fifine Tank3 vs AM8, PD200X, K688, MV7, SM7B, and more! Let's Put it to the Test!
The Amplitank Tank3 - Put to the Test! AT $89, can a 16bit, 48hz XLR/USB combo mic really be THIS good? #fifine @FIFINE
fifine Tank3 (amazon) - amzn.to/42Xrb3J
15% off discount code: 15FIFINETANK3
End date: 03/22/2024 11:59 PM PS
Samson Q9u: amzn.to/46kG4OH
Shure SM7B: amzn.to/42UsDC3
Shure MV7: amzn.to/3piy93U
Maono PD200x - amzn.to/46u1pFD
Maono PD400X: amzn.to/42ZQfp0
fifine K688: amzn.to/42Q8kpD
fifine AM8: amzn.to/3CGUmLQ
fduce SL40: amzn.to/3uVC6hI
WS2 Pop Filter: amzn.to/437OSGv
Video:
Sony ZV-E10 - Sony ZV-E10 - amzn.to/3MSHSHm
OBSBOT Tail Air - amzn.to/4bBdYkZ
Lenses Used to make this video:
Sigma 16mm F1.4 Sony E-Mount Lens - amzn.to/3V1rJSh
Sigma 30mm F1.4 Sony E-Mount Lens - amzn.to/3L7IW99\
Audio Interfaces:
Rodecaster Duo - amzn.to/3sxiAqq
fifine SC1 - amzn.to/4c15xQ0
Lights:
RALENO LED PANEL LIGHTS - amzn.to/42X4YTn
SmallRig RC120b - amzn.to/45Xy6tu
SmallRig softbox - amzn.to/47owyd2
Elgato Key Light Air - amzn.to/40sRq0A
Logitech Litra Beam - amzn.to/40A0TmP
Raleno 80W LED Light - amzn.to/40qKbpO
Neewer 24x24 Soft Box - amzn.to/49r5QlPOBSBot Tiny 2: amzn.to/3sBC8Kv
chapter markers:
0:00 - intro
0:42 - full disclosure
1:15 - first impressions
2:29 - what came in the box
3:43 - build quality and design
6:20 - air conditioner noise rejection
6:42 - USBC mode and features
9:42 - mic XLR comparisons
9:54 - fifine am8
10:57 - fduce SL40
11:48 - Maono PD200X
12:49 - Samson Q9U
13:55 - Maono PD400X
14:57 - fifine K688
16:28 - Shure MV7
17:08 - Shure SM7B
18:31 - Mic comparison final thoughts
20:49 - Pros & cons
22:48 - final thoughts
23:38 - my final grade
The more I listen to it and hear comparisons, the more this microphone feels perfect. It's such a well balanced sound! Unlike the MV7 which sounds thin on my voice or the Fduce which is too boomy, man, the Fifine is so much cheaper than some others but offer so much more in terms of sound! Seems like it takes eq pretty well too. Great review man!
Couldn’t have said better myself!!! I’ve never had a mic make me look at the MV7 or SM7B differently in this way before. Such a steal considering the performance you get at the significantly smaller cost you pay. 👍🏻 thanks for your feedback on the Tank3!!!
I have the Fifine AM8 and absolutely love it. It does a good job of noise rejection and makes your voice sound great. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you for a great review.
Thank you !
Thanks Yvonne! I truly appreciate all the time you spent watching the videos today!!! Let me know if there is a mic out there you would like for me to review that I haven’t done yet and I’ll try to add it to the list 👍🏻
Great video thanks
Thank you! I truly appreciate it 👍🏻
Thanks for the in-depth review! Would you recommend this mic over the K688? I have a deep voice and I only plan on using the mic to talk to friends through discord
They will both do a great job for spoken word. It just comes down to the difference in build quality if it matters. The Tank3 is better at plosives, but if you throw a SM7B pop filter on it (the smaller one) it solves the plosives problem and you spent the same price. They are both great, just comes down to which you like better. 👍🏻 you’ll love either one honestly! My son uses the k688 for discord and I can’t get him to try a different mic to save my life. lol.
If your use environment isn't quite noisy, maybe you can consider the condenser mics with a lower price tag instead for Discord chat. But if you do like the sound of a dynamic mic and need better background rejection. Tank3 with its not-so-much-dark sound can fit your voice better than most the other dynamic ones.
Nice video. Being Italian, however, I found it quite difficult to understand everything. So I wanted to ask you: I'm undecided whether to buy the Fduce SL40 or the Fifine AM8. What do you recommend me to buy? Is there a favorite microphone of yours under €100? Thank you
Honestly, my favorite is the fifine k669d with the fat SM7B on it. Like melted butter and bread 🥖!! I prefer the sound of the am8 out of the box, has life and energy. Great at noise rejection. The build quality and desk noise are the knocks. So when I use it, I boom arm it, attach the boom arm to my other desk so you can hear the desk vibrations and bumps. But my favorite setup is the k669d with that pop filter. Paired together ….audio is fantastic and competes with $200 mics and even the SM7B as far as quality sound you get!
