Your computer already comes with a built-in microphone, so why do you need an external microphone, anyway? The answer is simple: desktop microphones were designed for convenience, but more often than not, they’re not suited for professional use.
If you’re a gamer, vlogger or just an entrepreneur who needs a microphone for online presentations and meetings, you know that audio quality matters a lot in your work.
It’s easy to find a lot of microphones that promise to deliver to your needs, but only a few of them live up to their promise. One of them is the Tonor TC-777, the best entry-level microphone for your computer. Let’s take a closer look:
What to expect with the Tonor TC-777 microphone
It’s hard to find a good condenser microphone that won’t break your bank. But the Tonor TC-777 costs only around $40 and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to quality. Here’s why:
The design
Unlike other condenser microphones where you still need to purchase other accessories, the Tonor TC-777 already comes with a complete kit that has three main parts. The first one is the microphone itself with a blue gray case at the bottom half to fit into the mount.
A pickup protrudes on top of the case along with a metal screen. You also get a foam cover to reduce wind noise when you’re recording outdoors. The microphone also comes with a 60-inch USB cord that’s long enough for flexible use.
The second part is a shock mount that’s designed specifically to eliminate vibrations. This basic shock mount is a spring-loaded clamp that you can open and close with just a pair of clips.
It also features a 4-inch pop shield on a 7-inch gooseneck attachment that helps in reducing pops from sharp sounds when recording. You just need to position this attachment about 2 inches from the microphone to make use of this feature.
The third part is the tripod, which attaches to the shock mount and helps in further reducing vibrations. It has rubber feet to keep the microphone in place and it can tilt up to 10 degrees so you can easily adjust it to point directly at your mouth.
You can also swivel the mount to find the best position for using the microphone. When assembled, the Tonor TC-777 is 9 inches tall, but it’s very lightweight at just 12.2 ounces. This makes the microphone easy to take everywhere, although it doesn’t come with a carrying case.
The sound
The Tonor TC-777 condenser microphone uses a cardioid condenser pickup that’s similar to its more expensive counterparts. This means that the microphone guarantees clarity, especially when you’re speaking right in front of the microphone.
It also features a sampling rate of 16 bits at 44.1 KHz, which is excellent quality for streaming, speaking or even recording music. The microphone’s frequency response is at 100Hz to 16KHz and it’s also very sensitive where it can pick up from -38dB to +3dB.
Tonor TC-777 versus other expensive microphones
Being an entry-level microphone, the Tonor TC-777 may not be as advanced as its more expensive counterparts, but it doesn’t fall far behind. At just $40, you’re getting a good condenser microphone with excellent sound performance.
But if you look at the pricier side of things, you have the Blue Yeti microphone, which is priced at more than $100 but has multiple functions including 4 modes that you can use for in-person interviews, solo speaking, recording music and doing conference calls.
It also allows you to adjust the volume, control the sensitivity of the microphone and connect to a pair of headphones.
Another topnotch option is the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+ condenser microphone that’s considered a classic choice for recording. At $99, this microphone allows you to listen to yourself while recording through a headphone jack and a mix control dial where you can blend audio from your computer with the audio from the microphone.
When it comes to features, however, the Tonor TC-77 is quite comparable with its excellent audio and a complete kit that includes a tripod, mount and USB cable.
Tonor TC-777 versus Blue Snowball
Perhaps the closest comparison to the Tonor TC-777 is Blue Snowball, which is priced at around $50. This USB condenser microphone features a cardioid and omnidirectional pickup and a metal stand that you can adjust to different heights according to your needs.
If you’re after aesthetics, the Blue Snowball has 6 different colors to match your setup. It also offers excellent audio quality like the Tonor-TC777. Their only difference is that the Tonor microphone already has everything you need while the Blue Snowball only comes with a tripod.
But when it comes to versatility, the Blue Snowball microphone is a step ahead with its two pickup patterns.
The bottomline
If you’re just starting to experiment on condenser microphones or you don’t have the budget to shell out for the more expensive options, the Tonor TC-777 is definitely worth more than its price.
It offers good audio quality, excellent accessories and versatility when you need them.
Thank you for your review and comments, what do you think compares with q9 kit?