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Summary –
Microphones drastically vary in terms of quality and the way they pick up audio signals. All these products are designed towards a particular usage scenario. The best microphones for gaming are meant for players who spend a lot of time in multiplayer titles. There has been a significant increase in the number of streamers and they could benefit a lot by using standalone microphones.
Gaming microphones are plenty in number and are manufactured by popular professional brands such as Rode and peripherals manufacturer like Razor has also recently joined the competition. Here are some of the most popular products available with their pros and cons listed to help make your purchase decision.
See also: Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000
Best microphones for gaming
Best microphones for gaming ever
Blue Yeti
Blue is a fan favorite brand known for their unique products and the Blue Yeti is a fantastic microphone in every respect. A gamer’s favorite, the product is capable of delivering impressive audio quality and falls in the affordable range for most buyers. Unlike most other microphones, you don’t have to actually face the device to record your vocals properly.
The Yeti can pick up your voice whichever direction you are facing at and does it even without ideal conditions. Most devices require to be placed six inches away from your mouth with a pop filter but that’s not what gamers want to do when they are busy shooting enemies online. An all-rounder, the Blue Yeti is worth its price tag but the only drawback is that sometimes it would pickup keyboard and mouse clicking sounds as well.
Why is this best gaming microphone?
- Produces the best sound output even when placed in an awkward direction for your gaming convenience
- Affordable price tag
Attachment mic that’s easy to setup
AntLion ModMic
Setting up a microphone on your desk is fun, looks professional and will also allow you to use professional grade products. When you don’t have that much space and would rather go with an attachment mic, the AntLion ModMic is the best available in the category. For many reasons including an affordable price tag, ease of use and surprisingly good audio quality, this is the best microphones for gaming.
While standing microphones are usually capable of producing much better audio quality because of their size and condenser technology, this product can easily solve your basic requirements without compromising much. It can also be attached to any of your headphones because of its light design. The AntLion ModMic is a good fit for gamers who play with friends or a team while professional streamers should look elsewhere.
Why is this the best gaming microphone?
- Very easy to setup and wear, can be attached to your headphones as well
- The pricing is budget-friendly and it doesn’t pickup keyboard or mouse click sounds
Cheapest gaming microphone you could find
Zalman ZM-Mic1 Headphone Microphone
Gamers need a microphone no matter what especially with so many multiplayer games like PUBG, Fortnite and Overwatch becoming prevalent these days. While gaming headsets with a mic are a good choice for people who play with friends, a dedicated microphone is still required for professional streaming or to have better voice clarity than using a mic which is attached to your headphones.
The Zalman ZM-Mic1 is the best microphones for gaming with unbelievably cheap rates. If budget is of foremost concern and you simply want to check out how using a dedicated product would work, this should help you test waters. This attachment microphone can be used with any headphone to instantly turn it into a headset. All you have to do is connect it using the 3.5mm jack and clip it to the headphone to start gaming, streaming or whatever you like to do in multiplayer games.
Why is this the best gaming microphone?
- As cheap as any product could get and it still allows you to use it in a semi-professional manner while streaming
- Easy to attach to any headphone and works seamlessly
Premium gaming microphone
Razer Seiren X Professional Grade Condenser Microphone
The Razer Seiren X is a true professional grade product made by the company known for their sturdy gaming peripherals. After making plenty of gaming mice and keyboards, Razer is now stepping into speakers, microphones and even smartphones. The Seiren X has a Cardioid pickup pattern found in studio grade mics and it is integrated with a shock mount to avoid any distortion in the recording.
The microphone assures zero latency so that professional game streamers can stop worrying about lip sync issues when playing. It avoids the echo effect created from other sources and the frequency response is marked at 20Hz. The Razer product has been optimized for streaming on Twitch and it looks as stylish as a peripheral could with the trademark green light in the button. A truly impressive microphone for gaming that justifies its price tag in terms of sound quality and build.
Why is this the best gaming microphone?
- Cardioid pickup pattern as found in studio grade microphones that deliver perfect voice clarity while streaming
- Zero latency gets rid of echo effect and it is integrated with a shock mount so that you can start using it out of the box without any attachments
Portable mic to use on a desk or by clipping
Samson Go Mic Compact USB Microphone
The Samson Go Mic is a portable microphone which is quite versatile and can be used in different positions. You can choose to keep the mic on a desk using a stand or clip it to a laptop. The portability factor is what sets this product apart from the competition as it is small in size, capable of producing sound quality that is true to the original source.
