Gaming has come a long way from the dial-up internet days of Quake, Doom, and Sonic.
And with it, came all the supporting gear. Computer gaming is no longer a desktop, keyboard, and mouse affair.
A full setup nowadays consists of microphones, speakers, headsets, gaming chairs, virtual reality goggles, and many other gadgets and add-ons.
We’re not complaining though. Gaming today is more social, realistic, and challenging than it ever was.
And the best part?
The total cost of a gaming setup hasn’t really increased that much.
You can get extremely high-quality gear with a very reasonable budget.
A great example of that is the gaming microphone. If you’re willing to invest up to 100$, you can achieve a quality of sound that was previously only available in with the best studio recording microphones.
The best gaming mic will depend on your requirements. Are you looking for a mic for streaming? Or just to play WoW with your friends? Headset or standalone? USB or XLR?
Not sure?
No problem, we’ve covered all possibilities and have even chosen an overall best gaming microphone.
Read on to find out which model took the prize. On the flip side our best gaming headphones without microphone round up is an excellent read also!
Table of Contents
Top Rated Mics for Gaming
Gaming Microphones – Our Expert Reviews
Best Streaming Microphone: Blue Yeti Nano Premium USB Microphone
When it comes to USB gaming mics, the Blue Yeti has a reputation that speaks for itself.
It has become ubiquitous amongst YouTubers and podcasters due to its high fidelity, stylish design and relatively affordable price.
The Blue Yeti Nano represents the company’s effort to offer a compact and economical solution for users that don’t have space or budget for a full Blue Yeti setup.
It’s also worth noting that we’ve previously listed the best USB microphones, so if you’re interested in a more in-depth analysis, albeit on a more general topic, check out that article.
If you’re interested in listening to the Blue Yeti Nano in action, check out the video below:
Best Gaming Microphone Overall: Razer Kraken Tournament Edition THX
The Blue Yeti Nano is a great option as a standalone mic. But routing your audio output and input through different channels can be a hassle for the less technically gifted gamers.
If you’ve experienced such a hassle, you might want to consider purchasing a gaming headset that includes a mic.
The main argument against doing this would be that standalone mics traditionally had better sound quality.
However, this isn’t necessarily the case anymore. As with USB mics, headset microphones have come a long way and the difference in quality is pretty much negligible once you hit the mid to higher end of headsets with mics.
There are plenty of headsets with good mics.
Amongst them is the Razer Kraken- Tournament Edition which we consider to be the best USB microphone headset.
- The sound quality is simply amazing– both for the output and for the input.
- It has a handy in-line mixer that allows you to mute the mic, turn the volume up and down, increase and decrease the bass, and balance the chat/gaming audio levels.
- This is probably our favorite feature. Just as the Blue Yeti Nano is the simplest plug-and-play mic solution, the Razer Kraken is the simplest plug-and-play complete gaming audio solution.
- They are also one of the most comfortable sets of headphones in the market. They have gel-infused cushions that prevent them from heating and are padded all the way around. Perfect for those 6+ plus hours gaming streaks.
- We’re not sure of any cons for this Product!
It looks pretty cool too. Videographic evidence below:
For that reason, the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition takes our Best Gaming Mic Award. Everything is on point: sound quality, price, features, and design.
If you’d like an even cheaper version of this headset, have a look at the Razer Kraken X. It has basically the same features excluding the gel-infusion cushions and the in-line control (it has the same controls but these are located in the headset itself)
Corsair Void Pro RGB Wireless Gaming Headset
Going wireless seems to be all the trend recently.
Since Apple introduced the Airpods, the design seems to have a much bigger impact on the decision to buy a set of wireless headphones.
Be careful though, when it comes to wireless microphones, there are technical implications that could affect your gaming.
A good microphone for gaming must have a solid battery life– You want to go for a reputable brand that doesn’t cut corners when it comes to batteries. There’s nothing worst than going mute in the middle of a stream or gaming session.
Once again, wireless gaming mics can come in the form of standalone mics or headsets. We’ve chosen the headset route as we believe this solution to be the most practical.
The Corsair Void Pro is, in our opinion, one of the best streaming mics in the market.
With an impressive 16-hour battery life per charge, a sleek and comfortable design, and 7.1 surround sound output, this is the best bang for the buck when it comes to wireless gaming headsets.
