The $55 Mic That Earned a Permanent Spot on My Desk (Despite Its Flaws)

When we started testing mics for casual creators and streamers here at TechInform, I honestly wasn’t expecting much from the FIFINE AM8. It’s under $60, looks like something you’d impulse-buy during a late-night Amazon scroll, and it’s from a brand that’s… let’s say, “enthusiastic” in their product descriptions.

But after plugging it in, giving it a few honest spins, and stacking it up against some pricier gear, I gotta say: the AM8 punches way above its weight class — especially if you’re recording straight to USB. In fact, it’s now the microphone I keep permanently set up at my desk.

That said… it’s not all good news.

What the FIFINE AM8 Actually Is

Dual-Mode: USB & XLR Flexibility

The AM8 is a dynamic microphone with both USB and XLR outputs. That means beginners can plug it straight into a laptop, while more advanced users can integrate it into a proper audio interface or mixer down the road. This kind of dual connectivity isn’t totally unique, but it’s usually found in pricier mics.

Via USB, you also get real-time monitoring with a headphone jack, a gain knob that has a satisfying bit of resistance, and even a tap-to-mute button with an LED indicator — a small touch, but super useful when you forget you muted yourself mid-stream (guilty).

RGB, Because Why Not?

There’s a customizable RGB ring that lights up around the base. It’s completely optional, controllable via a button on the mic, and honestly, it’s more tastefully done than I expected. It saves your last setting too, which is a thoughtful little bonus.

Frequency Response and Clarity

With a 50Hz–16kHz frequency range, the mic aims for intelligibility over bass-heavy warmth. And that mostly holds true in real-world use — more on that in a sec. It’s cardioid, meaning it focuses on sound in front of the mic and rejects a decent amount from the sides.

What It’s Like to Actually Use

I ran three audio tests — raw, EQ’d, and one to capture the flaws — and all are embedded in the post. Here’s the breakdown.

Raw Test (USB Only):

FiFine AM8 RAW Audio Test

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At about 2 inches away, the sound was clean, present, and didn’t pick up too much room noise. It lacks some of the low-end richness you get with more expensive mics, but that actually made it perfect for Zoom calls and livestreams — less boomy, more intelligible.

With Post-Processing:

FiFine AM8 With Post-Processing Audio Test

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Once I added EQ and compression, the mic opened up. You start to hear more ambient noise — a fish tank filter and a network switch under my desk became more noticeable — but that’s mostly the compression doing its thing. When I stayed in front of it, the voice quality was genuinely solid. The AM8 also responded well to EQ tweaks, letting me add a bit more warmth and brightness without making things sound artificial.

But Now, The Bad:

Here’s the deal — the mic sounds good, but it feels cheap. And that has real consequences.

FiFine AM8 With Post-Processing Audio Test (Showing Off Issues)

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If you tap the mic’s body or even the boom arm it’s connected to, the sound travels right through. Worse, if you bump the USB or XLR cable — even a few feet away — you get a loud, unpleasant thud. It’s like the whole mic is a reverb chamber. That’s likely due to the plastic housing, which doesn’t isolate vibrations well at all.

This isn’t a mic you want to move mid-recording. Even small shifts can introduce unwanted noise. If you’re a fidgeter, or someone who tends to adjust their mic while talking, you’ll need to unlearn that habit fast.

Trevor Score: 7/10 — Sounds Great, Feels… Not So Great

This isn’t a formal review — it’s just how I felt using this thing. A gut-check from someone who actually used it.

The FIFINE AM8 is one of the best-sounding budget mics I’ve tested. It’s versatile, clean, and surprisingly tweakable with a bit of EQ. But the build quality absolutely holds it back. The plastic frame transfers vibrations way too easily, and that means you have to treat it more gently than you’d expect — especially for a “desk mic.”

Still, for the price? You’d be hard-pressed to find something that delivers this kind of sound without dipping into the triple digits.

Final Verdict: A Great Sounding Mic That Needs a Softer Touch

I went into this test with low expectations. I left impressed — but with caveats. The FIFINE AM8 sounds good enough to earn a spot on my desk, but it needs to stay there. This isn’t a mic you move, bump, or fiddle with on the fly. As long as you treat it gently and keep the cable stable, you’ll be rewarded with clean, podcast-ready audio at a price that almost feels too low.

🎧 And hey — not all RGB is cringe. This one? Actually kind of slick.