7 Best Microphones for Gaming & Streaming Under $150; Reviews

7 Best Microphones for Gaming & Streaming Under $150; Reviews

The best microphone for gaming and streaming under 150 dollars should offer the great sound quality, versatility, and ease of use you need to sound like a pro. 

Great audio quality is key, obviously, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of the other two. Here we’ve focused on streaming microphones under $150 that are simple to get up and running on most gaming PCs, with an eye on flexibility & affordability.

Best Microphone for Gaming & Streaming Under $150

Comparison Table

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1. Blue Yeti X

Blue Yeti X Professional Condenser USB Microphone
  • Four-Capsule Array – Capture legendary Blue broadcast sound with greater focus and clarity than ever for professional streaming, podcasting and YouTube
  • High-Res LED Metering – Visualize your voice level at a glance and adjust up or down for powerful, broadcast quality sound
  • Multi-Function Smart Knob – Fine-tune your on-stream sound with easy-access controls for mic gain, mute, headphone volume and blend
  • Blue VO!CE Software: Craft the perfect broadcast vocal sound and entertain your audience with enhanced effects, advanced modulation and HD audio samples.
  • Customizable LED Lighting – Personalize the color of Yeti X’s LED lights to match your on-stream aesthetic
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Microphone Specs:

Streamers & gamers will love the Yeti X because it’s a relatively inexpensive setup for decent audio. Many of the competing options under $150 either require an interface or just aren’t that good.

Blue Yeti X is a great-looking condenser microphone. It is slimmer and all-around more premium, sporting a new two-tone look complete with a black body and shiny silver accents on the microphone grille and base.

At the rear, a single button switches between cardioid, stereo, figure-8, and omnidirectional polar patterns, and it has LED indicators to let you know which mode you’re currently using. 

It has four recording modes – Stereo, Cardioid, Omnidirectional, and Bi-directional.

The Logitech G Hub software is also where you’ll gain access to Blue’s VO!CE software, providing a host of optional features to further improve the experience on offer from the Yeti X. 

The lower panel of the mic houses a micro USB connection for the included USB cable, as well as the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Yeti X has a broader language for different loudness levels and is able to capture a much wider dynamic range than the original model.

You’ve even got a built-in equalizer for the audio output built into the microphone, allowing you to either tweak each sound band individually or apply presets like Bass Boost, Cinematic, and even game-dedicated modes for FPS and MOBAs.

Why We Recommend It

Behind the shiny metallic microphone mesh, you’ll find a four-capsule condenser array, and that essentially means that the Yeti X records audio impressively well.

As mentioned, the Yeti X also ships with recording software, a new platform called BlueVoice that requires Logitech’s G Hub and/or Blue’s Sherpa software in order to operate. 

BlueVoice includes useful presets and vocal effects for Twitch streaming, podcasting, and music recording, with names like Broadcaster 1, Crisp and Vintage, and AM Radio.

The Yeti X can record up to 48kHz/24-bit audio, with a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz—this frequency range also applies to the internal headphone amp.

The internal damping the Yeti X employs keeps plosives to a minimum. 

The Yeti X sounds a little crisper in the high-mids on vocals, while simultaneously picking up a little more of the rich low-mids.

The various mic patterns add versatility here. The figure-8 pattern can be a great way to record two speakers facing each other, while the omnidirectional pattern is a good way to pick up general ambient sounds in your environment, in addition to your primary sound source. That the mic can also record in stereo mode is impressive: The Yeti X is one of the best mics for streaming for under 150 dollars.

Pros

 

Cons


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUEr1QFyXWg

2. HyperX QuadCast S

HyperX QuadCast S – RGB USB Condenser Microphone for PC, PS4, PS5 and Mac
  • Radiant RGB lighting with dynamic effects: Personalize stunning RGB lighting and dynamic effects for an eye-catching shot of customizable style.
  • Built-in anti-vibration shock mount: Isolate the mic and suppress the sound of unintentional rumbles and bumps with the elastic rope suspension.
  • Tap-to-mute sensor with LED status indicator
  • 4 selectable polar patterns: Choose between four polar patterns - stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, bidirectional.
  • Customizable via HyperX Ngenuity Software
  • Gain control adjustment
  • Mount adapter, pop filter, and headphone jack: Versatile adapter fits 38-inch and 58-inch threaded setups, compatible with most mic stands or boom arms. The internal pop filter helps block plosive sounds from hitting the mic, and you can monitor the mic via the headphone jack.
  • Multi-device and program compatibility: Get great sound whether you’re connecting to a PC, PS4, or Mac. QuadCast S is certified by Discord and TeamSpeak, and works on major streaming platforms like Streamlabs OBS, OBS Studio, and XSplit.
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Microphone Specs:

The HyperX QuadCast S is a sleek, clear-sounding USB gaming & streaming microphone with a mesmerizing light show that costs less than 150 dollars.

