When playing, conferencing, or streaming, having a good sounding microphone is essential to communicate with your viewers and teammates. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a lot to get a good microphone.
In this guide, we’ve picked out some of the best PC microphones that are affordable and work really well. These microphones give you great performance and cool features without costing too much.
Razer Seiren Mini
Price: $37 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: USB
Polar Patterns: Supercardioid
Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 16-bit/48kHz
The Razer Seiren Mini appeals to many gamers and beginners in desktop microphones for its affordability and ease of use. The Seiren Mini has a price tag of $50 and is plug-and-play to any computer, eliminating the hassle of complex setups and installation.
With a compact design and color options, the Seiren Mini appeals to younger users with a tight budget. While it lacks features like volume controls, its simple design translates to focus on sound quality.
The Seiren Mini matches the sound performance of much expensive Razer microphones, featuring a supercardioid polar pattern that effectively isolates background noise from the sound source.
Overall, this is an amazing microphone to consider that checks out everything from affordability, build quality, and audio performance.
PROS:
- Great sound quality
- Tried and tested Razer brand
- Compact design
CONS:
- Uses micro-USB for connection
- No physical controls
Logitech Yeti Orb
Price: $55 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: USB
Polar Patterns: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 70-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 24-bit/48kHz
The Yeti Orb features customizable RGH lighting, a removable desktop stand, and softer/modern design. This plug and play budget microphone is perfect for anyone who wants to switch from headphones mics to a desktop configuration without having to deal with complex setups and installs.
It features a cardioid polar pattern and records audio at 24-bit/48kHz with a wide frequency response. The Yeti Orb’s plastic tripod stand is sturdy and has two mounting points that lets you position the mic straight or at an angle.
The Yeti Orb packs excellent performance out of the box, offering warm and deep vocals while reducing plosives and background noise. You can further adjust its sound quality through Logitech’s Blue Vo!ce software.
Logitech Blue Yeti USB
Price: $99 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: USB
Polar Patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, Stereo
Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 16-bit/44kHz
The Blue Yeti is a popular choice when streaming becomes a thing. Years later, it’s still one of the best microphones out there for a good reason. The Blue Yeti is one of the simplest mics to use in the market and excels in picking up a single voice source at a time.
Its build quality is superb and the stand it comes with is sturdy enough to stay where you angle the mic. Combine that with its appealing retro design and you got an aesthetically pleasing microphone that is essential when you have hundreds or thousands of people watching live.
The Blue Yeti also features a single volume control and mute button on the front that lets you adjust sound input on the fly without changing tabs on your computer.
Finally, the Blue Yeti’s quad polar pattern gives it the versatility to deliver outstanding performance regardless if you’re streaming, podcasting, conferencing, or recording music.
PROS:
- Sturdy stand
- Crystal clear sound reproduction
- Straightforward physical controls
CONS:
- Does not support hi-res recording
Audio-Technica AT2020USB+
Price: $107 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: USB
Polar Patterns: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 24-bit/48kHz
The AT2020USB+ is a great option for those users with a budget under $100. Despite its cheaper price tag, the AT2020USB+ is one of the best mid-range microphones in the market, offering excellent audio with warm tone. This mic also doesn’t feel cheap and features a solid build that can compete with more expensive studio microphones.
While the microphone can be sensitive to plosives, it can be resolved with simple pop filters, adjusting the gain, or placing the mic slightly away from your mouth. The USB-A connection of the AT2020USB+ may also be a deal breaker for some.
Despite these downsides, the AT2020USB+ makes up for it with stellar audio and solid construction. It also comes with a carrying bag, in case you need to bring the mic with you on the go.
PROS:
- Competitive pricing
- Solid build quality
- Detailed and warm audio output
CONS:
- Wobbly desk mount
- Uses USB-A connection
- Sensitive to plosives
HyperX Quadcast S
Price: $131 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: USB
Polar Patterns: Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, Stereo
Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 16-bit/48kHz
The HyperX Quadcast S is built and designed with gamers in mind. It features the aesthetics and features needed by gamers. The Quadcast S is also one of the best-looking PC microphones, featuring a sleek design that can easily blend with any setup.
Besides its looks, the Quadcast S also comes packed with accessories, which are usually paid options in other brands. It includes a shock mount and pop filter that helps reduce unwanted noise and improve audio quality.
The Quadcast S also comes with a touch-sensitive mute button, allowing you to cut off input from the mic without using any software.
Speaking of software, the HyperX NGENUITY for the Quadcast S controls RGB customizations for the mic and basic sound adjustments.
