HyperX QuadCast 2 S review: Your favorite streamer’s next USB mic
Back in 2020, female HyperX QuadCast S used to be female micro USB every Twitch streamer seems to have it on their stream. Now the QuadCast 2 S is here attempting to upgrade its predecessor. And what does it bring? More LED lights for starters.
The original QuadCast only lights up in red, while QuadCast S brings full RGB support and even supports top-to-bottom color gradients. QuadCast 2 S goes even further with a twist, quite literally. The new mic features more than 100 individually addressable LEDs arranged in arrays around the microphone, allowing for more complex patterns like spiraling color-shifting rainbows. This is a welcome addition, especially for a microphone that is so highly visible.
HyperX has added some less flashy features to make for an attractive upgrade, although many of these were first introduced on the QuadCast 2. That includes a multi-rotate knob. functions that control input gain and headphone volume, while also acting as a VU (volume unit) meter to keep you from peaking, plus a redesigned shock mount .
Light up polar patterns
One of my favorite features on the original QuadCast S was the knob on the bottom for adjusting gain, which was both convenient and refined. That’s gone on the new model in favor of a more typical knob protruding forward. It may not be as stylish but it is more useful.
Photo: Eric Ravenscraft
On either side of the knob is a semicircle of LED lights that change color depending on what you are doing. If you rotate the knob while using it as a microphone, it will light up purple to indicate gain. When you don’t touch it, it switches to a VU meter, which shows how close you are to peaking, so you can adjust accordingly.
You can also press and hold the knob to change the polar pattern, indicated by the LED ring on the top of the microphone. It switches between cardioid, bidirectional, stereo, and omnidirectional patterns, with red LEDs lighting up on either side of the microphone to pick up audio.
This is the most intuitive way to change polar patterns I’ve ever seen. For comparison, Green snowman All have USB microphones but require one a guide to decode its mysterious symbols. Here, you just need to hold the button until the red light points in the direction you want to record. Now I want this feature on every microphone I use. (It To be available on the cheaper QuadCast 2.)
