8 Best Streaming Microphones of 2019

1. SUDOTACK ST-800 Streaming Mic Kit | Best Budget

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

The Best Budget streaming microphone goes to the SUDOTACK ST-800. It’s a versatile USB plug-n-play mic, ideal for streaming and a variety of other applications.

• Best feature 1: USB plug and play simplicity
• Best feature 2: Crystal-clear high-resolution audio
• Plus points: Quick to set up, desktop stand, shock mount, pop filter, long cord, excellent value
• Minus points: Weak boom arm

SUDOTACK USB Streaming Mic Highlights

The SUDOTACK ST-800 is an excellent streaming mic that’s hard to beat in its category. The heart-shaped cardioid pickup pattern records speech mostly from the front of the microphone. That means there’s very little unwanted background noise from other angles. The audio is crystal clear and has a nice bass to it. Plenty of owners talk of how impressed they are by the mic’s sound quality.

This set has a lot in the box. There’s a desktop stand, table mount, shock mount, and a boom arm. You also get a pop filter and a foam cap. That’s quite a list considering the affordable price and quality of the mic. It should only take a few minutes to set everything up even at the novice level.

Versatile Microphone

SUDOTACK’s ST-800 is a versatile all-metal mic. It’s ideal for online streaming, gaming, podcasting, voice-overs, and general chatting. The mic comes with a long 8.2ft (2.5m) USB cable. You can also use the ST-800 with smartphones and other devices with an adapter (not included). Add this streaming set to your shortlist if you’re an enthusiastic streamer looking to raise your game.

The Not So Good

The boom arm is not the best quality, and that’s a pity because everything else is. It finds the weight of the mic a challenge and tends to lose its position after a while. New buyers may want to look for a replacement boom that can hold more than 1kg to be sure. That’s the only real negative for an otherwise excellent streaming microphone set.

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2. HyperX QuadCast USB Streaming Mic | Best Value

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The Editor’s Best Budget streaming microphone choice is the HyperX QuadCast. It’s a beautiful black/red USB desktop condenser mic packed with a host of features.

• Best feature 1: Built-in pop filter
• Best feature 2: Four polar pickup patterns
• Plus points: Impressive sound quality, beautiful design, shock mount, onboard controls
• Minus points: Only one finish, can’t control red LED, no headphone volume control

HyperX QuadCast Gaming Mic Highlights

Mic Compatibility: Windows PCs (10/8/7), Mac computers, PS4, Skype, Mumble (VOIP), XSplit, etc.

The HyperX QuadCast is a high-quality microphone that appeals to streamers, gamers, and podcasters. It boasts a warm, natural sound quality that’s forever consistent. It’s helped by the built-in shock mount that ensures sudden movements don’t affect the audio. There’s even a built-in p-pop filter to reduce any popping noises and muffled sounds.

Onboard Controls Aplenty

This microphone is as impressive on the outside as it is on the in. There’s a sensor with an LED indicator that lets you mute the mic with a quick tap. Another welcome feature is the gain control knob, but there’s more. The HyperX QuadCast has a headphone jack too and a polar pattern selector dial. You can choose Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, and Stereo pickups to meet your needs.

There’s much to like about the HyperX QuadCast, and it has plenty of use outside of streaming. It’s also a favorite mic among vocalists, voice-over artists, conference callers, and podcasters. And the bidirectional (figure-of-eight) polar pattern is perfect for two-people interviews.

The Not So Good

The red and black finish is striking, but it’s not to everyone’s taste. Unfortunately, there are no other styles available at the time of writing. The bright red LED stays on whenever the mic’s active, with no option to turn it off. That’s sure to irk a few. Lastly, there’s no volume control for headphones. That’s another missing feature that’s sure to affect the buying decision of some.

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3. Audio-Technica 2020USB+ Streaming Mic | Top Pick

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

Audio-Technica’s 2020USB+PK makes the Top Pick. This is a versatile plug-n-play vocal condenser microphone pack. It’s a perfect upgrade for those looking to take their audio to the next level.

• Best feature 1: 360° boom arm w/ integrated USB cable
• Best feature 2: Plug-n-play USB simplicity
• Plus points: Superb audio, versatile, ATH-M20x headphones, mic jack w/ volume control
• Minus points: Subpar mini tripod

AT-2020USB Streaming Mic Highlights

This mic produces superb audio and has an extended, smooth frequency response. That makes it ideal for live streaming, home studio recording, voice-overs, and podcasting. The AT 2020USB+PK pack includes ATH-M20x professional monitor headphones. The mic jack and volume control lets you monitor the signal with zero delays. And the built-in headphone amplifier delivers greater clarity.

