Antlion Audio ModMic 5 Review




/ 7 years ago

Next Page »

Introduction


Antlion Audio ModMic 5 Review

Do you take your gaming audio seriously? Then you’ll be eager to see what I’m testing out today, the new and improved Antion Audio ModMic 5. Following in the footsteps of the, you guessed it, ModMic 4, this new model adds more features, better performance, and most importantly for users of the 4, it promises a greatly improved mounting system!

Are you tired of the boring standard microphones you find on most gaming headsets and need an improvement? Or perhaps you already have a set of kickass headphones that you love to use for your gaming audio, but since they lack a microphone, you want to give them the upgrade they deserve to make them gaming friendly? Then the ModMic 5 may be what you’re looking for.

“The ModMic 5 delivers flexibility and performance all in one. Select between noise canceling and studio recording modes with the flick of a switch. Cable management has never been better, thanks to a modular system and included cable wrap and clips.”

  • Innovative dual mic capsule for recording flexibility
  • Modular cable system: pick the right length for you
  • Cable wrap to protect your wires
  • Includes the Antlion mute module

This boom microphone comes with an innovative add-on design, adding onmi and uni-directional microphones to your headset or headphones. As you can see from the specifications below, the microphones are of a good quality too, so even if your headset has a microphone already, this is more than likely a welcome upgrade for you.

SPECIFICATIONS

Dual electret capsules: omni- and uni-directional
Selector switch on microphone housing

  • Jack: 3.5mm plated TRS for use with PCs
  • Head unit:
    • Microphone boom + 20mm of cable to male TRS 3.5mm tip
    • Single-conductor coaxially shielded
  • Cable:
    • 2.5mm diameter rubberized TPE jacket, kevlar reinforced, coaxially shielded
    • One 1m dual-conductor coaxially shielded
    • One 2m dual-conductor coaxially shielded
  • Mute switch:
    • 3.5mm male/female ends
    • Low ESR tantalum capacitor in mute circuit
    • Length: ~8mm
  • Extension cables:
    • 3.5mm male/female ends
    • One 1m dual-conductor coaxially shielded
  • Clasps: Plated Neodymium N45 strength magnets
MICROPHONE CAPSULE SPECIFICATIONS
  • Pattern: Uni-directional
  • Sensitivity: -38 ± 3 dB
  • Response: 100 Hz–10 kHz
  • SNR: >50+ dB
  • Impedance: 2.2 KΩ
  • Operating Voltage: 1 to 10V
  • Max current at 2.0V: 500 µA
  • Max input SPL: 110 dB
  • Pattern: Omni-directional
  • Sensitivity: -26 ± 3 dB
  • Response: 30 Hz–17.5 kHz
  • SNR: 58+ dB
  • Impedance: 2.2 KΩ
  • Operating Voltage: 1 to 10V
  • Max current at 2.0V: 500 µA
  • Max input SPL: 110 dB

Packaging and Accessories

The ModMic 5 comes in a fairly simple box, it’s only a small product, so this is more than sufficient anyway.

DSC_3038

All the main details and contents are detailed on the box too, which is handy if you’re looking at one of these in a retail store.

DSC_3039

In the box, you’ll find a cable sleeve cover, as well as the Antlion Mic protective case.

DSC_3040

The cable sleeve is a nice touch, as you’ll be running both your headphones and the mic cable to your system, you can bundle them together in this sleeving to keep things neat and tidy. It’s completely optional of course.

DSC_3041

If you’re not using the mic all the time, or you tend to travel with your gaming great a lot, you’ll be happy to see this hard case which keeps everything you need stored neatly together.

DSC_3042

Inside the protective case, a few little compartments to store all the included cables, clips, the microphone, etc.DSC_3043

———————–

A Closer Look


There are quite a few ways you can use the ModMic 5, and it’s all part of this modular and modifiable mentality that makes this microphone so appealing. In the box, you’ll find a 3M adhesive magnetic mount, as well as ten S-shaped cable grips, which can be used to clip any cables together and keep things neat and tidy. Of course, you can also opt to use the cable sleeving that was included in the box.

DSC_3050

There are two 3.5mm Male to Female cables included, one is 6ft 6″, the same length as the nylon cable sleeving, while the other 3ft 3″. The longer one is best suited to desktop use, while the shorter cable may be more useful for those using a desktop amp, controller, or similar nearby input device. Need more reach? Simply bridge the two cables together for a 9ft 9″ cable, giving you even more flexibility.

DSC_3053

You think we’re out of modular options yet? Not even close. There’s a compact in-line controller included too, which once again has a male and female input and output. It’s a simple controller with just a microphone mute switch, but can be placed anywhere in the cable chain. You can have it next to your neck on the short microphone cable (see the next picture), between on the 3ft 3″ and 6ft 6″ cable, or even plugged into the microphone port on your device, or not plugged in at all for an always on mic… again, the options here are plentiful.

