HyperX QuadCast 2 S – USB Microphone, with RGB Lighting, Streaming and Podcasting, with On-Board Controls, LED Lighting, Removable Shock Mount, PC, Mac, USB-C - Black

Why it's worth it

The QuadCast 2 S bundles the shock mount, pop filter, and four polar patterns into one unit, so a first stream setup is one box instead of four. Tap the top to mute, and turn one knob for gain, monitor mix, or pattern.

Buying this is buying a whole mic setup at once. A shock mount to keep desk thumps out of your audio, a pop filter for hard consonants, and a stand — all included and pre-attached. PCMag notes the anti-vibration mount cuts keyboard-click bleed without an external arm. Compare that to a bare condenser mic, where you'll spend another round on a mount and filter before you sound good.

Four polar patterns cover situations most people don't anticipate. Cardioid for solo streaming picks up your voice and ignores the room. Bidirectional works for a two-person interview across a desk. Omnidirectional catches a whole table. Stereo for instruments. The Verge notes this range on the QuadCast line, and you switch between them with the same multifunction knob that handles gain and monitor mix.

From our review of 8 hyperx gaming gear

What we like

• +Buying this is buying a whole mic setup at once
• +Four polar patterns cover situations most people don't anticipate
• +The tap-to-mute sensor is the streamer feature that pays for itself
• +Over 100 individually addressable RGB LEDs give it the look, if that's what you're after

What to know

• –It's the most expensive item in this guide, and owners who like it still question whether the audio jump over cheaper USB mics…
• –The size cuts both ways
• –The RGB is a lot. There's no way to make this mic look understated on a work-from-home desk, even with the lighting dimmed