When it comes to streaming, everyone wants to sound the best possible. With so many streaming/gaming microphones on the market, it can be difficult to choose which one is the best. Prices vary amongst many different microphones, making it overwhelming when attempting to choose the one you want. HyperX, known for its very many different gaming microphones, just dropped an all-new USB mic, the Quadcast 2 S.
So, is the new HyperX microphone worth acquiring? Or is it just another standard piece of streaming equipment amongst hundreds of other tech?
Overview
Price: $199.99 USD
Polar Patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bi-directional, Stereo
XLR: No
USB: Yes
Compatibility: Compatible with all streaming softwares (OBS, Streamlabs OBS, etc.)
Price: Is It Worth the Money?
When purchasing a $200 microphone, you should ask yourself whether or not the price is worth spending. For the Quadcast 2 S, though, I would say it most certainly is.
Sure, you can acquire quite a few decent XLR microphones for around $100, but would also need to spend around another $100 for a cable and interface. The HyperX Quadcast 2 S is an all-in-one USB mic. No XLR cable or interface is needed. Just plug it into your PC and use it immediately.
If you are an audio enthusiast and plan on doing a bit more with your microphone than just streaming and gaming, then maybe something a bit more expensive like the Shure SM7B is for you. If not, though, then the HyperX Quadcast 2 S is a valid option.
Sound Quality
When analyzing the sound quality of this microphone, I decided to open up Pro Tools and do a few tests with it. I was pleasantly surprised, too. USB microphones will probably never have the kind of quality an XLR microphone will have, but when used for just streaming and gaming, the HyperX Quadcast 2 S sounds great.
Would I use it to record vocals to my upcoming rock hit? Probably not. That’s not what it’s intended for, though. Its flashy RGB lights make it look incredibly cool on stream, making it the perfect accessory for your stream.
I will say, however, it was a little bit on the high-end. This is easily adjustable in the streaming apps or the free HyperX software.
Features
The mic has quite a few features, too, making it extremely versatile. It comes with a small stand for your desk, which is removable in case you want to put it on a mic stand. The microphone has a built-in pop filter, helping to diminish those “P” sounds when talking.
Need to mute yourself in a flash? The top of the mic has a large mute button that can be easily clicked on and off.
The mic also covers all the main polar patterns, making it perfect for podcasting too. Its omnidirectional mode allows for sound to be picked up all around the microphone, while its cardioid mode picks up only what’s in front of it.
The gain knob on the mic sits right in front of where a person would talk, making it easy to grab and turn whenever needed. You really do not need much audio knowledge to make this microphone sound good.
The best part, however, is the fact that it is USB. This makes the microphone extremely accessible to everyone. It just needs to be plugged into your computer and then you are good to go. PCs should read it automatically, too, setting it to your preferred microphone.
Overall Review
Overall, the HyperX Quadcast 2 S is a brilliant microphone for those looking to step up their streaming game, but do not have the audio knowledge a recording engineer may have.
Its price is definitely worth spending for what you get, too.
Stay tuned to Insider Gaming for more tech reviews.
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