
HyperX – QuadCast 2 S Wired Multi-Pattern USB Electret Condenser Microphone
$189.99
HyperX QuadCast 2 S is a full-featured microphone designed with creators in mind. In addition to iconic features of our QuadCast line, like the tap-to-mute sensor, four selectable polar patterns, and included shock mount\u002Fstand, we’ve enhanced the QuadCast 2 S with improved functionalities to elevate our users’ experience. The 32-bit\u002F192kHz advanced audio capability, enables the mic to deliver unmatched clarity and precision while maintaining exceptional audio fidelity. The QuadCast 2 S is the world’s most customizable USB gaming microphone, with over 100 aRGB LEDs.1 The aRGB LEDs enable users to customize a stunning visual that blends sound fidelity with an energetic style. We’ve also enhanced the QuadCast 2 S to effectively address the various challenges highlighted by our community. Users are now able to quickly adjust microphone and headphone levels, like mic gain and monitor mix with a single, multifunction knob. We’ve also redesigned our shock mount with an innovative, spring-loaded pin system to easily mount onto a mic arm. HyperX listened and we’ve delivered a microphone that is truly customized for our community.
Exander –
THIS… Is the HyperX QuadCast 2 S and essentially the bigger brother to the Quadcast 2. The mic is a centerpiece and with over 100 addressable RGB diodes it certainly catches your eye with whatever color or color cycle you put it through. Lets take a step further and see how it sounds.
Ok so out of the box, almost no physical changes from the Quadcast 2, and that’s not a bad thing here. The removable shock mount is fantastic and helps eliminate erroneous sounds going into your mic while you slam away on your game. Plugging it in with the included braided USB C cable (why can’t everyone include a braided usb c, big +1), you are greeted with the fantastic RGB swirl lighting that I mentioned before. I really held off on changing the color as well as it looked so good in the RGB swirl, and that is really where the good also ends with the microphone. Plugging it in and downloading the HyperX software lead to my first headache.
Every time I booted my PC it made my voice sound like I was on helium, and it kept doing this until I reset everything and re-downloaded the software. Continuing, the software is certainly not bloatware and I loved using it for HyperX’s keyboard but… you really cannot change anything outside of the color on the mic and the gain. I mean seriously? This is a ‘best in class audio’ with no adjustability at all, and no noise canceling abilities which we are seeing implemented on its competitors. While the 32bit/196kHz audio capability is nice, being able to adjust it is even better. There are some good physical adjustments you can make from the central dial: Gain, Headphone Volume, Monitor mix and polar pattern… and that’s it! I will say, the mute button is fantastic though as the mic completely changes color so there is no guessing if you are on mute or not.
All that being said, I am disappointed. When the first Quadcast was released it was almost an instabuy due to its shock mount and high end audio, so I am a bit disappointed to see a lack of adjustability and other high end features to offset its high starting price ($200 msrp). The aRGB is fantastic, but I would trade it for more usable features. That being said, I still urge you to try it if you are on the fence as it isn’t an objectively bad mic. You never have to worry about buying a mic that you don’t like or that doesn’t mesh with your flow as bestbuy has a fantastic return policy and great customer service! So there is no harm in testing if the HyperX QuadCast 2 S is right for you. Until next time 🙂
SimpleLiving –
The HyperX QuadCast 2 S is a high-quality condenser microphone that great sound for a reasonable price. Having used the QuadCast 1, which was already a good microphone, there is an obvious improvement in sound and design. Using the 32-bit/192kHz audio capability, the microphone is very crisp and clear, and it can pick up my voice clearly while avoiding excess background noise from being heard. The shock mount is very sturdy and holds up very well. It is easily detachable, so you can use the microphone with a boom arm. It has good features, including the output headphone jack to plug your headphones directly into the mic. This allows for direct mic monitoring. Another great feature is the tap to mute on the top of the microphone, indicating which microphone mode you are on. The easy-to-use multifunction knob allows you to change the microphone gain, the audio out, and both with ease. The multifunction knob also allows you to switch between four different polar patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Stereo, and Bidirectional. These can all be changed easily using the HyperX NGENUITY app. You can also customize the aRGB LEDs on the microphone through the app, and it is highly customizable, allowing you to even video capture your screen and paste it onto the aRGB LEDs. Overall the HyperX QuadCast 2 S is an amazing microphone for its price, with many features that will continue to be top-of-the-line for many years.
