When you decide that you want to create content, whether it be streaming or recording, the last thing you want is to sound muffled, choppy, or have low-quality audio. Having poor audio can be the difference between retaining an audience and seeing viewers exit in droves. Luckily, the gaming microphone marketplace has greatly improved over the years with some solid options no matter your budget.
Do you want a mic with multiple polar patterns? What about one with more on-mic controls? How about a microphone that’s great for those that want to dabble in more than just streaming? These are the questions that we’ll help you answer with our list of the best gaming microphones for 2020.
Elgato Wave:3
(credit: Elgato)
Product Specs:
Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB-C to USB-A| Frequency response: 70 Hz-20 KHz | Features: Touch mute, zero-lag monitoring, built-in de-esser
Average Price:Â $159.99 USD
Rundown: The Wave:3 is the newest gaming microphone on this list and an excellent first effort from the team at Elgato. Despite the single cardioid polar pattern, this microphone offers incredible quality sound for the streamer or podcaster. With a built-in pop filter and Elgato’s Clipguard technology, it makes post-processing almost completely unnecessary for gameplay videos or podcasts. The Wave:3 even comes with a free digital audio mixer that makes perfecting audio levels for your recordings or livestreams even easier. It’s an all-in-one package that has quickly become a must have.
Blue Yeti X
(credit: Logitech)
Product Specs:
Polar patterns: Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, Stereo| Connectivity: Micro USB to USB-A | Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz  | Features: Blue Voice software, multi-function control knob
Average Price:Â $169.99 USD
Rundown:Â As a close second when it comes to the best gaming microphone for your money, the Blue Yeti X is a perfect alternative to the Wave:3. What helps the Yeti X stand out, aside from its great sound, are the multiple polar patterns that give it the versatility needed for some creators. With the Logitech G Hub software at your disposal, you can get almost any sound you’d like out of the Yeti X. Oh, and there’s also a built-in noise reducer that does a nice job of eliminating the sound from your fan or air conditioner in the background.
HyperX Quadcast
(credit: HyperX)
Product Specs:
Polar patterns: Cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, stereo| Connectivity: USB-A | Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz | Features: Built-in Shockmount
Average Price:Â $140 USD
Rundown:Â As another gaming microphone with multiple polar patterns, the Quadcast from HyperX is another mic that features higher quality audio than you’d think a mic at its price would have. The built-in shock mount does its job well, helping avoid picking up unwanted vibrations in your audio while also saving you the extra cash of having to buy a separate mount.
Audio-Technica AT2020USB+
(credit: Audio-Technica)
Product Specs:
Polar patterns: Cardioid|Â Connectivity: USB-A |Â Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz | Features:Â On-mic mix control
Average Price:Â $149.00 USD
Rundown:Â For the longest time, Audio-Technica was viewed as the must-have brand for streamers and podcasters. Though that’s no longer the case with so many options, that doesn’t mean the company doesn’t have quality options available. What makes the AT2020USB+ such a good gaming microphone is how easy it is to get a great sound. Just plugging it in and recording in your favorite software with no adjustments will give you a nice warm sound that’s unmatched by many other mainline products. This is a great option for podcast hosts, though a pop-filter is recommended as it is pretty sensitive.
Razer Seiren X
(credit: Razer)
Product Specs:
Polar patterns: Super-cardioid | Connectivity: USB-A |Â Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 KHz | Features:Â Shock mount, zero-lag monitoring
Average Price: $99.99 USD
Rundown:Â While every gaming microphone on this list sits around $140 or more in price on average, there are options out there for those on a budget. Enter the Serien X from Razer, the most portable option on this list with a sound that, with some adjusting, can come close to some of the better options listed. Aside from its lower price point, the Razer Serien X has an included shock mount and zero-latency monitoring via the 3.5mm headphone jack.
These options should aid your search in finding a decent gaming microphone for your specific purposes. For more help with your PC builds and peripherals, be sure to check out the best CPUs, motherboards, graphics cards, keyboards, and monitors available for gaming right now.