Streamers should get the QuadCast S for its sound quality and slim design. The QuadCast S also has Teamspeak and Discord certifications so you shouldn’t have any trouble using the mic with those services.

Casual gamers who want clearer audio will appreciate this standalone mic as it can improve the whole gaming experience for both you and your teammates.

The HyperX QuadCast S is a very fun USB microphone: rainbow LEDs color the microphone beneath its grille. The mic is long and cylindrical, and it has a durable all-metal casing.

A layer of foam acts as a pop filter behind the grille. The microphone comes bolted onto a shock mount, which prevents handling noise and external vibrations from affecting your recording.

The HyperX QuadCast S has a dial on the back that lets you switch between the four available polar patterns: cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo.

The HyperX QuadCast S records clear audio and boasts a neutral-leaning frequency response with slightly de-emphasized bass notes to mitigate the proximity effect.

Why We Recommend It

The dynamic double RGB lighting system featured on the QuadCast S vaguely resembles a lava lamp, slowly transitioning from one color scheme to another. 

With the addition of a built-in anti-vibration shock mount and internal pop filter, the microphone is ready to use right out of the box. 

Setting up the QuadCast S is as simple as attaching the microphone to its stand and connecting it to your PC using a USB cable.

The QuadCast S features a handy tap-to-mute button located on the top of the microphone.

At the bottom of the mic, HyperX has also included a gain dial, allowing you to easily adjust your mic sensitivity without having to dig around in software settings.

For all its great design, though, it’s the QuadCast S’ sound quality that justifies its price tag. It offers a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz and bit-rate of 16-bit, also featuring three 14mm condensers that allow it to operate in four distinct directional patterns. 

Pros

Cons


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3. Blue Yeti USB Mic

Blue Yeti USB Mic
  • Custom Three-Capsule Array: Produces clear, powerful, broadcast-quality sound for YouTube, game streaming, podcasting, Zoom calls and music.
  • Blue VO!CE Software: Craft the perfect broadcast vocal sound and entertain your audience with enhanced effects, advanced modulation and HD audio samples.
  • Four Pickup Patterns: Flexible cardioid, omni, bidirectional, and stereo pickup patterns allow you to record in ways that would normally require multiple mics.
  • Onboard Audio Controls: Headphone volume, pattern selection, instant mute, and mic gain put you in charge of every level of the recording and streaming process.
  • Plug n Play on Mac and PC: Instantly start recording and streaming on Mac or
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Microphone Specs:

The Blue Yeti microphone has become associated with the rise in gaming and streaming, with users loving its simplicity.

Blue uses a proprietary tri-capsule microphone array that allows you to switch between 4 different polar patterns (Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, and Stereo), customizing how the Yeti picks up sound.

There’s a built-in gain dial, essential if you’re recording quiet or distant sounds and useful for preventing later processing.

It also features a volume knob for the live-monitoring headphone amp, and a mute button to pause recording.

The 1.2-pound recording microphone cuts a commanding image on the screen and comes in black, blue, and silver options. 

The Yeti includes a mini-USB port and a 3.5mm audio jack for plugging in headphones. 

Setting up the Yeti is about as painless as it gets. It’s plug-and-play compatible (no drivers needed) with Windows 10 or higher and macOS 10.13 or higher. It is also USB powered, so you can immediately start using it as a microphone and listen to the computer’s audio. 

You may also have to choose the Yeti as the audio input and/or output in particular software programs, like Audacity or GarageBand.  

Why We Recommend It

Yeti’s three internal condenser capsules are highly sensitive and capture a very clear and detailed sound.

Each of the four polar patterns helps you pinpoint the areas that the mic captures.

Blue Sherpa app is a free desktop application that allows you to control your mic’s settings like gain, volume, and polar patterns.

Yeti’s Stereo pattern is ideal for recording podcasts, as it allows to clearly separate multiple voices around a table. The Omnidirectional mode allows capturing the sound clearly and loudly, while Cardioid mode and Bidirectional pattern result in pleasantly precise recordings.

