Design & Connectivity
The KLIM Voice Multimedia Microphone is an affordable USB desktop microphone that costs about $27 on Amazon. Designed for easy computer use, it connects via USB and is ready to use with minimal setup.
Our review outlines its designs, features, audio performance and the types of users who would benefit from it.
Build, Controls, Usability
The microphone is mostly made from plastic, but the material feels pretty durable and somewhat better than many other budget desktop mics. Its adjustable neck allows you to position the microphone toward your voice, and a mute switch is located on the neck.
The base has a toggle control to adjust the mic volume and switch the LED lighting on and off. However, the volume control does not provide a clear indicator of the current gain level, which makes it difficult to know exactly how loud it is without checking your computer's audio settings.
The packaging presents the base as a possible phone stand, but it is not super practical for that purpose. The stand functions far better as a secondary feature than a major reason to buy the microphone.
The KLIM Voice mic is effectively plug-and-play for most computers. The package also includes the microphone with its USB cable attached, so there are no complicated accessories or setup needed.
Audio Performance & Use Cases
KLIM lists a frequency response of 100 Hz to 10 kHz, which is limited compared to mics used for professional recording. The microphone uses an omnidirectional pickup pattern, meaning it captures sound from multiple directions instead of focusing on the person speaking in front of it.
Recorded speech sounded reasonably clear and better than the specs suggest. However, the omnidirectional design also captured significant sound from the surrounding environment.
Keyboard noise was a clear problem, especially when the microphone was positioned on a desk next to the keyboard. Increasing the computer's input gain from 0% through 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% also demonstrated that background noise becomes more noticable at higher levels.
The microphone worked well for casual voice communication and online conversations. It can also be useful for quickly recording ideas or reference notes.
Its limited frequency range and desktop placement, however, make it unsuitable for producing music intended for release. An acoustic guitar and vocal test turned out good for informal recordings, but it did not reach the level of isolation expected from a dedicated recording microphone.
For gaming, the microphone's pickup pattern is a significant drawback. Its position beside a keyboard means that key clicking and other desk sounds compete with the speaker's voice. A directional headset or microphone would be a better choice for serious gaming and streaming.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Plug-and-play USB setup
- Adjustable neck
- Convenient mute and gain switches
Cons
- Omnidirectional pattern picks up a lot of extra noise
- Limited frequency response
- No gain level indicators
- Not suitable for professional recordings
Overall the KLIM Voice Multimedia Microphone is a basic, affordable option for improving computer audio. Its plu-and-play connection, adjustable neck, mute switch and simple volume control make it convenient for video calls, online conversations and occassional voice recording.
Its limitations are also clear, however, as the freuqency response is narrow, the pickup pattern captures unwanted noise and the desktop design offers no mounting options. It is not a strong choice for gaming, profressional voice work or music production.
Potential buyers wjo just need an inexpensive mic for casual communication or recording quick drafts may find it useful, but users seeking high-quality audio should condier a more capable directional microphone.
