FiFine SC3 review – Sound card for gamer for 50$

Максим Триколич

06.02.2024

199 0

FiFine SC 3 audio interface and game mixer for $50. Features of the FiFine SC 3 sound card are wide functionality and good sounding microphone. FiFine SC 3 is a great solution for gamers, streamers and bloggers. A device that can improve your sound and surprise viewers with interesting “tricks”. Which I will tell you about in this review 😎 . The full name of the device is FIFINE AMPLIGAME SC3 GAMING USB, but let me shorten it to FiFine SC 3 😆 .

⚙️ FiFine SC 3 – Specification:

📢 Appearance and build quality

The appearance of FiFine SC 3 is simple, without unnecessary details, minimalistic. The color scheme is dark, metallic gray. A white version is available. The front panel has all available buttons and control knobs. This gamer mixer has RGB backlighting with several modes. The font on the buttons is of good quality, readable even when turned off. At the top of the FiFine SC 3 is the name of the manufacturer.

The assembly is at a good level. The body is made of lightweight plastic that is pleasant to the touch. Buttons are made of silicone with soft pressure. Faders (4 regulators in the center) are plastic, with a ribbed surface, so your fingers do not slip when adjusting. FiFine SC 3 has 4 rubber feet at the bottom, the card stands confidently on the table, it doesn’t ride.

The first impression of the device was positive. For 50$ I didn’t expect something supernatural. FiFine company has already pleased me with its budget microphones FiFine AM8 and FiFine K688. FiFine SC 3 is well assembled, the materials are budget, but not disgusting. Everything looks nice, and the backlight brings “Gamer” spirit to this device 😉 .

🎛️ Management and functionality

Front panel:

The front panel of the card features:

• 4 control faders: MIC, LINE IN, HEADPHONES, LINE OUT.
• 4 buttons under each fader: MUTE (mute the signal) and MIC MONITOR (direct monitoring of the microphone to headphones).

• 48V button – turns on phantom power for condenser microphones.

• Electric – Auto-tune function with tone selection (12 tones).

• Change Voice – A selection of unique modes to change your voice, 6 to choose from. From a rough, low voice to a high, squeaky voice.
• The button in the upper right corner is responsible for changing the backlight modes.
• Custom A, B, C, D – programmable buttons for recording samples or vocal loops.

Above all buttons and controls there is an indicator showing the volume of the headphone output and microphone input. This way you can visually see which signal you have active.

The function you have enabled is disabled by pressing the same button!

The control buttons are pleasant to the touch and easy to press. The mixer controls rise and fall smoothly. A little effort is enough to adjust them. All functions are clear, you don’t even need a manual to understand them. Intuitiveness is the key to quick use of the device 😎 .

Rear panel:

The rear panel is responsible for connections and outputs (looking at the photo from left to right):

• USB-C connector to connect to a computer.
• Line Out – connects to speakers.
• HeadPhones – connection to headphones.
• Line IN – connection of the output from a phone, tablet, computer for direct sound playback from it.
• HeadSet – headset connection (headphones with microphone).
• DynamicCondencer switch – switches microphone input operation modes. Dynamic – work with dynamic microphone. Condencer – operation with condenser or electret microphone.
• XLRJack 6.3 mm combo jack – microphone input.

RGB backlighting is a nice bonus. It is controlled by a button in the upper right corner. The backlight has many modes, both static and shimmering. You can turn it off completely by pressing the button.

In terms of available inputs and outputs, the FiFine SC 3 is superb. Anything can be plugged into this sound card. In a gamer’s or streaming enthusiast’s home environment, FiFine SC 3 will be an indispensable solution. Especially if you take into account the price of 50$. You can simultaneously connect speakers, headphones, microphone and if necessary output it all to your smartphone with stereo signal for broadcasting to Tic-Toc.

🎧 Sound Quality

FiFine SC 3 is a budget $50 audio recording and playback device. If you want to hear me say, “How cool are these converters and mic preamp?”. No. I’m not saying that!

The microphone preamp will handle voice transmission for broadcasting or recording. The sound is transmitted without audible noise or distortion. The 50dB gain is enough to provide condenser and dynamic microphones with an optimal signal. But Shure SM7b this sound card will not pull, dynamic microphones are easier – yes.

