Audio Quality
In terms of sound, the ModMic performs well for meetings and calls, blocking out background noise effectively. Thanks to its cardioid pickup pattern, it captures voice clearly and rejects surrounding noise. With a busy street nearby and a dog prone to barking, this feature is essential.
I’ve tried various other mics before, including the HyperX Solocast, which picks up everything, and lapel mics that don’t capture as much detail. While the ModMic may not offer the same depth as a studio condenser, it’s tuned for voice clarity and blocks out non-voice frequencies. It’s an ideal, compact solution for everyday calls and video conferencing.
I asked Antlion if they could provide me with a frequency response graph, but they didn’t have one. Still, they’ve tuned the mic specifically for capturing the human voice. I’ve seen some people tweak the sound further with EQ adjustments for better clarity, but I didn’t feel the need—the default tuning already sounds great for my intended use.
Time for a quick test! I kept the conditions simple, running it under my usual work setup. On my left, I have two fans running, and on my right, a closed window facing a major road with plenty of passing traffic. It goes without saying, my room is very much untreated.
Conclusion
I’ve been working from home for nearly five years and have been an audiophile for over a decade. Call me snobbish, but I’ve always avoided headsets because I assumed they sounded inferior to standalone headphones without attached microphones. To be fair, I may be generalizing a bit—I haven’t tried potentially good-sounding headsets like the Sennheiser PC37, PC38, or models like the Audeze Maxwell and LCD-GX. Still, I often feel that a built-in microphone compromises headphone sound quality. But if that’s just my bias, I’d honestly be open to being proven wrong.
The ModMic is not perfect, of course. I do wish the arm offered more adjustability and that it came with additional accessories, especially since the target audience likely owns multiple headphones. Adhesives may not be the most ideal solution either; they can lose their stickiness over time, and removing them can be a bit of a hassle—especially on headphones with stunning finishes, like the ZMF Bokeh’s wooden earcups.
But these are more minor nitpicks than actual dealbreakers. In the end, I find this product to be very useful—even if you’re not an audiophile, it’s a practical solution for work calls and video conferencing. While I wouldn’t call it the cheapest option, as there are plenty of good microphones in this price range, the ModMic stands out for its convenience and flexibility. I initially thought it was a unique offering, but a quick search showed similar products from Audio-Technica, Meze, and a few smaller brands, which I’d be interested in comparing in the future. Until then, the ModMic 2 is a solid choice. It may be a bit pricey, but having a quality, detachable boom mic that pairs well with any of your favorite audiophile headphones makes it worth considering.
That wraps up this review! Do you have a ModMic or have you tried it out for yourself? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it!