While Kaotica Eyeball is a great tool to reduce reverb, it might be too expensive (198$) or you might be looking for heftier reflective filters that provide more coverage and reflection protection.
Here are five great alternative reflection filters that are similar to Kaotica Eyeball and cost similar or less:
- Neewer Pro Microphone Isolation Shield
- TroyStudio Portable Vocal Booth Box
- Halo Portable Microphone Reflection Filter
- Alctron PF8
- Monoprice Microphone Isolation Shield
These products work similarly to Kaotica Eyeball and prevent sound from going further past the microphone, bouncing off the wall and coming back into the microphone. This significantly reduces unwanted reverb.
Neewer Pro Microphone Isolation Shield
Neewer Pro Microphone Isolation Shield is an adjustable isolation shield that comes with an optional stand. It has an absorbing foam layer and a reflective aluminum layer.
Neewer’s Isolation Shield foam layer absorbs sound to prevent it from reaching and bouncing off the wall. Then a solid aluminum layer reflects any sound that manages to bounce off the wall.
It is sold either as a standalone product or you can get it with a stand. It’s the best when used with side-addressed microphones. End-addressed microphones will be facing toward the ceiling making them hard to use.
Key features:
- 5cm (2inch) thickness
- Double-layered
- Stand option
- Foldable
- 0.16m2 (1.78ft2)
Cons:
- Blocks vision
- Too large for travel
- Too heavy for boom arm
- Inconvenient with end-addressed mics
- Doesn’t cover the top and bottom
Currently, Neewer’s Isolation Shield with a stand costs 90$ making it a good value compared to the 198$ price tag for a standalone Kaotica Eyeball. A standalone option for Neewer’s Isolation Shield is 49$.
This is probably the best option if you want a good value microphone reflection shield on a standing microphone and don’t plan to record on a table. I love that it folds and you can adjust it to your liking, but I wish it covered top and bottom of a microphone and offered more versatility.
Monoprice Microphone Isolation Shield
Monoprice Isolation Shield is very similar to Neewer Pro. Behind acoustic foam, it packs a reflective metallic layer and can fold. However, Monoprice includes legs and makes it a viable option to use on a table without needing a stand. It is a bit more pricy tho, currently selling for 65$.
Also, you have the option to acquire a stand separately.
Key features:
- 5.5cm (2inch) thickness
- Double-layered
- Foldable
- Standing legs
- 0.17m2 (1.85ft2)
Cons:
- Blocks vision
- Too large for travel
- Too heavy for boom arm
- Inconvenient with end-addressed mics
- Doesn’t cover the top and bottom
Monoprice costs 15$ more than its Neewer counterpart, however, it is usable on a table making it a more versatile option for recording at home. Also, it is slightly thicker.
On the other hand, it still doesn’t cover the top and bottom. I would get it if I wanted a cool-looking reflective filter for my table.
TroyStudio Portable Vocal Booth Box
TroyStudio Vocal Booth is a box-shaped portable booth composed solely of 5cm (2inch) acoustic foam. It has holes for the microphone and cable and can be used either with a microphone stand or a tripod. Its main advantage is covering the microphone from all directions besides the front.
It is lightweight and comes with a bag. Currently, TroyStudio Vocal Booth Box sells for 45$.
Key features:
- Almost complete coverage
- Lightweight
- Comes with a bag
- 5cm (2inch) thickness
- Usable on a table and a stand
- 30x36x40cm (12x14x16inches)
Cons:
- Blocks vision
- Not usable on a boom arm
- Inconvenient with end-addressed mics
TroyStudio offers a very good value reflection filter that almost completely covers a microphone. However, it is still not usable with a boom arm and doesn’t offer a reflective filter. It might be a better option than Monoprice or Neewer if you plan to travel a lot with it.
I just honestly don’t like how it looks, but that’s not a big issue if you only care about sound.
Alctron PF8
Alctron PF8 is the most similar product to Kaotica Eyeball in this list. It is a much cheaper replica that differs in shape and options; however, essentially it is an almost identical product to Kaotica Eyeball.
Alctron PF8 is placed onto a microphone and almost completely envelops it. I measured its acoustic foam to be 3.3cm thick (1.3inches). However, it is sturdier and denser than foam in conventional acoustic panels.
Alctron PF8 is the cheapest alternative on this list and currently sells for 39$. You can find a full review of Alctron PF8 here.
Key features:
- Almost complete coverage
- Lightweight
- 3.3cm (1.3inch) thickness
- Usable on a table, stand and boom arm
- Includes detachable pop-filter
- Much smaller than other Kaotica Eyeball alternatives
- 17.2x20x18cm (6.8×7.9x7inches)
- Cheap
Cons:
- Slightly inconvenient with end-addressed mics
Alctron PF8 is almost a perfect replica of Kaotica Eyeball. It is the cheapest option on this list, very portable and usable even with flimsy microphone boom arms and stands.
It doesn’t offer options for different colors and is not designed for end-addressed microphones like Kaotica Eyeball but on this list, Alctron PF8 is my favorite option and offers the best overall value. Its versatility and price tops other reflective filters on this list.
Halo Portable Microphone Reflection Filter
Halo Reflection Filter is the thickest reflection filter on this list, reaching close to 9cm (3.5inch) at the center and slightly less on the sides. It has a curve and does a good job at covering the microphone from top and bottom. Although, admittedly Kaotica Eyeball, Alctron PF8 and TroyStudio cover larger areas.
It is also the most expensive reflection filter on this list currently selling for 329$ which is even more than Kaotica Eyeball (198$).
Key features:
- Decent coverage
- Up to 9cm (3.5inch) thickness
- Premium material
- 58x33x51cm (23x13x20inches)
Cons:
- Not suitable for travel
- Blocks vision
- Not usable on a boom arm
- Inconvenient with end-addressed mics
- Expensive
Halo is not very versatile as you can’t use it on the table or boom arm and it is too large and heavy for travel. It is also the only reflective filter on this list that is more expensive than Kaotica Eyeball.
Nevertheless, it is a premium option and even though Halo lacks in many other areas, it is the thickest and will provide the best sound quality when recording.
I would choose Halo’s reflection filter if you have money to spend on a premium product and plan to record using a stand.
You can also read about the best places to record at home here.
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