The stand that comes with the Blue Yeti is nice and solid. It allows you to rotate the position of the mic.

It’s important to realize that the Yeti is a heavy microphone. Because of that, it won’t work with just any stand. 

Pros

Cons


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4. Razer Seiren V2 Pro USB Mic

Razer Seiren V2 Pro Professional-Grade USB Microphone
  • Dynamic Microphone
  • High Pass Filter: Activated via Razer Synapse, the mic’s high pass filter eliminates any background humming and buzzing so your voice can be captured as if inside a soundproof studio
  • Digital Analogue Limiter: The Razer Seiren V2 Pro is programmed to automatically prevent clipping and peaking so theres no reason to worry about your voice breaking up or sounding noisy while streaming
  • Mic Monitoring: By plugging a headset into the mic you’re able to hear yourself speak, which makes it convenient for maintaining optimal mic audio levels and talking on chaotic voice channels
  • Built-In Shock Absorber and Mic Windsock
  • Gain Control and Mute But
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Microphone Specs:

The Serien V2 Pro is a 30mm Dynamic microphone that promises a rich, warm, and clean sound up to 96kHz sampling rate. It works fine whether you are on PC or Mac though to get the most out of it.

Putting together the V2 Pro isn’t difficult, as the mic capsule comes fully assembled in its holder with a thread on its bottom that screws into either the included base or a boom arm. 

This cardioid mic itself is in the shape of a pill, with one button and two knobs on the front, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack on the backside. 

That front button is the mute button, and the upper knob controls the volume for headphones connected to the mic. 

The lower knob governs the gain and a braided USB-C to USB-A cord connects it to a laptop or PC. 

The mic, holder, and base are all coated in a matte finish that makes it fingerprint-resistant, dirt-resistant, and easy to clean. 

Weighing a little over a pound, the V2 Pro doesn’t take up a lot of space and isn’t prone to tipping over, as it has a weighted base.

Why We Recommend It

This mic has a built-in mixer which can be viewed in the Razer Synapse software. While the mic promises simplicity with plug-and-play convenience, the mixer is more of a pro feature.

You can control the functions found on the Seiren V2 Pro directly in the software, and you can also adjust the sample rate between 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, and 96 kHz. You can also toggle the high pass filter and analog gain limiter on and off.

In the stream mixer, you can select any combination of audio sources and mix them into a single output for your stream or recording software of choice.

With a single cardioid polar pattern here, the Seiren V2 Pro works best with the audio source nice and close to the mic. 

Once you do have the mic positioned just right, it’s capable of articulating some really clear and clean recordings. 

The V2 Pro comes with its own windshield filter, which should ideally help eliminate sharp sounds or wind noises.

Pros

Cons


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5. EPOS Gaming B20 Streaming Microphone

EPOS Gaming B20 Streaming Microphone
  • STUDIO-QUALITY MICROPHONE - Effortlessly captures your voice and gaming audio.
  • HASSLE-FREE USB CONNECTION - Plug-and-play for ease of use.
  • INTEGRATED AUDIO CONNECTION - Audio controls are right at your fingertips.
  • CHOICE OF 4 PICKUP PATTERNS - Choose from 4 pickup patterns to suit all of your audio needs.
  • HIGH-QUALITY BUILD WITH SLEEK DESIGN - A modern style built with only the best materials for daily u
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Microphone Specs:

The EPOS B20 is a 9.4-inch-long black metal cylinder measuring 4.4 inches across, with a metal grille wrapping around the top panel and the top thirds of the sides. 

The controls are placed somewhat unconventionally on the sides, with a mute button and headphone volume knob on the front and a gain knob and four-way mode knob on the back.

A USB-C port sits on the bottom panel of the cylinder, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The microphone comes mounted on a black metal table stand consisting of a circular base and a simple, thin neck on the left, on which the cylinder can tilt. 

Behind the metal grille, the B20 houses three condenser capsules that can be set to four different pickup patterns: cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo. 

It samples at 24 bits and 48kHz, with a frequency response of 50Hz to 20kHz.

Why We Recommend It

There’s a lot to like about the Epos B20 – a very sturdy build, multiple recording patterns, and the ability to use it as a desk microphone or mount it to a microphone arm to suit your recording preference. 

The EPOS B20 is a breeze to use. The USB mic is compatible with PlayStation 4, PC, and macOS, and functions in a plug-and-play manner.

You will still need to download the Epos Gaming Suite software to fully unleash the B20’s potential and tweak individual settings. 

