Is the Fifine K688 Microphone Worth It? Unboxing and Comprehensive Review
Updated: Oct 21
I've just bagged myself a Fifine K688 Podcast Microphone. It's a dynamic mic and has both USB and XLR connections, making it a solid choice for podcasters, vloggers, and streamers.
After conducting some audio tests, I thought it was pretty good. If I didn't have my voiceover stuff set up and ready to go all the time, I'd probably use the Fifine for meetings on Zoom/Teams etc. It's the ease of use that is the huge selling point for me here. You plug it in and it just works!
Although it doesn't meet my high standards required for professional voiceover work, it's more than capable of being an important tool in a digital broadcaster's arsenal.
Let's dig a bit deeper and look at its features, strengths, weaknesses, and some practical applications for this budget (£60-£80) microphone.
Unboxing the Fifine K688
Yes, yes, I can't believe I've done an unboxing video either but here we are. (For reference, the mic I'm using for these videos is the Rode VideoMic Me-C, which you can read all about here. It plugs straight into your phone charging port.)
Here's the video breakdown:
0:00 The box and it's delivery
0:50 Look at what they did to my box!
1:00 The grand opening
1:28 The reveal
1:38 Boom arm adapter
1:46 USB cable (I get confused by naming conventions)
2:08 The Fifine microphone in all its glory
2:18 The weight
2:25 Connections and knobs and things
2:49 The shock mount isn't built in
3:06 First impressions
3:25 The shock mount IS built in
3:51 USB cable PART 2 - The Revelation
Design and Build Quality of K688
When taking the Fifine K688 out of the box, it really feels quite sturdy (and for tactile sensation fans, it's nice to hold). When I was first looking at the mic on... c'mon, you know where I got it!... due to the price I was concerned that it might feel like a cheap build. This isn't the case at all. It's chunky and feels solid (you can hear me in the video expressing my surprise at the weight) - the attached shock mount helps with that I think, but the smooth metal body definitely gives me a good first impression.
Now I'm sure I'm not going to drop it, and I'm certainly not going to test this theory, but the build quality suggests it wouldn't break easily - again this gets an assist from the shock mount. I'm not as paranoid about damaging it as I am with my condensers.
When I attached it to my Rode PSA1 boom arm, I found it to be heavy enough to counteract the mechanism i.e. it didn't fly up to the ceiling.
But as we know, it's all about the sound...
Connectivity and Setup of K688
A great feature of this mic is its dual connections.
You can use it with the included EIGHT POINT TWO FOOT LONG USB cable - which to me is exactly the point of these sorts of product - you buy a USB mic for the ease of it, right?
But you can also use it with an XLR cable if you have an audio interface, which of course adds a lot more expense into the equation. If you're on a budget, surely you'd just go for the plug and play option. Because it really does just work as soon as you plug it in.
But I guess this flexibility makes it suitable for both beginners and more advanced users. Or does it?
I did a quick test of the microphone plugged into my interface and it didn't seem to have any difference. It didn't give it any extra oomph (unless I whacked the interface mic gain right up), it doesn't need phantom power (actually if you turn phantom power on, it cuts out the mic) and the dials on the mic don't work any more (because you use the interface to control it).
For me, there isn't any point to using it with an interface. It's the same mic, just connected a different way.
If you've got an interface you probably already have a condenser mic. If not, you should get one. I talk about a couple of condensers in this voiceover equipment blog.
This video contains bits about plugging in the cables, initial impressions of the microphone and a few other bits and bobs. I wanted to document as much as I could so you get a good idea of every step. Also, I was doing it LIVE. I hadn't set up the mic beforehand, this was me working it out as I went!
Here's the breakdown:
0:00 Screwing the shock mount onto a boom arm EXCITING
0:40 Plugging in the USB cable EVEN MORE EXCITING
1:06 The microphone is on!
1:22 Plugging headphones in
1:36 Testing the microphone with headphone monitoring
2:00 First impressions
2:13 Changing settings in system volume mixer, noise
3:14 Rear of microphone
Settings and Controls
As you would expect for a plug and play microphone, the K688 features built in controls including microphone gain knob and headphone volume (located on the back/bottom). These knobs feel nice and firm with a fair amount of friction, allowing for good adjustments. You can barely see the notches to show what level you're at though. They should be white.
In the photo below you can also see the XLR, USB and headphone sockets. In the video I mentioned that it felt/looked like my headphones didn't plug in far enough. On further inspection that's actually nothing to do with the mic, rather my cable has a weird lip on it that makes it appear like it hasn't gone in properly, when actually it has. Grrr.
