$10 Mini Microphone actually good? (vs XM8500, iPhone Audio, K669D & more) | Stash or Smash EP2

The Mini Microphone (Uniwit K2) is surprisingly popular… the amount of reviews, and positive reviews out there is astounding! But is it actually worth buying? Yes it’s cheap, but saving money is sometimes the best option. So today I do a Stash or Smash review (episode #2) and decide whether this product is worth recommending or if I need to SMASH IT!!!! 💥🔨
Mic comparison includes:
Saramonic SmartMic 5S
Behringer XM8500
FiFine K669D
Mini Mic Uniwit K2
IPhone 15 internal Mic
Check out the testing and audio samples and see if this is right for you! Every person has different expectations of audio gear. If the features are what you need, and you like the sound, then it is right for you!
Thanks for watching the Audio Hotline! I'll see you Audio Nerds next time!
======PRODUCTS IN REVIEW======
*Affiliate Links Below*
Mini Mic Link (Amazon): amzn.to/3vYi7z7
Rode TRRS to TRS Adapter: geni.us/rode_trrs_to_trs_ah
Cheaper Røde Alternative TRRS to TRS Adapter:
B&H: bhpho.to/3OnfNrG
Amazon: amzn.to/49llRct
Inexpensive Mics I recommend:
Behringer XM8500 Mic: geni.us/xm8500_ah
FiFine K669D Mic: geni.us/k669D_ah
FiFine K669C Condenser Mic: geni.us/k669C_ah
If there is something else that you want to buy and you would like to help me out by clicking an affiliate link... Here are some storewide affiliate links!
Amazon: amzn.to/3pD2BlK
B&H: bhpho.to/386jhd5
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/kjqd6v
==================
======Audio Hotline Info======
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @audiohotline
Website: audiohotlinegear.com
E-Mail: audiohotline@gmail.com
Instagram: audiohotline
MERCH: teespring.com/stores/audiohotline
==========
==== TIMESTAMPS =====
Mini Mic Introduction: 0:00 - 1:29
What comes with the Uniwit K2: 1:29 - 1:59
Build Quality: 1:59 - 2:33
Why this mic isn’t a good value: 2:33 - 2:51
Standard Audio Tests: 2:51 - 4:22
Kitty Purr Test!: 4:22 - 4:54
Untreated room: 4:54 - 5:48
Guitar Test: 5:48 - 6:07
iPhone Audio VS Mini Mic: 6:07 - 7:22
Mic Comparisons: 7:22 - 9:42
My Review / Opinion: 9:42 - 11:49
SMASH TIME!!!!: 11:49 - 13:47
Outro and a Note: 13:47 - 14:43
===========
|=== GEAR I USE TO MAKE MY VIDEOS (w/ affiliate links) ===|
|== VIDEO GEAR ==|
Cameras:
Sony A7IV: geni.us/sony_a7iv_ah
Sony A7SIII: geni.us/sony_a7siii_ah
Sony ZV-E1: geni.us/zve1_ah
BlackMagic 6k G2: geni.us/bm6kg2_ah
Lenses:
24mm f1.4 GM: geni.us/sony_24mm_ah
35mm f1.4 GM: geni.us/sony_gm_35mm_ah
Sony 90mm G Macro: geni.us/sony_90mm_ah
Sigma 50mm f1.4: geni.us/sigma_50mm_ah
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 (for 6k G2): geni.us/sigma1835_ah
|== AUDIO ==|
Hercules Mic Stand:
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/QOdG1Y
Amazon: amzn.to/2XaHnzK
B&H: bhpho.to/2Rz4SwS
Motu M2:
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/e4ZQ7g
B&H: bhpho.to/3p160ty
Zoom F6:
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/7m0DN3
Amazon: amzn.to/3oc6FqO
B&H: bhpho.to/3kTOUu1
Mogami XLR:
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/oe6G9g
Amazon: amzn.to/2NiXNSp
B&H: bhpho.to/2NJ5tLi

Пікірлер: 38

  • @AudioHotline
    @AudioHotline5 ай бұрын

    A couple quick notes: I forgot to give this mic a BBSAR rating (Bark and Bronson's Standardized Audio Rating). I would say it's a BBSAR 3/10 which means it's "Not Worth Buying." It's not absolutely terrible overall; it's just goofy, and you can get a solid mic for not much more money. If you want it because it is funny, go for it! For how cheap it is, I will admit I expected worse. However, once I heard it compared to the XM8500, I realized just how much the Mini Mic lacked. Also, this isn't a mic you will be able to pull out of your closet in 8 years and use... Like I can with my XM8500 that's that old. The main reason for that is the cable on this thing is NOT going to last very long. This is just a novelty item that you can have a little fun if that's your thing. ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU INSIST ON HOLDING A TINY MIC IN YOUR VIDEO, USE THE MINI MIC OVER A LAV MIC. At least this mic is actually designed for that use case. Thanks for watching!

