I got the opportunity to test out and review the K688 Neo and I honestly cannot believe how much I love this mic. I have been married to my FiFine AM8 for about a year now, and while I loved that mic, the K688 Neo takes the win for me.
Packaging %26 Shipping: Shipping was SUPER fast. The mic came in a small box (FiFine's packaging is always a super nice), and the mic itself was nicely protected by foam inserts completely surrounding it. The mic, USB-C cable, a stand/boom adapter, and the manual are all of the contents. Absolutely no damage or defects, everything was there, and the manual is super simple and easy to follow.
Sound Quality: What makes this mic stand out most for me is its noise reduction abilities and its clarity. I tested this mic in multiple ways: while streaming, in a co-op game, on discord, and for 2 podcast episodes. I also used it connected to my phone with the USB-C . For my PC setup, I do have use it as an XLR setup with the FiFine SC3 audio mixer and it works perfectly. I could not believe how clear and crisp my voice sounded on all recordings I watched back. I gas my gain pretty high during one livestream just to test it, and even with it on the higher side, it was still not picking up my mouse clicking or keyboard sounds which is a HUGE win for me!
**TO NOTE: The K688 can be used with the USB-C as a plug and play mic! Or it can be used as an XLR setup. It does sound FANTASTIC as both plug %26 play and on XLR.
I play and livestream horror games, which means I yell a lot, and never once did the mic sound hot when I would yell even within close proximity of my mouth. Watching and listening to multiple clip videos from my streams, there is a noticeable difference in how even toned my voice sounds with this mic. Listening to the 2 podcast episodes I recorded with it, my voice is incredibly crisp and clear with zero reverb.
The K688 Neo has a shock mount attached to it, and initially I didn't expect it to make that much of a difference in comparison to a mic that doesn't. But I tested it out by intentionally bumping my boom arm with the K688 Neo, and with the AM8. And I can say it really does make a HUGE difference in how it absorbs those movements, vibrations and sounds.
Overall, I am incredibly impressed with the FiFine K688 Neo. I can't say I'm shocked because I have been a long time lover of FiFine products, but I'm super happy that they've come out with yet another banger. If you're thinking about upgrading your mic setup, I would HIGHLY recommend the K688! You will not be disappointed in the slightest!