This microphone is easy to set up and even easier to use. The padded clamp attaches to any table up to 2” thick, and the 360° boom arm then sits in the clamp. The mic then goes into the boom arms’ swivel mount ready for you to position. The AT 2020USB+ mic then connects directly to a PC or Mac computer using the USB output. That’s it—you’re good to go.

The Not So Good

I’m not sure why Audio-Technica included the skinny desktop tripod in with this pack. The mic’s too heavy for it and is prone to toppling over. There’s no pop filter with the 2020USB, and it needs one. They’re not expensive, but it’s an inconvenience if you don’t already have one handy.

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4. Movo M1 USB Lapel Clip-on Streaming Mic

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

Meet the Movo M1. It’s a quality little clip-on lavalier mic that plugs straight into any computer’s USB port. It’s a no-fuss all-purpose versatile microphone for streamers, YouTubers, and podcasters.

• Best feature 1: Clear, clean audio
• Best feature 2: Long, 20ft cord
• Plus points: Plug-and-play simplicity, all-metal mic clip, foam wind muffs, value
• Minus points: Thin cord, sensitive to ambient sounds

Movo USB-M1 Lavalier Mic Highlights

The Movo M1 is a budget-end lavalier omnidirectional mic and the cheapest on this page. It’s still a vast improvement on built-in computer mics, and that’s the point. It comes with a 20ft long cord. That means it can reach out-of-the-way computers and still give you the freedom to move. There’s also two foam wind muffs in the box, an aluminum lapel clip, and a 12 month warranty.

The Not So Good

The long cord is welcome, but it’s also thin and potentially fragile. All that wire can get in the way if it’s not arranged neatly. The mic is also sensitive to ambient sounds. Thus, it may pick up the keyboard, room fans, air conditioning, or whatever else is going on around you. Despite that, the voice still dominates. It’s an excellent step up from the tinny built-in mics on laptops and computers.

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5. Razer Seiren X Streaming USB Microphone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

This review is for the Razer Seiren X, a compact desktop streaming USB microphone. What’s unique about this mic is that Twitch streamers were the ones who designed and tested it.

• Best feature 1: Ultra-precise supercardioid pickup pattern
• Best feature 2: Built-in shock mount
• Plus points: Plug-n-play, compact design, portable, 3 colors available, mute button,
• Minus points: Average build quality, quite expensive

Razer Seiren X Streaming Mic Highlights

Mic Compatibility: Windows PC 7/8/ and 10, Mac OS (10.8 and above), Open Broadcaster Software.

This condenser mic provides clear-sounding audio. It’s ideal for streamers and gamers, especially on a boom arm. You can keep it on the desk, but a boom arm is better for gaming and streaming applications. That’s because it detaches the mic from tabletop, mouse, and keyboard shocks. And the Razer’s tight super-cardioid pattern does a pretty good job at cutting out unwanted background noise.

Seiren X Onboard Controls

The Razer Seiren X has a smart, portable design, comes in 3 colors, and takes up minimal space. On the front of the mic is a useful headphone dial. Below that is a mute button with a green and red LED to indicate mute ON/OFF status. You can control the mic’s gain as well. For that, though, you need to make the adjustment from the computer’s audio preferences.

There’s a headphone jack at the bottom of the mic that offers latency-free monitoring. In the center of the base is a 5/8 thread mount if you want to attach the mic to a boom arm. The Razer Seiren X also has a built-in shock mount to dampen the effects of vibrations.

The Not So Good

I was expecting an all-metal construction for this price category. Unfortunately, the Razer Seiren X has an all-plastic body with a metal grill only. Let’s just say that it looks better than it feels. The mic sounds and performs well for speech as it should do in this price range. But the cheapish built and lack of extras make it a little expensive compared to the competition.

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6. Blue Ember XLR Streaming Studio Microphone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The Blue Ember is a mic made for streamers. It looks fantastic, and the slim design makes it easy to place. It competes at around the $100 price range, so let’s see how it measures up.

• Best feature 1: Made specifically for streamers
• Best feature 2: XLR mic, better audio control
• Plus points: All-metal construction, sleek design, tight polar pattern, mic mount, mic adapter
• Minus points: Sensitive to plosives, no carrying case, pop filter, or shock mount

Blue Ember XLR Streaming Mic Highlights

The build quality of the Blue Ember XLR condenser mic is impressive. It has a sleek body and an all-metal construction that feels first-rate. This thing is totally naked with no onboard controls anywhere. Some streamers love simplicity as it means there’s less to go wrong or break. The sound quality is beautifully clear for speech, and the cardioid pattern does well at rejecting room ambiance.

