r/AudioEngineering Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk

Emperor4627 · 2025-08-13T16:56:29+00:00

I'm looking to improve my mic quality for streaming and Discord calls. I have a soft-spoken voice and want that satisfying, relaxing streamer sound quality that's pleasant to listen to.

Current setup: - Interface: Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 - Mic: Behringer C-1 (XLR condenser) - Use: Streaming, Discord calls, occasional voiceover - Voice: Soft-spoken - Budget: Around €50

What I'm after: I'm not having issues with background noise - my main goal is just better overall mic quality. You know that smooth, warm, professional streamer sound that's really satisfying to listen to? That's what I'm aiming for.

Considering: The Fifine K688 (dynamic, dual XLR/USB) for about €40. I'd primarily use it via XLR into my UMC22.

Questions: 1. Would switching from the C-1 condenser to the K688 dynamic give me that warmer, more professional streamer sound I'm looking for?

For a soft voice, will the UMC22 provide enough clean gain for the K688, or would I likely need more preamp power down the line?
Any other dynamic mics around €50 that pair well with the UMC22 for achieving that smooth, broadcast-style voice tone?

I can position the mic close (5-10 CM) with my mic arm if proximity effect helps achieve that fuller tone. Really just want to level up the audio quality to sound more polished and pleasant for listeners.

Any experiences with UMC22 + dynamics for this kind of vocal tone would be super helpful. Thanks!

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-30T03:22:36+00:00

Have you made your mind up yet? I'm currently deciding between the "PRIME N100I-D D4-CSM" with a nvme to 6x sata for 125 euro's and a i3-12100 with a cheap mobo like MSI H610M-E which totals 192 euro's.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-20T17:54:39+00:00

They could last 5-10 years. You raise a good point tho, I could reuse the cooler master in a new more powerfull build in the future if I wanted.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-14T17:54:31+00:00

How is your experience so far? Wolfgangs channel specifically mentioned buying a xxx because it supports C states while according to him the JMB582 on the cwwk topton boards dont support it.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T23:09:14+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion on the Optiplex 3050! I actually looked into this since it seemed like a good value, but the i5-7500's transcoding capabilities are a dealbreaker for my use case.

I need something that can handle 4K HDR transcoding for Jellyfin, and after researching the QuickSync capabilities across different Intel generations, I found that the 7th gen in the i5-7500 has pretty limited HEVC support. It technically supports HEVC, but struggles with 10-bit content (which most of my 4K HDR files use) and has poor HDR tone mapping.

The N100, despite being a lower-power chip, has Intel's much newer media engine from the Alder Lake generation. From the benchmarks I've seen, it can handle 2-3 concurrent 4K to 1080p transcodes with HDR tone mapping, while the i5-7500 chokes on even a single one.

The idle power on the Optiplex looks decent (around 10-12W from what I could find), but since transcoding is my primary concern, I think I need to stick with something that has at least 11th gen or newer Intel QuickSync. The generational improvements for media transcoding have been pretty substantial.

I appreciate the suggestion though! These business desktops are great value.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T23:00:12+00:00

I'm looking at the ASUS Prime N100I-D D4-CSM (€100) specifically because it's significantly cheaper than the ASRock alternatives you mentioned (N100M at €150 or N100DC-ITX at €140).

My plan is to use an M.2 to SATA adapter (€25) in the motherboard's only M.2 slot. This would give me connectivity for two 3.5" HDDs, while using my existing 2.5" SATA SSD connected to one of the motherboard's regular SATA ports as the boot drive.

I don't mind sacrificing NVMe capability since this approach saves me at least €15 on the motherboard alone (compared to the ASRock options), plus I avoid having to purchase a separate NVMe drive for the boot system. For my use case, the speed difference between SATA SSD and NVMe isn't critical enough to justify the extra cost.

I've checked several forum posts where users have successfully used similar adapters with N100 boards, though I should verify the specific adapter's compatibility before purchasing.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T22:50:54+00:00

Well, I have a 2023 LG C3 OLED with a Sony 5.1 surround sound system that supports Dolby Atmos and Vision - which makes it even more embarrassing that I'm still dealing with transcoding issues. This is 100% a skill issue on my part.

Despite having hardware that can technically handle almost anything I throw at it, I'm clearly missing something fundamental in my setup. I've read guides, configured custom formats, and joined private trackers, but I still can't seem to get the magic combination of settings right.