Abhaxus –
The HyperX QuadCast 2S is the second recent HyperX product I’ve had a chance to review and once again I’m impressed with quality of PC accessories from this brand. The Ngenuity software seems pretty lightweight vs some other brands’ software suites, but retains some cool features that are on par with the best from other brands. The sound quality of the mic is excellent and it has 4 different configurations to maximize your pickup pattern.
#Out of Box Impressions#
The box for the QuadCast 2S is pretty large, and the mic came with a desk stand as well as the shock absorbing mount and a very long USB-C to USB-C cable. I was first impressed by how easy it is to mount and unmount the mic from the shock mount.You can easily turn the mic slightly in the mount to release it or lock it in – with a satisfying click as you do so. The USB-C cable is extremely long, more than long enough to get from my computer, up a pole, and along the boom arm to the mic itself. I already had Ngenuity on my PC, but installing is very easy from the Windows Store.
#Using the QuadCast 2S#
When I first plugged the mic in, I was a little surprised that the LEDs immediately lit up in a glaring moving rainbow pattern. I was pretty worried that I wouldn’t be able to use the QuadCast for work meetings in addition to gaming and streaming as that initial default pattern was super bright and colorful (a good and bad thing!). I was pleased to find that Ngenuity allows you to save a pattern to the mic’s internal memory so you don’t have to have Ngenuity installed on the PC it’s connected to. Other brands should take note of this. I settled on a slight red hue to the LEDs when the mic is on the default setting without Ngenuity, so I’d know when the mic is “hot” or not on a work call. On my personal desktop, I tried a few different lighting settings (including the option to create your own via animated gif!) and settled on the VU meter. I also enabled the High Pass Filter and made sure it was set to a standard cardioid mode.
Sound quality wise, the QuadCast 2S is really impressive. My last desktop mic was from a similar gaming oriented brand and there’s a noticeable improvement in how my voice sounds as well as the noise rejection frm behind the microphone in cardioid mode. Discord friends commented on it almost immediately. While I haven’t recorded a multi seat podcast or interview session with the QuadCast 2s, the omnidirectional mode works well also. Stereo recording is another great addition.
#Final thoughts#
Overall, the 4 microphone capsules really give the QuadCast 2S an edge over similar gaming oriented microphones.HyperX have done a good job in adding thoughtful features to their software without it becoming too bloated. I also can’t say enough about how much I appreciate being able to set a lighting pattern and save it to the internal memory on the microphone, saving me from having to install Ngenuity on every PC in intend to connect it to. Kudos to HyperX for making a great product.
AtlantaGreg –
The Hyper X QuadCast 2 S, is a full-sized condenser microphone that has a wide range of uses for online content creators, gamers, interviewers, podcasters, and more. It’s consumer-grade and priced, but definitely has semi-professional features and uses. It’s simple overall to set up, plugging into your computer via USB, and includes what’s called a shock mount that lets you attach it to other tripods or extender arms with a 3/8 and a 5/8 thread. A table stand is also included if you want to keep it simple and just set it on your computer desk to use it that way, but the stand is not extendable in height.
The main stand out with the Hyper X is that is has multi-direction recording. You can select an Omnidirectional mode where it records from four directions (good for rooms with multiple people), Bidirectional from the front and back only (good for interviewing people), Stereo from both sides (good for recording music or singing), and Cardioid which is just the front, in case it’s just you, and you want to use it for social media recording, podcasting, and activities like that. Recordings are 32-bit/192 kHz, so are clear. Tapping the top acts like a mute button, and a LED ring around the top shows you which mics are on or off.