This mic’s neat, side-address design lets users work on precise placement. It mic sounds great with acoustic guitars and vocals too. But’s it shines most with the spoken word, which is what most streamers want it for. The bass and treble seem to be spot on for talking applications with little to no EQ work necessary. I’d say it has the edge over the popular Audio Technica AT2020 for speech.

The Blue Ember comes with a mic mount and a 5/8 to 3/8 stand adapter. Note that this is not a plug-n-play USB microphone. It needs an audio interface with +48V phantom power to run. That’s a good thing if you want more professional sound/noise performance and audio control.

The Not So Good

The worst thing about the Blue Ember is its inability to block plosives. A simple pop filter will resolve that, of course. However, filters can become obstructive with a desktop setting and block the users face. There isn’t a carrying case or pouch with this mic or any other accessories. Must-have extras include a p-pop filter, an XLR cable, and a decent shock mount.

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7. Blue Yeti USB Streaming Microphone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

We have a user-favorite mic for the penultimate review called Blue Yeti. It’s a multi-purpose USB microphone popular for game streaming, YouTube, podcasts, online chat, and music, etc.

• Best feature 1: Exceptional build quality
• Best feature 2: Multiple polar patterns
• Plus points: Plug-n-play, broad compatibility, clear audio, onboard controls
• Minus points: Cheap buttons, not easily portable

Blue Yeti Streaming Mic Highlights

Mic Compatibility: Windows PCs, WIN 10/8/8.1/7/ Windows Vista, XP Pro & Home, Mac OS X.

There are many highlights to this popular plug-n-play desktop studio mic, including the price. Its heavy-duty, all-metal body with mesh grill sits firmly on a significant stand. Onboard controls include a mute button and volume dial for headphones at the front. On the opposite side are a gain dial and the multi-polar-pattern selector switch.

The selectable pickup patterns are omnidirectional, bidirectional, cardioid, and stereo. Which polar pattern to use depends on the application, and they are all incredibly useful.

Blue Yeti Sound Check

This good-looking studio microphone sounds great and is super-easy to set up. Blue introduced its first Yeti back in 2009, and it continues to sell well. That alone should tell you plenty about the product. The Yeti comes with recording suggestions for each of its polar pattern settings:

Here are the suggested recording modes to help users choose the right sound:

The Not So Good

One of the Blue Yeti’s main attractions is its high-quality build, but that adds to its heft. That’s fine if it has a fixed place, but not so good if you want a portable, travel-friendly mic. Unfortunately, the onboard volume and gain buttons don’t share the same high-quality as the body and mic capsule. They feel inferior and lightweight as if they belong on a cheaper product. They do function properly, though.

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8. Electro Voice RE-20 Multi-Use Pro Microphone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

The final microphone review is for the classic Electro Voice RE-20. It’s the most expensive streaming mic on the page. Thus, it’s one for the more serious streamer, podcaster, or online gamer.

• Best feature 1: Exceptional build quality
• Best feature 2: Internal pop filter,
• Plus points: Versatile, installed mic mount, built-in shock mount, low-cut filter, hard-shell case
• Minus points: low sensitivity, color, price

Electro Voice RE-20 Mic Highlights

The RE20 is a high-end dynamic microphone. Sound engineers, broadcasters, vocalists, and musicians, as well as live streamers, admire this mic. It’s a premium-grade instrument with a lot to offer. Its heavy-duty internal pop filter caters for those close-up voice applications. There’s also an inner shock-mount to lessen any vibration-induced noise.

Electro-Voice’s RE-20 has a phenomenal build as it should in this price category. This beast even has blast and wind filters to cover each of its acoustic openings. The all-steel body makes it feel like a piece of precision weaponry rather than a mic. There’s a pre-installed mount with a 5/8–3/8 stand adapter. At the bottom of the mic is a low-cut filter, and that’s it for onboard controls.

RE-20 Sound Check

The RE-20 is a front-address mic with an effective cardioid polar pattern. It delivers as promised on all voice applications. This mic rejects background noise better than all others on this page. It’s a versatile studio tool that works well for guitar cabs and even kick-drums. It also excels with loud, powerful vocalists, though not so well for soft singers. The latter is due to the lower output.

The Not So Good

It’s a dynamic mic and thus has quite low sensitivity, and that means a separate preamp to drive it. Experienced users know that, of course. But it’s worth pointing out for any novice streamers or broadcasters considering the RE20. It only comes in one color—military green. That’s something you either love or loathe. Lastly, not everyone can justify its high price, despite the quality.

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