How Good Are Modern Budget Mics? Fifine AM8

How much money do you need to spend to get a good sounding microphone? The Fifine AM8 is an inexpensive USB/XLR mic that was specifically listed for streaming and podcasting, so let’s see how it sounds.

Even though this video focuses specifically on the AM8, I think it's a good representation of the options available at or around the $50 price point. With so many people not only creating content but also working and going to school from home, the need for decent audio is higher than ever.

And of course, this video is not sponsored. Unless you count it as being sponsored by me because I paid for everything. Then yes, this video is sponsored...by me.

⏱️Chapter Markers:
0:00 - Context
1:07 - Design & Build Quality
6:52 - Handling Noise
8:23 - USB Functionality
10:35 - Sound Quality
13:05 - XLR Performance
14:37 - vs. Samson Q2U
16:16 - vs. Lewitt LCT 240 Pro
18:04 - vs. Rode PodMic
19:13 - vs. Sennheiser Profile
20:35 - vs. Neewer NW800
21:28 - Overall Thoughts
22:27 - Law of Diminishing Returns
23:22 - Conclusion

———————————————————————
Affiliate links earn a commission from qualifying purchases which helps support my channel at no additional cost to you.

—————————— SUPPORT THE CHANNEL ——————————

——————————— CONNECT ———————————
Instagram: @sodarntom

——————————— MUSIC ———————————

——————————— VIDEO GEAR ———————————

——————————— MAIN AUDIO GEAR ———————————

—————————— LIGHTS & SUPPORTS ——————————

———————————————————————
———————————————————————
– Who Am I? –

Hi! My name is Tom Buck, a lifelong A/V nerd and former high school Digital Media teacher. I started this channel in 2017 as a project to share my enthusiasm for everything related to audio and video production.

•My channel is open and welcoming to people of all races, ages, genders, and orientations. I’m glad you’re here.

———————————————————————
Episode 397: How Good Are Budget Mics? Fifine AM8

[Sonata-Dawnstar]

I got the Fifine AM8 mic last week. I'm loving it a lot. Really loving my voice through this mic.

[HomesickMac]

This is so calming Tom, you've built up this routine of reviewing the microphones and I know how it's gonna go. The concept is presentation, demo, pros-cons, puns, back to it, then you always have that special angle to things, and of course - the comparizons in the end. That's so valuable! Great review!

[MrSmitheroons]

I love that the USB output sounds so similar to the XLR, at least in your setup. I feel like that would make it very versatile, plug it in wherever you need it and it's the same sound you're used to so you might be able to use all the same settings for effects/processing and whatnot.

Maybe this mic's sound isn't the most detailed and clear, but what is there is a pleasant tone and nothing stands out as harsh or offensive. I could listen to it for a while with zero fatigue, only maybe a slight bit of... I don't want to say boredom, but drifting attention?... after a long while with how soft and nice it is, lol (streamers wanna keep people engaged! Maybe if viewers get too relaxed they'll fall asleep?), but that's much better than a harsh sound in my book.

I liked the Lewitt 240 sound a little better, but I'd still have to think hard choosing between them because the features and use-case aren't 100% the same. (If money were no object I might just pick them both up!)

Great review, I think the comparison mic choices were really helpful to give some context for what you're getting, both for the price and just in general.

[MotoBeemer]

I have the Sennheiser USB and it’s fantastic, the kit with the boom arm works well too. It’s funny my mic progression has always included watching your vids first. It was that, then the MV7, then the excuse to buy two SM7B’s with the RCP2. You are an enabler.

[Uncle_Dandy]

6:00 “this is a big but” was not expecting to hear that on a mic review 😂. I have the AM8 with the Rodecaster Duo. As an audio novice and new content creator it’s a very good place to start!

[spencerfromit]

Could not agree more! I can’t tell you the number of clients I work with that are asking for quality WFH setups and in some cases that’s a light - nicer webcam - and a better microphone and this seems like a fantastic option!

[milesian]

Super thorough and fair review. Bravo, Tom! I am somewhat of a microphone collector and have owned around 20 mics costing between $25 (hello, Behringer XM8500) and $1200 (Neumann TLM103). Current collection sits around 10 mics that I rotate according to mood and sometimes actual needs, hehe. 

As far as this mic goes, I was looking for an inexpensive mic that I could hook up quickly via USB with good audio quality, and I really love it for what it offers and at its price point. I like the way it sounds with my voice, and think it sounds great via USB, making it a really quick mic to setup for online meetings, calls, and even impromptu recordings. I often sing its praises and recommend it to people looking for a mic that sounds excellent and offers good features, provided that you keep it on a stand or boom arm and don't fuss with it while speaking. The mute button on top has come especially handy for online meetings, as it allows me to mute myself without having to move a mouse and mute via software.