Headphone output with 15mW gain at 32ohm, my Audio-Technica M50X at 35 ohm are rocking. But headphones with higher impedance (Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO 250 ohm) will not sound full. I noticed a small disadvantage in that the headphone volume fader starts to signal with a slight backlash, i.e. not smoothly.

The output to the speakers is normal, sounds good. The signal is not noisy. You will not hear the difference if you have played music from a regular sound card built into a computer or laptop.

Since this device is designed primarily for gamers, streamers, bloggers. Often these people do not want to go into the complex subtle matters of sound recording. FiFine have abandoned their own audio driver. You just plug the sound card into your computer and it’s ready to use. It works in 16 bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz.

Demonstration of recording on an Audio-Technica AT2020 and Lewitt 440 Pure microphone via FiFine SC 3.

FiFine SC 3 is a budget sound card primarily for beginner bloggers, streamers, gamers. It has “tricks” to dabble in Discord with your friends and surprise your CS GO teammates with voice changes 😆 . It will increase your connectivity. In one device you will be connected headphones, microphone and speakers and control all this periphery is also carried out from one small box. FiFine SC 3 for its 50$ sounds good and it has a lot of functionality 😎 .

🛒 Purchase FiFine SC 3

🆚 Comparison of FiFine SC 3 VS MAONO AME2

MAONO AME2 is a similar device to FiFine SC 3. Its main task is recording and playback of sound. MAONO AME2 is twice as expensive as FiFine SC 3 and has more nice features.

MAONO AME2 has on board:

• Three band equalizer.
• 1 microphone input and 1 instrumental input for guitar.
• Bluetooth connectivity.
• Built-in reverb with different presets.
• Noise reduction.
• 8 additional buttons for recording samples.

There are also features that are available on the FiFine SC 3, such as autotune, direct monitoring, voice change and a wide connectivity interface.

MAONO AME2 in my opinion is more functional and it can be considered for purchase even for beginners, but the cost of 100$ scares me. For such money you can take Focusrite Scarlett on the secondary market and get a more professional sound. But if you need a card for streaming, gaming, MAONO AME2 can please you no less than FiFine SC 3. It has a good sound, the interface is clear and not complicated. If you have the opportunity to test both cards, do it and choose the one that will be more comfortable for you.

✅ FiFine VS UAD Volt 2?

UAD Volt 2 is a complete sound card with good and clean preamps and converters on output. Excellent headphone output and sound card software. Among budget professional sound cards under 300$, UAD Volt 2 looks good.

But it doesn’t have those “features” that FiFine SC 3 for 50$ has. No built-in autotune, no RGB backlighting, no voice change.

UAD Volt 2 does not need all these “tricks” as its main task is to record and reproduce sound in a professional and high-quality way. And it does it perfectly. If you are engaged in music, sound recording, singing, then it is worth looking towards not gaming sound cards like FiFine SC 3, but pay attention to such devices as UAD Volt 2.

I clearly separate UAD Volt 2 and FiFine SC 3, I realize that these two devices are in different leagues. But I was obliged to mention such a device as UAD Volt 2. Many young musicians buy cheap audio interfaces and then don’t understand why their music is recorded badly. If you are a musician your choice is UAD Volt 2, Audient ID4 MKII, Focusrite Scarlett Solo, Arturia AudioFuse Studio, Antelope Audio Zen Go and others. If you are a blogger and gamer you can take gaming solutions like FiFine SC 3 or MAONO AME2.

🏆 Bottom line – pros and cons

FiFine SC 3 is a great game mixer for streaming, recording YouTube videos, evening rides with friends playing your favorite games. Recording and playback of sound at a good level, chips in the form of autotune and voice change are interesting and will find applications in the life of a streamer. I was pleased with the lack of an audio driver, it could be considered a disadvantage, but I do not think so.

FiFine SC 3 justifies the cost of 50$. Decent bundling, build and design are good. There is nothing superfluous on the sound card. It is lightweight and compact, and most importantly functional.

If you choose your first sound card for gaming, FiFine SC 3 will be a good start! But in the future I recommend you to go for more professional solutions!

Write below in the comments if you still have questions, happy to answer!