@@levelupwithmikenewman tysm
Your content is great. Comparison is deep and has taste (keep putting your taste on it, that's what we search for on those reviews -- shortcuts). Your thumbnails are not good though.
Thank you!! And I LOVE feedback! Thumbnails are still A work in progress! I SERIOUSLY struggle with them. No denying that!!! 😂🤣 Curious as to your thoughts, I honestly love your feedback….what do you feel it needs for it to stand out???
One question, closed room scenario, meeting and conversation in casual games, which is the best dynamic for up to $100, which sound system would indicate value for money? I'm thinking about the K669D + SC3
That will do you just fine. The Vocaster one is just $69 I would grab that before it goes back to $100. But if you are just gonna run with the audio you capture during content, not gonna bother with any post processing or getting fancy with your audio, 16bit will be fine. The extreme majority of everyday viewers/listeners are not gonna distinguish the difference. 👍🏻
@@levelupwithmikenewman Thanks bro
Hello Guy ! Good video ! I have the AM8 do you council me to buy the tank 3 ?
That depends. I personally like the sound the AM8 gives my voice better than any fifine mic. My issues that keep my from using it more often is that it doesn’t stay tight on my boom arm and moves around and the build quality. The tank 3 will just last longer and will hold its position longer when in a boom arm if you move the arm around a lot.
Good to see this review. Agree that this is pitched against the Podmic and the PD400X. Like the PD it sounds very wide and even, it doesn't modify the original sound. Too many of the other broadcast styled mics seem to chase the Night Caller radio vibe. It's worth remembering that the Podmic wants to double the price to get XLR/USB and you cannot use both at once. The PD400X has its built in DSP processing & software which probably excuses its higher price point. If you pick the right moment you can get deals on the PD direct from maono in China which brings the fight closer. It would be handy if you could compare handling noise, cable movement, and body shell noise across the K688, TANK3 and the PD400X. If I'm remembering correctly those were the weak points of the K688. It was fine (fi-fine lol) in an arm if nothing moved at all, but very sensitive to everything like that. It was like the sockets rattled the capsule! PS: As one of our UK comedians used to say, "were you wearing someone else's teeth?" A lot of struggles getting your words out today. Good of you to show us reality with a raw single take.
Thanks!!!! I actually just ordered the Rode Podmic usb for one more video to compare it to as well focusing on handling noises and noise rejection, and usb audio comparisons. Going to be on k688, am8, pd400x, MV7 and Podmic usb. 👍🏻👍🏻
I wish you would have compared this to the Fifine K669D. I was debating on getting this Tank 3 or the K669D for some time. I went with the K669D due to the low price. I do like the K669D.
My next video is actually going to be the k699d, k699c, and the tank 3 comparison. 👍🏻.
Hey Chad, great to know that you like the K669D. Even if there're differences in the quality or the tone, you can offset some of the drawbacks or color the mic by using interfaces with different characteristics.
@@FIFINE Thanks. Yeah, I have my K669D plugged into the Vocaster One. Sounds great.
@@chadsfishingtales1470 Cool! Thanks again for the support!
Just posted an in depth comparison 👍🏻 hope it helps with which mic you decide to get!
May I ask if it can handle plosives well in your perspective? Because sometimes there are mics with built-in pop filters that either sounds great or just not that good 😅 (Im just picky on buying another layer of pop filter on mics with built-ins already because I just don’t trust it)
I was very surprised at how well it handles plosives. It performed as well at plosive rejection as mics twice the price and higher, and thought it outperformed all the other mics under $100 that I tested. It wasn’t perfect, but I do remember how little they popped on my audio when going back to listen for my final thoughts. It blew away the MV7, wasn’t even close.
@@levelupwithmikenewmanThanks for the response 😁 May I also ask another question (its not related to the video so I apologize) Because im planning buying this What do you recommend a better audio mixer? Since I saw the maono amc2 neo on your other review a few months back and I also want to buy it for streaming in the future Is it your absolute pick on how both cheap and good it is? (Because I want to find a mixer that is a cheaper option but also a great one) If you have another better option, what is it?
Perfect question! You come to the right place, it's one of the best dynamic mics that can handle plosives, and we're saying that in the circumstance of no external pop filters being attached. Leave alone the tone and audio that could be a little bit more personal, just the plosive rejection, again it's one of the best out there.
Would you say the handling noise and shock absorption on this mic is similar to those with the same mounting style? I’m finding it really bad compared to my existing XM8500, but am curious if it’s just this mic, or more to do with the mounting style.
Handhelds generally outperform yokes of studio mics. Especially the 8500. I will say this had the best performance of this style yoke that I have tested to date though. 👍🏻 I was very impressed compared to the rest in the review.
Sorry about that! The resonance was improved compared to the K688 mainly because of the compact shape and heavy weight. Did you also have a more dynamic mic to do the comparison? The handheld shape of the XM8500 makes it more compact than the Tank3, so it will suffer less from bass resonance caused by vibration when both of them are put on a stand instead of being hand held. If you find the vibration is really an issue, you can consider getting the shock mounts like those built for Blue Yeti.