There’s also a mute button on the top (which I discovered after making the video!), which is really easy to use. It's green when the mic is ON and red when the mic is OFF.
The button is touch sensitive, so it doesn't actually feel like you're doing anything when you 'press' it. I like that from a user experience perspective. Slick!
Audio Quality
The audio performance of the Fifine K688 is good. Not excellent, but definitely capable of holding it's own when recording podcasts and the like. It's important to remember that I'm used to working with a really sensitive microphone that captures every subtlety and nuance of the voice. I'm also usually in a soundproof box.
My main issue is that the maximum output was too quiet. When I'm monitoring myself in the headphones, I like to be able to hear it at least as loud as I could hear myself when talking in everyday situations. This felt a bit quieter than that.
I had both mic gain and headphone volume at maximum levels and it wasn't at a level I'm used to.
That said, the audio quality is clear and crisp. In fact, when comparing it to my desk mic (Rode NT1A), there was less room/background noise coming through from the Fifine. The K688 has a cardioid polar pattern, which isolates the main sound source and minimizes background noise. And like I mentioned, condenser mics like the Rode are more sensitive and will pick up EVERYTHING.
The frequency response range of 50 Hz to 16 kHz means the K688 won't capture the full depth of lower frequencies - which is why it's not the best choice for voiceover work.
Compare audio between the Fifine K688 and the Rode NT1a
Here's a recording from the Fifine K688 whilst sat at my desk, where my computer is. This is where, if I was to record a podcast with this mic, I'd be sitting. There has been no processing whatsoever. This is with the Fifine at max mic gain. You can hear some noise but nothing you couldn't eliminate with some processing/editing.
And for comparison, here's a recording in the same environment, using my Rode NT1a. There has been no processing whatsoever. This is with my audio interface gain set to about 8. You can hear more bottom end noise because the Rode has a wider frequency response.
It's most likely that you'll process your audio after recording to even out levels and to boost them. So not being able to hear as well whilst recording, isn't a major problem. Just take one side of the headphones off!
The waveform on the left is the Fifine. The one on the right is the Rode NT1a.
When looking at this, consider that the Rode is powered through the interface, which allows much more control over the gain, but was not set to maximum like the Fifine.
For maximum gain, the Fifine seemed low to me.
Practical Uses of the Fifine K688
Podcasting/streaming: The K688 will really excel in this area, providing clear and professional-sounding audio. Because of its ability to minimize background noise, it's particularly useful for home studios. If you do any kind of editing after recording, you can get this sounding pretty sweet indeed.
Vlogging: The microphone’s lightweight design and ease of use would make it a great companion for vloggers who need something on the go.
Voiceover practice: There's absolutely no reason you couldn't use this as a practice mic when you first start out. Actually I know many VOs who used a USB mic for YEARS into their career. I wouldn't advise it though.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Versatile Connectivity: USB and XLR options provide flexibility for different setups. Although I'm yet to figure out why you'd plug it in to XLR when it has USB. Plugging in with XLR won't make it a better mic.
Clear Audio Quality: For the price, the audio is great. You really can't complain when you literally plug it in and it works. USB mics have come a long way and this is proof of that. (Remember those thin plastic mics you used to get with a PC?!)
Sturdy Build: Durable and stylish design. We all like cool looking gadgets, right? RIGHT?!
User-Friendly Controls: Easy-to-use gain knobs and mute button. However, I can't see round corners so I'd prefer the mic gain/headphone volume knobs to be on the side so I can see them.
Cons
Limited Frequency Response: Not suitable for capturing lower frequencies, which will limit the practical uses.
No XLR Cable Included: You’ll need to purchase this separately if you plan to use this connection. Why though? Why?!
Conclusion
I think the Fifine K688 Podcast Microphone is a decent choice for podcasters, vloggers, and streamers looking for a reliable mic. It's especially good value for money (retailing between £60 and £80), so even better for those starting on a budget. And even if you do have loads of money, don't spend it all straight away. Have a play first to make sure you enjoy what you're setting out to do.
While it may not be the best option for professional voiceover work due to its limited frequency response, it performs really well in delivering clear and crisp audio for spoken word applications. It's sturdy and it's user-friendly and a valuable addition to any content creator’s toolkit.
This review contains some links to Amazon so I can make a few pennies if you buy anything after clicking through. It really is pennies though, so make sure to buy something really expensive!
If there's something else you'd like me to take a look at and review, do let me know.
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