Gamer Soft Solution – Antilon Audio ModMic Usb 2
Antilon Audio ModMic USB 2 is a $99 USD microphone designed for PC users, which can be attached to your favorite headphones, uses a USB interface (which integrates both the ADC and the PREAMP), and it is the star of today’s review. We will explore whether this modMic USB 2 can power your gaming and work setup, and how easily it can work with a multitude of headphones.
Introduction
Antilon Audio is known for creating high-quality microphones, and they are a favorite of the gaming community for allowing you to game while using your favorite pair of high-end headphones. Not only this, but Antilon Audio is also used professionally by companies who have call centers and who want the most clean, clear and crisp voice for their employees, so the new Modmic USB 2 is going to be interesting to study from the perspective of someone who uses high-end shotgun, and lav mics on a daily basis.
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to Antilon Audio for providing us with the sample for this review.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4knX38G
Build Quality – Design
Antilon Audio makes some interesting microphones, small but effective, and ModMic is their series that attaches to headphones. This is an upgrade of the original, and the idea is that USB 2 upgraded the microphone quality, and it has a cardioid pickup pattern, making it the most advanced modmic Antilon ever made. There’s a USB Type-A to USB Type-C included in the package, to make USB 2 compatible with smartphones and laptops too.
Antilon Audio includes a Digital Mute button, and it can attach to basically any pair of headphones, including VR visors and flat surfaces. The whole point of the Mod Mic USB 2 is for it to be plug-in ready for PC, and for the upgraded microphone to help you get better sound quality.
The microphone capsule combines the Mod Mic USB 1 uni directional mode with the quality of the omni directional mode of a high-end capsule. Antilon Audio made an adapter that allows you to attach the microphone to basically any surface using adhesive safe for metal, wood and other materials, and which will not leave any residue.
Cable length is 2 meters, and max sampling rate is 48 kHz, with a 16 Bit resolution for the ADC. We also have a dynamic range of 96 dB and a THD+N of 89 – 96 dB. The microphone capsule can pick up a maximum sound pressure of 110 dB, and it has a sensitivity of -36 dB. Mod Mic USB 2 is compatible with Windows, MAC, Linux, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch, but not with xbox.
Subjective Usage – Sound Quality
More than anything, Antilon Audio ModMic 2 is a self contained microphone. When recording content, I often have to consider the quality of the microphone capsule, ADC or Analog to Digital Converter and also the Preamp, which amplifies the signal of the microphone. Most recorders have both the ADC and PRE in the same device, but usually pairings matter, and cost increases quickly as a good recorder interface can be really pricey.
While Modmic USB 2 is not designed for singing and very loud recording, it works just fine up to about 105 dB, which is louder than most people will screen casually when working with the ordinateur. ModMic USB 2 is a fun unit, small, it attaches easily to any pair of headphones, and once you have it up and running, it simply works.
The only visible downside is that it has a separate cable from the cable of your headphones, and especially with audiophile headphones this means you’re splitting those two cables, one to the DAC / AMP, and the cable of the ModMic USB 2 to your computer. In fact, most folks who would buy it are likely to be using an external DAC AMP, which can make the whole setup busy.
This being said, ModMic USB 2 has a really clean, crisp sound, it never distorts and it can give your voice both depth but also exceptional clarity. It feels like it rejects background noise, which is to be expected given the pickup pattern, best thing is to not have it absolutely glued to your mouth, about 5-12 cm away from your mouth will give you the clearest sound possible. Breathing noise will be audible, especially if you breathe into it, but it is fairly resistant to it if you use the included phone screen.
Sonically, Mod Mic USB 2 is clean, smooth, it renders almost no grain or texture in my voice, making me sound really smooth, full and clean. While not necessarily the most accurate for music recording, it is downright beautiful sounding and still makes every word easy to understand. I love what I am hearing, and people love it too. If there is any downside at all, it has some handling noise, if you touch it, but it is ok if you just touch the cable.
If you want to make yourself louder than 100%, please remember that it is not the tip of the microphone that picks up the sound the loudest, but one of the sides, and this is the intended usage. All in all, the sound is simply so good that it makes me want to sing into the Mod Mic USB 2, which really is not what it is designed for. Still, it will handle all your needs really well.
Value and Conclusion
Antilon Audio ModMic USB2 is a rather affordable microphone, in a space where most microphones cost at least 10 times the price, around 1000 USD, and for a high-quality sounding microphone, the price can go even higher.
At the end of the day, Antilon Audio ModMic USB 2 is the kind of microphone you want and need in your setup, it delivers a crisp, clean voice, it is practical and clean, and for me, it is one of the best microphones you can simply put on your headphones and enjoy with no hassle and no extras, and a fully recommended purchase to any streamer, youtuber, gamer and anyone who needs their voice recorded.
PROs
- Easily attaches to any headphones
- Excellent sound, crisp, clean, and you don’t need anything else, as it has both the ADC and PreAMP inside
- Transport case
- Multiple attachment accessories
- Outstanding sound and clarity
- Interesting concept
- Can be taken off when not in use
- Crazy how such a simple idea can be so uncommon yet how it serves a purpose so well
Cons
- You need a separate cable for the microphone
- Adds a bit of weight to a pair of headphones
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4knX38G
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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