Best Budget Microphone for $25? What You Need to Know

Is this the best budget microphone for under $25? Here's everything you need to know about the Fifine 669 and the type kind of sound quality you can expect.

by Aaron Corkin in Production

Last updated 18.07.2024

This is a picture of a person with a brown bob and only the tips of their hair showing in the image. They have a red hoodie and white striped shirt on. They are sat in front of a microphone and a white kit box.Best Budget Microphone

Is this the best budget microphone for under $25? Here's everything you need to know about the Fifine 669 and the type of sound quality you can expect.

Fifine 669 Microphone Review

Buy the Fifine 669 on Amazon USA or Amazon UK.

Out of the box the Fifine 669 comes packaged with everything you need to hit the ground running. That's the microphone, tripod, and USB connector.

For the price, it all feels solid and durable like you would expect with a premium mic. Overall, the design is simple and compared to other mics like the Blue Spark, it’s quite compact, so you can pop it in your bag for journies.

Use it Straight Away Without Fuss

Probably the best thing about the Fifine is how easy it is to setup and use. Usually, microphones need phantom power, XLR cable, and an audio interface just to get it going. The Fifine, on the other hand, has a USB connector for universal plug-n-play. There’s no drivers or software to install, so it just works straight away on any Windows, Mac, or Linux computers.

This is a gif of the Fifine Plug-n-Play in action. A white hand with a silver ring inputs the plug on their mac, and the gif cuts to the mic.

Considering it’s only $25, the performance does surprisingly well. It delivers clear and natural sounding audio without any post-production. But make sure you get up close when recording as it tends to struggle when you are further away.

Comparing Against the Samson C01

As this is a budget mic it’s not for everyone, but it is suitable if you are looking for an affordable solution to record vocals for podcasting and radio broadcasting. But how well does it hold up to something a bit more upmarket like the Samson C01?

This is an over the shoulder shot of the same person with headphones on looking at a macbook screen. On the right is the microphone in question.

Buy the Samson C01 on Amazon USA or Amazon UK.

We tested the Fifine 669 against the Samson C01 to see how it compares. On the first impression, the Samson does considerably better in terms of audio quality. You can really tell a difference as the Fifine just doesn't sound as good. However, the Samson is nearly double the price, twice the size, and doesn't come with its own mic stand. So, there are pros and cons for both sides depending on what you are after.

Is it Really the Best Budget Microphone?

To be honest, the Fifine 669 has surprised us. It’s done a pretty good job of capturing audio. So, it will definitely get the job done for most audio recordings, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you are aiming for something a little more professional. You may want to invest in an XLR mic like the Warm Audio WA-87. You can find the full review to it here.

Overall, it’s a rock solid entry level mic. It’s not perfect for every situation, but for the price, you can’t really go wrong.

What do you think of the Fifine 669? What mic are you currently using and how does it compare? Let us know in the comments below. If you have a question about this or any other studio mics then be sure to contact us at studio@radio.co.