PROS:
- Appealing design
- Built-in shockmount
- Customizable RGB Lightning
- Integrated mute button
CONS:
- Its gamer-centric design might not be for everyone especially the RGB lighting
Rode NT-USB+
Price: $169 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: USB
Polar Patterns: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 24-bit/48kHz
The NT-USB+ is a slight improvement over the NT-USB. It features improved circuitry, Rode’s Revolution Preamp technology, and an internal DSP for better sound output. The condenser mic captures excellent vocals with solid low end and minimal self noise. This makes the NT-USB+ a great option if you’re looking for a mic that delivers broadcasting-quality that is plug-and-play.
What’s great about the NT-USB+ is that it comes with accessories that makes the initial setup straightforward. Out of the box, you’ll get a 3-meter USB-C to USB-C cable, a plastic tripod stand, removable metal mesh pop filter, and a removable ring mount if you want to mount the mic on a boom arm or different stand.
The NT-USB+ also features a 3.5mm high-power headphone output for monitoring, and two physical knobs to control mix and headphone level. However, the NT-USB+ lacks a gain control and mute button.
PROS:
- All-in-one package to get you started
- Excellent build quality
- Comes with detachable pop filter
- Built-in DPS and preamp
CONS:
- No mute and gain control
- May clip on louder audio sources
Shure MV7
Price: $249 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: XLR / USB
Polar Patterns: Unidirectional Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 24-bit/48kHz
While the MV7 is heavily recommended by musicians, it can be a great PC microphone for streaming, podcasting, and gaming. It features both USB and XLR connection, giving you the versatility to use it with any setup.
Despite being quite expensive, the MV7 more than makes up for it with its professional-grade sound quality.
The MV7 can isolate your voice from ambient noise, delivering clear and detailed recordings. Its ShurePlus MOTIV software allows you to tweak the mic’s sound output. You can make EQ adjustments, use Auto Level to reduce clipping, and more.
The MV7 also offers a great upgrade path with its XLR connection option. This allows you to continue using the MV7 if you plan to switch to an all-XLR setup in the future.
PROS:
- Clear and crisp vocals
- USB/XLR connection
- ShurePlus MOTIV software
CONS:
- Doesn’t come with a mic stand
- Still uses Micro-USB
SteelSeries Alias Pro
Price: $300 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: XLR to USB
Polar Patterns: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 50-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 16/24-bit(USB)/44.1,48,88.2,96kHZ (USB)
Despite having a higher price tag, the SteelSeries Alias Pro is known as one of the best microphones for streaming in its price point. One of the reasons behind this is its inclusion of the Stream Mixer. This compact mixer features a powerful preamp that can accommodate XLR microphones with 48V phantom power. When it comes to the Alias Pro itself, it delivers exceptional sound quality, especially when positioned properly to the sound source.
SteelSeries’ Sonar software assists you with the initial setup with straightforward interface and hardware/software recognition. It also offers advanced audio settings, including compressor, EQ presets, and ClearCast AI-noise reduction.
One downside of the Alias Pro is that it gives the best performance when positioned near the user’s mouth. This means that a boom arm is necessary if you want the best possible audio quality with this mic.
PROS:
- Delivers studio-like performance
- Included stream mixer is powerful for XLR microphones
- Sonar software makes initial setup simple
- Customizable RGB lighting
CONS:
- A bit expensive
- Requires a boom arm for optimal performance
- Doesn’t come with a boom arm
PROS:
- Sounds great out of the box
- Plug and play functionality
- Budget friendly
- Light indicator when recording
CONS:
- No physical mic controls
- Needs to be up close to the user for best sound
Wireless Option: Hollyland LARK M2
Price: $159 (Price may vary on different sellers)
Connection: USB, Lightning, 3.5mm TRS
Polar Patterns: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20-20,000Hz
Sample Rate: 24-bit/48kHz
The LARK M2 is a dual wireless mic system that can be used for computers, mobile phones, and cameras. It stands out to the crowd for its features geared towards influencers, vloggers, and creators who want high-quality audio but want a single mic for all their devices.
2-Person Wireless Mini Button Microphone.
Using the LARK M2 is simple but offers tons of control over noise cancellation and mic volume. These settings can be adjusted through the receiver when connected to a camera or computer or through the dedicated LarkSound app.
The LARK M2 is compatible with a range of devices. Its lightning plug uses an MFi-certified chip, while the USB-C plug seamlessly connects with Android phones, action cams, and computers. The receiver also supports USB Audio Class (UAC), allowing you to connect it directly to your computer without the need for a sound card.
PROS:
- Compact and lightweight
- 10-hour battery life
- Delivers studio-grade audio
- Strong magnetic mount for the lavalier mics
CONS:
- Hollyland logo on the mic can be distracting
- Doesn’t support clips for attachment
