The need to purchase a microphone arises in a person under different circumstances. Someone wants to become, for example, a video blogger, or maybe a microphone is needed for a good and high-quality Skype connection. Also, people who teach online courses via the Internet or simply record training videos often buy a microphone. Naturally, nobody wants to spend too much money on the purchase of a microphone, and everyone is trying to find the optimal and high-quality option for modest money.
It is precisely such a model that today's review will be devoted to - the SVEN MK-150 microphone. As part of the review, we will consider the configuration of the model, its characteristics, reviews, cost, and, of course, we will conduct several tests. Let's get started!
Description
To begin the review of the microphone SVEN MK-150 is primarily from the description. The microphone presented in today's review belongs to the so-called class of clip-on devices. Yes, at first glance it might seem that this is an ordinary buttonhole, but no, SVEN MK-150 is a microphone clip. In principle, there is not much difference here, but it is worth mentioning.
What attracts a microphone to itself? It's simple - there are three reasons why they buy it:
- Sizes.
- Price.
- Positive reviews.
If you can’t argue with the first two points, then the reviews are always misleading. They can be both true, that is, left by real customers, or they can be custom-made. Well, okay, we’ll talk about this separately.
Microphone Package
Microphone SVEN MK-150 for sale in the usual transparent blister. There is nothing interesting in the package, except perhaps the signature color for the paper flag of Finland under the flag of Finland . On the front, all that attracts attention is the inscription on top of the “Microphone Clip” and the brand name.
On the flip side, you can only read about the scope of the microphone. According to the manufacturer, the device is perfect for those who are going to learn languages, for calls via the Internet, video communications and interactive games. A bit of a strange application, of course, but in reality the scope can be much wider.
There is no equipment at all here, that is, except for the microphone and the instructions, there is nothing else inside. The only thing, only on the microphone itself there is a separate overlay, which is mounted on the body using two sleds. This pad serves for one of the mounting options, but more on that below.
Appearance
The appearance of the microphone clip SVEN MK-150 is quite simple. The case is made entirely of plastic, and the most ordinary. On the front of the microphone there is a small hole through which, in fact, the sound is captured. A little lower is the company logo. It was applied with paint, and most likely, after a few months nothing will remain of it.
At the back of the microphone there is a patch with Velcro, with which the device can be fixed on any hard surface, for example, on the side of a monitor or somewhere on a computer table. You can, of course, attach the Velcro to clothes, but after that it will no longer cling to anything, and you will have to make a replacement from double-sided tape.
If you remove the cover, then under it there will be a small plastic clip that will allow you to attach the microphone to the clothes. It is made right on the case, without any springs and other mechanisms. The principle of fastening is simple - to bend the edge of the clip with one finger and cling it to a T-shirt, shirt, vest, etc. with the other hand. It is not very convenient in fact, since it will not be possible to bend the clip very strongly, otherwise it will simply break and hook the microphone to a thick one the fabric is extremely problematic, as it strives to slip.
And the last thing that remains here is a wire with a pink 3.5 mm plug (almost all microphone plugs are designated this way), which comes out of the case. What can be said about him? The wire is long enough, and for most tasks it will be enough, although among the reviews you can find those whom the length did not suit. The thickness of the wires, of course, does not inspire confidence, but if handled carefully, they will last a long time.
Key Specifications
Microphone SVEN MK-150 has the following specifications:
- Type - electret.
- The focus is omnidirectional.
- Scope - video communication, voice recording.
- Type of fastening - clip.
- Case material - plastic.
- Microphone sensitivity - 58 dB.
- The minimum frequency is 50 Hz.
- The maximum frequency is 16,000 Hz.
- The microphone impedance is 2.2 kOhm.
- The connection method is wired.
- Cable length - 1.8 m.
- Connector for connection - 3.5 mm.
- Dimensions (L / W) - 9/7 mm.
- Weight - 23 grams.
In general, the characteristics are pretty good for a microphone clip, although there are more powerful models, but now is not about that. The type of microphone is electret, which is not surprising. Electret - these are microphones that do not require additional phantom power sources. They can also be safely called the younger versions of condenser microphones.
Connection and setup
So, it's time to tell how to connect a SVEN MK-150 microphone. In general, there is nothing complicated. You need to take the microphone plug and plug it into either the appropriate connector on the motherboard, or into any recording device, such as a voice recorder. In addition to the connector on the system board, the microphone can also be connected through the connector on the front of the computer. It is usually located next to the headphone jack and USB ports.
Now that everything is connected, you can tell how to set up the SVEN MK-150 microphone. Actually, it all depends on the type of device, but as an example we will consider a PC.
So, to get into the microphone settings menu, you need to move the mouse pointer over the speaker icon. It is located in the lower right corner, next to the clock. Then you need to right-click on this icon and select "Recording Devices" from the menu that appears. After that, a small window will open where the connected microphone will be indicated. It is marked with a green tick.
Now, to configure it, you need to right-click on this microphone again and select "Properties". A small window will open with several tabs, where just you can adjust the sensitivity, volume and more. Nothing complicated.
Testing
The test results were pleasantly surprised. The SVEN MK-150 microphone was incredibly sensitive and literally caught all the sounds within a radius of 2-3 meters on the recording. The quality of the final recording is a bit upsetting. There is not a lot of noise, the voice is heard well, but with distortions. A better result can be achieved if you place the microphone directly next to your mouth or as close to it as possible. Then the sound becomes much better, and the voice becomes cleaner, but still does not reach the ideal.
Cost and reviews
Today you can buy such a SVEN MK-150 microphone for absolutely ridiculous money - 90-150 rubles. For this money, this model is perhaps the best solution on the market.
Reviews about the SVEN MK-150 microphone, which, by the way, are quite numerous, show that the device works very well, but not without drawbacks. So, there are 3 main disadvantages that users do not like. The first is a thin cord. The second is build quality. Here, most likely, everyone has different ways, because backlash and creaking are not observed at all. And the third minus is an extremely uncomfortable clip for mounting.
Conclusion
At the end of the review, I would like to summarize. The SVEN MK-150 microphone is a pretty good option for its very modest money. It is unlikely to be suitable for recording sound on a video blog video or some training video, but it is just right for video calling or telephony.