  • @epambos
    @epambos5 ай бұрын

    I am a long time follower of Audio Hotline and this is the only mic review I totally disagree with... Too many people in the comments say that the microphone sounds actually pretty decent. It really trumps the sound of the 1500$ iPhone and it excells in the purr test, plus a wonderful proximity effect! Even the cats denied to mess it up. This mic should not have been destroyed, based both on the quality of sound and build quality! Bring it back to life... Long live the mini mic! 😪 Cats rule!

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    5 ай бұрын

    The smash comes off harsh but… Based off of performance alone, I wouldn’t have smashed it in a standard review, but I also wouldn’t recommend it. That’s the challenging thing with the stash or smash series, it’s only one or the other. There is no “it’s fine” in this series. My argument isn’t necessarily that it is really BAD, my argument is that there is a mic that is WAY better for not much more (XM8500) and the mini mic is just so goofy 🤣 so I gave it a 3/10 = “not worth buying”. If the Behringer or other cheap mics didn’t exist, this mic would probably score much higher. The comparison is SOOO telling to me (others also mentioned this). Listen to the comparison closely and you’ll hear why I say “save up for the xm8500 and don’t spend the $10 on this.” The mic doesn’t sound “bad” by itself but it also doesn’t sound good. It’s very dull, not flat, it lacks a lot of frequencies while the xm8500 actually has an intelligible high and low end. No one has actually said “this mic sounds good” they are mostly surprised that it works and isn’t a tin can sounding mess. Which is understandable. The phone recording was more of an example of distance and how it can be better to get a mic closer to you, but if you’re filming yourself with your phone, you don’t really have that option. I think the takeaway from that is not how the mini mic is good, but how phones really should up their audio game. Bottom line, as an audio focused channel it’s just not a mic I can recommend due to the permanent cable, the need for adapters (for TRS, USB-C, or lightning), the general goofiness of it and the lifeless sound. Saving $10 for something better is the best option IMO, but like I said in the video, if you like it and think it’s fun GO FOR IT! I WILL SAY Blue was not intimidated by the mini mic at all haha which was nice. Some of the big condenser mics the cats can be a little hesitant towards.

  • @epambos

    @epambos

    5 ай бұрын

    @@AudioHotline ❤️

  • @JayzBeerz
    @JayzBeerz5 ай бұрын

    Awesome thank you.

  • @milesian1
    @milesian13 ай бұрын

    This thing is actually better for Smule (phone karaoke app) than my iPhone’s cord mic. Mostly because it can be held close for better sound, or further away for harmony parts. I keep one in my EDC bag.

  • @FlowerChyld143
    @FlowerChyld14315 күн бұрын

    OMG that's the Sole reason I'm researching microphones- so I can record my cat's purr before..I don't have her anymore. ❤

  • @rickonmic
    @rickonmic5 ай бұрын

    If you use a Rode VXLR + or pro, you can use it with an interface and have direct monitoring, as well as some pretty good gain control.

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    4 ай бұрын

    Those are really nice to have around!

  • @honeywine3330
    @honeywine33305 ай бұрын

    I don't think it sounds bad... I am impressed tbh. I mean it is not going to challange my sm 58 but i think its a decent option for travelling

  • @BadChizzle
    @BadChizzle5 ай бұрын

    I’ve seen many odd mic choices for videos lately. Bark really went for it with his Dollar General plastic fantastic mic. 😳

  • @hellomeatrobots
    @hellomeatrobots5 ай бұрын

    You should have done something really weird like recording the guitar from inside the guitar.

