A6T microphone features a large knob on the bottom for adjusting gain. However, the indicator for gain level is inconveniently positioned and doesn’t accurately correspond to the position of the knob, potentially making gain adjustment less intuitive.
- Software Support: The A6T microphone lacks dedicated software, meaning there are no official drivers or apps provided. Consequently, there is no support for features like VST plugin integration for effects such as noise gates or compressors, nor is there support for audio mixing.
- Windows Volume Slider: Adjusting the volume slider on Windows does not affect the A6T microphone when using default drivers.
- Limitations: The absence of official drivers and software features might be seen as a drawback for users who rely on advanced audio processing or customization options.
- Workarounds: Despite the limitations, alternative solutions are there for audio processing needs. These solutions demonstrate that while certain features are lacking, they may not be critical if the microphone’s performance meets expectations.
- Performance Evaluation: To assess the microphone’s performance, it’s important to test its capabilities in various challenging scenarios which will help users to make informed judgments about its suitability for their needs.
Comparison with Blue Yeti
- Blue Yeti Comparison: The Blue Yeti microphone, though costing about twice as much as the Fifine A6T and coming with fewer accessories, produces a sound quality that is similar to what you will hear from the A6T.
- WAN Show Sound: The sound quality you typically hear on the WAN Show serves as a reference point for comparison. This reference provides context for understanding the performance of the A6T and other microphones.
- Evaluation: Despite any limitations or differences in sound quality, the A6T microphone is considered to sound “pretty darn okay” by the speaker. This subjective assessment suggests that.
- Personal Opinion: The A6T may offer satisfactory performance for its price point and intended use. My assessment is based on personal opinion and experience, rather than extensive laboratory testing or technical analysis.
Performance Results with Dayton Audio EMM6
Reference Microphone: The Dayton Audio EMM6, a calibrated omni-directional microphone, serves as the reference for comparison.
- Frequency Response: In case of frequency response, the A6T performs surprisingly similarly to other USB microphones. However, there is a noticeable drop in a certain range, indicating a slightly darker sound profile compared to some other models.
- Comparison with Elgato Wave: The Elgato Wave stands out as an outlier, producing a brighter sound profile. However, this brightness comes at the cost of picking up more sibilance, particularly harsh “S” and “ss” sounds.
- Overall Performance: Despite some variations in sound profile among the compared microphones, the differences are not substantial. The field is close enough that there isn’t a huge disparity in performance from the worst to the best USB microphone options considered.
- Consideration for USB Microphones: If considering a USB microphone, the performance differences among various models may not be significant enough to warrant a clear preference. Therefore, factors such as price, features, and personal preferences should also be taken into account when making a decision.
Comparison with Higher-End XLR Microphones
And believe it or not, I kind of see the same thing when I compare it even to higher end XLR microphones. Compared to an Electrovoice RE20, a mic that costs literally 10 times as much as this entire complete solution, the on paper results are shockingly close. And in the real world, the RE20 is better, but it’s certainly not 10 times better. However, that is under somewhat ideal conditions. Better microphones can have advantages that go beyond frequency response. Like for example, background noise rejection. If you’re alone in a room hanging out with your friends on Discord, you do not need a $450 mic, this is great.
Polar Patterns
With that said, there are cases where frequency response does tell a big part of the story. Our third gen AirPods, for example, really struggled at the high end, possibly because of their Bluetooth connectivity or noise cancellation. But in practice, they sound overall not bad. But then our wired EarPods have a hole right in the vocal range that really does make them sound kind of muffled. And you can improve this situation by clipping the mic a little closer to your mouth. But at the end of the day, the mic is still omnidirectional. So regardless of its frequency response or its proximity to the source, it’s gonna pick up any noise around you, including your keyboard, your mouse, or your mom yelling at you to get off the darn computer.
User Reviews
This green line is sounds coming directly to the front of the A6T. And this drop shows that it’s rejecting some sounds that are coming in at 90 degrees and a little bit more at 180 degrees. So it is, in fact, a cardioid microphone. However, for reference, this is the polar pattern graph of the Electrovoice RE20, which has better rejection, particularly at higher frequencies. So from the evaluation, the Fifine isn’t the best thing around, but especially for the price, it’s a pretty Fi-fine. Or at least our unit is, out of the box. While Amazon reviews tend to get gunked up with spam, they can also be a way to glean useful, longer-term information about a product.
Customer Feedback
- Five-Star Reviews: Most five-star reviews praise the sound quality of the A6T, with some users stating that it exceeded their expectations or labeling it as the best budget microphone they’ve used. Overall, positive feedback regarding sound quality aligns reasonably well with the microphone’s price point.
- Four-Star Reviews: Feedback in the four-star category mainly revolves around issues unrelated to sound quality, such as the clamp feeling cheap, the gain knob being finicky, or the lack of RGB customization. Despite these minor complaints, there are no significant complaints about audio quality, indicating overall satisfaction with the microphone’s performance.
- Three, Two, and One-Star Reviews: Negative feedback in these categories highlights concerns about the durability and reliability of the A6T microphone. Several users report that their units stopped functioning after only a few weeks or months of use, raising red flags about product quality and longevity. Additionally, there’s mention of a lack of discussion about customer service, with only a few positive comments and one complaint about non-responsive support.
Final Thoughts
It’s not a lot of money, considering the package, but it is your money, so the choice is yours. Do you go with a reputable brand for a significant upcharge, or do you buy something that costs half as much knowing that, well, you might need to get another one shipped to you.
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