What makes this even more unique compared to most other USB microphones, is that it has over 100 “aRGB LED” lights that can be customized to light up in a variety of colors, themes, and can sync up to the beat of music being played with more than 16 million color combos possible. Think of it perhaps, as a cool retro disco ball, modernized, in microphone form. You might ask WHY someone wants lights on a microphone? But again, this isn’t JUST for sound recording. Many podcasters like to also take video, so this adds another level of atmosphere to it, and of course gamers would want to crank up the lights while gaming, too. It’s an interesting take on a device like this.
The multifunction knob on the side allows you to adjust mic levels, gain, mixing, mic pattern, and headphone volume if you decide to plug in some gaming headphones via the port on the side. Using the downloadable HyperX NGENUITY Software will give you more ability to customize more settings like noise reduction, color controls, etc.
A 6ft USB-C to USB-C cable comes with it to attach to your computer, but they do include a USB-C to USB-A adapter (thank you!) for those who may have older machines with a lack of newer ports on them. It’s a nice quality braided cord, too. It does work on both PCs and Macs, by the way.
I’m not a heavy gamer, but I’m experimenting with voiceover work, and perhaps some “voice-to-book” type of work. So far I’ve been using it to do some test readings, and the audio quality is excellent. For times when the readings are of something dramatic, I have turned on the LEDs, and it helps me mentally rev up to the moment when I have to read something exciting or energetic. A useful visual tool, and not just for fun! Being able to direct the microphone just towards my mouth while turning off the others helps to make sure there are no other household noises being recorded when you don’t want them to be.
My one possible complaint, if I’d call it that, is that the Hyper X set does not come with a foam covering, or a “pop shield” – things you can use in front of, or over, a microphone so that when you are close to it, it helps with sound quality and to eliminate certain sounds you get when you say a P or B word. These can be bought online separately and generally they’re only a few dollars, so it’s not the end of the world, but it would have been nice to see something like this included with the microphone. Well, one more – it would be nice if the table stand were extendable so it could be taller, but that’s more of just a want than a complaint.
Overall I give the Hyper X Quadcast really high marks. It’s worth the money, easy to set up and use, and should give you great results. I definitely recommend it.
DanielB –
Best sounding mic for the price. Previously had a Blue Yeti and this HyperX out performs it in every scenario
WyldeBlue –
Bottom line…the HyperX QuadCast 2 S sits atop HyperX’s current microphone lineup for good reason: it takes everything people really liked about the earlier QuadCast models and makes it even easier and more engaging to use. The interface is more informative and intuitive, the LEDs are more arresting and customizable, the hardware is slightly more capable, the design is more physically forgiving and approachable, and the shock-mount has been redesigned for even easier disassembly. Streamers and content creators operating just a *hair* below the professional level will undoubtedly appreciate the mic’s simplicity of operation and ease-of-use coupled with its stellar audio quality.
The mic itself feels substantial and exceptionally well-built. The heavy metal base locks down for a rock-solid hold and the (admittedly cool-looking) crisscross bungee suspension-style shock mount collar is compatible with any other standard 3/8” or 5/8” hardware. There is a sturdy and generously long 3m braided USB-C to USB-C cable in the box with handy USB-A to USB-C adapter included to fit all types of plug-and-play scenarios and devices. Do you also want to be able to pull the mic from its mount and hold it newscaster style? You can *easily* do that, too–just a simple twist of the mic’s body within the shock mount collar releases a few spring-loaded pins and the mic lifts effortlessly out of the stand.
Speaking of the stand, kudos to HyperX for a simple design tweak to the mic that keeps cables and connectors from colliding with the vertical arm. The previous QuadCast design had USB and 3.5mm audio connector ports directly at the back of the mic. For hookup, you had to snake the cables through a cutout in the stand to properly route them to the microphone itself making it awkward sometimes to manipulate, move, or plug/unplug the cables. Here, the USB-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack are slightly off center making it stupid-easy and convenient to reach the ports without risking any cable strain or interference between the mounting arm and a particularly long or beefy audio or USB connector.