The design is neat and it is available in both black and white colored variants. If you are streaming games or playing using an Xbox One S console, the white variant will sync with your design aesthetics. The price factor is another convincing aspect of the Samson Go Mic as it is pretty cheap and produces much better quality than the low-quality headsets that you can purchase online or in your local store.
Why is this the best gaming microphone?
- The portability factor is something you can’t expect from most microphones as they are either for a desk or clipping
- It’s cheap and produces much better quality than standard headsets
Stylish microphone with vibrant color choices
Blue Snowball USB Microphone
Have you ever come across a gaming microphone that looks like this one? You probably won’t have because Blue is one brand that experiments with their design. Their products are very popular among people who love its affordability, design and the uniqueness they offer unlike conventional brands. The Blue Snowball USB microphone is the best microphone for gaming if you want vibrant color choices to pick from.
The product is available in blue, green, black and other colors. It features a unique tripod stand and a round dual capsule design to absorb sounds. While the Yeti is the high-end variant from Blue, if you are on a budget and need a compact mouse powered by USB, the Snowball is an easy pick.The advantage is you can easily connect this to a laptop or a MacBook. It also features cardioid elements and is an omnidirectional mic ideal for recording at awkward angles during intense gaming sessions.
Why is this the best gaming microphone?
- Prepare to be amazed by the whole range of vibrant color choices available for this mic
- Easy to use and is powered using USB
Best microphones for gaming that delivers professional quality
Audio-Technica ATR2500 USB Cardioid Condenser Microphone
The Audio-Technica ATR2500 is a side-address condenser microphone powered by USB and the fact that it comes from a reputed, professional brand is evident in its sound quality. The device has a built-in headphone jack to plug in your headphones and monitor output without any delay. Most game streamers may not opt for condenser microphones as they are usually reserved for music recording but if you feel it could bring out the life in vocals, this is an essential pick.
The ATR2500 doesn’t come bundled with a stand and it should be considered in the budget when buying one. The headphone volume can be adjusted from the mic using the analog buttons in front of it. Some of these features are very unique and if you want to monitor your recordings to assure quality or make some corrections, the built-in headphone jack will come in handy.
Why is this the best gaming microphone?
- Condenser microphone powered by USB makes it easy to connect it to your PC or laptop without any port issues
- The 3.5mm audio jack allows you to listen to audio as it is being recorded or played without delay
Top of the line mic that’s expensive yet worth it
Blue Yeti Pro
The list somehow had three different products from Blue and that’s for a reason because these are the top sellers in online stores while Blue Yeti is the strongest player of them all due to its pricing. The Blue Yeti Pro is your ultimate choice if you have the budget to spend. The multi-purpose product has three custom condenser capsules and also allows you to pick between different pattern settings.
With a total of four different patterns, bidirectional is best for gaming. It also has Cardioid, omnidirectional and stereo. The built-in headphone amplifier allows you to easily monitor the sound being recorded with zero latency. There are analog buttons for volume control, mute, mic gain and to select your pattern. You couldn’t ask for more than this. It can record frequency between 15Hz to 22kHz.
Above all, the Blue Yeti Pro is very stylish to look at and has a stand allowing you to use it out of the box without additional components. It will sit perfectly on your desk ready to support your gaming voice chats and streaming sessions.
Why is this the best gaming microphone?
- A professional grade mic which has a bunch of interesting features and multiple patterns to choose from
- Suits various recording scenarios including gaming and has a built-in audio jack for monitoring your input
Bottomline
The Blue microphones have largely dominated the list and it’s an obvious choice considering the sheer number of gamers who prefer it over a product by Audio-Technica or Rode. Razer has made it to the list as well with their new range of microphones and with so many choices, choosing the best microphones for gaming should be easy for you. They are available in varied price ranges, size and design while being capable of delivering dependable recording quality. The high-end variants produce crisp voice if you want an unparalleled experience but it’s wise to start off with a cheaper model if you are new to streaming or multiplayer stream.
