Top-Rated Gaming Headsets & Mic Combo Options

Read update

• We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have updated our pick for the best microphone under $100.

Gaming microphones are useful not only for chatting with teammates, but also for producing crisp audio during livestreams. If you want to move on from the middling microphones built into gaming headsets , take a look at our favorite gaming microphones.

UPDATE: 01/18/2024

We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have updated our pick for the best microphone under $100.

Blue Yeti X

Best Gaming Microphone Overall
See at Amazon

Razer Seiren V2 X

Best Budget Gaming Microphone
$60 at Amazon

FIFINE Metal Condenser Microphone

Best Gaming Microphone Under $40
$24 at Amazon

Shure MV7 podcast microphone

Best Gaming Microphone For Streaming
$249 at Amazon

HyperX Cloud Alpha S

Best Gaming Headset
$149 at Amazon

What to Look For in a Gaming Microphone in 2024

While gaming headsets are the most mainstream option for capturing audio while gaming, dedicated microphones are quickly becoming a popular alternative. These standalone products are typically much more powerful than the small mics built into headsets, allowing you to send crystal clear commands to your teammates. They’re also wildly popular in the world of streaming, giving broadcasts a premium sense of production and improving the viewer’s overall experience.

There are a few things to consider before springing for the first microphone you come across on Amazon. The first question you need to ask yourself is how much audio mixing you want to deal with. Audio mixing allows you to adjust the volume and tone of your content, and it’s a crucial feature for most live streamers and podcasters.

If you only plan to use your microphone while gaming and aren’t interested in streaming, you probably don’t need this functionality. In that case, you can opt for a standard USB connection. But if you want the capability, you’ll need to seek out something that utilizes XLR inputs and is compatible with your current setup.

Streamers will also want to consider their microphone’s overall design and adjustability. Not only will you need to feel comfortable while using your microphone, but you’ll also want it to look good on camera. This could mean opting for something a bit more expensive with a high-end finish.

Gamers simply using their microphone for online multiplayer have it easy—pick something affordable with a simple USB connection, and you’re already ahead of what most standard headsets can achieve. But streamers need to be a bit more cautious about what they choose and ensure it’ll mesh with the aesthetic they’re looking to cultivate and will work with all their existing hardware and software.

How-To Geek’s product recommendations come from the same team of experts that have helped people fix their gadgets over one billion times. We only recommend the best products based on our research and expertise. We never accept payment to endorse or review a product. Read More »

Click here

Best Gaming Microphone Overall: Blue Yeti X

Logitech

Few gaming mics offer a better blend of pricing and performance than the Blue Yeti X . The biggest drawback to the device is its USB connection—which makes for an easy setup, but doesn’t give you the same deep audio mixing experience you’d get from an XLR input.

The lack of mixing chops won’t be an issue if you’re just using it for gaming. Even casual streamers will be fine with what the Yeti X offers: crystal clear audio, a sleek design, and real-time LED metering to ensure your sound is coming through exactly as intended. It’s also fully supported by Skype and Zoom, so it can pull double-duty as a work and play microphone.

Premium sound quality isn’t all you’re getting with the Yeti X, as its four-capsule array is wrapped up in a high-end design that boasts a multi-function smart knob for easy adjustments, a built-in stand that lets you customize its positioning, and an understated black paint job that allows it to blend in with any streaming setup.

Best Gaming Microphone Overall

Blue Yeti X

The Blue Yeti X is easy to set up, offers incredible performance, and does so without carrying a hefty price tag.

See at Amazon See at bestbuy See at Target

Best Gaming Microphone Under $100: Razer Seiren V2 X USB Microphone

Razer

If you are a gamer looking for a powerful gaming microphone that costs less than $100 and still delivers optimal sound, we recommend the Razer Seiren V2 X USB Microphone , an upgrade over the equally robust Razer Seiren X . Whether you’re on a voice chat with other gamers or with your friends while gaming, the Seiren V2 X ensures that your voice is heard, loud and clear.

Not only does it produce crisp, clear vocals, but the Seiren V2 X also dampens vibrations, protecting your audience from knocks and bumps. Featuring a cardioid pickup pattern, this microphone is designed to eliminate ambient noise, ensuring that only focused sound from you comes through.

Raxer’s upgraded microphone features a physical mute button for when you want to pause a recording, as well as a gain button for controlling how loud or soft you sound. Using the Stream Mixer in the Razer Synapse app, you can independently adjust what you hear on your headphone monitor and what the audience hears from your microphone.

