Gaming peripherals manufacturer HyperX is rated highly by gamers who want performance gaming gear that enhances console, PC, and mobile gaming experiences. Their QuadCast mics are a gaming staple, but now podcasters, musicians, YouTubers, and other creative people are hearing about the utility of this cute little glow-in-the-dark mic and they want in! If you’re trying to decide between the Hyperx QuadCast vs. QuadCast S, this article breaks down the key differences and shows you which of these two popular mics is well worth your dime!
HyperX QuadCast vs. QuadCast S: Side-By-Side Comparison
| QuadCast | QuadCast S | |
|---|---|---|
| What It Is | A condenser USB mic with a red LED light | A condenser USB mic with programmable RGB dynamic lighting |
| Primary Use | Gamers, streamers, aspiring musicians, YouTubers, and podcasters | Gamers, streamers, aspiring musicians, YouTubers, and podcasters |
| Initial Release | March 25, 2019 | September 28, 2020 |
| Number of Polar Settings | 4 | 4 |
| Microphone Element | Three 14mm condenser capsules | Three 14mm condenser capsules |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Compatibility | PS5, PS4, PC, and Mac | PS5, PS4, PC, and Mac |
| LED Lighting Technology/Color | RGB; red | ARGB; Up to 16 million RGB colors |
| USB Cable | Mini B to Type-A USB cable | USB-C to Type-A cable |
| Available Colors | Black | Black/White |
| Weight | 0.55lbs | 0.56lbs |
| Software Control | None | HyperX NGENUITY |
- Radiant red lighting with dynamic effects
- Tap-to-mute sensor with LED status indicator
- Four selectable polar patterns
- The versatile adapter fits 3/8-inch and 5/8-inch threaded setups
HyperX Quadast vs. QuadCast S: What’s the Difference?
The bottom line is that the HyperX QuadCast and QuadCast S are pretty much the same mics apart from the lighting effect on the QuadCast S. Here are the only differences between these two condenser USB mics:
Lighting
The QuadCast only has red lighting when it is active. The QuadCast S has a programmable spectrum of RGB LED color lighting that you can program and create dynamic effects with.
Connectivity
The QuadCast S can connect to the HyperX NGENUITY app and the original QuadCast cannot. The NGENUITY app controls the lighting and some added audio settings for the QuadCast S.
Cables
The HyperX QuadCast comes with a mini B to Type-A USB cable, while the QuadCast S has a USB-C to Type-A cable.
Similarities and Differences
The similarities and differences between the two mics are broken down below:
Similarities
- The HyperX QuadCast and QuadCast S are both USB condenser mics with plastic casings.
- Both mics have LED lighting.
- Both the Quadcast and Quadcast S can be muted by touch.
- Both mics are made by HyperX, a subsidiary of Kingston Technology Corporation.
- These microphones achieve excellent audio quality with adjustable gain and settings for recording in four different polar patterns.
- The QuadCast and QuadCast S both have an anti-shock mount and internal pop filter. They also carry adapters with 3/8 and 5/8 inch threading and a USB cable that runs to 3 meters in length.
Differences
- The QuadCast has a red lighting effect while the QuadCast S has programmable dynamic lighting across the RGB color spectrum.
- The QuadCast S connects to the HyperX NGENUITY app but the original QuadCast cannot.
- The original QuadCast has a mini B to Type-A USB cable, while the QuadCast S has a USB-C to Type-A cable.
- You can reverse the lighting effect for the HyperX QuadCast S mic being active by changing the settings in the NGENUITY app. The original QuadCast is limited to lighting up when the mic is active only.
About HyperX
HyperX is a well-known consumer electronics company that specializes in manufacturing gaming peripherals. Its popular product range includes everything a gamer needs to succeed including mousepads, mice, keyboards, and a celebrated range of microphones. The brand has a large following with pro gamers and influencers using their products. As of 2022, over one million HyperX microphones have been sold worldwide.
HyperX’s parent company Kingston Technology Corporation was founded in 1987 by John Tu. It has grown to become a prominent U.S. computer technology company with numerous subsidiaries and overseas operations. In 2021 the HyperX gaming peripherals subsidiary was sold to Hewlett Packard for over $400 million.
What is the HyperX QuadCast?
The HyperX QuadCast is a standalone condenser mic with distinctive LED status lighting and excellent sound quality. HyperX released it on March 25, 2019. This illuminated USB mic has been designed to withstand even the most rough-and-ready use, carrying an anti-vibration shock mount and internal pop filter, to keep sound quality consistent.
The Hyper X QuadCast is being marketed as an ideal mic for:
- Gamers
- Streamers
- Aspiring musicians
- YouTubers
- Podcasters
And this makes sense because the original HyperX QuadCast offers an easy setup, intuitive settings, and reliable performance that can take an amateur to the next level of their craft.
The audio performance of the HyperX QuadCast is certified by Discord and TeamSpeak™, gaming’s leading chat apps and it is plug-and-play with PC, Mac, and PlayStation PS4 and PS5. It is also compatible with a massive range of platforms and programs, so it will be easy to use this mic with broadcasting software like XSplit and OBS Studio.
Need-to-Know Features of the HyperX QuadCast
The HyperX QuadCast has all the features you need to get the message across clearly with a robust audio recording that is compatible with a wide range of devices and media. Here are the main features of this smart USB mic:
- LED indicator: The LED lighting of this mic instantly lets you know if the mic is active or not so you can avoid hot mic incidents!
- Tap-to-mute functionality: If you need to handle something off-mic, you can just tap the mic once to mute it.
- Adjustable mic sensitivity: Simply swivel the gain control dial to change the sensitivity of your mic and optimize sound quality.
