If you’re thinking about starting that podcast, grabbing a game to stream, or even just want to sound better on a Zoom call, then the Streamplify USB Microphone may just be for you.
Designed with entry-level creators in mind, or those who are budget-conscious, Streamplify has created a great microphone with a few limitations that mean it may not be suitable for everyone. With two options available – a tripod version or one that comes with a desk-mounted arm, it’s hard not to be impressed with what this little microphone can do.
Setting up the microphone
Unboxing and setting up the Streamplify Microphone was exceptionally easy. Everything is well protected in the box, fitting neatly into precision-cut foam inserts. the kit requires no tools to assemble and fits very neatly together. I was impressed with the quality of the materials used, and how premium all the pieces feel for such a low cost. The tripod is robust and will hold at a variety of heights, so you don’t need to worry about it slipping or falling over, and the shock mount does a great job of absorbing the impact from those accidental desk bumps. Due to the design, the pop filter fits tightly to the microphone and cannot come loose or rotate out of alignment.
Setting up is as easy as plugging it in to either a USB A or C port on your computer or console (The microphone is compatible with Windows, MacOS and console). The fact that both types of cable are offered in the box is a great touch, offering connectivity versatility. This plug-and-play microphone makes it incredibly easy for anyone to get started creating.
The microphone is compatible with a range of software, too, and worked perfectly for me, whether on a Zoom call, recording audio in Audacity or using it to film a gameplay video in OBS.
Features
This is a no-nonsense budget microphone, but that’s not to say it is without some useful features. The Streamplify USB Microphone has two playback modes. They call these Full Playback Podcast Mode and One-Way Playback Gaming Mode, which allows you to either play your audio back for some fine tuning or not, so you don’t hear your playback when you’re streaming.
While the microphone is missing gain controls, it does have a volume button, which doubles as the mute button and a light button for the RGB ring. The RGB can cycle or be set to one of several fixed colours and offers good brightness and a little flair to the otherwise sleek, black microphone. It’s also used to indicate useful information – such as being on mute.
How good is it?
This microphone is a condenser microphone, which is standard with USB mics. With the Streamplify USB Microphone, you’re limited to the Cardioid pattern, which means you must be directly in front of the mic for it to pick up any sound. while this is great for people who talk into the microphone for their content creation – like podcasters, it won’t be able to capture that environmental noise, which may not suit everyone. Musicians, for example, shouldn’t be looking at this microphone to record with. It is also worth noting that this microphone doesn’t have stereo recording either. What this has meant, however, is that Streamplify has managed to keep the cost down.
In terms of recording quality, I was astonished by how good it was. This is good because bear in mind that the device has no supporting software or real controls to allow for much refinement. Out-of-the-box recording was crisp and clear and not too much background noise was picked up. I didn’t really hear my fans. The pop filter also worked well to deal with those plosives, and I appreciate this being included in the box.
What’s in the box
- 1x USB C to USB A cable
- 1x USB C to USB C cable
- 1x Microphone
- 1x Shock Mount
- 1x Tripod
- 1x Pop Filter
- Literature
Streamplify USB Microphone Specifications
| Sensor Type | Ø16mm condenser capsules |
| Number of Condensers | 1 |
| Pick-up Pattern | Cardioid |
| Sampling Rate | 16bit, 48kHz |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz – 18kHz |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | >85dB |
| Sensitivity | <-36dB ± 3dB |
| Sound Pressure Level | 120dB |
| Impedance | < 680 Ω |
| THD | <0.1% (at 1kHz) |
| Audio Out | 3.5mm jack |
| Mute Function | Yes Tap to mute with LED indication |
| Lighting | RGB 8 effects 2 RGB modes |
| Power Required | 5V 500mA |
| Plug and Play | Yes Standard UVC and UVA protocol |
| Interface | USB 2.0 type A Compatible to type 3.0 connector |
| Cable Length | 180cm |
| Compatible Device | PC Laptop PS4 PS5 Xbox Series X/S |
| Compatible OS | Windows 11 / 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP Mac OS Chrome OS |
| Supported Software | Streamlabs OBS Twitch Studio Zoom Microsoft Teams Google Meet Skype |
| Additional Material | User manual available for download |
Final thoughts on the Streamplify USB Microphone
For a budget microphone, for an entry-level microphone for new creators, this is hard to beat. I was really impressed with the overall build quality, the quality of the sound capture and how well the pop filter works. It’s a no-frills, no-nonsense microphone perfect for budding podcasters or content creators who do a lot of talking. While I wouldn’t recommend it for musicians due to the fixed Cardioid pick-up pattern, it’s an easy recommendation for everyone else. With a clean and simple aesthetic paired with some RGB flair, it’s hard not to be impressed. The only thing it’s missing is software to allow for tweaking, but at this price point, I’m happy to deal with that in post-production.
The Streamplify USB Microphone with Tripod is available now online for £44.99 (Overclockers UK).
For more information on the Streamplify USB Microphone, visit their website.