This wireless gaming mic won’t leave you hanging mid-streaming and looks really cool.
Don’t believe us? See for yourself:
Neewer USB Microphone Kit
The rise of gaming and amazon has brought upon us the age of cheap microphones for gaming.
For under 50$, you can now purchase a high-quality microphone that is more than enough for your gaming needs.
- The Neewer NW-8000. It is by far the most straight-forward solution for gaming. It’s a simple high-quality USB plug-and-play mic that is compatible with both mac and windows. What else do you need?
- It comes with an adjustable arm stand, which is, in our opinion, the superior type of mic stand. It allows you to move freely without worrying too much about knocking down your mic.
- Finally, it looks pretty cool and comes in a bunch of different color combinations. It’s unbelievable that such a sturdy mic would be available at such a bargain price.
- The only con we’ve found is some reports that the stand sometimes breaks. However, you can always return the item and ask for a refund if this happens within 30 days of delivery.
Check out this baby in action here in this review:
USB Gaming Mic vs XLR
We’ll start with the easy choice. Despite traditionally being known for offering superior audio quality, XLR mics simply aren’t practical for gaming.
They usually require additional investment in an audio interface for your mac or PC to connect with your computer, which potentially adds lag and other complications to your audio setup. If you’re using a computer for music production, you’ll need to take this into account.
And the sound quality argument? Well, it just isn’t there anymore. Nowadays, the same condensers are used in XLR and USB mics. The only remaining advantage is that XLR mics can be hooked up to mixing boards, which give you more control over the audio.
For that reason, we highly recommend a USB gaming microphone. The technology has come a long way, to the point that choosing an XLR mic over a USB mic is no longer worth it.
USB mics are without a doubt the best mics for gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a mic for gaming?
If you start with gaming, playing mostly single-player games, then headphones without a mic are enough. When you cross the threshold towards MMORPG’s (team play), you need a mic to communicate with your team members. Close coordination with other team members in games like PUBG, Grateful Dead, or World of Warcraft is the key to victory. You need to have a mic like the Blue Yeti Nano that can relay your voice perfectly across the internet without distortions so that your instructions are heard loud and clear.
How much does a good gaming MIC cost?
A good gaming mic + headset combo can go anywhere between $50 and $200, depending on features like noise cancellation, frequency response, and other important characteristics of the mic.
Can you use a karaoke microphone for gaming?
Yes, it should be fine. Karaoke mics are designed for a wide range of uses and voice modalities to work well, even for gaming. Just make sure you don’t start crooning mid-quest!
What microphone should I buy for gaming?
It would help if you considered the following mics for gaming:
1. Blue Yeti Nano Premium USB Microphone
2. Razer Kraken Tournament Edition THX
3. Corsair Void Pro RGB Wireless Gaming Headset
4. Neewer USB Microphone Kit
How do you put a mic on Fortnite?
Follow these simple steps
1. Check if your mic is plugged into the right port before beginning.
2. Open Fortnite
3. Go to Settings > Audio Settings > Set Audio input to your mic
4. Turn P2T on or off. (When it is off, it means others on your team will always hear your voice when on, you have to hold the button for others to hear)
5. The above process should ideally connect the mic; if it doesn’t work, you might need to troubleshoot the mic.
Do I need 7.1 for gaming?
Most online games work well with 5.1 surround sound systems. Very few support 7.1 surround sound, so you will not need to set up a 7.1 configuration for gaming in all probability. Anyway, for a layman, the difference between 5.1 and 7.1 systems is not distinguishable.
Best Mics for Gaming – Final Thoughts
And there you have it. 4 amazing microphones that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. All of them will allow you to broadcast high fidelity audio for hours without feeling discomfort.
And as a bonus, here’s a final tip: If you don’t know which type of mic to go for, just try one of the above-mentioned models, especially the Blue Yeti Nano, and if it doesn’t feel comfortable, return it to amazon within 30 days and purchase another one. Rinse and repeat until you find the perfect model.
Happy gaming!
Best Studio Mics was started by a husband and wife team who love the sound and the technicals behind recording it. Both are professional theatre artists, one with a stage management background and one more on stage. One also has experience in film and television work and the different audio requirements of that arena.