Review: Audio-Technica ATGM1-USB Pack

Posted by Tech Jio 7 Mins Reading

If you’re still on the lookout for work-from-home communication equipment, then the newly launched Audio-Technica ATGM1-USB Pack is going to interest you. The Audio-Technica ATGM1-USB Pack is a combination the ATH-250M Headphones and ATGM1-USB Microphone for just S$78.

Unboxing

The ATGM1 Pack comes with the following items:

Audio-Technica ATGM1-USB Pack
  • ATH-250M Headphones
  • ATGM1-USB Microphone

Design and build quality

Both the ATH-250M headphone and ATGM1-USB microphone have a very simple design and made almost completely from plastic. They don’t exactly have the premium plastic construction like Audio-Technica’s more expensive products, but they still feel rather durable while tinkering around with it.

For the ATH-250M headphones, the headband is very stretchable but does not have any padding for your head. The adjustment rails adjust easily and whether you are extending or retracting. There is no volume rocker or buttons, the ATH-250M headphones purely outputs audio after you connect it via its 3.5mm audio jack.

As for the ATGM1-USB microphone, it has a round base with anti-slip texture to prevent it from moving about on your desk easily. It features a flexible gooseneck microphone meaning you can bend the stand to your desired angle. Like its name suggest, the microphone is a simple plug-and-play setup via USB. On your computer it should show up as “AT9933USB“.

Comfort and Usage

The ATH-250M headphones are incredibly lightweight so despite the lack of a head cushion, it is still really comfortable to wear for extended hours of use especially during those meetings that seem to go on forever. Do note that the ATH-250M headphones features and on-ear design, meaning that the ear cups rest directly on your ear unlike the ATH-770XCOM which is an over-ear design. On-ear headphones generally do not trap heat as fast as over-ear headphones.

The clamping force is just nice. I don’t feel that the ear cups are applying a lot of pressure to my ears. The ear cups have decently soft PU leather as well which helps with the comfort. The ATH-250M headphones are quite static. You cannot fold the ear cups nor swivel them. So if you’re planning on bringing them to around for calls, take special care when packing them in your bag.

Audio output from the ATH-250M headphones is detailed and clear. But of course that also depends on the microphone of your caller. Another thing to point out is also the length of the cable on the ATH-250M headphones – it is 2.0m long which is generously long to accommodate any work-from-home setup.

Microphone quality

Speaking of microphone, I found the ATGM1-USB microphone to deliver voices which sounded clear and well-bodied. There is depth and bass to one’s voices and the overall output is generally clean and natural. However, the aforementioned findings is only if you’re in an aircon room or wind-less room. As Singapore is really humid these days, my fan is at a pretty high speed so my room stays windy. As the ATGM1-USB microphone doesn’t come with a wind muff, wind from my ceiling fan gets picked up quite easily which can cause disturbances in the audio output. Having said that, this issue is easily fixed by purchasing a wind muff or a mic cover from Aliexpress which are very cheap costing you at most $2.

The ATGM1-USB microphone does pick up keyboard typing noises more easily than headphone microphones due to the placement of the microphone. This is especially so if you have a mechanical keyboard. Do take note of that and do not go typing away when your microphone is active.

One thing that would be good to see is a quick mute/unmute switch on the microphone. Since the microphone is positioned on a stand it would be nice to see a button on it for quick muting rather than relying on software mute function. But given the Audio-Technica ATGM1-USB Pack is priced at just S$78, the omission of such a feature isn’t that big of a deal.

Conclusion

For just S$78, the Audio-Technica ATGM1-USB Pack is a great entry product for anyone looking to invest in communication gear for their work-from-home routine. Not everyone likes to use over-ear headphones as it can get warm, so the lightweight ATH-250M headphones provides a more comfortable alternative. The ATGM1-USB microphone delivers accurate pickup with clarity though I recommend getting a microphone muff or foam cover to get the best out of it.

If you’re interested in getting the Audio-Technica ATGM1-USB Pack, you can purchase them from the following places: