The Best USB Microphones

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A classic for a reason, the Blue Yeti Microphone is our choice for the top USB microphone. Despite being one of the brand’s older models, the Yeti mic manages to wow us and pretty much blow other USB microphones out of the water in terms of sound profile, output, and sensitivity.

The design is classic, too. You’ll find it comes with a sturdy build as well as a robust little mic stand mount perfect for propping onto a desk or other flat surfaces.

Thanks to its wide frequency response, the mic can capture human voice without having to position the capsule close to your mouth. It can also block out ambient noise successfully.

The Yeti has physical controls on the mic itself, including an instant mute button, a volume dial, a volume knob for headphones, a gain control knob, and pickup pattern switches that allow you to move from one polar pattern to another.

The last one, in particular, is something we want to emphasize: the Yeti features four recording patterns, namely cardioid, omnidirectional, stereo, and bidirectional, which offers users the option to switch between different recording styles depending on the application.

Cardioid patterns are perfect for single-subject recordings; in this setting, the studio mic picks up sound from the front and side of the capsule. This makes it a great microphone for video conferencing.

Furthermore, the Yeti comes with a boom arm that can clamp to a chair, table, desk, or any other surface. It also includes additional equipment such as a shock mount, pop shield, and a basic desktop stand, making recording easy for anyone.

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The next on our list is considered a classic in many audio circles. Known for its bright, radio-friendly sound, the Shure MV7 is technically a USB/XLR hybrid rather than a discrete USB microphone.

Technicalities aside, the Shure MV7 is a beautiful device that is able to recreate the natural warmth and tones distinct to the human voice. The Shure MV7 is the more beginner-friendly version of some of Shure’s more iconic models, the SM7B and SM58, which have been used for decades in radio shows and by vocalists.

The Shure MV7 has a few key differences. For one, it’s a lot more compact. It’s also a little limited because it is meant for those at the tail-end of beginner recording.

That said, the Shure MV7 is one of the best mics anyone could make if they want to prioritize sound quality in whatever they do, whether it’s streaming or creating YouTube content. It’s also regarded as the best one to use for meetings.

This mic is equipped with a gain control knob and a headphone port. Another huge advantage of the Shure MV7 is the app that comes with it. The MOTIV app lets you tweak your vocals, adding sparkle or depth according to your needs.

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Want a larger microphone that works well in a variety of recording applications? The Yeti X is the older (and bigger) sibling of the Nano and Yeti classic, standing 12 inches tall and weighing 2.8 lbs – its size may be a con for some, but a huge pro for others. 

For one thing, having a larger capsule means your mic will be positioned closer to your mouth, which helps with vocal emphasis and muting room sounds.

Size aside, the microphone performs really well. The sound profile is simple and clean. Users can choose between four different recording modes depending on the type of recording they want to achieve, much like the Yeti classic version.

To get a little technical, the microphone has an output of 24-bit/48kHz. All of these combined make the Yeti X one of the top mics and most well-rounded options out there no matter what level you’re at.

We were also able to significantly tweak the audio samples using the software that came with the mic – perfect for adding a little sparkle to one’s vocals. If you’re thinking about getting the Yeti Pro but find that it’s a bit too bulky, then the Yeti X is a good alternative as it’s narrower by 15mm and has 12.35% less body volume.

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If you want style, portability, and great-sounding audio rolled into one, the Blue Yeti Nano is what you should buy, particularly if you’re hesitant to splurge. At under $100, the Blue Yeti’s younger sibling is a mic that has the best value for money as it packs multiple features that make it ideal for budding content creators, streamers, and podcasters.

After all, the top USB mics are also ones that don’t break the bank while still giving you more than you paid for.

The Yeti Nano has two distinct microphone polar patterns or recording modes, cardioid and omnidirectional, which can be accessed through the microphone’s software.

The cardioid recording mode of the Yeti Nano is perfect for delivering full-bodied and natural tones from a single speaker while the omnidirectional pattern makes recording and speaking to a group of people easier than ever.

Despite standing only 8 inches tall, the Yeti Nano looks incredible and sleek, designed with a robust casing that can withstand wear and tear. Its size makes handling the mic easy, and if needed, one can place it inside a bag and take it to the office, a studio, or a cafe.