  • @Danny-Lightning--Audio-Tech
    @Danny-Lightning--Audio-Tech5 ай бұрын

    This is ridiculous, I'm not listening on the world's greatest headphones right now but on the set headphones it actually sounds pretty darn good. I'm going to have to get one of these to review lol

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    5 ай бұрын

    It’s kind of one of those classic mid range mics that don’t sound too bad… until you put it next to something else. Then you realize how much it lacks… it was a fun mic to review though! Definitely do it!

  • @Danny-Lightning--Audio-Tech

    @Danny-Lightning--Audio-Tech

    5 ай бұрын

    @@AudioHotline you know.. it sounds better than those newer mics lol

  • @PawFromTheBroons
    @PawFromTheBroons5 ай бұрын

    It's a RE20 for Playmobil!

  • @GeneralBiggs
    @GeneralBiggs5 ай бұрын

    You and your cats 😂😂😂. I hope you have a separate channel for the cats showing the world how cool and awkward you can get with these babies 😂😂😂.

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    4 ай бұрын

    I really should do a separate channel with them 🤣

  • @fnswrestling
    @fnswrestling5 ай бұрын

    I thought it sounded surprisingly decent right off the rip (as Bark would say). Then the comparisons happened and it got totally exposed. Fun review and smash - I’m a cat person too.

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    5 ай бұрын

    Comparisons can really put stuff into perspective! I felt the same way!

  • @ellisgl
    @ellisgl4 ай бұрын

    I bought 20 of them back 7 years ago for 99 cents a pop.

  • @enriquekahn9405
    @enriquekahn94055 ай бұрын

    Looks like a fun toy or novelty.

  • @JoseOnTheAir
    @JoseOnTheAir5 ай бұрын

    It's just for the sake of being kitschy. If $10 burns a whole in your wallet, sure. But the XM8500 is literally RIGHT THERE!

  • @rendermanpro
    @rendermanpro5 ай бұрын

    Mic $10, F. trrs adapter is $14..... Sound is very good.

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    5 ай бұрын

    Right?!? the cheapest one I could find with good reviews was $10, I linked that one also. Regardless, the adapter is going to be about the same price as the mic 😂

  • @onlymyopiniontech
    @onlymyopiniontech5 ай бұрын

    $1.51 if you don't mind it showing up on a slow boat. 😃👍

  • @livehardrocktruth742
    @livehardrocktruth7424 ай бұрын

    Looks like you're about to smoke and get high with that joint. Puff😅.

  • @LawrenceArnell
    @LawrenceArnell5 ай бұрын

    Adorable. 😂

  • @meistudiony
    @meistudiony5 ай бұрын

    This is so ridiculous. Its really funny that it doesn't sound like TOTAL crap. I thinks i need to design a 3d print mic clip that you can use with a normal stand for this. Get my etsy game on. lol (hey theres someone bedazzling them... what was that about a fool and money?) im gonna order a bunch of these and mic my drum set. (or not). I dunno, I think it sounded better than the neewer. Thats gotta count for something, no?

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    5 ай бұрын

    You could make bank doing that!!! The bedazzle is worth $21 extra!! 🤣 I think you should mic up a kit with these, that would be a fun watch! From a sound stand point I did expect worse. I guess my whole argument is that for $10-$15ish extra you could get an actually decent mic that does sound better… and that doesn’t make people look ridiculous 😂 I kind of wish I had my neewers for this video to compare them… never thought I would say that sentence!

  • @meistudiony

    @meistudiony

    5 ай бұрын

    @@AudioHotline lol i mean. You can probably pick up a neewer for the same price as one of these

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    5 ай бұрын

    @@meistudiony that's true! also, could you tell I used the 6k G2 in the smash section? It was the main angle actually. I feel like I got the footage to match with the sony cameras pretty well. It's interesting how each camera system/sensor interprets colors differently. The 6k G2 made the purple AH image on my computer monitor look more blue, while the sony cams made it look more pink (than in real life). I actually prefer the way the 6k G2 footage grades more than the sony cameras.

  • @PawFromTheBroons

    @PawFromTheBroons

    5 ай бұрын

    To be fair, it's not as ridiculous as the trend of holding LAVs on KZread. At least, this one has a certain self awareness to it, and doesn't sound half as bad, for a joke. Surprisingly.

  • @AudioHotline

    @AudioHotline

    5 ай бұрын

    @@PawFromTheBroons I do mention the lav holding trend in this. So dumb.

  • @FlowerChyld143
    @FlowerChyld14315 күн бұрын

    Wow...iPhone audio Sucks