HyperX SoloCast Microphone Review
NOTE: HyperX graciously sent me a final evaluation unit of this microphone to review alongside prepared marketing assets and technical information, but no money changed hands and I had full editorial control over this article.
As per my reviews policy, this article will never be monetized, but additional content about this microphone, such as comparison articles I write in the future, may be.
Right on the heels of the updated RGB-infused QuadCast S I reviewed last month, the HyperX microphone family expands yet again, in a distinctly more miniature direction.
This week, HyperX launched the SoloCast (official page here), a desktop microphone designed for easy use and carrying an entry level $59 price tag. The SoloCast feels like a product made for our modern era. It’s a small, unassuming microphone designed to fit easily into houses that might not have needed one before work-from-home and video chats/online game sessions became a suddenly more commonplace communication. With a single USB-C to USB-A cable to plug in, you can be up and going with this mic in a matter of seconds. It has a touchable mute toggle on the top but otherwise has no controls to learn or required software to download. Just set your computer’s mic volume to your desired setting, and you’re good to start.
The “solo” in the name stands for the one mic pickup pattern available here, in contrast with the four options on the QuadCast models. Fortunately, the cardioid pattern found in the SoloCast is also the one you’d be most likely to use on the more-expensive model. This pickup pattern prioritizes sounds coming from the front of the microphone. Like most microphones, the capsule makes your voice sound best when you’re around 4 to 6 inches away from it, but if you have to use it from further away there’s still plenty of sensitivity. It has an impressive, natural tone to it that’s nearly as clean as what you’ll get out of the larger model, and perfect for everything from content creation to chat to podcasting.
Just like the QuadCast, the SoloCast includes a robust stand and a handy touch-based instant mute control on the top of the microphone. The included stand is better than I was expecting. It feels thicker and sturdier than it looks like it will in spite of using plastic materials, and the tension on the tilt adjustment knob is quite smooth. The mute button is handy and responsive, and the simple red LED on the front to let you know if the mic is on is a nice touch. It glows solid when the mic is live, and blinks when the mic is muted.
The build and design of the SoloCast are great. Like the QuadCast S, this is a sleek-looking device that fits just as well in a production arsenal as it does a gaming setup. Aside from the LED and a basic HyperX logo, it has a sturdy body interrupted only by the USB-C port and some small screw holes. It’d be equally at home on your student desk as in a pro gear bag, and I love that HyperX has been producing audio gear with a classic studio look lately.
I only have one real complaint against the microphone, but it’s something that many other smaller mics on the market suffer from. Unlike its larger QuadCast cousins, the SoloCast doesn’t include much in the way of shock protection. The bottom of the stand has a little bit of padding on it, and the ring that holds the mic in place is also padded, but it’s not quite enough to absorb vibrations from the surface of your desk. So, if you plan to use this right near a keyboard or near where your hands/arms rest on the surface, the mic will pick up some low-end vibrations that you won’t hear on larger mics with shock mounts.
This isn’t a deal breaker. You can experiment with positioning or stacking some things underneath the microphone in order to isolate it from these vibrations. Also, the bottom of the mic contains dual thread sizes for the most-common microphone boom arms and third party stands, so you can easily hook this up to one of those and sidestep this issue entirely. I love that both of these sets of threads are just integrated into the mic body, so you don’t need any kind of adapter. That’s a smart design choice that I’d like to see others copy.
For $59, the SoloCast is a wonderful entry-level microphone for many types of audio production or for basic online chatting. If you’re doing some intense online gaming or streaming, you may want to invest in a freestanding boom to prevent desk vibrations. Otherwise, you’re getting excellent sound in a sleek package here, and a setup process that takes under 30 seconds. My girlfriend commented multiple times about how small and cute looking the microphone was, a seal of approval that few audio devices in my house have ever received! Recommended for those just starting out who want a microphone that can disappear into their workspace.
