STACK #245 March 2025

GAMING FEATURE

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comes with a handy adaptor to allow the other end to connect to either USB-A or USB-C. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack on the base, and you can quickly adjust microphone and headphone levels, such as

mic gain and monitor mix, via the multifunction knob, with a semicircle of LEDs to tell you what’s what when not acting as a VU meter. The Quadcast 2 S is brilliant for its stated purpose – delivering exceptional audio. There are four polar pattern settings to choose from (stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, and bidirectional)

– all selectable via the multifunction knob - and the isolation of what's meant to be heard from extraneous background noises is exceptional. The Quadcast 2 S also

If you're a streamer or content creator then, much as a chef needs top-notch knives, you need a top-notch microphone. HyperX Quadcast mics have had the runs on the board for years now, and with the arrival of the Quadcast 2 S, they’re now even better. Words Amy Flower T he most obvious new addition to the USB-connected mic is an expansion of its colourful RGB more granular with HyperX’s handy NGENUITY software. Of course, looks are one thing, but when it comes to microphones, what JOIN THE QUAD SQUAD!

has a built-in pop filter, which serves reasonably well in dampening those pesky, pernickety, and perplexingly poppy plosives. You can also add a heavier duty one should you find your streams a little heavy on the ‘p’ side. Meanwhile, you can record at even higher resolution than its predecessor, with 32-bit/192kHz a significant upgrade on 24-bit/96kHz. It's very useful for recorded voice work.

lighting. The Quadcast 2 S brings 100 individually addressable LEDs to the party – or stream, or podcast – and in play it looks quite stunning. Of course, not everything that you do will need pretty lighting, but for those of a visual bent it can really add that extra icing on the presentation cake. Even if nobody sees it but you, it’s a thoughtful addition, and if you’re on Windows 11 it just plugs and plays with Dynamic Lighting in the Personalisation section of Settings. Here you can twiddle with the brightness, colours, and patterns – either static or animated. It can even be set to match your Windows accent colour

you need to be assured of is that their audio capabilities match their beauty. At its core, the Quadcast 2 S is basically the same tried and trusty design award-winning condenser microphone that many already know and love, and this is definitely a good thing. What you get is the classically styled mic, complete with a desk stand featuring a shock mount. Alternatively, you can ditch the stand and connect to either a 3/8-inch or 5/8-inch mic boom. That’s a doddle, too, with a convenient spring-loaded pin system. On the base there’s a USB-C socket – the included cable, which is a generous three metres long,

Need to mute? It couldn’t be easier – just tap the top and the lighting will also turn off, so you have visual confirmation that anything you now say won’t be broadcast. Great for avoiding possible dramas! Simplicity itself to set up and get going, HyperX have taken a mighty fine microphone and made it even finer. If you're looking to add some pizazz to your streaming setup, it's hard to go past this beauty.

by toggling an onscreen switch. Alternatively, you can go even

• The HyperX Quadcast 2 S USB Microphone is available Mar 10

52 MARCH 2025

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