HyperX also gave the QuadCast 2 S some enhanced stage/screen presence with more than 100 addressable RGB LED lights ringing the outside of the microphone’s upper shell. You can create a static or dynamic light pattern/brand image for your audience (or just to entertain yourself) or let the RGB lighting respond in real time as an active VU meter. More complex lighting customization requires use of the NGENUITY companion app; an easy-to-use, if relatively limited, companion app that allows for a little more adjustability of some of the mic’s functions. The only caveat here is that the NGENUITY interface suggests much greater resolution and detail in the RGB effects than you can realistically expect to be rendered on the surface of the mic itself. For example, the app will indicate blank spaces/lines that are easily 2-3 unlit LEDs wide on the preview screen, but the light-diffusing material that covers the mic’s interior spreads out the RGB effects so much that you lose all the pinpoint detail/contrast you might have been shooting for. Those of you with visions of rendering a detailed logo or legible words on the exterior of your QuadCast mic may be slightly disappointed.
In terms of all other critical functionality (you know, like its performance and usability in areas *other* than behaving like an addressable RGB disco ball), the HyperX QuadCast 2 S microphone really takes the crown on several fronts. For example, muting and unmuting the mic is effortless, requiring just a single tap to the top panel to toggle between active and mute status. When muted, all the accompanying outside RGB lighting instantly blanks to give a clear visual indicator (for you or your viewers) that the mic is definitively muted.
The bottom-mounted gain control dial from the old QuadCast mic has been replaced here by a smaller front-mounted volume control-style multifunction knob with a surprisingly informative LED display that encircles it. While in mic mode, a little microphone icon lights up in the lower left near the multifunction knob while the surrounding LEDs serve as an active VU meter with color-coded signal strength indicators ranging from green to red. When you want to change the gain level, rotating the knob (or a quick press of the knob itself) briefly changes the LEDs to purple to indicate the current/selected gain level. Once you plug in a set of headphones to the 3.5mm jack, you can also cycle various levels with additional quick presses of the multifunction knob. A yellow LED meter and yellow headphone icon in the lower right means you are adjusting headphone monitoring/volume level, while the blue LED display is the mode needed to adjust the monitor/mic mix levels. And another little bit of helpful usability design, the small microphone icon in the circular LED display will also illuminate red in any adjustment mode if the mic happens to be muted at the time—nice!
Aside from the customizable RGB lighting, the other big star of the show here is the 4-way selectable polar microphone patterns that allow the QuadCast 2 S to fit a variety of recording environments/scenarios. With a long press of the multifunction knob, you can cycle through cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo polar patterns giving you a flexible recording solution that is optimized for podcasts/streaming, multi-person recordings/conference calls, face-to-face interviews, or musical performances/ASMR production. This feature alone isn’t unique to HyperX as several other competitors’ offerings give you selectable polar patterns, but where HyperX really takes the guesswork out is the accompanying visual feedback for each setting. As you long-press to the next polar pattern, portions of the LED ring around the tap-to-mute button top also illuminate to indicate the direction(s) of the optimal or favored recording zone(s). Select cardioid and a single red LED segment lights up facing you; select omnidirectional and the entire top ring lights up; the stereo setting illuminates the right and left sides of the LED ring; etc. It’s a helpful and remarkable intuitive way to indicate recording mode and is SO much better than trying to translate some obscure combination of icons/LED colors.
