8 Best Microphones for Streaming and Gaming in 2023
Updated: Oct 6, 2023
A good streaming microphone will take your streams to the next level. Finding the best microphone available for you as a streamer, podcaster or gamer can be a big challenge. There are so many great microphones to buy in 2023, in this article, we will be giving you our review of the Best Streaming Microphones of 2023 for streamers and gamers.
Here are our top picks and a quick list-
As a streamer or podcaster, a good microphone will drastically impact your audience retention. Your streams will become more engaging and catching at first glance for the new viewers and help you grow faster.
Best Mic for Streamers and Gamers
A good mic will take your stream or podcast to a whole new level. Here are some of the best mics you can buy in 2023 to improve your streams and recordings.
Connector Type- USB and XLR
Polar Pattern- Unidirectional
Included- 3m USB A and USB C cable
Micro USB connectivity
Headphone compatible and touch interactive volume controller.
Shure MV7 is a top choice for streamers and podcasters. While coming on a bit of an expensive side, this microphone is a high-end mic with great audio quality and reliability. Shure MV7 will cost you around $250 and give you an outstanding studio mic. The downside is that it doesn't come with any sort of stand and has micro USB connectivity. Besides that Shure MV7 provides a lot of features, it has built-in headphone connection, a touch interactive volume controller, comes in two colour options - black and silver, USB and XLR connection and also has a desktop App for mixing and customization.
Connector Type- USB and 3.5mm jack
Polar Pattern- Unidirectional
Included- NT-USB, zip pouch, pop filter and tripod stand
Headphone compatible
Rode NT-USB is one of the best mics for streamers on a mid-budget. This microphone is available at around the price of $130 and offers great sound quality and many extra utility items at this competitive price. This unidirectional microphone comes with a pop filter and a tripod stand, but the stand is not well-balanced and you will eventually need an extra stand or mic arm.
Connection Type- USB
Polar Pattern- Multipattern
Included- USB Cable, built-in desktop stand
Headphone compatible
Blue Yeti is the most iconic streaming mic in the gaming community and is a very good entry mic for a pretty affordable budget. Blue Yeti is a solid mic for streaming but for podcasting and recording can be a bit behind other higher-end microphones, Blue yeti sometimes has feedback issues. Blue Yeti mics come in a ton of different color options ( around 6) has a solid desktop stand for a complete plug-and-use experience.
Connection Type- USB
Polar Pattern- Unidirectional
Included- 3.5M USB C Cable, USB C to A Adapter, 1.5M Headphone Extension Cable
Black and White Color options
BEACN Dynamic is one of the most high-end modern microphones. A great all-around microphone for live streams, podcasts and studio recordings. BEACN Dynamic has a high build quality, comes with RGB lighting, and has a minimalist modern design. You will need extra equipment like a mic arm and pop filters with this microphone. If you do not have a budget issue then this is a great microphone for every situation.
Connection Type- USB type C
Polar Pattern- Unidirectional
Included- USB-C Cable, Desktop Stand, Boom Arm Adapter
Black and White Color options
Elgato Wave 3 is a mic specifically designed for streamers. It has solid integration with popular streaming software. It comes with a desktop stand which is completely fine for streaming. Elgato Wave 3 is one of the best microphones at this price range (under $150).
Connection Type- USB
Polar Pattern- Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional and Stereo
Included- Microphone with Stand, Mini USB to USB Cable (3M), Mic Arm Adapter
HyperX Quadcast is a mid-price range microphone for streamers and gamers. Its bright red color can both be positive and negative for you. It has an in-built pop filter and a special tap-to-mute feature for convenience. It has four different polar patterns which give you ultimate flexibility in its use.
Best Budget Streaming Microphones
There are many great mics on an affordable budget that can be an addition to your streaming setup. These mics are good entry-level mics, here are picks-
Connection Type- USB
Polar Pattern- Unidirectional
Included- Only Microphone with USB cable
Razer Seiren is a very good mic for streaming if you are on a budget of under $80. This mic can be a bit unreliable in the long run as with time the cable and connector can become looser and cause connection issues.
Connection Type- USB and XLR
Polar Pattern- Unidirectional
Included- Shock Mount, 2.5m USB-C to USB-A/C Cable, 5/8'' to 3/8'' Adapter
Headphone compatible with its volume controller
Maono is known for its great microphone on a budget, Maono XLR/USB Dynamic mic is no exception. It is a mic with many features and good audio quality. It comes in two color options-black and white, has RGB lighting, its own mixing software and some more features.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Which is the Best Mic for Twitch Streaming?
Shure MV7 is arguably the best overall microphone for streaming and podcasting. Shure MV7 comes with great audio quality, reliability, both XLR and USB connectivity and many features which makes it one of the best microphone for Streamers.
Importance of a good microphone for streaming?
A good mic can make or break your streaming career. The audio quality of your stream is a major factor in viewer retention and engagement. In the crowded streaming market, a good mic will make you stand out as a professional streamer.
USB or XLR connection for the Streaming Mic?
USB microphones are more popular and easy to use for streaming, they provide a plug-and-play experience but less flexibility for recording. Whereas XLR connection is better for mixing and recording audio for higher quality but requires additional equipment and skills.
There are many great mics like Shure MV7 which have both USB and XLR connections so you can enjoy the benefits of both world.
How to Decide a Good Mic for Streaming?
Before buying a microphone for streaming, podcasting or gaming, you should consider some things. The mic should be within your budget and provide good sound quality and the needed features.
Budget: While it may be tempting to choose a cheaper mic especially when you are starting your journey as a streamer or content creator, it is a solid move to invest in a good microphone.
Polar Pattern: Microphones have a different polar pattern, it decides from which direction the mic will pick up the sound. Mics can be unidirectional or Omnidirectional. For streaming a cardioid polar pattern is better as it picks sound from the front and ignores all the sound from other directions.
Compatibility: Check whether the mic is compatible with your OS, and streaming software as well as check the connection type of the mic. Some mics are direct plug-and-use whereas other microphones require an extra device like a mixing station.
There are also many other things that you should check and keep in mind before buying a microphone for streaming like- features, accessories, buyer's reviews and many other things.
