Fifine AM8 USB/XLR Mic Review: Pros, Cons & Comparison!

[@Helen-ll1wy]

Thank you for the fantastic review, you covered everything. Buying this mic as we speak!

[@dearbasher]

Dude what a thorough review. Well done!

[@StraightOuttaBama]

Ordered this mic two days ago. I love it.

[@Felix_Tan]

Do you reckon it will pickup audio from speakers?

[@HMSVanguard46]

​@@Felix_Tandepends on position, there are different microphone profiles and I'm not sure about this mic, best off using headphones

[@_-t4lha-_429]

2 months review pls

[@littleboyspace8940]

actually mute bottom should be on top. You just need to switch it. Looking the logo bro.

[@TechPhD]

True! Thanks for pointing that out, I must've mounted the mic on wrongly 😅

[@hwthinker]

Does the dual output (USB & XLR) of AM8 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 K688? Can the USB & XLR be used simultaneously? I appreciate your assistance.

[@TechPhD]

Hello! Both outputs can only be used alternately on one device. However , I believe if you would like to use one output as a backup, maybe the USB output for example, you would need to connect it to a completely separate device, maybe another smartphone or another laptop while the XLR is connected to the sound card which is connected to your main computer. This is just a theory however, as I never tried to do this

[@BlabiUK]

very helpful video, buying this today!!

[@benm185]

Is it good I just ordered it?

[@BlabiUK]

@@benm185 i definitely recommend it, great sound quality

[@StefVermeer]

Hi Blabi!

[@BlabiUK]

@@benm185 it’s very good

[@BlabiUK]

@@StefVermeer hi!

[@ionwojawoja6366]

AWESOME REVIEW DUDE! Just subscribed

[@UNKNOWN_141-w4p]

What is your honest preference for a microphone for this price point that utilises USB audio? I've researched and landed on brands such as the Fifine am8, audio-technica AT2020 USB, audio-technica 2100x USB, and Samson Q2U.

[@EpicGvmers]

Love their products, I have the am8 and in hoping on trying to get the condenser microphone from Maono to compare both

[@Tijl_K.]

how do you get rgb with the xlr cabel

[@EpicGvmers]

@@Tijl_K. no mine doesn't come with the XLR cable, it comes with the usb-c cable but also it has RGB built into it

[@djtoman6875]

@@Tijl_K.You can't; it only works with USB connection.

[@TechPhD]

Just connect the USB cable to your computer while the XLR cable is connected as well. So you can take your sound from the XLR connection, but you still get the RGB lights from the USB connection

[@maximo5737]

that is awesome. great review

[@deconnectenterprise-6595]

Sorry guys I don't see any difference between the Am8 and the sm7b. Trust me if the Am8 was priced at $1000 believe me the reviews will be different. These people know WHT they are doing. Sorry to break your heart guys the Am8 is truly on the same level as the sm7b, forget price just listen.

[@XCETSukin]

U says this on someone else's post u but

[@taxwellmusic]

@@XCETSukinfr

[@HitokiriShin]

Awesome! Thanks for the profound and in-depth review. What would you prefer in terms of overall sound quality (price doesn't matter here): FIFINE AM8 or Shure MV7? I'm really excited for your honest answer! 🐻

[@TechPhD]

Hello! Thank you so much for watching and my apologies for just responding! While the Fifine AM8 provides great value for the price and the sound quality is quite good for how much it costs, I would still recommend the Shure MV7 over it simply because it is made with more premium materials and the sound quality is quite a bit better, considering the fact that it is a more expensive microphone. I hope this helps!

[@UdiShoots]

Does the mic work directly with your phone using a type c to type c cable?

[@TechPhD]

Yes, it should 👍🏽

[@FIFINE]

We don't recommend replacing the cable but using an adapter to connect to your phone instead.

[@ATTAHAPPAREL]

Excellent video,do you use a teleprompter?.

[@TechPhD]

Thanks so much for watching! I actually don't use a teleprompter. I think my eyes drifted upwards sometimes in the video because I was looking at my camera monitor to make sure I was still in focus 😂

[@tontoeducadoeducatedfool.8800]

thx this video is really useful!

[@nataliaacastilloo]

Hey loved the review. Would you say this one's better than the Feelworld PM1?? i can't decide. Thank you!

[@dean8137]

Can you maybe post the link of a good microfon stand

[@JustTheRonin]

Can anyone help me the mic won’t screw on to the golden bit no matter how hard I try and it smells really weird. It’s no longer golden even. I just got it.

[@CalmFrog]

Great Review, I didn't even have to look for any other videos about this microphone, You Covered everything Important in a nice little video, Just wanted to ask is the mic still working, or is it on the same level as it was when you first used it?