[TheCnf]

Absolutely amazing review. You explained it's features, compared it's USB to XLR modes, compared it live to other mics, and even recorded the whole review using it. I was already convinced and ordered the mic even before watching this, now I am certain I made the right choice. Thank you.

[levelupwithmikenewman]

one of the top budget mics for great audio right of the box for those just jumping in - in my opinion. Like you said, Just don't handle it much, boom arm that baby and you're off and running with a great sound! Great video as always!

[MadX]

One of my fav reviews for this mic!

To be honest I'm not an "audio guy" and I was not sure it would be worth the money and boy I was wrong. What I like about your review is that while you know your stuff and you have much better mics available, you still find value in the AM8.

Most reviewers (and people) would try to convince themselves (and us) that because one is more expensive, IT HAS to be better.

You did a good job and I appreciate the honesty here.

[LucaDePazzi]

Hi Tom! I’ve always loved fifine mics. When I started I tested a lot of budget microphones and these are definitely the most reliable. I’ve also noticed they really improved their products after 2020/21, they are listening a lot of the feedbacks from the customers and considering that these are budget mics that’s amazing =)

[workingwiththelight]

I have got it and I love it. It's a bit large for my liking. Works well with my laptop and android phone. Most people will not notice the sound difference between this mic and $200 one.

[RobEdits]

Your videos look so freaking good. Every shot is perfect. That is all.

[levelupwithmikenewman]

Tom! If you want to have some fun, even if you don’t make a video about it, you have to try the k669d. Built like the Podmic and sounds great - for only $37. It defies logic. Throw the original SM7B pop filter on it (the fat one) and its sound will shock you. Like warm melted butter on a biscuit! Only cost you $37 to have some fun for some down time. Bark and I are really high on this as the best pound for pound budget mic out there! 😉

[雨-Raining]

thank god for including 7:45 - 7:55 in the video
while that single-handedly made me uninterested in this microphone
it instantly made this review 100% based

[CoZChristopher]

Great video brother!! I agree! Most microphones in this price arrange across brands like Maono, Fifine, Tonor, etc. are good enough for beginners and these combo types allow you to start affordable and then advance to an Audio Interface later with XLR!! Thanks for sharing your opinion on this!! Cheers!!

[agambhasin]

I have the K688 and its actually a very good cheap alternative to the SM7B both price and sound wise, its still a little bit more present than the 7B but then at the price that it comes at, I think its amazing. I have also ordered the AM8 which comes in tomorrow and I wanna see how good that is. But, one very good thing about these microphones is the fact that they have addressed a very prominent issue that some huge manufacturers like Rode never care to address, and that is the presence of a GAIN DIAL on these microphones, and this is such a blessing, also the mite button is pretty good and handy, I had the NT USB Plus for a while and though it sounded pretty good, the lack of a mute button and gain control on the mic without engaging the Rode software is such an issue for me personally, also the software is kinda different for every mic they make now, the Podmic offers more software features like advanced processing but the NT USB Plus doesn’t. Also, Fifine has somehow managed to bridge the difference between the XLR & USB sound outputs very well and the difference when switching between these inputs is actually pretty minimal and inoffensive, whereas on mics like the Podmic USB, the USB output is prety decent but the XLR is still pretty harsh in the high end. Same for the MV7+, this time their XLR is actually better than the USB sound, which is actually funny bcz the previous gen was kinda the opposite. Personally, I still feel that handheld mics still have an overall edge in the sound quality department, the SM58 & XM8500 are still unbeatable for me, and the Q2U in the hybrid department still shines bright. I feel the newer fifine mics are quite promising and I look forward to using more of them!

[CARfariPark]

Hey Tom, you are 100% responsible for my crippling addiction to Rode products, however, I have just come back from a client job today, and I thought I'd change up some of my gear. I usually run Procasters into my Rodecaster Pro II. Today, I used a set of FDUCE SL40s. They are super cheap dynamics with a yoke. They have definitely gone with a Shure look, but they are definitely budget. I'm so impressed with the sound though. The SL40 produces slightly muddy lows, but it definitely gives a nice thick chesty tone when coupled with some nice settings on the Rodecaster. Build quality is pretty good; solid metal, but the windscreen is naff. I actually bought some nice quality 3rd party SM7B big covers, and WOW, no plossives even when right on top of the mic. All in all, for just under £50 in the UK (including new windscreen), the SL40 sounds great and genuinely not far off the Rode Procaster. The con is likely to be lifespan, but only time will tell. I probably won't use them regularly for client work, but it was a great experiment, especially when they cost a third of a Rode mic.

Thanks for your great reviews and inspiring content.

Cheers, Matt

[GuilDormeus]

The handling noise is a con but man I really love the gain control on that thing! Wish more mics had gain control built in 😅

[lucas_]

The Rode NT USB+ seems to be getting some lower cost competition here...great review, Tom!