The List
The best microphones
Blue Yeti Nano
A more compact model of Blue’s classic Yeti mic, this is a great starter microphone for anyone who is looking to break into streaming or podcasting.
Razer Seiren Elite
The best free-standing mic from Razer. It’s not cheap, but the Seiren Elite packs effective audio sensitivity and a high‑pass filter into its single-capsule casing.
Røde NT-USB
A pop shield and tripod make this a professional-looking microphone that apes studio-level hardware without breaking the bank.
Blue Yeti X
Blue’s best microphone, it’s equipped with the excellent Blue Vo!ce software for the best in flexibility and customisation. A noise-reduction toggle is invaluable.
Samson Meteorite
A shiny spherical mic with a magnetic base, the Meteorite is feature-light but not too expensive, and the recording quality is excellent.
Beyerdynamic FOX
A rare combination of USB-A connectivity and hi-res 96 KHz/24-bit audio support, the FOX is a multipurpose beauty, equally at home recording music and speech.
HyperX Quadcast
Simply put, this is the best USB microphone available right now, boasting high build quality combined with fantastic audio pickup and intuitive physical controls.
Audio-Technica AT2020USB+
A professional mic from a respectable brand, the AT2020USB+ is perfect for solo podcasting or live streaming. The tripod is a bit unstable, though.