Endorfy. The brand stands for high quality at an affordable price. The manufacturer has already proven several times that it lives up to this premise. For example, with the LIV Plus wireless mouse or the Solum Studio USB microphone. This has now been given another offshoot from the company itself: The Endorfy Solum Voice combines a handy USB microphone with a practical arm and discreet RGB lighting. Find out more in our test.
Technical data
Product: | Solum Voice |
Connection: | USB Type-C |
Microphone diaphragm: | 16 mm (condenser) |
Frequency response: | 30 Hz – 18,000 Hz |
Sampling rate: | 96 kHz / 24 bit |
Polar pattern: | Cardioid |
SPL: | 112 dB |
dimensions | 170 mm x 74 mm x 74 mm |
Weight: | 101 grams |
Connections: | USB-C; 3.5 mm jack |
Special features: | RGB lighting; mute button; microphone boom |
Price: | RRP: 77 euros |
Endorfy Solum Voice Review: Familiar design with a practical arm
- Compact and lightweight
- simple, appealing design
- Practical microphone arm
Surprise: The new Endorfy Solum Voice is basically “just” a bundle of the already available Solum Voice S with a microphone boom. The small and elegant USB microphone is therefore the same, except that the Solum Voice S comes with a stand. So if you prefer to attach the mic to an arm, this new version is just the thing for you.
With dimensions of 170 mm x 74 mm x 74 mm, it is pleasantly small and weighs just 101 grams. Good: The new bundle is less suitable for mobile use, as it is intended for stationary positioning.
The manufacturer includes a microphone boom in the bundle, which (like the microphone) is completely black. With a combination of plastic and metal, the construction looks very high-quality and fulfills its purpose.
The arm is attached to the surface with a table clamp. It can be mounted on table tops with a maximum thickness of 45 mm. The combination can then be positioned relatively freely on the table and in front of the mouth using a total of three joints.
The microphone itself is pleasantly flat and feels quite high-quality despite its plastic construction. On the front you will find a gain control surrounded by an illuminated ring.
RGB lighting and connections
- Discreet RGB lighting
- capacitive mute button
- USB-C and jack connection
The lighting can be adjusted by pressing the gain control. Here you can switch between a total of five colors (dark blue, green, light blue, light green and purple), but unfortunately it is not possible to customize the RGB lighting. The microphone also does not offer various lighting effects. However, the light can be switched off completely by holding down the gain control for two seconds.
The Endorfy Solum Voice has a capacitive mute button on the top. When the microphone is muted, the RGB ring appropriately lights up red. The connections can be found on the back: there is a USB-C port and a 3.5 mm jack for using headphones for monitoring.
The microphone is connected via the angled USB-C cable, which eliminates one of the biggest criticisms of the Solum Voice S – namely the loose USB connection. The other side goes into your PC or notebook. Practical: The modern USB-C standard is also used here, but the manufacturer includes a USB-A adapter.
I really like the clean look. USB microphones such as the Cherry XTRFY Ngale R (our test) or the SteelSeries Alias (our test) look more elegant and of higher quality.
Setup, positioning and practical test
- Plug and play
- Flat positioning of the arm possible
- No accompanying software
The microphone arm is designed for frontal placement, for example under or next to the monitor. With the help of the joints, it can even be positioned very flat on the table. Even flatter than is possible with Elgato’s Wace Mic Arm LP, for example.
For my setup, in which the microphone arm is mounted on the left side of the table, the included arm is unfortunately only suitable to a limited extent, as the microphone can be turned downwards, but not straight upwards. However, if you really guide the arm over the table from behind, this is not a problem.
Setting up is very simple: connect the cable and get started. Yep, that’s all it really is. There is no accompanying software either, so no settings need to be made. At around three meters, the cable is also comfortably long enough to bridge even longer distances between the microphone and PC.
However, the arm is a little wobbly when it is placed high up and the swivel mechanism is a little too smooth in my opinion, so that the microphone arm and mic can be accidentally adjusted when moving. And this naturally has an impact on the quality of the recording.
Sound quality of the Endorfy Solum Voice
- 24 bit at 96 kHz
- very good sound quality
- but must be positioned close to the mouth
I was positively surprised by the sound of the Endorfy Solum Voice, and not just in view of its relatively low price. The microphone’s condenser records with a bit depth of 24 bits at a maximum sampling rate of 96 kHz and covers a frequency band from 30 Hz to 18,000 Hz. This means that the frequency response does not extend as far as that of some of its competitors, but in practice this is hardly noticeable.
However, the mic could definitely do with a little more gain. Even a distance of around 50 centimeters from the microphone is enough to noticeably reduce the sound quality. In addition, at this distance, unpleasant background and interference noises (as well as a constant background noise) are quickly added to the recording, as the cardioid polar pattern does not only record sounds directly in front of the microphone.
However, the solution is very simple: simply place the Endorfy Solum Voice with the microphone close to your mouth. This not only minimizes the recording of ambient noise, but also makes the voice sound fuller thanks to the proximity effect.
Endorfy Solum Voice microphone test recording:
Microphone test recording Cherry XTRFY Ngale R:
Microphone test recording ASUS ROG Carnyx:
Of the three test recordings, I actually like the one of the Solum Voice the best. Especially when it comes to the clarity of the voice recording and the level of detail of the voice, the inexpensive microphone makes the competition, which is sometimes almost three times as expensive, look pretty old in places.
The sound quality of the Endorfy Solum Voice is really impressive. Your own voice is pleasantly clear, voluminous and rich in detail. Whether for streaming, podcast recordings or voice overs: with this microphone, you get a convincing budget solution that leaves almost nothing to be desired.
Endorfy Solum Voice Review: Conclusion
Chapeau, Endorfy. With the Solum Voice, the manufacturer has once again succeeded in combining outstanding quality with an attractive price. For around 77 euros, you get a visually appealing USB microphone that clearly outperforms its price class in terms of sound and in some cases even makes the competition, which is sometimes three times as expensive, look pretty good.
The Endorfy Solum Voice looks and sounds great. Another practical feature is the included microphone boom, which allows you to position it anywhere – at least if you attach it to the back of your desk.
Thanks to plug-and-play connectivity, the microphone is also quickly ready for use and requires no software at all. The RGB lighting is a nice gimmick and is pleasantly discreet. Sure, the microphone boom could be a little more robust and the mic should be positioned very close to the mouth, but for the price, the Endorfy Solum Voice offers really good value for money.
Endorfy Solum Voice
Workmanship
Recording quality
Features
Value For Money
92/100
In terms of sound quality, the Endorfy Solum Voice is well above its price class. In combination with the practical but somewhat wobbly microphone boom, the result is a coherent bundle with an outstanding price-performance ratio.