Okay, all that sounds great on paper…but how does the mic actually perform? In a word: wonderful. Yes, you can absolutely work your way to better quality recordings, but it’s probably gonna take some extra effort, gear, and expense to get there. Here, recording resolution is supported all the way up to 32-bit/192kHz…that’s probably overkill for a streamer/podcaster, but if you have visions of eventually recording vocals, music, or producing some truly sublime ASMR material, you may be thankful for having all that extra headroom resolution. The mic also features a built-in pop filter to help tame some of those pesky plosives coming through your recordings–though I have read that it may feel a little under-powered if you have an especially breathy or forceful voice. Finally, the NGENUITY client gives you a high-pass filter to help cut out intrusive hums and low-frequency background noise. It’s unfortunate there aren’t a few more advanced sound-shaping options in the companion app (de-esser, noise gate, voice effects, etc.) to help elevate the QuadCast 2 S into serious prosumer microphone territory, but for what you have here, you’re going to be hard pressed to find a better plug-and-play solution that still meets a variety of recording needs. Well-done HyperX—definitely recommended!
BradfordBT –
I was looking for another microphone to use with a recording setup I’m putting together for my girlfriend in a quiet room, mainly for voice over work but also general voice recording. I’ve got a HyperX QuadCast S that is her main streaming microphone, but she uses it for her work now too. We’ve had zero issues with the sound quality and features of the QuadCast S, so when I heard there was a newer version, the QuadCast 2 S, I picked one up right away!
Pros:
– Improves on the already great design.
– USB-C to USB-C Connection.
– New mic directional indicator lights.
– Detachable shock mount!
Cons:
– Literally nothing.
Setup:
Easy plug and play, though the added software helps manage the settings. As I already had it installed, the mic worked properly just plugging in. Without the software preinstalled, the microphone is detected but the RBG controls are set to a default.
Software:
The QuadCast 2 S needs the HyperX NGENUITY software to access additional customizations such as switching Polar Patterns or adjusting the RBG. As software comes, NGENUITY is very simple and easy to use. For the QuadCast, there are 2 tabs: Audio and Lights. All the Audio settings are available on one page to control the Mic Volume, Output Volume if using the 3.5mm Jack, the Filter, and selecting the Polar Pattern.
On the Lights tab, it can get a bit more complicated quickly but in general the settings for all color control are available on one tab. HyperX has included the ability to layer effects or sync with the rest of your system lights. I’ve still got to explore the possibilities of adding a few custom effects to the light effect using the video effects with the setup we are working on.
4 Polar Patterns:
One of the best features of this microphone is the ability to switch between 4 different microphone directions, which are called Polar Patterns. This allows more versatility with the microphone by providing different ways to capture the audio, and the QuadCast does it better than just good.
The 4 different polar patterns are: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, and Stereo. Cardioid is the most common pattern for gamers or individuals using the microphone on a desk setup, audio is captured from one side of the microphone. I’ve got both microphones in Cardioid most of the time for our use. Omnidirectional captures sound from all directions, which is great for multi-person activities or conference calls. Bidirectional captures sound from the front and back, which is good for interviews with 2 people. Stereo is like Bidirectional but side to side, which helps create the stereo effect for music.
One of the bigger differences between the versions of the QuadCast is how you switch between modes; the QuadCast S has a dial on the back compared to the new QuadCast 2 S that uses software to configure the mode or a push on the multifunction knob to cycle through the patterns. With the New model, when unmuting, the top of the microphone will light up Red to indicate the current direction for recording. This was helpful when I was testing out the different modes, as I could easily check which pattern I had selected by muting/unmuting.
Sound Quality:
The sound quality on the QuadCast line is great, the sound is clear, crisp, and catches the voice range without distortion even from a shout of victory or jump scare scream from a game. To be honest, I couldn’t tell the difference in sound quality between the two versions of the QuadCast, though my girlfriend said QuadCast 2 S was the better of the two. I’ll trust the expert who uses microphones more often. Comparing this to say a headset or phone microphone, there is zero comparison as you can clearly hear the difference between the different types of microphones.
I know there are better quality microphones that are studio quality. But those also require additional equipment, that in total with the microphone will cost 4-5 times the MSRP of the QuadCast 2S, while only doing 1 pattern. The versatility and ease of use of the QuadCast 2 S far out values the additional improvement to sound quality for most users, at least in my opinion.
