Review: HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone

Can the HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone help photographers with streaming, YouTube podcasts, vlogging, gaming or communicating with clients? We have a look at this increasingly popular microphone so you can learn more about it and hear it in action.

The HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone is an attractive condenser microphone which glows red, a look that sets the microphone apart from most other microphones. It’s one of the reasons these microphones have gained popularity with gamers and Twitch users.

How is the microphone for vloggers, photographers, and content creators? I used it for several Nightaxians Night Photography YouTube podcasts and the Night Photo Summit 2023 while testing the microphone. I’ll describe how it went. You can hear audio examples of the microphone during video podcasts as well.

Note: Vlogsfan sent us the HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone to review and keep. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this USB microphone are our own.

Pros

• Great sound quality
• Attractive microphone with red glow which stands apart from other microphones
• A large gain-control dial at the bottom of the microphone allows you to adjust the volume easily
• Built-in pop filter that actually works
• Four polar patterns allow you to dial in the polar pattern best for specific situations
• Tapping or hovering over the top of the microphone mutes/activates the microphone
• An LED light indicates if the microphone is on or muted
• Monitor the microphone input through a 3.5mm headphone jack
• Everything is easily accessible on the microphone and easy to understand

Cons

• I still can’t find any!

 HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone — Technical specifications

All of the technical specifications for the HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone are from the official HyperX website. The manufacturer also states that the Quadcast is certified by Discord and TeamSpeak and works with PC, PS, PS or Mac.

Microphone Specifications

• Element: Three 14 mm electret condenser capsules
• Polar Pattern: Stereo, Omnidirectional, Cardioid, Bidirectional
• Frequency Response: 20Hz — 20kHz
• Sensitivity: -36dB (1V/Pa at 1kHz)
• Noise (RMS): ≤-95dBFS (A-weighted)

Headphone Output

• Frequency Response: 20Hz — 20kHz
• Maximum power output: 7mW
• T. H. D: ≤ 0.05% (1kHz/0dBFS)
• SNR: ≥ 90dB (1kHZ, RL=∞)

Connections and Features

• Connection Type: USB Mini-B, 3.5mm headphone output
• USB Specification: USB 2.0 (full speed)
• Bit-Depth: 16-bit
• Power consumption: 5V 125mA
• Lighting: Red
• Connection Type: USB Mini-B, 3.5mm headphone output
• USB Specification: USB 2.0 (full speed)
• Bit-Depth: 16-bit
• Power consumption: 5V 125mA
• Lighting: Red

Physical Specifications

• Weight: Weight (Microphone): 0.55lb
• Cable Length (imperial) and type: USB Mini-B to USB-A

HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone — Ergonomics and build quality

Easy installation

I used the microphone with a mid-2017 iMac. Upon connecting the USB plug in, the computer recognized the microphone right away without having to do anything. This included not only the Audio section in System Preferences, but also Zoom, Google Meet and Skype. Most USB microphones are plug-and-play as well, but still, it’s nice to know this worked flawlessly.

Build quality

This is built for vlogging, streaming, video podcasts, and podcasts primarily. With its plastic body, shock-mount and adapter, it’s not built for the rigors of a commercial recording studio.

However, for its intended use, it seems good and solid. The dials for volume, located underneath, and the dial for selecting the four polar patterns, feel well-built and are not wiggly. The latter dial has a firm detent for each of the polar patterns.

HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone — In the field

Everything is well-labeled and easy to use. In a somewhat dimly-lit room, the icons for the polar patterns are difficult to see. However, since this is ordinarily a set-and-forget selection, I do not see this as a problem.

Pop filter

Ideally, when you are speaking into a microphone, you should talk past the microphone, not directly into it. Regardless, this microphone has a built-in pop filter to stop “plosives,” reducing the chance for breaths to create unprofessional lower-frequency percussive sounds. I’m happy to report that it works remarkably well, even when you are aiming your mouth directly into the microphone and saying “puh” sounds that typically produce problematic results.

Anti-vibration shock mount

The QuadCast also comes with an anti-vibration shock mount, reducing rumbles. This is already screwed on to the body of the microphone. I tested this inadvertently because I have a habit of drumming on the table during podcasts or hitting the keyboard a little too hard. No matter. The shock-mount did what it was supposed to, reducing vibrations going into the microphone.

Stand

The Quadcast came attached to an attractive aluminum stand, which felt stable. However, I unscrewed this and mounted it to a microphone boom arm that was attached to my desktop. The mount that screws on to the boom arm is made of plastic. It has all the appropriate adjustments but is not as beefy as a metal mount that you might find in a professional recording studio.

Controlling the volume 

It also allows you to tap or hover over the top to mute or activate the sound of the microphone. When the microphone is activated, the LED inside glows red. When muted, the red light turns off. Cool!

I found the conveniently-located gain control dial made it very easy to quickly adjust mic input sensitivity. Strangely, though, the knob turns far beyond the portrayed maximum and minimum gain levels on either side.

The microphone was intuitive and easy to use every step of the way.

Outputs

The microphone has a USB Mini-B port for connecting to your computer as well as a 3.5mm headphone output. These are located underneath the dial that selects the polar pattern.

HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone — Sound quality

The sound quality of the Quadcast for my voice sounded rich and full. For voice, it was comparable to a good-quality condenser microphone typically used for recording in studios. The design of its frequency response is voiced well for speaking voices, and it does this effectively. This is especially true since you can alter the polar pattern for specific situations, using the null of the pattern (the part of the polar pattern that is not picking up the sound) to reject sounds more effectively. The stereo polar pattern is most likely best for playing music while recording or streaming.

I should point out here that it is perfectly natural for microphones to change the sound somewhat as you select different polar patterns. For instance, a cardioid or bidirectional pattern will exhibit greater proximity effect. That means that the closer you get to the microphone while speaking, the more bass response it will pick up. However, an omnidirectional microphone will not exhibit this proximity effect. Additionally, as the name implies, it will pick up sound from all directions equally and not favor particular directions.

The SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) is listed as ≥ 90dB. And indeed, the microphone was very quiet, not creating discernible self-noise during broadcasts.

HyperX Quadcast USB Microphone — Reactions from others

When I used the microphone for the first time during the Nightaxians Night Photography YouTube Podcast, both the other photographers noticed the microphone right away. “Looks great!” Tim said. “Is that glowing?” Mike asked. They both mentioned that it sounded great and had a nice, healthy volume. You can listen to that specific video podcast here.

I didn’t need to do very much adjusting during the podcast. However, when I did, it was very easy to do while continuing to speak or work. Because you can hover your finger just over the top instead of touching the microphone, you can mute the microphone without making a tapping sound, which is also quite a nice feature.

I then used it for my presentation during the Night Photo Summit 2023 online conference. Again, the microphone performed flawlessly.