[The Latest in 2023] Recommended 7 USB Microphones

It’s been a year since we started to spend more time at home because of COVID-19.
Remote working has become the mainstream working style. Meanwhile, I think more people are live streaming, podcasting, and game streaming.
I also communicate more with my friends online. Hanging out with friends through virtual parties on Zoom was new to me, and it turned out to be a fun experience.

So this time, I would like to introduce some USB microphones that are very useful for online activities that have become mainstream.

◎First of all, what is a USB microphone?
A USB microphone is a mic that simply connects to a PC or smartphone. There are no complicated settings or audio interfaces. It is useful for various purposes such as live streaming on Discord voice chat (VC), YouTube, Game streaming, recording, and online work meetings.

In other words, a USB microphone is an excellent microphone that achieves full-scale sound with easy connection and operation!

However, you may be worried that the sound quality is not that good.
In the past, I bought a cheap USB microphone for about 3,000 yen at an electronics store when I didn’t have money but had to get one for my PC. I knew it was easy just to connect to the USB port, so I thought I should buy it anyway... but when I tried it, the sensitivity was poor and it didn’t pick up the sound well.
It was cheap, so I thought a USB microphone was like that.
However, since I started working at Sound House and was put in charge of the USB microphones, I have tried various microphones and discovered the advantages of using USB microphones!

I would like to introduce USB microphones that I personally recommend after trying them.

CLASSIC PRO / CM3U

The first mic is the CM3U. This one picks up the sound precisely and clearly with the large diaphragm. The attractive thing is a great value for its surprisingly low price of 3,980 yen (as of May 27, 2021). It’s almost the same price as the mic I bought before, but the quality of the CM3U is astoundingly amazing with its high sensitivity.
Even though the CM3U is so cheap, it has excellent sound quality. It looks sturdy and is made firmly. I can’t believe the quality of this mic for this price! I will never forget the excitement when I tried it for the first time.

BOYA / BY-BMM400

A product in which a speaker and a microphone are integrated is apparently called a speakerphone or a microphone speaker. We also use speakerphones like this BY-BMM400 for online meetings at Sound House since it is really useful. Since this impressive mic can collect 360 degrees of sound, just place it in the center of the desk, and it picks up the voices of multiple people. It also has a speaker so you can hear the other party’s voice clearly! Not only will you be able to hear the other party’s voice well, but your own voice will also be transmitted to the other party and you will have a smooth conversation. If you have only this one, you don’t need an external microphone and speaker. The BY-BMM400 works as both a microphone and a speaker.

It is an essential item for online meetings that can be used with PCs and smartphones simply by connecting a USB. It is also attractive for its compact and lightweight body.

CLASSIC PRO / RETRO-II

The main draw of the RETRO-II is its cute appearance. It looks like a desktop fan, and you may not believe it is actually a microphone. In addition to the mute switch, PAD switch, and high-pass filter, the microphone and headphone volumes are easily adjustable with buttons on the RETRO-II, so you don’t have to go into the settings on your PC to adjust the volume.

SAMSON / Go Mic

The SAMSON Go Mic is very easy to use. It has an integrated clip that can be attached close to the laptop webcam. I recommend it fTr online meetings and live streaming. Because this mic is super small, it does not take up space when carrying it with your PC.

SAMSON / GO MIC Titanium Black

The GO MIC is also available in the color Titanium Black, so you can choose according to the color of your PC!

AKG / LYRA

The next one is the first USB microphone made from AKG, the manufacturer that has produced the “C414” series and “C391B”, which are considered the standard microphones for vocals and musical instruments. The LYRA is a high-quality microphone that achieves professional-quality sound. The luxurious appearance is also stunning.

BOYA / BY-BCA70

The BY-BCA70 is an adapter that enables an XLR microphone to connect to your smartphone or PC. This is actually so useful. Full-scale XLR microphones that are used for recording such as the AKG/C414 and the SHURE/SM58 can be used as a PC or smartphone microphone with this accessory. You can achieve high-quality sound without the expensive audio interface or a cable. That’s awesome!

So, what do you think? USB microphones can be directly connected to a PC or smartphone via USB. To be honest, I didn’t know that USB microphones were of such high quality until I became in charge of USB microphones. It is perfect for those who want to start streaming but find it cumbersome to prepare all the equipment and for those who want to improve the sound quality of their online meetings. USB microphones bring a higher level of sound quality than just using the built-in microphones. We have a wide lineup of products at reasonable prices, so feel free to try various USB microphones with us!