DSC_3052

After all those modular bits and bobs, we’re finally onto the microphone its self! As you can see, it features a nice long boom design with a large foam head to cut down on high frequency and wind noise. There’s a circular mount on the side which uses a strong magnet to lock onto the 3M adhesive magnetic mounting block, an S-shaped joint to hook over the cable/headband of some headsets, and a short cable that can be attached to either one of the 3.5mm extension cables or the in-line controller.

DSC_3044

There’s a nice zig-zag break between the magnetic mounts, which stops the microphone from turning when mounted. It also means that you can pull the microphone off the magnetic mount, and refit it at a different angle to suit your needs.

DSC_3047

At the head of the microphone, there’s another switch. This one flicks the microphone between uni- and omni-directional operation modes. The ModMic 4 was only available with uni-directional mode, so this is a very nice upgrade.

DSC_3048

———————–

Performance


The 3M mounting pad on the microphone magnet is easy enough to use, and there’s even a little alcohol wipe included in the box to ensure you put it on a grease free surface so that it doesn’t come off too easily after you mount it. It’ll clip on easily enough it looks fantastic too. The flexible boom means you can get the mic right where you need it and the omni/uni switch is within easy reach like this too should you need to make quick changes.

DSC_3104

While not everyone will understand the point of the uni/omni switch, it’s really quite simple. In uni-directional mode the range is quite limited and to a certain extent, the sound quality drops a little too. However, by cutting out some of the frequency range and the pickup pattern, it blocks a hell of a lot of background noise, making it perfect for gaming in a noisy environment such as a LAN gaming event. Omni-directional on the other hand has flawless sound quality and picks up a lot more bass and treble frequencies, making it perfect for streaming, voice over work, Skype calls, or just anytime you’re gaming in an environment where there is less background noise.

DSC_3105

The detachable magnetic mounting system is genius as it means I can quickly remove the microphone when not in use, but it also has one other cool trick…

DSC_3106

I can remount the microphone at different angles, such as vertically to move the mic out of my line of sight when not in use, but still within easy reach for when I do need to use it! Just remember to flick the switch on the microphone mute controller if you don’t want to be heard either.

DSC_3107

———————–

Final Thoughts


Price

The Antlion ModMic V5 is available from Overclockers UK for £67.99 on its own, which is noticeably more than the ModMic V4. However, we think it’s more than worth the increased price due to the improved mounting system, the mode switch and more.

Overview

Online gaming is big business these days, and while for some people, any old microphone will get the job done, for a lot of gamers, “it’ll do” just isn’t enough. The ModMic 5 is a staggering upgrade to the built-in microphones you find on almost all sub £100 headsets, and sometimes headsets that cost more than that. The sound quality is certainly fantastic, and the uni/omni feature is a welcome bonus for those who tend to game at noisy arenas or LAN gaming events, but then still need a microphone that’s as powerful in quieter rooms at home, while they’re streaming or recording their voiceovers for YouTube content, etc.

I think the most appealing market for the ModMic 5 is for those who use dedicated headphones for their audio. If you’ve spent a few hundred on a high-end set of headphones, you’re hardly likely to want to spend the same again on a gaming headset or use a cheaper gaming headset instead. Being able to upgrade your lovely headphones and turn them into gaming headset where the microphone quality is on par with the high-end headphones you love is a very tempting solution.

For some, paying around £70 for a microphone might not seem worth it, but there’s a big market out there for it. I mean, if you’re rocking a £30 gaming headset, you may benefit more (in general) from simply upgrading your headset for a higher end model too, so it’s pretty subjective who the target consumer is here.

Pros

  • Great build quality
  • Easy to use
  • Multiple installation methods
  • Modular cable design
  • Modular in-line controller
  • Uni/omni switch
  • Excellent audio performance

Cons

  • None

“The ModMic V5 offers unmatched flexibility with its modular cables and controllers, multiple mounting systems and virtually universal support. If you want to give your headphones the microphone upgrade they deserve, the ModMic 5 is the way to go!”

innovation-award2

Antlion Audio ModMic 5 Review

Next Page »


Topics: , , , , ,

Support eTeknix.com

By supporting eTeknix, you help us grow and continue to bring you the latest newsreviews, and competitions. Follow us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram to keep up with the latest technology news, reviews and more. Share your favourite articles, chat with the team and more. Also check out eTeknix YouTube, where you'll find our latest video reviews, event coverage and features in 4K!

Looking for more exciting features on the latest technology? Check out our What We Know So Far section or our Fun Reads for some interesting original features.

eTeknix Facebook eTeknix Twitter eTeknix Instagram eTeknix Instagram
  • Be Social With eTeknix

    Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Reddit RSS Discord Patreon TikTok Twitch
  • Features


Send this to a friend
})