How to improve your video call audio without overspending

To improve the audio of your video calls, start by checking which microphone is active, listen to a test recording, and see where it’s positioned. Buying another accessory comes later, if you find a specific need.

“Can you hear me?” should be a question at the start, not the topic of the entire meeting. If that happens to you, there’s no need to turn your desk into a studio. We suggest this approach: first, find out what’s wrong, then try making a change, and only then decide whether it’s worth buying something.

First: listen to what you’re sending

It’s not the same if people hear you faintly, if there’s an echo, or if your voice cuts out. Ask for a specific description: “Can you understand me?”, “Is your own voice repeating?” or “Are words disappearing?” That answer will help you decide what to try without immediately blaming the microphone.

In Windows 11, open Settings → System → Sound → Input. Choose the microphone, go to its properties, and start the test. Speak normally, stop it, and play the sample; adjust the input volume if necessary. This is the Microsoft microphone test procedure.

Next, make a short call in the app you use. Comparing both tests is a practical way to separate questions: does the recording already sound bad, or does the problem appear when you’re talking? A local test doesn’t check the connection with the other person.

Move the microphone closer before turning it up

If you leave it behind your laptop, try a closer and more convenient position. The right distance depends on the microphone and how you use it; follow the manufacturer’s guidance. It’s also not a good idea to set the level to maximum: input that’s too high can cause distortion. Shure explains these placement and level adjustments.

Our suggestion is simple: say the same phrase before and after moving it. Don’t change the position, volume, and all the filters at once. That way, you can see which adjustment worked for you instead of ending up with a combination you won’t know how to repeat later.

If there’s an echo, also check how you listen

To reduce echo, Google Meet recommends using headphones, lowering the speaker volume, and muting the microphone when you’re not speaking. It’s also a good idea to check which input and output are selected. You can consult their recommendations for meeting audio.

If you already have headphones with a microphone, try them before looking for a desktop microphone. For anyone who wants to speak and listen with a single accessory, Apple EarPods USB-C are a wired option with a built-in microphone. They don’t require Bluetooth pairing or charging a battery.

Apple details the cable controls and requirements for Mac, iPad, and iPhone on its official EarPods USB-C product page. Check your device and system before choosing them: they’re not the Lightning version. Just because the connector fits doesn’t replace that check.

Speaking and listening with a single accessory

EarPods USB-C: a wired option with a microphone. First, confirm your device’s requirements.

Apple EarPods USB-C with Microphone and Cable Controls

Speaking and listening with a USB-C wired accessory; check the model and system, without promising universal compatibility.

View product and availability

The question to help you decide isn’t whether they look more professional than the ones you have. It’s whether you need to combine a microphone and headphones in a solution you can use on your device. If what you have already works for you, there’s no reason to change it just for the sake of changing it.

The space also deserves a test

A room with many hard surfaces can add reflections to your voice. Curtains and upholstered furniture help reduce them; they don’t turn the room into a soundproofed space. This is another of the recommendations in the Shure recording guide.

Test the space you already have available before buying panels or accessories. Can you talk there without being uncomfortable? Do you have your laptop and controls close at hand? Look for a setup you can maintain during a class or meeting, not a posture you can only tolerate for the test.

When a desktop microphone does make sense

If you’ve already figured out how to listen and want to place the voice input separately, these two alternatives meet different needs. They’re not ranked, nor is there a promise that one will sound better in any room.

The UGREEN CM564 has a flexible neck and a mute button on the base, according to its product page. The product photo shows the USB-A connector. You might consider it if you want to arrange the position on your desk and have the mute button within reach. Check the connection with your device beforehand; I wouldn’t choose it expecting it to eliminate all the noise in your home.

The FIFINE AM6 adds gain, mute, and headphone monitoring controls. Gain is the adjustment of the microphone’s input level. Its monitoring feature lets you hear yourself, but it doesn’t replace a test with the person receiving the call. FIFINE documents its features and settings.

You might consider it if, in addition to meetings, you want to record your voice and are interested in using those controls. If you only need to talk, I wouldn’t buy mixing features or lights as if they were requirements for people to understand you.

Two options for your desk

CM564 if you prioritize an adjustable position and a mute button close at hand; AM6 if you want input controls and monitoring. Choose according to your needs.

UGREEN CM564 USB Desktop Microphone

Adjustable position and desktop mute button for anyone who already has headphones; only verified physical features, without noise cancellation claims.

View product and availability

FIFINE AM6 RGB Condenser USB Microphone

Input controls and monitoring for desktop use and voice recording, not a universal requirement for video calls.

View product and availability

Before deciding, write down these three things:

• What’s wrong today and what change do you hope to achieve.
• Which device and app you’re going to use it with.
• Which headphones, microphone, and ports you already have available.

Check the connection before adding accessories

Don’t choose based on the photo of the complete desk: choose based on your device. If you don’t have a free port, also check our guide to choosing a USB-C hub. It’s a decision separate from the microphone; it’s best to check both before filling your cart.

Do you use Bluetooth? Try it in the actual app: Google warns that some headphones work for regular calls, but not the same way in Meet. If the audio cuts out and the connection is poor, it also suggests trying without video. Changing microphones is not proof that the network issue has been resolved.

Finish with a test call

With the option you choose, check that the other person understands your voice without asking you to repeat yourself. Also test the mute button and how comfortable it is to speak. If the problem continues, write down a description of what happened so you can ask for help; don’t keep buying blindly.

Check the linked product pages and tell us which device you use and what’s wrong with your calls. That’s a more useful starting point for choosing technology: solving what’s getting in your way, without paying for what you don’t need.