[@El_Chompo]

I'm trying to figure out the best setup for the money for mobile recording, like getting together with friends and jamming with acoustic instruments in a circle around a mic. From what I've gathered so far, it seems like the easiest most compact setup would be to get a USB Condenser mic and just hook it to your phone. I would want to make sure the mic picked up sound from all directions equally, and also I would want to make sure that my phone wouldn't die or run out of space. So maybe I could use a USB splitter along with a battery bank. And if I clear my phone ahead of time it should have plenty of space, even lossless audio recording on iphone can go for a long long time before it takes up much space. Can anybody recommend me anything? Thank you.

[@apratimsingh1306]

will it pick up noise from my laptop cooling pad via usb c?

[@farjanaakteralfumia8328]

Plz some one help me. I cant hear any difference between xlr vs usb. What is better and why ? Thank you

[@FIFINE]

Could be the reason of the external audio interface that doesn't provide a much better quality than the built-in one.

[@Dano9622]

What recording software do you suggest

[@TechPhD]

I use Adobe Audition, but if you prefer a free software, them audacity is really good as well

[@Haliw_H]

May i ask, the mic function will not work if we plug at Audio interface right?

[@funkylosik]

the mute function. Yes.

[@Laxmi243gamer]

I have a narration type channel and wanna use it in usb type should i use am8 or k688 PLEASE REPLY

[@Laxmi243gamer]

Please recommend

[@TechPhD]

Hello! Thank you for watching. Both the K688 and the AM8 are great choices. They both have a nearly identical sound profile. However, the AM8 has a better windscreen to help prevent plosives, but on the other hand, the K688 has a better build quality. I'd say, if you're not worried about the price, go for the K688

[@TechPhD]

I already did

[@Laxmi243gamer]

@@TechPhD thanks man i am ordering the am8 cause i saw both of your reviews and am8 has less noise attraction.

[@FIFINE]

If you want more articulation out of your narration, and we think that most of this type of channel would need, then the K688 would be better. But the warmer and deeper sound from the AM8 would also make your audience's ears comfortable, though they may get fatigued quicker. Besides, the look of the K688 may make it more appropriate for being in the frame of the narration content.

[@lestherjosue1729]

What do you prefered between Fifine AM8 and Fifine K688 ??

[@TechPhD]

They have a nearly identical sound profile. However the AM8 has a better windscreen to help prevent plosives, but on the other hand, the K688 has a better build quality. I'd say, if you're not worried about the price, go for the K688 👌🏾

[@FIFINE]

For gaming and streaming, the AM8 is pretty good enough. But if you do a bit more voice or even vocal recording, then the K688 may fit better.

[@gmdoni3000]

Thanks bro. Good review. I bought it xD

[@CammCammm]

what are your thoughts on it now?

[@glueyossi]

Does this work well for singing?

[@MichelLedig]

Yes!

[@manaszszs]

Does it records background fan noises?

[@FIFINE]

Even though it's a dynamic mic that does a great job at background rejection, yes, it still picks up some, especially if that sound is quite loud. But it's still better than what you get from condenser mics.

[@Tijl_K.]

Hi how do you get rgb with the xlr cabel

[@pepelota4351]

Don't have the mic but probably having both connectors connected to the PC, my guess is that the RGB just need to have power connected to work, so you can select de XLR input while delivering power to the RGB via USB C. But again it's a guess

[@polishautistic2137]

you need to connect usb c cable

[@FIFINE]

No, you can't do that. RGB lighting is controlled and powered by the internal sound card of the AM8, which needs a power source from the USB port. So you have to plug in the USB cable as well to get the on-body features of the AM8 to work.

[@RealSteeleGaming]

The pop filter works quite well

[@stretchsgamingchannel]

I noticed that I have to plug in both the USB and the XLR to get it to work. How do I get it to run throught XLR as opposed to USB?

[@FIFINE]

Sorry, we're not quite sure what you mean by "run through XLR as opposed to USB"? All on-body features on the AM8 don't work when you disconnect the USB, because those controls are run through the internal sound card of the AM8 and which is powered by the USB.

[@CalmFrog]

@@FIFINE Do The Button controls on the microphone matter that much when plugged into an audio interface, I think with a 50$ interface you should be able to change the volume and gain and all that stuff from the interface, Correct me if i'am wrong, Never actully used one before

[@tclay26tc]

I have this exact setup but the mic monitoring isn’t working. Any advice?

[@FIFINE]

Did you monitor the audio in USB mode (when connecting the mic through USB jack)?

[@tclay26tc]

I’m using an XLR cable.

