Cherry Xtrfy has released its latest USB condenser microphone, the Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R, featuring a unique new design. With a solid track record for its microphones—especially notable given the brand is not primarily known for audio equipment—I was eager to see how this model stacks up against others I’ve tested in the past.
In the box, you’ll find the Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R with a desk stand, a USB cable, and a quick-start guide. This plug-and-play condenser microphone has a very lightweight build and doesn’t feel as sturdy as another recent release from the company, the Cherry Xtrfy NGALE X. The grating over the capsule feels thin, and its plastic body gives it a noticeably cheaper overall feel.
The stand that comes with the Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R is functional but very short, keeping the microphone quite far from your face—an arrangement that is not ideal for a condenser microphone’s pickup pattern. This microphone definitely belongs on a mic arm to achieve the best vocal quality. Fortunately, the placement of the cable inputs on the NGALE R is excellent for a mic arm. The inputs run discreetly from the back of the microphone down the length of the arm, providing one of the best layouts I’ve seen on a USB microphone.
“The Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R offers performance that exceeds its price tag, impressing with vocal clarity and user-friendly controls.”
The NGALE R also includes an impressive array of controls directly on the microphone. On the front is a single knob that controls either gain or headphone volume, with LEDs indicating the levels of each. The top of the microphone features a capacitive mute button—one of my favourite USB microphone features (and not just because it’s fun to say).
On the back of the Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R, you’ll find an RGB control button, a USB-C port for connecting to your PC, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring. While some microphones reduce onboard controls to streamline the design—often overcomplicating things with a single multi-function knob—the NGALE R’s design stands out by providing user-friendly, discreet, and easily accessible controls.
As mentioned earlier, the Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R is a plug-and-play microphone. There is no software available for this mic, meaning you are limited to the controls on the device (another good reason it includes so many) and the features offered by your capture software, such as OBS or Audacity.
“Its 16mm capsule, 20–20,000 Hz frequency response, 96 kHz sample rate, and 24-bit bitrate deliver clarity and surprising bass for a condenser microphone.”
The RGB effects on the Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R are subtly beautiful, with vibrant colours and a brightness level that doesn’t go overboard. This design choice enhances its appearance on camera, as overly bright LEDs on a microphone tend to lose detail when streaming. The details you might lose with excessive brightness are impressive, too. The transitions between colours during RGB cycles are smooth, and there are striking effects, such as a flicker resembling a small flame, which adds a great touch to any setup.
The sound quality of the Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R was a pleasant surprise, especially considering the microphone’s cheaper-feeling build. Its clarity is solid, thanks to the 16mm capsule, 20–20,000 Hz frequency response, 96 kHz sample rate, and 24-bit bitrate. It also delivers a surprising amount of bass for a condenser mic, which is not typically strong in the low-end range. The sound is reminiscent of a dynamic mic but with a less directional pickup pattern.
When using the mic on an arm and positioning it close to your face, you can keep the gain fairly low, minimizing ambient noise. This setup often eliminates the need for noise reduction, especially if you’re playing other audio, such as games or music, in the background.
At $119 USD, it’s a reasonable price for a microphone from a major peripheral brand, especially for a type of microphone that typically lacks good-quality, low-cost alternatives from overseas. While I’ve come across many affordable dynamic microphones that sound great, cheap condenser microphones often deliver subpar audio quality.
The Cherry Xtrfy NGALE R, however, offers performance that exceeds its price tag. Despite its build quality initially setting low expectations, the microphone impressed with its RGB effects and vocal clarity. Its user-friendly controls and affordability are just the icing on the cake.
- Free-standing USB microphone: High-quality sound recordings with cardioid directional patterns as well as intelligent noise cancellation to capture your voice clearly and distinctly
- Outstanding sound quality: The Ngale R offers multiple directional patterns and features a high-quality cardioid capsule for streaming, voiceovers and solo recordings with more details