From the software, you can see levels for gain and volume, as well as a general equalizer that indicates various frequency levels.

Voice quality when in cardioid mode is generally acceptable for when streaming, as game audio will most likely mask any minor background noises that the mic picks up. 

When recording on its own, the B20 does pick up a bit of background noise, even with noise cancellation turned on. 

Pros

Cons


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6. AKG Pro Audio Lyra

AKG Pro Audio Lyra Ultra-HD
  • ultra-hd quality audio - 24-bit/192khz high-resolution converters
  • adaptive capsule array - four-capsule mic array provides four user-friendly capture modes
  • easy setup and universal compatibility - intuitive, plug-and-play setup and operation with support for mac and pc, plus ios and android tablets and phones
  • headphone output and mix controls - zero latency monitoring while tracking with full control over output volume, mic gain and mute
  • versatile mounting options - use with the integrated desktop mic stand or mount to a standard or boom mic stand
  • modern design with vintage appeal - camera-ready styling for on-screen appeal
  • Power source type: Corded Elect
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Microphone Specs:

AKG’s Lyra USB condenser mic is called an ‘Ultra HD’ USB microphone, the high definition of which is brought to you by way of some impressive stats including wide frequency response, low noise, and, most importantly, a 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. 

There is also an impressive level of flexibility by way of four polar patterns to choose from, although not with the traditional ‘cardioid’ type names, instead titled as Wide Stereo, Narrow Stereo, Front and Front/Back options.

This is one of the best mics for streaming and gaming for under 150 dollars and it is designed for folks who want premium quality audio, without needing to have additional gear or any in-depth knowledge of audio.

On the base of the mic itself, you’ll find the USB out, and a 3.5mm jack to plug in your headphones.

On the front, there’s a volume dial for your headphones. Adjusting this won’t affect your recording in any way.

There’s also a mute button. This could come in handy if you do interviews online and tend to get disturbed a lot whilst recording.

Built into the mic’s case is a shock mount for the capsules and a sound diffusor to help reduce plosive pops.

Why We Recommend It

Offering plug-and-play simplicity, the class-compliant Lyra operates with 24-bit conversion and can run at sample rates of up to 192kHz. 

No drivers are needed for Mac OS or Windows operation, and for iOS, use an Apple Camera Connection Kit USB adaptor will do the trick. 

AKG specifies the frequency range of the mic as 20Hz to 20kHz.

In addition to producing Ultra HD audio quality with minimal compression, the Lyra features an internal shock mount and a built-in sound diffuser, which work together to automatically minimize noise and increase signal levels, allowing it to provide ideal performance. 

One of Lyra’s mute buttons is located on the instrument’s front, and four LEDs illuminate to signal which pickup pattern has been selected. 

Most notable is that the Lyra integrates four back-electret capsules, two of which are slanted slightly away from each other and front-facing, as well as two rear-facing capsules which are angled in the same manner as the two forward-facing capsules.

Pros

Cons


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7. Elgato Wave:3

Elgato Wave:3 Premium USB Condenser Microphone and Digital Mixer for Streaming
  • Condenser capsule with a tight cardioid polar pattern captures speech with precision
  • Use the Wave Link app to control Wave: 3 and up to seven other audio sources, plus create two independent mixes
  • Up to 24-bit / 96kHz analog to digital conversion delivers lush detail
  • Proprietary Clipguard technology makes distortion virtually impossible
  • Superior circuitry ensures seamless audio signal transmiss
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Microphone Specs:

The Elgato Wave 3 is an unassuming microphone. It’s fairly small, coming in just over eight inches when mounted on its stand (six, if we’re looking at the microphone by itself) and trimmed almost entirely in black.

Despite its small size, it feels sturdy enough. The grill surrounding the capsule is a rigid metal.

The Elgato Wave: 3 is best for gamers who stream and who want a mic that costs less than $150 and sounds good out of the box with little tinkering necessary.

Behind the flat, rectangular grille, a 17mm electret capsule delivers a cardioid pattern with a frequency range of 70Hz to 20kHz. 

It has a 24-bit depth and a maximum sample rate of 96kHz, both solid stats for this price range.

There’s no ability to switch mic patterns, so you’re stuck with the good old reliable cardioid.

The mic swivels on the stand to angle upward for desktop recording. The front panel, beneath the grille, houses a single knob/button, with LEDs for observing signal level. 