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Gaming aesthetics have evolved over the past few years, but RGB-themed equipment seems to be a trend that’s not going anywhere anytime soon (no, really, try to find a streamer on Twitch that doesn’t have RGB backlit equipment). That said, the HyperX QuadCast S is the only mic in this list that has an RGB feature.

But aesthetics are not the only reason gamers seem to gravitate towards the HyperX QuadCast S, an all-metal and satin-black encased microphone, though design is a huge part of its charm.

With such a gamer-centric design, one might ask, “Will this USB mic work with gaming consoles?”, and the answer is yes! The mic is compatible with gaming consoles, including the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC, and Mac. It’s also Discord and TeamSpeak certified, making the device perfect for multiplayer voice chats.

If you want to further maximize the HyperX QuadCast S, then you can also download HyperX’s Ngenuity software. This software will allow you to adjust headphone volume controls, microphone volume, and monitoring volume. You can even play around with the RGB lights using said software!

Unfortunately, this mic is a little expensive for beginners/hobbyists, which you might realize by now is the largest and most profitable market for USB mics. So, if going professional is something in your horizons, then we recommend putting your money towards something with an XLR output cable or at least a hybrid if convenience is non-negotiable.

That said, the QuadCast S is by no means a bad mic, as its advantages make it a worthy option. Its sleek design can add visual excitement to any video, and as for its performance, the microphone offers four standard polar patterns for capturing natural-sounding vocal tones.

Experts and users rave about its audio reproduction quality with good reason. If you want a stylish yet high-quality gaming setup, the QuadCast S should be your first option. It’s also one of the best standalone mics out there.

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If you’re thinking of getting the QuadCast S but aren’t sold on its price tag, then the Elgato Wave:3 might be just what you need. Like the QuadCast S, the Wave:3 is designed with streamers in mind, although it has no shortage of uses outside the realm of gaming content creation.

The Elgato Wave:3 is a first for the brand that wasn’t always known for its audio recording equipment. However, despite this being their earliest foray into USB mics, you can’t really tell and it has earned its right to be hailed as one of the top USB mics currently out there. Everything from the sleek matte black casing to the physical controls on the mic is solid, classic, and robust.

This is also a condenser microphone, which is typically more sensitive than dynamic microphones in its ability to pick up even the smallest background noise. The good news is that this condenser microphone in particular has uncanny vocal replication capabilities without being too sensitive. 

And while the Wave:3 doesn’t have the four standard pickup patterns available, it makes up for it with a high frame rate. Recording at 24-bit/96kHz, audio recordings made with the Wave:3 are flexible and easy to manipulate without distortion. 

Speaking of editing, the Wave Link software by Elgato is a huge advantage that not many other mics have. The software serves as an audio editor as well as a digital mixer that can work with multiple mic recordings from separate audio sources.

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An entry-level mic perfect for beginners, the Audio-Technica ATR2100 is a mic that’s up to par with many professional mics in the market. Equipped with both USB and XLR outputs, this mic is highly versatile and convenient, offering great sound quality even with its compact size. 

With its cardioid pattern, the ATR2100 can reduce the pickup of unwanted sounds such as keyboard clicks, and can also reduce background noise. This mic delivers well in vocal applications and allows anyone to monitor themselves with its built-in headphone port. You can also use the port to test any pair of headphones directly. 

The mic also has easy-to-use controls on the bottom, allowing users to adjust the headphone and mic sound levels on the spot. The on/off switch of the ATR2100 microphone also doubles as a mute button, how cool is that? Additionally, the ATR2100 comes with a desktop stand for convenient use with your computer.

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The Maono HD300T is a dynamic mic that brings USB and XLR connectivity in one package. The HD300T can deliver excellent audio that’s smooth and undistorted and for a reasonable price, too. 

Inside this dynamic mic is a cardioid capsule that captures sound in front. It produces broadcast-quality audio that’s comparable to higher-end mics, making it ideal for radios, studios, recordings, vocals, podcasts, content creation, and much more.

It also has a headphone output for direct monitoring while recording without any delay or echo. Additionally, the HD300T also has control buttons to adjust the headphone output volume conveniently. 

Maono has packed a shock mount and a pop shield to reduce plosives and noise during your recording session.