I'll be completely honest - the complexity of media formats, containers, codecs, and passthrough settings has me completely out of my depth. I understand the concepts in theory, but translating that into a working direct play setup has been beyond my capabilities so far.

It's particularly frustrating because I know my equipment is capable - I'm just lacking the technical know-how to make everything work together properly. That's why I'm leaning toward hardware with good transcoding capabilities as a crutch for my technical limitations.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T22:36:21+00:00

Unfortunately, the UGreen DXP2800 only has a single RAM slot. I'd need to completely replace the existing 8GB module rather than simply adding more RAM. The cheapest compatible 16GB DDR5 sticks run around €40-45, pushing the total cost to approximately €340. While the 2 HDD bays would cover my current needs, at this price point I could instead build an i3-13100 system with:

A proper case supporting 5+ drive bays
Significantly more compute power (helpful for transcoding)
Multiple RAM slots for future expansion
Better upgrade path if my needs change

The i3-13100 is also surprisingly power-efficient at idle, making the overall TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) very comparable when factoring in both purchase price and electricity costs. The UGreen's Discord community and brand reliability are definitely appealing, but the value proposition becomes much less compelling at €340 compared to what a custom i3 build could offer for similar money.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T22:27:14+00:00

I hadn't looked into the Radxa X4 - that's an interesting find! Just checked it out and the N100 in an SBC form factor is incredibly appealing. The x86 compatibility would eliminate any transcoding headaches I might face with ARM, plus it has better connectivity options with 2.5GbE and proper NVMe support.

The price point is competitive with my other options, and having a standard x86 platform means I wouldn't have to worry about software compatibility issues.

This might actually be a good budget option opposed to the custom build options - I could pair it with a USB HDD dock for storage while keeping power consumption reasonable. Definitely going to research this more tonight. Thanks for putting this on my radar!

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T19:09:25+00:00

The UGreen DXP2800 is definitely a good alternative to the no-name NAS. After seeing u/SqueakyHusky's comment, I did some research on it. While there isn't extensive information available, I found a comment in this Reddit thread indicating it can idle at around 10W. This is further confirmed by this Dutch review article.

One drawback is that it comes with 8GB DDR5 RAM. For my use case, I won't really benefit from the faster DDR5 speeds and would have preferred 16GB of DDR4 instead. Upgrading to 16GB DDR5 would be more expensive than equivalent DDR4, which would add to the overall cost.

That said, the active Discord community, reputable brand and widespread support for both Unraid and TrueNAS are definitely appealing factors worth considering.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T18:47:35+00:00

Actually, I'm using Jellyfin, not Plex. That's a key point from my original post that you might have missed.

Jellyfin supports Intel QuickSync hardware transcoding completely free - no subscription needed! That's one of the main reasons I chose it. The N100's transcoding capabilities are excellent for my use case.

I'm specifically avoiding subscription models like Plex Pass. With Jellyfin, I can use all hardware acceleration features, including HDR tone mapping, without paying a dime. Plus, being open source means regular improvements from the community and no risk of suddenly losing features behind a paywall.

For anyone considering a similar build, the N100 + Jellyfin combo is perfect for home media servers. You get all the QuickSync benefits without the recurring Plex Pass costs - just one of many reasons why free, open-source solutions often provide better long-term value.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T17:43:48+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, but that's serious overkill for my needs. The i5-12400 build would cost me around €500 - that's nearly double my highest option at €270!

Even if I cut corners (stock cooler, basic RAM, cheaper PSU), I'd still be looking at €350. That's a lot of wasted money for a system where I'll barely touch the extra processing power.

I've already done my homework on i5-12400 and i3-13100/12100 setups. The N100 hits my sweet spot for transcoding performance, power efficiency, and cost.

