Headphone maker JLab has launched its first USB microphone series aimed at providing an affordable and easy-to-use route to streaming and podcast recording.

JLab's Talk series starts at just $49 for the entry-level Talk Go and includes the $99 Talk and $149 Talk Pro. It is a clear challenge to the Blue Microphones series, which includes some of the best microphones currently available.

The Talk Go mirrors the cheap Blue Snowball Ice as an inexpensive tool for gaming and amateur streaming. The mid-range Talk, on the other hand, competes with the Blue Yeti and is a microphone for those who want high recording quality for streaming and podcasting without the high price of professional equipment.

The Talk Pro promises "pro-level" recording quality at the relatively affordable price of $149. It has the highest recording resolution of the three models at 192 kHz, while both Talk and Talk Go have a maximum of 96 kHz. They are designed not only for recording music and vocals, but also for gaming, streaming, and podcasting. Like the other two models, they connect via a USB-C cable, making them a viable option for aspiring musicians who only have a simple PC or laptop setup.

For voice recording, however, Talk and Talk Go seem to offer even more value: at $99, Talk is cheaper than Blue Yeti and offers the same four directional recording modes as Talk Pro (unidirectional, omni-directional, stereo, and bi-directional); Talk Go is not cheaper than the Blue Snowball Ice, but unlike Blue's microphone, it has both unidirectional and omni-directional modes.

The Blue Snowball Ice only has a unidirectional condenser, which means it cannot clearly record people talking behind it. Thus, the Talk Go may be a better budget microphone for podcasts where everyone is around a single microphone.

All three of the new JLab Talk mics are available at JLab, Amazon, and Best Buy. If you're thinking about starting your own stream or podcast, check out Twitch's Ultimate Guide and Tips on How to Start a Podcast.