Cherry and Xtrfy have been operating under the same name for around a year now. After headsets, keyboards such as the impressive K5V2 Compact (our test) and mice, the manufacturer is now launching its first microphones. It starts with the Cherry XTRFY Ngale R, a USB microphone with an appealing retro look, RGB lighting and 96 kHz resolution. We find out how well this works in the test.
Technical data
| Product: | Ngale R |
| Connection: | USB Type-C |
| Microphone diaphragm: | 16 mm (condenser) |
| Frequency response: | 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz |
| Sampling rate: | 96 kHz / 24 bit |
| Polar pattern: | Cardioid |
| SPL: | 112 dB |
| Dimensions (incl. stand): | 193 mm x 66 mm (height x depth) |
| Weight: | 419 grams (with stand) |
| Connections: | USB-C; 3.5 mm jack |
| Special features: | RGB lighting; Mute button; Multifunctional control button; Low-cut filter |
| Price: | € 118.99 * |
Cherry XTRFY Ngale R Review: design and workmanship
- appealing retro design
- pleasantly compact design
- impeccable workmanship
Gaming meets retro: Visually, the Cherry XTRFY Ngale R skillfully stands out from the uniformity of gaming microphones and instead relies on a compact retro look, which is combined with appealing RGB lighting.
With a height of 193 mm and a width of 86 mm, the USB microphone is pleasantly compact and, at 280 grams (without stand), is also pleasantly light. With its look, the mic undoubtedly stands out. The most striking feature is the perforated capsule under which the cardioid microphone is located.
Underneath, on the front, under the manufacturer’s logo, there is a practical gain control, which is realized as an LED bar and increases the louder the microphone is set. Below this, Cherry Xtrfy has positioned a metal rotary control that is pleasant to grip.
The mute button is positioned on the top of the microphone, while the back houses a 3.5 mm jack connection for connecting headphones and another button for adjusting the RGB lighting in addition to the USB-C port for the connection.
The base is rubberized on the underside to prevent the microphone from slipping on the table. The Ngale R can be easily removed with a slight twist and can also be used on a tripod or microphone boom using the 3/8-inch thread.
Despite the comparatively low price and the plastic construction, there is nothing to complain about in terms of the quality of workmanship. The Cherry XTRFY Ngale R feels pleasantly robust and of high quality, only the black finish is a real fingerprint magnet.
Ready for immediate use thanks to Plug and Play
The rich voice recording across the entire frequency range comes with plug-and-play connectivity. Simply plug in the cable and get started. The manufacturer has consistently dispensed with any accompanying software or similar.
Of course, this makes it particularly beginner-friendly, but it has virtually no influence on the sound. With one exception, because the microphone has a switchable low-cut filter.
You can activate this by pressing the mute button on the top for three seconds. The LED bar on the front flashes green to indicate that the filter is active or flashes blue if the standard mode without low-cut filter is selected.
The filter primarily removes low frequencies such as typing on a keyboard, mouse clicks or the fans of your own PC. The full-range mode, on the other hand, is aimed more at voiceover recordings or podcasts, as it enables particularly rich voice recordings across the entire frequency range.
The RGB lighting can be changed using the button on the back. By pressing the button, you can switch between the different colors or effects, while holding it down for 2-5 seconds decreases or increases the brightness. Unfortunately, it is not possible to deactivate the lighting immediately with a single movement.
Another practical feature is that when the microphone is muted, it lights up red to indicate that the voice is not being recorded.
The sound of the Cherry XTRFY Ngale R is pleasing
Although the capsule of the Cherry XTRFY Ngale R is quite small at 16 mm due to its compact design, the USB microphone produces a really powerful sound. The mic maxima achieves a sampling rate of 96 kHZ at 24 bit.
The voice transmission is pleasantly clear, warm and rich in detail, while the built-in pop protection reduces plosive sounds quite well. S-sounds, however, are reproduced somewhat sharply, but this is still within reasonable limits.
However, the microphone needs to be positioned very close to the mouth, otherwise a slight background noise will be constantly audible and the reverberation will be perceptible in a room that is not soundproof.
If you want to counteract this, switch on the low-cut filter, which reduces these unwanted frequencies, but makes the voice sound noticeably flatter and less detailed. This is particularly useful as a microphone when gaming, as it also noticeably reduces ambient noise, for example from typing on the keyboard or mouse.
In full-range mode, on the other hand, you can easily counteract these problems in post-processing software. In general, however, I like the sound of the Cherry XTRFY Ngale R very much, especially considering the price.
Cherry XTRFY Ngale R USB microphone reference recording:
ASUS ROG Carnyx USB microphone reference recording:
Shure MV7 XLR Microphone Reference Recording:
An Endorfy Solum Studio (our test) or Endgame Gear XSTRM (our test) sound noticeably better. Especially when it comes to handling plosives and sharp S-sounds.
Cherry XTRFY Ngale R test: Conclusion
With the Ngale R, Cherry Xtrfy makes a convincing entry into the world of microphones. The USB condenser microphone not only scores points with its appealing, compact design and stylish RGB lighting, but also has a lot to offer in terms of sound.
In normal mode, the mic scores with a full and detailed sound that copes particularly well with plosive sounds and offers more than enough gain reserves to allow it to be placed anywhere in the room.
However, the room should be somewhat sealed, as the microphone picks up quite a lot of reverberation and has a slight, constant background noise at high volumes. This can be counteracted very well with the low cut filter, but the voice loses a noticeable amount of volume and detail.
Overall, however, the Cherry XTRFY Ngale R is a coherent overall package at an extremely attractive price, which will appeal to all price-conscious people who are looking for an attractive and good-sounding microphone. Thanks to Plug and Play, it is also immediately ready for use and requires no software at all.
Cherry XTRFY Ngale R
Workman Ship
Recording Quality
Features
Value For Money
92/100
Nice, compact and really good-sounding USB microphone that combines its advantages with impeccable plug-and-play connectivity and an attractive price.
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