The knob can be used to adjust mic gain, headphone volume, or the blend of low-latency audio from the mic and whatever audio is coming from the connected computer. Up top, there’s a highly sensitive capacitive mute button.

The back panel houses a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port for the included USB-C-to-USB-A cable.

Why We Recommend It

Sonically, Wave: 3 delivers a hearty, clear signal with what sounds like some peak limiting here and there when things get loud. Interestingly, there’s no typical DSP (digital signal processing) in play, but there is something called Clipguard, an analog-digital hybrid that chooses between two analog mic signals if they peak, opting for the cleaner one. 

From the recommended distance of roughly seven inches, Wave: 3 delivers a clear, rich signal with crisp highs. 

You can get a decent amount of vocal low-end out of it, especially if you move in closer, but due to the lack of a pop filter, that’s not advised. 

That said, the built-in padding and protection behind the grille does an above-average job of tamping down plosives.

The Wave:3 is plug-and-play compatible with Windows 10 machines and MacOS 10.15 or higher. It includes a USB-C to USB-A cable for connecting to a computer.

Pros

Cons


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Best Microphone for Gaming & Streaming Under $150: Buying Guide

Your foremost concern when choosing any desktop-style microphone should be sound quality. A lot of potential issues, like dull looks or poorly-adjustable stands, can be ignored or compensated for — but if a streaming microphone sounds weak or lacking in detail, your entire stream suffers. 

Here are a few factors that you should consider in the best gaming & streaming microphone for under 150 dollars.

Things to Consider in a Gaming & Streaming Microphone

Polar Pattern

A polar pattern determines how much and from which direction an audio signal will be picked up by a microphone. For gaming & streaming, you’ll mostly want a pattern that picks up sound directly in front of the microphone (you) and not much else from anywhere else.

These are the most common polar patterns: 

Cardioid: Records in front of the microphone. Perfect for voice-over, vocals, and streaming.

Bidirectional: Captures audio in front of and behind the mic. Ideal for one-on-one interviews.

Omnidirectional: Picks up sound from every direction. Perfect for round-table interviews, but not so much for gaming or streaming.

Stereo: Perfect for ASMR recordings. YouTube ‘ASMR’ if you want the best example because I couldn’t do it just justice.

Condenser vs. Dynamic Mics for Gaming & Streaming 

The majority of our picks are condenser mics, and that means the mic is better at picking up a more crisp, detailed sound. That also makes them a bit more sensitive and prone to record unwanted sounds.

Condenser mics can also offer multiple polar patterns, which a dynamic does not. Dynamic mics however are more durable and can handle higher sound volumes without distortion. 

Plus, with a cardioid pattern, dynamic mics are ideal for podcasting because they are better at eliminating background noise to focus just on your voice. 

These are the type of microphones you’ll usually find in a recording studio. But, either microphone type should work great if you’re just looking to use it for streaming.

Microphone Output

The output of a microphone might not be something you’ve given much thought to, but it’s essential to make note of the differences. 

All of the mics on our list are USB microphones, which means you won’t need an audio interface for use. 

You can simply plug it in and get recording. You will sacrifice the ability to change components or use it with a mixing board though.

Microphone Sensitivity

The sensitivity of a mic indicates how easily it picks up sound. If you have a quieter voice, seek out a more sensitive microphone for more accurate reproduction of your voice—conversely, if you have a booming voice, you’ll need a less sensitive microphone for the same effect. Condenser types influence how sensitive a mic is, as does the ability to tweak the gain level.

Software Controls for the Gaming Microphone

For a USB microphone, you’ll do all your audio processing—that is, tweaking the audio that comes through the mic—in a desktop PC program. 

Ideally, this companion software should be easy to use, easy to navigate and allow you to tune the audio output. 

The best software also lets you configure the routing of other audio sources (e.g., the game, chat from programs like Discord, and music from Spotify). You can choose what gets pulled in and how that’s directed out.

Build Quality

The build quality of a microphone affects more than just how the device holds up with use—it also has an impact on audio performance. 

The better the materials, the better quality of vocal performance. The capsule type, housing around it, and any shielding placed between you and the capsule (to tamp down unwanted noises) all influence the mic’s output.

Conclusion

By now, you should have an idea of the best microphone for streaming & gaming for under $150. As you’ve read, we take a lot of factors into consideration to help make sure you’re getting the very best option for your money. 

The Blue Yeti X is the best gaming & streaming microphone for under 150 dollars. It’s a USB microphone made for gamers, Twitch streamers, and online content creators that sounds amazing and looks great. 

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