You can get a decent 2-in 2-out audio interface for 100€ or less. I can recommend Behringer's UMC series: https://www.thomann.de/at/behringer_u_phoria_umc204hd.htm

I have the Scarlett audio version. It works fine. However, I played around swapping my mics with the $1200 Sound Devices Pre2, and it just sounds amazing. I'm not sure what is going on inside that box. I haven't been able to justify that purchase.

I actually bought a sound card, different model. But to do recording. I don't bother to plug it for zoom calls :D

Are you referring to the $1200 audio device? Yes, that is expensive. It is meant for professional recording.

The average software salary in the US is about $10k a month. Few spend that much on audio equipment.

Why do you presume that software developers are the only ones doing zoom calls?

You’re on a software developer forum

An international forum, there's more countries than USA.

nobody suggested anything otherwise

also original post only actually recommends $100 - $200 mics, so this entire subthread has been a bumbling series of utter nonsense