The Cherry Xtrfy Ngale X microphone is an entry-level mic for gaming streamers and content creators, but is it one of the best microphones? I dusted off my podcasting and radio skills to put the Cherry Ngale X to the test.
The Ngale X comes with a USB-A to USB-C and XLR connection capabilities, so you can plug it straight into your computer, or link it up to a mixing desk for pristine sound quality. As a plug and play mic, it could be one of the best USB mics we’ve seen yet. While this mic is from Cherry’s gaming sub-brand, it’s by no means restricted to gaming, and its full-range mode was great for podcasting in testing.
Find out if I think this mic is worth $149 in this Cherry XTRFY Ngale X microphone review.
Cherry Ngale X mic review: Cheat sheet
- What is it? A budget-friendly mic for streamers and content creators
- What does it cost? $149 at Amazon
- Who is it for? This cardioid mic has a low-cut filter for gaming streamers and professional-quality voice recording for podcasters
- What do we like? It has a really clear vocal tone and translates natural human cadence well
- What don’t we like? There’s no app for live gain monitoring, live vocal efforts, nor is there a built-in popper stopper or ambient sound minimizer
Cherry Ngale X mic review: Specs
Cherry XTRFY Ngale X microphone review: Price & availability
The Cherry Ngale X microphone is $149 from Amazon. It’s the pricier and more advanced version of Cherry’s Ngale R ($96), which doesn’t have high-fidelity XLR connection, and has lower sensitivity — if you’re just starting out or don’t have a mixing desk (so no need for an XLR), the Ngale R will be a solid first microphone, but if you can stretch your budget to the Ngale X, I’d recommend doing so for the extra professional features.
The Cherry UM 3 ($119) is another affordable option from the brand, and has a touch mute panel like the pricier Shure MV7+ ($279).
Design & controls
The Ngale X comes with a desktop stand included in the $149 price tag, which is better than Shure’s MV7+ ($279), whose desktop stand will set you back an extra 20 bucks. The Ngale X looks professional and modern, with a branded muff and adjustable screws for setting mic angle.
I admit that I did have to tighten the desktop stand with a hex key and tighten the locking cuff bolts, but after I did both of those things, the mic was much more stable. It’s a bit frustrating that I had to tighten something straight out of the box, but in general, the desktop stand base, cable and muff do feel sturdy and well-made.
Unlike the MV7+, the Ngale X’s controls lie on the back of the mic. One button mutes and increases gain; to mute, you press, to increase gain, you turn the knob. I found this sometimes crackled if I turned it up too loud — but because there’s no companion app or live gain monitor, it’s difficult to track in Audacity. I played around with the gain knob before recording and found my ideal level beforehand, though, so it’s not a major issue.
Also at the back of the mic is the RGB panel; it’s more like a narrow ring around the controls. It turns red when muted and you can flick through the other colors by long pressing the button. For me, indigo looked the best, but the purple’s pretty sweet, too. It’s a shame you can’t combine these colors or set it to automatically flick through, but I can imagine that would be distracting for video recording or streaming, so I understand why Cherry left that out.
The Ngale X’s metal casing doesn’t feel as smooth and tarnish-resistant as the Shure MV7+, and the USB-C cable is fabric-lined instead of strong rubber, but the Ngale X is $130 cheaper than the MV7+. For only $149, this feels well-made for the price.
Cherry XTRFY Ngale X microphone review: Features & connectivity
The Ngale X has an XLR and USB-C connection, so you can plug it into your mixing desk for super-high-res recording or broadcasting quality, or you can simply plug it into your laptop for stress-free recording on the fly.
The low-cut filter is good for gaming and minimizes keyboard and mouse noise. It does a pretty solid job of maintaining the cadence of your voice, too. This could make for one of the best gaming mics if you want one for both gaming comms and streaming or podcasting.
If you’re a podcaster, you’ll want to take advantage of the Ngale X’s full-range mode, which doesn’t minimize ambient noise like the low-cut filter, but preserves the warmth and animation of human voices, ideal for vocal recordings. It’s comparable to some of our best podcasting mics, like the Blue Yeti X ($169). Unlike the Blue Yeti X, the Ngale X is solely a dynamic cardioid mic. You can change the polar pattern on the Blue Yeti X, which makes it a great all rounder, but if you want a mic solely for podcasting or gaming, the Ngale X is a great option.
Unfortunately, the Ngale X doesn’t come with a companion app or native software, so you’ll have to adjust bitrate and gain with software like Audacity or Adobe Audition. This isn’t a major downside, because it’s still possible with third-party software, but rivals come with their own software, so it would’ve been nice to see something similar from Cherry.
Cherry XTRFY Ngale X microphone review: Audio quality
I recorded into Audacity with my sample rate set to 44,100 Hz and a 32-bit float. As with the much pricier Shure MV7+ ($279), the Ngale X’s sound is clear, layered, and dynamic. My voice maintained the natural cadence one would expect with a professional-quality mic, and I didn’t notice any major differences between the quality of recording from the $279 MV7+ and the Ngale X.
If you’re a gaming streamer, you can activate the Ngale X’s low-cut filter by sliding the physical switch at the back of the mic. You can check out my recordings with the low-cut filter activated, and then on full-range mode to hear the difference.
Low-cut filter
As the Ngale X is a dynamic cardioid mic, it’s best used for podcasting and streaming. Its ability to minimize ambient noise and focus on the sound directly in front of it means it’s ideal for casual settings, like bedrooms or offices that might not be soundproofed. I tested the mic with low-cut filter mode and full range mode while typing in the background. I think the low-cut filter mode does a good job of minimizing my typing sounds.
And below you can directly compare to the full-range mode, which is better for podcasting, or recording with little ambient noise.
Full-range mode
The Ngale X is quite sensitive to pops and plosive sounds, like our best overall mic the Blue Yeti ($130). You can pick up physical pop filters for under $10 on Amazon, but if you’d like a mic with a built-in popper stopper, the MV7+ has a great one — but that mic will cost you $279.
In general, though, the Ngale X delivers really solid sound for the price, and the low-cut filter is great at minimizing ambient noise.
Cherry XTRFY Ngale X microphone review: Verdict
With an XLR and USB-C connection, the Cherry Ngale X microphone is a good choice for professional and aspiring content creators. This is an ideal mic for video game streaming given its low-cut filter, and the full-range mode records deep, dynamic, and warm voices for podcasts. Even though the Ngale X has no companion app, you can adjust gain using the knob on the back of the mic and vocal effects in third-party software like Audacity and Audition. While it’s lacking the premium features of the MV7+, the Ngale X is a fantastic option for the price.