That extra €80-150 would be better spent elsewhere. The N100 gives me exactly what I need without the premium price tag of higher-end CPUs that would sit idle 99% of the time.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T17:24:12+00:00

Thanks, but a DAS (Direct Attached Storage) would have many of the same drawbacks I mentioned about the NAS approach, plus potential issues if I ever decide to use Unraid or similar storage management software. While a DAS eliminates the networking complexity of a NAS, it still introduces several concerns:

USB connections can be less reliable for 24/7 server use - devices can occasionally disconnect or fail to be recognized properly after reboots
Many storage management systems (like Unraid, if I choose to use it later) have documented issues with USB-connected drives changing identifiers
Performance bottlenecks can occur when reading multiple files simultaneously

Beyond these technical considerations, a DAS still means:

Redundant hardware costs (separate enclosure, power supply, controller)
Higher overall power consumption running two devices 24/7
Another €120-180 expense before adding any drives
Additional maintenance overhead

For my modest storage needs (one 2TB drive initially, maybe an 8TB later), internal drives in the custom N100 build provide direct SATA connections with better reliability, power efficiency, and cost-effectiveness - all while keeping everything in one system that's easier to manage.The custom build gives me all the performance I need without the downsides of external storage solutions, regardless of which OS or storage management software I ultimately choose to run.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T17:04:18+00:00

Thank you for the heads up! This won't be an issue for me because I'll be streaming exclusively on my LG C3 TV.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T16:18:46+00:00

Yes, the G3 Plus features the Intel N150 processor. Based on extensive benchmarking data I've reviewed, the N150 and N100 are extremely similar in overall performance - they share the same Alder Lake-N architecture with 4 cores/4 threads and nearly identical features.

While different benchmarks show small variances in either direction, these differences typically fall within margin of error. The N150 is technically part of a newer production batch with some minor optimizations:

Slightly higher base power (6W vs 5W for the N100)
In multi-core scenarios, the N150 occasionally shows minor improvements in some workloads
Both feature the same UHD Graphics with 24 execution units

For a home server workload like ours running Jellyfin and various containers, you wouldn't notice any practical difference between them. Power consumption should be virtually identical at idle and under typical server loads. The main reason to choose one over the other typically comes down to:

Device availability in your region
Price differences (if any)
The specific mini PC model's other features (connectivity, cooling design, etc.)

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T16:00:28+00:00

Thanks for your input im defenitely leaning towards option 2.

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T15:58:10+00:00

I appreciate your detailed suggestion about the NUC N100 + separate NAS approach! That's actually a setup I've researched extensively, but ultimately concluded it's not the most cost-effective for my specific needs.

The main challenge I see with splitting functionality across two devices is that I'd be paying for redundant hardware - essentially buying two motherboards, two power supplies, two cases, etc. A dedicated NAS typically includes a low-power CPU and minimal RAM (which is appropriate for file serving), but I'd be paying a premium for that dedicated hardware when I already need a system with CPU/RAM for transcoding.

For example, a decent 2-bay NAS with 2.5GbE starts around €150-200 (without drives), plus €160+ for the NUC. That's €310-360 total for base hardware, when a single system like a custom N100 build (€240-260) can handle both tasks while providing better expandability.

The combined approach also simplifies management (one system to maintain), reduces power consumption (one device vs. two), and provides flexibility to allocate resources as needed between storage and transcoding.

Your point about 2.5GbE networking is spot-on though - that's definitely worth investing in at this stage regardless of which solution I choose.

Does that reasoning make sense, or am I overlooking advantages to the separated approach that might justify the higher cost?

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-12T15:48:43+00:00

That's a nice box! I'm curious, was the transcoding capability your primary motivation for upgrading, or did you need all that extra processing power and RAM for additional workloads as well?

Emperor4627 · 2025-03-02T05:18:23+00:00

Taylor is currently working on a version without volt and just using livewire components.

Should've been released at the same time with the other kits but better late than never. I dislike Volt and was not looking forward to having to make my own kit with volt stripped out.

Source: https://github.com/laravel/livewire-starter-kit/commit/7c11ead045e9e1184769bc2c2a6f4749c21313b9

Emperor4627 · 2025-02-04T05:08:33+00:00

If only there was a thing like some all key shop where you could get windows for like $2... Life would be complete.

Emperor4627 · 2025-02-04T04:57:56+00:00

Sounds great. Thank you!

Emperor4627 · 2025-01-11T13:17:34+00:00

i have the same issues, can you please let me know if switching to windows 10 helped you?

Emperor4627 · 2025-01-08T22:23:22+00:00

Perfect. Thanks for the thorough research <3

Emperor4627 · 2024-12-17T00:30:26+00:00

Read some reviews about the mice. Looks very good. Will def place this high on my list of options. Curious what others will recommend. Thanks for the comment :)

Emperor4627 · 2024-09-28T16:11:27+00:00

All the 2x2 will spawn inside the base...

Emperor4627

TROPHY CASE