@@FIFINEI've only handhelds with the Shure A55M to test against. To be fair, Zoom, etc. suppress this extra noise as well as noise suppression in OBS, so I think its fine for most users. Otherise I love everything else about this mic.. USB, with mute and a gain knob that are easily accessible, just what I've been after.
hows this mic compared to am8? i did hear the sound comparison but tbh they do sound pretty similar to me, and you probably know much more than that so thats why im asking-
I personally think that the AM8 had the best sound right out of the box. You don’t even have to EQ it for it to sound amazing. The Tank 3 still has a good sound though, but MUCH better build quality and has better handling noise rejection.
I'm looking to buy two usb dynamic microphones to start podcasting. Can you help me decide between Tank 3, Am8, and K688?
100% honest, if price isn’t an issue I would personally start a podcast using the Tank3. Great build quality, smooth and balanced performance and great price. The others are great at something but have weakness in one of those 3. The Tank3 is strong in all 3.
@@levelupwithmikenewmanWhich one do you suggest between Am8, K688, and Moano PD200X to start podcasting using the usb option? I would have loved to have Tank3 but currently its not available in my country.
@@sanjulaacharya976 I would probably get the PD200x, build quality is slightly better, and it is more sturdy on a boom arm, and you have the companion app to use for usb mode.
por calidad / precio el ganador es: Maono pd400x, sin duda el mejor!
Do you know any microphone interfaces under 100$ that wouldn't buzz? Cause I'm looking to get a new one, but I'm afraid its gonna buzz when I put a lot of gain on it.
CAD makes a great one, 24 bit audio. Mackie makes a good one too for around $70, Probably the two best value under $100 with 2 xlr inputs. The Vocaster One is under a $100, 70db of built in gain to boot for clean high powered audio as well. The Vocaster line is my absolute favorite for podcast/livestreaming/gaming regardless of price outside of the Rodecaster interfaces👍🏻
@@levelupwithmikenewman Thank you so much, I will definitely look into the products listed.
I just got the Vocaster One to replace an Audient Id4 that fell apart - the price was right. Very happy with it one day in. Just what I wanted, but may be lacking for some people.
@@jasonish they also did a software/firmware update that allows you to adjust and customize your EQ/compression even more too. That was huge for me personally that sealed the deal as my second favorite interface next to the Rodecaster duo👍🏻
which one would you choose between the am8 and the pd200x?
Ooooo. Good question. It honestly depends. If I needed a mic that I didn’t need to eq, set and forget it on my boom arm…it would be the AM8. Just a ground sounding mic. At this price point though every mic has it warts. For the AM8, it is hard tighten it with the tension screw, just won’t get tight enough, no companion app for adjusting the tone in USB if you don’t have the ability in your streaming software. If those are issue for you go PD200x. It’s a little mid forward, but great value for this mic. If you plan to set it and forget it, not touch it….it will sound really awesome and it’s noise rejection is amazing too. Just depends on what YOU want out of your mic, which compromises you’re willing to accept in a budget mic.
There is definitely a niche for this mic at this price point. I love the sound of my AM8, but the plastic build, atrocious handling noise and silly RGB lights could be deal breakers for a lot of people. If the Tank 3 offers equally good audio quality it’s definitely a winner.
💯 % agree. The handling noise it what keeps me from using the AM8 as much as I would like. I only use it in my rotation for voice overs for b-roll. I am too hands on with my mics to use it in the videos and livestreams. 😢
😂Hahah, thanks for sharing your views, it's good to know at least you like both the audio quality of the AM8 and Tank3.
If they ever decide to give the AM8 as an xlr only, metal body …I’d straight up melt! 🙏🏻🫠
The tank 3 is my go to mic at the moment.... I have a review of it as well. Check it out if you want.
It sounded smooth on your voice as well. Always great to hear other reviews and the mics on different voices👍🏻
@levelupwithmikenewman your review was so detailed. I loved it. Between the k699d and the tank 3, why would any content creator need any other mic?...lol
@@BacktotheRetroReview thanks!!! Keep rockin them videos!!!
@@levelupwithmikenewman I'm going to try...
Personally i like the sound of the PD200X
Definitely a great option for those who love mics with a mid-forward presence!
Is it sensitive when typing on the keyboard?
Not as sensitive as almost all condenser mics, but neither as quiet as some bass-forward dynamic mics, like our AmpliGame AM8 when it comes to the noise rejection of keyboards or mice.
Does a great job. Not on the level of an Earthworks Ethos, blue Sona or Sm7B. But those are $400 mics. For $89 it does a really good job compared to other mics in this price range. Much better than any condenser mic in the $50-100 price point. 👍🏻 throw a Rode WS2 pop filter on it and it really helps with that as well! 👍🏻
Is this microphone suitable for girls? The voice is not so low
I think it's great mic for girls, has just the right touch of lew end for a full voice with some pop at the top!
The slim shape may fit the girl better. As for the sound quality, if your voice is a bit high-pitched like most girls are, the one with more noticeable lows to color your voice rounder could be slightly better. But either of them is not a bad choice and even some of the other mics showed in the video.