Conclusion:
If you want the best possible USB Microphone for gaming, this is your best option. Period. If you also want to do other recording, but don’t want to break the bank on professional series, this does a good job and allows for multiple recording setups. For most gamers who want a massive step up from a headset microphone but still want to keep it simple, this is the microphone line I always recommend and will continue to recommend.
Dalton –
While this mic is on the higher end of things, it is definitely worth the price.
Build Quality:
The build quality is excellent and matches what you would expect from a microphone in this price range. It looks really nice sitting on your desk. You can remove it from the included stand to attach it to an arm. I, however, didn’t test this as it works well on my desk, and I don’t have an arm to use. It is good to know it is there in case I ever decide to buy an arm.
Connection:
This has a USB-C connection. Plug it in, select it as the default device, and it just works without any fuss. While this works most of the time, occasionally there is one problem where even though it is my default mic, it selects a different device. I have a mic as part of my web cam. I set the HyperX as my default mic which works most of time, but occasionally it switches to the web cam mic when I reboot my computer. I then must select the HyperX again as my default device. It doesn’t do this often, but I must check the sound settings before I use it to make sure it is selected. Probably something to do with my computer, but worth mentioning.
Sound Quality:
The sound quality is crystal clear and sounds exactly like the original source. I had tested this both with a recording and with an online meeting. Positive feedback from people in my meetings. There is a slight echo, but it is not perceptible unless you are really looking for it. Again, this is the sound quality I would expect from a mic in this price range, and it doesn’t disappoint and is worth it just for this. There is something they call Polar Pattern which allows you to set the direction from which you want to listen to the sound. The four settings are bi-directional (front and back), stereo (left and right), omnidirectional (all directions), and cardriod (everywhere except the front). I tried changing the settings on this and I honestly couldn’t tell the difference. It always seemed to record from all sides. This may be because it is very sensitive even at a lower mic volume setting. Because of this, it also tends to pick up background noise.
Controls:
There are two controls on this. Touching the top of the microphone mutes and unmutes it. The other control is a combination button dial. Pressing the button changes the meaning of the dial and cycles through mic gain, headphone volume, and monitor mix. Turning the dial changes the LEDs surrounding the dial which shows the current setting. This is well designed as you can use a single control for multiple settings and the LEDs work well representing the current setting. The LEDs also act as a UV meter when not using it on setting mode. This looks nice, but because the mic is so sensitive, it often pegs out even with background noise.
Lights:
The lights on this mic are absolutely beautiful. They exist around the entire mic and a loop on the top. It looks great on your desk, especially if you have other RGB lights. The lights are set from the app. There are a few default light settings to choose from and there are plenty of settings to enhance the effect such as color, angle, speed, brightness, and opacity. You can also change the selection of LEDs you want to show the RGB on if you don’t want to see it on the entire mic. Even the top LEDs look great following the pattern of the main LEDs. One of the really nice things about it is that in the app, when you go to select an effect, changing it in the app changes it right away on the mic so you can sample your changes in real time before committing them. The app also has a graphic that shows a representation of what the lights look like on the actual mic. It does look nice but if you have the mic in front of you, and you presumably do, I’m not sure there is real value to the graphic, but it is there.
App:
The app used for this mic is called Ngenuity and it installed without any problems. When running it, it immediately detected my mic and there was no set up required to add it as a device unlike other similar types of apps. In addition to setting the lighting effects as mentioned above, you can also set things like the mic volume, Polar Pattern, and enabling a high pass filter (which actually seems to compress the sound for some reason). There is a microphone test that will record your voice and play it back to allow you to tweak the settings while you are in the app. Overall the app works perfectly and is very well laid out and easy to find things. The real time changes are a huge plus.
Conclusion:
Overall, there isn’t anything bad I can say about this, especially the sound quality. There is a slight echo but not really noticeable, and the sensitivity picks up background noise. The lights are gorgeous, and the app works great and gives you all the control you will need. Yes, this is on the expensive side but given the quality and all the positive things I have experienced with it, it is well worth it.