JLab Talk GO
A great upgrade on your Mac’s mic
£49.99 FROM JLab, jlab.com FEATURES Two recording modes (cardioid and omni-directional), two condensers, 96kHz resolution, mode-control button, 299g (with stand)
The Talk GO mic has just enough of what you need and none of what you don’t
The COVID-19 era means having a goodquality microphone is more important than ever, yet built-in Mac mics have not been able to keep up. If you’re spending more time in video calls with your workplace or family, you need something reliable. So is JLab’s Talk GO up to the task?
As the name suggests, this is a compact mic. It cuts down on extra features in favour of a small, lightweight design with just enough of what you need and none of what you don’t. At £50, it makes for a compelling option.
Sleek style
Visually, the Talk GO looks great.
It’s clad in all black with light blue highlights – including an illuminated ring at the base that changes colour when you switch recording modes or mute the mic. It’s classy without being garish, and a clever idea that provides important at-a-glance info.
The good looks are backed up with excellent build quality. When you start putting the Talk GO together, the first thing you notice is how weighty the stand feels. That’s reassuring – the last thing you want is your mic sliding out of place or toppling over because the stand can’t support it. There’s no chance of that here, as the rubber feet at the base of the stand’s legs ensure everything stays exactly where it’s meant to.
The microphone itself is lightweight – at 130g, it’s much lighter than the stand. Halfway up its oblong body is a screw hole that allows you to attach it to the stand. On the bottom is the aforementioned light ring, as well as a USB-C slot, a volume roller, and a large mute button. Hold it down and this doubles as a mode switcher that flips between cardioid (front-facing) and omnidirectional recording modes. Compared to the £99.99 JLab Talk, the Talk GO is not missing a huge number of features. There’s no gain control and it only has two recording modes rather than four, but for most people that should be acceptable. The biggest issue, though, is the number of condensers: two on the GO versus the three you get on the Talk. And that different does have an impact on the audio quality.
The Talk GO is fine for work conferences or video calls with your family. Our voice sounded crisp and clear, and mounting the device on a boom arm or larger stand further helps volume and clarity. The main sticking point is what happens elsewhere. There’s a noticeable level of background noise, which might be a problem if you want to record videos. It’s not terrible, but is evident when compared to the £119.99 Blue Yeti; then again, that costs a lot more.
JLab’s offering is great value if you need a travel microphone or a step up from your Mac’s built-in mic. Its audio isn’t studio quality but is more than enough for most. Alex Blake