The JLab Talk Pro is the series flagship microphone, delivering a solid middle ground between affordability and sound quality, with impressive specs, multiple pickup modes, and much more.
So, does the JLab Talk Pro microphone live up to expectations? Find out in our JLab Talk Pro microphone review.
JLab Talk Pro Design
The JLab Talk Pro is a standalone USB microphone with a decent black and blue color scheme that, while not the most eye-catching, will certainly look good if you use it for live broadcasting. It’s well-built, too, with a metal grille surrounding the microphone enclosure on the top half and sturdy molded plastic on the bottom half.
The microphone measures around 281 x 193 x 193mm (11.1 x 7.6 x 7.6 inches), although you can adjust the height of the microphone using the included tripod stand. The option to increase the height is handy if you plan to use the JLab Talk Pro for personal or group recording. The tripod stand attaches at the side of the microphone unit, while its rubberized feet go some way to reduce any unexpected bumps or thuds while recording. Furthermore, if you’re using the Talk Pro as part of a more permanent recording setup, you can screw the microphone into a dedicated stand using the standard 5/8" screw.
On the front of the JLab Talk Pro, you’ll find a handy display, complete with a button for quick switching between the microphones four directional pattern modes. Pressing the button at the bottom of the gain/volume gauge switches between the modes, with a small indicator appearing above each option as you switch. You’ll find a mute button at the top of the gauge that kills both audio input and output.
The gain/volume gauge gives you a visual guide to the gain and volume control dials found on the rear of the microphone. Obviously, the gain dial increases the amplitude of the microphone signal, while the volume dial is for use with the Talk Pro’s aux passthrough mode. Nudge the gain dial-up, and the gauge glows green. Switch up the volume dial, and the gauge flares blue so you don’t confuse your audio options while recording.
On the audio passthrough, this is handy for when you need direct audio feedback from your recording but don’t want to interfere with your input. It’s a useful addition to the Talk Pro and one that helps make it competitive for recording podcasts and other media types.
Still focusing on the bottom of the Talk Pro mic, there’s also an LED lighting ring that runs around the microphone base. You can use a button at the bottom of the microphone to toggle the color. However, this isn’t the most useful LED placement, or at least it really depends on the angle you might appear on camera, if that’s part of your setup. As the LED is at the bottom of the microphone, it spends most of its time pointing away from you, out of view. Now, if you use a static boom arm to hold your microphone and record from behind the arm, with the arm obstructing your viewer from your face, maybe they’ll see it.
So, yes, it’s a feature, but no, it’s not that useful.
JLab Talk Pro Specs
So, that was how the JLab Talk Pro looks, but what’s under the hood?
Well, under the metal grille and the stylish blue encasing are three individual 16mm condenser units. These three units combine to deliver the Talk Pro’s four pickup pattern modes: cardioid, omnidirectional, stereo, and bidirectional. The pickup modes work in combination with the Talk Pro’s impressive 192kHz sample rate and 24-bit depth, and with a frequency range of 20Hz-20,000Hz, it’ll pick up most spoken audio that you throw at it with clarity and precision.
In terms of competitors (with multiple pickup modes and similar audio input specs), you’re probably looking at the popular Blue Yeti Pro. While the Blue Yeti Pro is a great microphone that delivers similar specs to the JLab Talk Pro, it’ll also set you back at least another hundred bucks. You do get some extra perks within that price difference (XLR support and so on), but for someone that wants an excellent plug-and-play microphone that doesn’t make your wallet weep, the JLab Talk Pro is what you’re looking for.
Talking of plug and play, the Talk Pro is a USB-C microphone. It comes with a 10-foot USB-A to USB-C cable, one end of which has a right-angle USB-C connector for easier connection to the microphone. The cable is of good quality and is long enough that you can adjust for solo or group recordings.
JLab Talk Pro Audio Quality
I’ve been impressed with the JLab Talk Pro microphone. Its multiple pickup modes make it easy to switch between audio recording styles, and whenever I have recorded, my voice comes through clearly and without issue.
Speaking directly into the microphone using the cardioid mode delivers the best audio quality, as you might expect. You’re one on one with the microphone without any external distractions or interference, and the microphone is honing in on your voice. Toggle with the gain a little bit to find your perfect recording volume (or for gaming, or even just chatting), and you’ll get great results.
You can hear the difference in quality between the two following recordings made for MakeUseOf’s weekly release, The Really Useful Podcast. In the first recording, I’m using the integrated microphone on a headset, and in the second recording, I’m using the JLab Talk Pro. Note how much cleaner the second recording is. (Skip to around 3 minutes 30 seconds in the first recording to hear me.)
The Talk Pro’s other integrated modes make it a useful option for other types of recording, too. For example, the stereo polar pattern records audio from the left and right side of the microphone (as indicated on the microphone), while the bidirectional records from the front and back, making it perfect for a two-person recording. Finally, the omnidirectional pickup records the entire field around the microphone, covering 360-degrees (marked as a circle on the microphone).
As the JLab Talk Pro records at such high quality, coming in at 192kHz/24-bit by default, you’re also guaranteed to have a bit of leeway when you hit the audio editing phase. The higher data rate and wide frequency band allow some movement while also delivering nice, clear audio.
The JLab Talk Pro is also good at blocking out background noise depending on the pickup mode you’re using. Of course, the microphone can get a helping hand from whatever recording software you’re using (provided it has a noise reduction option), but there is noticeably less background noise than with other similarly priced microphones I’ve tried.
One thing you might find is that switching between pickup modes while recording can result in some feedback, which isn’t great. How much it affects recording did seem to vary from time to time, so it’s worth noting if you intend to switch between modes frequently while recording. There wasn’t feedback every time, so it was difficult to replicate the issue.
Should You Buy the JLab Talk Pro Microphone?
It’s a difficult marketplace for the JLab Talk Pro, as so many competing USB microphones offer similar audio quality. Still, the Talk Pro’s additional performance and hardware should make it shine through versus other more expensive options. The four pickup modes make the Talk Pro a versatile option too, and when combined with the 192kHz sample rate and 24-bit depth, you have a decent microphone on your hands.
The question really comes down to price. With the JLab Talk Pro retailing for $150, it is competitive, but definitely on the premium side of USB microphones.
You might have to try a few different microphones to figure out what actually suits you for the recording you’re attempting. For example, the JLab Talk Pro’s pickup modes are great if you’re going to be recording in a group or doing interviews sitting at a table. But if not, you might consider a different option, one that has less functionality in terms of pickup modes but still delivers the same level of audio quality, which is definitely one of the Pro’s top features.
