If you are in the market for a professional microphone then you know how expensive they can get. It is a challenge to find something that is able to deliver decent performance while at the same time keeping the debt collectors away. Thankfully, the Fifine T669 Microphone aims to be that middle ground. For under R1,000, you can pick up a well-built, feature-packed microphone that is great for not only streaming but also podcast recording, YouTube videos and so much more. I would go as far as to say that this microphone is so great and has such amazing value that you should totally set it up for your Zoom meetings, online classes and whatever you’re doing.
Sure, you can’t compare this Fifine T669 Microphone with a top-of-the-range studio mic and there are some issues like clipping and the limited connectivity might be a problem but damn, this thing costs less than a grand.
Fifine T669 Microphone Tech Specs
- Sampling Rate: 1 Channel, 16bit, 48000Hz
- Frequency Response: 20 – 20kHz
- Sensitivity: 34dB +/-30%
- S/N Ratio: 78dB
- Connectivity: USB 2.0
- Capsule: Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Materials: Metal and plastic
Fifine T669 Microphone Design
The Fifine T669 Microphone comes in some pretty average packaging but inside is where the product shines. In the box, you’ll get the microphone itself that is made from metal. The mic is coated in a matte-like plastic that gives it grip and will help prevent scratches. The same is said for the microphone vent at the top that protects the condenser microphone. The outer vent features an omnidirectional pattern that can’t be changed. Keep this in mind if you’re looking for something else. At the bottom, there’s a USB port for connectivity, on the front, there is a gain control dial. On the outer rim, there’s a rotating swivel that is used to connect to the various additions in the box.
The first additional connector is the tripod. This is great for desk work and is most likely the connector you are going to use most of the time. The tripod screws into the rotating swivel and allows the microphone to prop up. This is the only way to stand the Fifine T669 Microphone up without using the mechanical desk arm. The stand is quite sturdy and the various leg positions let me either stand the microphone up straight-ish or bend them downwards for a lower position. The combination of the tripod and the rotating fastener at the back of the Fifine T669 Microphone means the device is quite versatile.
There’s also a boom arm and a shock mount. Fifine has also included a nice pop filter in the box because you can never have enough of those. Last but not least, there’s a foam windscreen cover which is the most important tool when it comes to voice recording. The boom arm includes a desk clamp that let me mount the entire arm onto my desk. As a result, the entire contraption can move up and down with ease.
Considering everything that comes in the box, you have quite an awesome package of tools for voice recording. The Fifine T669 Microphone is extremely versatile when it comes to how you install and set it up offering enough of the basics to deliver a worry-free voice session. Sure, the desk crank and boom arm might be a mission to get going but once it is installed and mounted correctly, I was good to go. I was impressed by the sheer amount of add-ons in this package considering the device’s price point.
Fifine T669 Microphone Performance
I am no professional sound recorder by any means. I use microphones for video reviews mainly where I speak into the mic, extract the sound and slap it over a bunch of video game clips. It is harder than it sounds, trust me. For the most part, I don’t have anything to complain about when it comes to the Fifine T669 Microphone performance. Just like almost every microphone out there, audio recording from the device needs a cleanup which is expected. I used this microphone for both video reviews in recent weeks including the Resident Evil Village one and Biomutant. You can listen to them down below:
Resident Evil Village
Biomutant
If anything, I did very little to these audio recordings to clean up the voice. I pumped up the volume a little, slightly reduced the noise and added the tiniest amount of compression. I did notice a bit of clipping in one of the recording clips which I fixed by adjusting the gain dial on the microphone itself. I never had to rotate it past the 11-o-clock position which is great too. Of course, this all depends on how close the Fifine T669 Microphone is when you are recording.
This dial basically increases the sensitivity so you can in theory use it for a group podcast set up in the middle of a bunch of people and max this dial out. The Fifine T669 Microphone would then capture everyone’s voice. I loved how accessible this dial was making it easy to monitor the input and quickly adjust it if need be.
However, I did wish there was a mute button on the mic too. It would just add a much-needed feature to the device. Sure, I could just mute it on my Mac but it would have made things a little easier especially when recording and stopping all the time for chapters in the voice over.
Is it practical? Most definitely. The fact that everything in the box is something you will use in some way or another makes the Fifine T669 Microphone already a great sell. Not to mention, this is as basic of a microphone as you can get and while that sounds like a bad thing, it is actually a good thing. You see, the Fifine T669 Microphone isn’t complicated. Even for someone who has never used a microphone before, you just plug it in and it works. The clamps and addition tools help improve the everyday experience which makes this a lot less complicated for the general user.
Of course, the real work comes from the programs and apps you will use with it. You can opt for the basics or get something professional but the USB support means you are limited to only that method for connectivity. This should be fine for most people. Be it a streamer who is using it for gaming, someone recording podcasts or even someone like me who used it to make videos for YouTube.
Fifine T669 Microphone Verdict
The Fifine T669 Microphone packs some incredible value for money and is a fantastic option when looking at investing in a microphone for some reason or another. You can’t go wrong for less than R1000 here.
This Fifine T669 Microphone review was based on a loan unit sent to us by Syntech. You can find out more about it here.
