The USB microphone JLab Talk Pro it has a perfect design for streamers, a high quality sample rate and several cool features, which you can use without the need for extra software. If you want to launch (or relaunch) your Twitch channel with new hardware, or are looking for a multi-purpose microphone for the job, it might be the right choice. In this review we tell you about our experience with JLab Talk Pro, also comparing it with the competition.
JLab Talk Pro Review: An attractive design
Already from the packaging you can see the attention to detail that JLab has put into offering this USB microphone. In addition to the microphone body itself found the tripod base to screw to the device, with rubber feet that give a lot of stability. The USB cable is slightly longer than average (three meters), with both the USB-C input on the microphone and the USB-A input on the PC being covered with rubber “plugs”. Turns out rather small and light, given the audio qualities: only 28 cm tall, weighs around half a kilo. Great for those who do interviews, recordings in different studios and all those activities that require you to move the microphone often.
The judgment on design is always something personal. However we believe that JLab has managed to give their microphone enough personality with the blue notes that stand out from the elegant black body. Up front you will find two buttons: the classic "mute”And a key to change the pattern of registration. Between these two you find a LED display showing gain and volume levels headphones, adjustable with knobs on the back.
The back accommodates the input for USB-C, which is very usual once inserted. Here you will also find the entrance headphone jack to control the recordings and a button to change the color scheme of the LED you can see in the ring at the bottom of the microphone. An interesting design choice, which however is difficult to show to the cameras during live broadcasts: there are few arrangements in which to show the lower part of the microphone.
Multipattern and with a large sample rate
The JLab Talk Pro microphone has three 16mm capacitors and technical specifications that you usually only find in more expensive mics. The sampling rate goes up to 192 kHz a 24 bit, impressive for a product that is in the "prosumer" range, therefore halfway between professionals and consumers (streamers, amateur musicians, etc.). The frequency range varies from 20Hz a 20kHz.
Also interesting is the possibility of having four different recording patterns. You can choose the mode cardioid to record game streams, YouTube videos and calls on Zoom (or any other platform). There omnidirectional becomes excellent for conferences, the bidirectional for interviews during a podcast while the mode stereo it's great for recording music or videos with more than two people.
Audio quality (and comparison with Blue Yeti)
Audio quality, when it comes to microphones, is what really matters. But it is also, in part, subjective. So rather than give you an opinion in absolute terms, we prefer to do a comparison with another microphone widely used by streamers all over the world. On the JLab site, the same company makes the comparison with Blue Yeti Pro. We usually use a basic version of Blue Yeti, which costs less and has a lower sample rate.
We tested and compared the two microphones both by recording tests and in some live broadcast of Twitch (by the way, check out the live shows). Our impression is that the two microphones are both good and suitable for the function. The microphone of Blue is much more sensitive: even with the gain at a minimum it is heard when we put the cup on the table. That of JLab is able to focus better on the voice (although the background fan sounds the same). With JLab we had to turn up the gain to be heard distinctly.
Whether it's live on Twitch or videos on YouTube and social networks, it seems to us that our voice has more nuances in recordings with Blue Yeti, while it is sharper but less detailed with JLab. So the choice really depends on what you are looking for in a microphone. Talk Pro's lower sensitivity helps a lot when using the other patterns, especially for sound Omni. But the truth is that it takes a very trained ear to perceive differences without paying attention to them.
The highest sampling rate could be one desired quality for music: 192 kHz are in the range of high definition audio, available only at higher prices (like the Yeti Pro at 250 euros). But those who will only use the microphone for streaming broadcasts should not expect viewers to see the difference.
JLab Talk Pro review: is it worth buying?
The JLab Talk Pro USB microphone convinced us during the various tests of our review: it offers a appealing design and light, l'LED indicator for gain and volume is really comfortable and the sound quality does not disappoint. At the list price of the site of dollars 149, the choice with the rivals becomes only a decision of taste regarding the sound of your recorded voice. In Italy, however, the price rises to 199 €, taking the competition to another category (where the 192 kHz sample rate is no longer that great). If the conversion with the US price was 1: 1, it would be easier to recommend this USB microphone. Which is still an excellent product under 200 euros, of excellent workmanship. It offers quality recordings that can't disappoint streamers.
PRO
- Attractive design
- Convenient adjustment
- Sample rate da 192 kHz
AGAINST
- Fierce competition
- Higher Italian price
JLab Talk Pro is part of the program Amazon Launchpad, which has supported the launch of over 2.000 startups in Europe and now there are around 12.000 products available on Amazon.com in over 30 categories. Amazon Launchpad has partnered with over 200 major venture capital firms, start-up accelerators, and crowdfunding platforms to help startups develop their products. For more details on the Amazon Launchpad program, visit the official site.
JLab Audio Talk PRO Microfono USB Plug and Play, Microfono...
- PC STYLE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL DESKTOP MICROPHONE: Meet Talk Pro, the professional level microphone of the highest ...
- PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL RECORDING: Talk PRO features a professional-quality resolution of 192 kHz / ...
- 3 CONDENSER MICROPHONE WITH 4 DIRECTIONAL PATTERN MODES: Talk has four pattern modes ...
