How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-17 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
• FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer — biggest strength: four independently controlled channels (Mic, Line In, Headphone, Line Out) with a built-in XLR preamp, 48V phantom power and streamer extras like voice-change modes, auto-tune and a re-recordable effects pad, all in a 0.5 kg desktop box. Biggest trade-off: it is a single-mic mixer — no XLR line inputs, no multi-mic mixing, and it will not work with a USB microphone.
• NEW BAXS Professional DJ Audio — biggest strength: 12 XLR mic/line inputs with switchable +48V phantom power across channels 1–12, plus Bluetooth 5.0, a USB port, an MP3 player/recorder and per-channel EQ, FX, pan and PFL/AFL monitoring. Biggest trade-off: it is a 10.8 lb, 20.07" x 1.33" x 12.99" mains-powered console — it wants a desk or a rack, not a corner of a keyboard tray, and it is overkill for one person talking into one mic.
• For the solo streamer, podcaster or gamer who wants one XLR mic, easy sliders and fun voice effects → FIFINE.
• For the multi-mic band, DJ, karaoke host or small studio juggling a dozen sources at once → NEW BAXS.
• In my opinion, the deciding line is channel count and format: one mic on a desk versus many mics on a console.
The FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer is a USB-C powered desktop unit measuring 4.44"D x 6.45"W x 1.6"H and weighing about 0.5 kg. It's small enough to live beside a keyboard without eating your mouse space, and it draws power straight from your computer over USB-C — no wall adapter, no power brick, nothing to unplug at the end of a session.
What it does best is focus. There's one XLR microphone input with a built-in preamp and switchable 48V phantom power, which means condenser mics are on the table without an external preamp. From there, four independent channels — Microphone, Line In, Headphone and Line Out — each get their own volume fader, so you can ride your mic level by hand instead of alt-tabbing into OBS or your game's audio settings. The mute and monitor buttons sit on the front, not the back, which matters more than it sounds: you'll actually use them mid-stream because you can reach them without fumbling behind the unit. Real-time monitoring lets you hear yourself as you speak, which is the difference between guessing at your levels and knowing them.
Then there are the streaming extras. Four customizable buttons can be recorded and fired off on demand for post-production or live bits. Six voice-changing modes and twelve auto-tune settings change the tone of your output, and a controllable RGB light ring with flowing or frozen rotation gives your on-camera setup some personality. None of that is studio-grade production gear — it's fun, and it's honest about being fun.
Who should buy it: a solo creator running one XLR mic for Twitch, YouTube, TikTok or podcast voice work, working from a Mac or Windows PC over plug-and-play USB, who wants physical faders, a mute button within reach and a few playful effects. Who should skip it: anyone with a USB microphone (the XLR input won't accept it), anyone who needs to mix several microphones or instruments live, and anyone who wants per-channel EQ, FX sends or a dozen inputs. Also budget for an XLR cable — it's not included — and use a shielded one, because cable quality affects audio quality on an XLR run.
The NEW BAXS Professional DJ Audio is a different class of machine entirely. It's a 12-channel mixer, 20.07"D x 1.33"W x 12.99"H and 10.8 lb, mains-powered, and clearly designed to sit on a table or in a rack as the hub of a whole setup. Where the FIFINE handles one voice, this handles a room.
The headline spec is the input count: 12 XLR inputs with phantom power, plus 12 XLR line input jacks and 1/4-inch (6.35mm) plugs for instruments. The +48V button covers condenser microphones on channels 1–12, and the XLR inputs also take dynamic mics, vocals and other instruments. Unbalanced 1/4-inch inputs handle things like electric guitar or keyboard. Alongside those you get RCA inputs for home audio gear like CD and DVD players, and 3.5mm input for phones, tablets or laptops — so you can mix a genuinely wide range of sources without a pile of adapters.
Mixing is where it earns its keep. Each channel has independent balance plus high, plus and low frequency adjustment, so you're shaping tone per source rather than globally. Master volume and input selection controls sit alongside sealed rotary knobs that resist dust — a small detail that matters if the mixer travels to gigs. The effects section goes well beyond on/off: FX delivers dynamic audio transformations, DLY manipulates echo, REF adds spatial character, and PAN places each source in the stereo field. PFL/AFL gives you independent per-channel monitoring so you can check a signal pre-fade without disturbing the main mix — the tool you want when a vocalist's channel is too quiet in the house but fine on the recording.
Beyond the console itself: Bluetooth 5.0 playback so you can stream from a phone, tablet or computer and mix that signal with everything else; a USB interface with flash drive playback; and a built-in MP3 player and recorder supporting MP3, WAV and WMA. There's a 7-bit LED display for effects adjustment, and LED indicator lights with rotary knobs throughout. It's spec'd for low noise distortion — the rated noise level is 22 dB — and it ships with a 12-month warranty and 24-hour customer service.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for one XLR mic and a solo stream → FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer. Four channels, front-mounted mute and monitor, and 48V phantom power in a 0.5 kg box.
• Best for many microphones or instruments at once → NEW BAXS Professional DJ Audio. 12 XLR mic/line inputs plus 1/4-inch, RCA and 3.5mm connections.
• Best for desk space and portability → FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer. It runs off USB-C power and fits in a laptop bag; the NEW BAXS is a 10.8 lb console.
• Best for tone shaping per source → NEW BAXS Professional DJ Audio. Per-channel high/plus/low EQ, pan, FX, DLY and REF controls.
• Best for wireless and standalone playback → NEW BAXS Professional DJ Audio. Bluetooth 5.0 plus USB flash drive playback and a built-in MP3 player/recorder.
• Best for live monitoring workflow → NEW BAXS Professional DJ Audio. PFL/AFL independent channel monitoring; FIFINE's real-time monitoring covers a single mic chain instead.
• Best for fun, on-camera extras → FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer. Recordable effects buttons, six voice-change modes, twelve auto-tune settings and controllable RGB.
• Best for karaoke, events and stage use → NEW BAXS Professional DJ Audio. Dust-resistant sealed knobs, rugged chassis and 12-channel capacity.
If I were buying for myself as a solo streamer, podcaster or gamer with one good XLR mic, I'd take the FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer. It does exactly what that job needs — XLR preamp, 48V phantom power, four faders, a mute button I can actually reach, USB-C plug-and-play — and it doesn't demand desk real estate or a power outlet. If my setup involved multiple mics, instruments, DJ sets, karaoke nights or recording a room full of people, I'd take the NEW BAXS Professional DJ Audio without hesitation: 12 channels, per-channel EQ and pan, PFL/AFL monitoring, Bluetooth and USB playback are things the FIFINE simply cannot do. Pick by how many sources you need to mix, not by which one looks more impressive.
FAQ
No. The XLR input is designed for XLR microphones only, and the mixer is explicitly not available for USB mics. If your microphone has a USB connector, this mixer is the wrong tool.
In my opinion, the FIFINE Gaming Audio Mixer — it's plug-and-play on Mac and Windows with four channels and intuitive ports, so there's far less to learn. The NEW BAXS rewards someone who already understands gain staging, EQ and effects routing across many channels.
With the FIFINE, an XLR cable is not included, and a shielded one is recommended for the best audio quality; the box includes a USB cable and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable. With the NEW BAXS, plan your mic and instrument cables around the 12 XLR and 1/4-inch inputs.
Value depends on your channel count — one mic versus twelve sources. Check the current price on Amazon for each, then match it to how many inputs you'll actually use before deciding.
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