[@FIFINE]

@@tclay26tc Oh yes, that it won't work. The monitoring feature is done through the internal sound card of the mic. If the mic is not powered up by the USB, that sound card doesn't work, and so does the monitoring.

[@tclay26tc]

@fifine thanks for the response. Any idea if there will be a firmware update to be compatible with the xlr or an entirely different mixer?

[@FIFINE]

@@tclay26tc Um, no there's not about the update or specific about the AM8. But every mic and mixer works in this way, if you want to use the on-body feature of the mic, you need to connect through the USB. If you want to use the XLR, you need to rely on the mixer. And that's why every mixer comes with a latency-free headphone jack as well. Basically, the USB mode of the AM8 and your mixer are both a sound card, and you can only use one at a time.

[@Manstrual]

When monitoring with the headphone cable, can you hear computer audio as well? Or is it just your voice you hear?

[@FIFINE]

It depends on your choice. Choose the computer output to be the mic, then you can hear sound from your computer as well.

[@timte]

so cheap and SOOO POWERFUL !!

[@Iamlunify]

fifine am8 or k688 ?

[@TechPhD]

It's a bit of a tricky one, because they have a nearly identical sound profile. However the AM8 has a better windscreen to help prevent plosives, but on the other hand, the K688 has a better build quality. I'd recommend going for the K688 if you're not on a tight budget 👌🏾

[@FIFINE]

For gaming and streaming, the AM8 is pretty good enough. But if you do a bit more voice or even vocal recording, then the K688 may fit better.

[@dylanmonaghan3342]

Hey Matey I have a Fifine T669 mic for discord and a bit of content creation, but the issue I have is that I have no sidetone with the current setup. Is it because its a usb mic that I can't get sidetone? Is it worth switching to an XLR option and getting a mixer control the headset and mic outputs? Why is sidetone so overlooked? I hate not hearing the volume I talk at whilst listening to media. Any advice would be much-appreciated cheers.

[@FIFINE]

Um we're sorry about the lack of sidetone on the T669 but this feature is not overlooked. And just a note that the headphone monitoring is basically the same thing as sidetone, and there're quite a lot of USB mics that come with such a function. But it may not be quite worthy it, if you just need the sidetone then upgrade your whole setup. When replacing your current setup with an audio mixer, an XLR mic and the accessories, it may cost you more than $100 to get a decent setup. But since you're using a decent USB mic already, you might have to up the scale a bit more to actually feel and hear the benefits of the upgraded XLR setup. That means the spending may go up to around $150.

[@dylanmonaghan3342]

@@FIFINE headphone monitoring at least from my experience unfortunately comes with the caveat of a noticeable delay, which renders the sidetone useless as the delay affects the way you speak and therefore you can’t speak in full sentences. Is there a usb mic from the fifine range that does support in built sidetone functionality? Therefore I can upgrade my mic and not have to worry about getting a XLR setup with associated preamps? Thanks for the reply

[@FIFINE]

@@dylanmonaghan3342 Um yes, out there on the market, there's a model providing the headphone jack, but it actually plays the audio that was sent to the computer and then was sent back to the mic. That's not the actual live monitoring, that's why we use the word "headphone monitoring" instead of "headphone". And those models with the live monitoring work in the exact same way as the feature of headset sidetone. We have the USB mic A8 that comes with a headphone monitoring jack, but we still think that it may not be worth it to replace the mic in order to hear yourself. Getting another USB mic to replace the old USB mic may not be a good choice either.

[@rynerbell7699]

Anyone find a shock mount for the AM8?

[@FIFINE]

Um, you can search one that's made for Blue Yeti, but tbh, those shock mounts don't really work at vibration absorption.

[@rynerbell7699]

@@FIFINE Thx for responding, I found one 2 days ago that mounts just like the ones you suggested from blue yeti(but off-branded), attached the mic sideways and it works great.

[@1937Brett]

I ware a mask when i stream will it pick me up

[@FIFINE]

It's quite a task for any mic. In this case, we would suggest considering condenser mics that picks up your voice more clearly compared to this AM8 dynamic one.

[@ArthurTully]

your volume is too high, aim for -6 to -8 db

[@KaneD-u2n]

i just gotta be honest though the processing you have on it from the start of the video really accentuates the nasal snorting sound of your voice which was unpleasant, good review though!

[@lostangeleschronicles]

Peter Piper picked a pack of...

[@onissarodriguez7229]

Speaking into its rear end 😂😂😂😂

[@txufx9267]

u look like ksi

[@TechPhD]

I've heard that before, and honestly, I don't see it 🤣🤣🤣. Thanks for watching the video though 🙌🏾

[@StandUp777]

I can hear the popping in your voice. Very loud