- Option of four polar patterns for recording: You can choose from cardioid, bidirectional omnidirectional, and stereo recording so that you maximize the audio you want and dodge unwanted sound sources.
- Headphone jack: Connect your headphones directly to the mic for complete control of your broadcast audio.
- Threaded mic mount adapter: This adapter for 3/8” and 5/8” thread sizes enable you to get the mounting arrangement you want. You can attach your USB mic to a wide range of overhead and tabletop mounts as well as the Anti-Vibration shock mount it comes with.
What is the HyperX QuadCast’s Audio Quality Like?
Considering its price, and the fact that this is primarily a gaming mic for communication between team members in group games, this USB mic achieves pretty decent audio. This is why a number of podcasters and live streamers adopted this mic back in 2020.
The QuadCast has a very flat response that captures a wide range of vocal and non-vocal sounds accurately. It does tend to bump f, s, and sh sounds, but the integrated pop shield does a great job of taking the harshness out of strong consonants and other ‘popping’ speech. Any other vocal anomalies can be easily tidied up with post-processing.
What is the HyperX QuadCast S?
The HyperX QuadCast S is the latest USB mic from HyperX, released on September 28, 2020. This updated condenser mic made the most of the success of the original HyperX QuadCast with an extremely cool upgrade to the mic’s LED lighting.
This mic is updated for the big screen and includes RGB lighting and other programmable visual effects that can be controlled by using HyperX’s NGENUITY software. HyperX certainly understood the assignment by making this smart mic that is better suited for the streamers and content creators who flocked to the brand.
With default volume settings on a Windows computer and mic gain set to 50%, this condenser mic can achieve natural sound. In a room that has no sound insulation, the QuadCast may pick up reverb from sound bouncing off exposed walls and some reviewers have considered the bass just a little thin.
Let’s be real. This isn’t a professional quality mic and is not up to premium music recordings or vocal performances. However, it takes a few hundred dollars out of the cost of a professional microphone and anyone can set it up easily. Plus, most audiences will be streaming the audio and may not have the high bitrates required for high-definition audio, so can get away with using the QuadCast.
Features of the HyperX QuadCast S
Specs for the HyperX QuadCast S are almost identical to the original QuadCast mic. You have the same great compatibility, anti-vibration shock mount, in-built pop filter, and useful LED indicator and tap-to-mute function.
This mic doesn’t just look the part. It has a 14 mm triple condenser capsule for precision sound control with a 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequency response. Like the QuadCast, the QuadCast S has four polar pattern options, gain control, and a threaded adapter. Look your best on screen by plugging your Beats headphones into the handy mic jack.
Create Stunning Dynamic Effects with Radiant RGB Lighting
You can certainly light up your mic with any color on the RGB spectrum. This transforms the QuadCast S into an amazing visual prop that can enhance your live or recorded content. Programming the lighting and dynamic effects of the HyperX QuadCast S is straightforward, and the mic is easy to use as shown in the video below.
The HyperX NGENUITY App
The HyperX QuadCast S is compatible with the HyperX NGENUITY app. This proprietary software owned by HyperX allows you to customize compatible HyperX products by:
- Setting button bindings on keyboards
- Creating and storing macros
- Customizing lighting and effects
- Selecting presets
The NGENUITY software can be downloaded from the HyperX website. It is compatible with Windows computers.
- Dynamic RGB lighting effects
- Tap-to-Mute with LED status indicator
- Four polar patterns
- Gain control adjustment
- Anti-vibration shock mount
HyperX QuadCast vs. QuadCast S: 6 Must-Know Facts
- TikTok star Bella Poarch is a brand ambassador for the HyperX QuadCast S mic. The Filipina singer promotes the mic as an accessible streaming and podcasting solution.
- The NGENUITY app for customizing the QuadCast S lighting effects is only available for Windows 10.
- In August 2022, HyperX released three new mics, the HyperX DuoCast, a white version of the QuadCast S, and the SoloCast.
- Since 2022 the NGENUITY app has offered enhanced audio editing software updates including support for high-resolution audio recording at 24-bit/96 kHz.
- Over 20% of professional gamers use HyperX gaming peripherals.
- HyperX gaming peripherals are fully compatible with HP Omen brand gaming PCs, laptops, and monitors.
HyperX QuadCast vs. QuadCast S: Which is Better? Which Should You Buy?
Is the HyperX QuadCast S worth it? Numerous reviewers and audio pros have tested this mic and the consensus is that it has identical sound quality to the original QuadCast. This is no surprise because the QuadCast S has identical audio specs to its older sibling.
The only material difference between these two USB mics is the smart lighting effect, which may or may not be a deal breaker. Another consideration is that the NGENUITY app that is used to control the lighting effect is only available for Windows 10. So if you’re a Mac user, you miss out on the bright lights!
So overall, HyperX has had a great run selling its gaming mic to a new marketplace of streamers and podcasters. However, other than flashing lights, the QuadCast S adds absolutely nothing to the original QuadCast, which is cheaper and just as reliable. If you’re not live streaming and your audience won’t see the mic lights, the original QuadCast is the better value buy.
- $89.99Buy Now on Amazon
- Radiant red lighting with dynamic effects
- Tap-to-mute sensor with LED status indicator
- Four selectable polar patterns
- The versatile adapter fits 3/8-inch and 5/8-inch threaded setups
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12/01/2023 05:42 am GMT - $175.99Buy Now
- Dynamic RGB lighting effects
- Tap-to-Mute with LED status indicator
- Four polar patterns
- Gain control adjustment
- Anti-vibration shock mount
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12/01/2023 06:07 am GMT