The Razer Seiren V2 X features a compact lightweight design with a desk stand base that allows it to be tilted at any convenient angle. You can even pair the Seiren V2 X with a compatible boom arm and a pop filter to declutter your desk and keep out those unwanted popping sounds.

Best Budget Gaming Microphone

Razer Seiren V2 X

$60 $100 Save $40

The Razer Seiren V2 X combines affordability with performance that produces crisp, clear vocals for any gaming or streaming session. It is one step ahead of its predecessor, the Seiren X.

$60 at Amazon See at Razer

Best Gaming Microphone Under $40: FIFINE Metal Condenser Microphone

FIFINE

Finding a good microphone under $30 isn’t easy, but the FIFINE Metal Condenser does a serviceable job of improving your audio without breaking the bank. It also looks pretty sharp given its price tag, and looks surprisingly good during livestreams.

The FIFINE is built with a USB connection, although Xbox consoles do not support it. Its performance is also in-line with what you’d expect from a $30 microphone, featuring cardioid pick instead of super cardioid—which means you’ll get ambient sound in your broadcasts.

If you can look beyond those drawbacks, there’s much to love about the FIFINE. A built-in stand makes it easy to make small adjustments to its positioning, the USB connection makes setup a breeze, a volume knob lets you quickly change its settings, and it’ll work just fine with apps like Discord and Twitch.

It might be best to save up and get something more future-proof if you’re not looking for something immediately, but the FIFINE is great for gamers working with a smaller budget.

Best Gaming Microphone Under $40

FIFINE Metal Condenser Microphone

$24 $35 Save $11

It lacks a lot of bells and whistles found on more premium microphones, but this affordable gadget is a big step up from most headsets.

$24 at Amazon

Best Gaming Microphone For Streaming: Shure MV7 Podcast Microphone

Shure

Aspiring streamers need a powerful microphone that lets them twist the mic’s performance to their demands. The Shure MV7 Podcast Microphone is more than up to the task, offering both USB and XLR connections that allow you to either get up and running in seconds for gaming or dive deep into the weeks for a lengthy streaming session.

One of the coolest features of the Shure MV7 is its touch panel controls. These let you manipulate gain, monitoring volume, headphone mix, and mic muting without needing to wade through on-screen menus. They also accent the mic’s premium look, which is built entirely from metal for added durability.

To help you make the most of your sessions, you’ll want to use the ShurePlus MOTIV application. This lets you adjust a variety of variables related to your sound quality and even lets you apply filters. The software, combined with the mic’s impressive pickup and clarity, makes it easy to sound like a professional even if you’re streaming from a noisy home.

The biggest drawback to the Shure MV7 is its price, which clocks in at $250. You’ll also need to buy a stand, as none are included in your purchase. But if you need something powerful for streaming, the MV7 is worth a closer look.

Best Gaming Microphone For Streaming

Shure MV7 podcast microphone

$249 $311 Save $62

If you need something high-end for streaming or with both USB and XLR inputs, the Shure MV7 is worth a closer look.

$249 at Amazon See at bestbuy See at Target

Best Gaming Headset: HyperX Cloud Alpha S

HyperX

While the HyperX Cloud Alpha S doesn’t offer the same powerful audio performance as a standalone microphone, it’s a surprisingly capable headset that simplifies all your communication needs. Not only does it have a noise-canceling microphone, but its custom drivers pump out impressive sound to help bring every in-game explosion to life.

HyperX is an increasingly popular choice for gaming peripherals, and few products in its lineup are as feature-complete as the Cloud Alpha S. Its wired connection won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it does allow for universal compatibility with today’s most popular consoles (and PC) and makes it easy to get up and running in seconds.

Oversized ear cushions, HyperX 7.1 Surround Sound, bass adjustment sliders, and an audio control mixer round out the offering. You’ll also be treated to a flexible and removable microphone that makes it easy to communicate with your team—even if it’s not as premium as a standalone mic. But considering you can get all this for around $100, the Cloud Alpha S is a great alternative to other products on this list.

Click here

Click here

Best Gaming Headset

HyperX Cloud Alpha S

$149 $180 Save $31

With a great microphone and impressive drivers, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S is a versatile gaming headset that carries a reasonable price tag.

$149 at Amazon See at Best Buy

Also read: