Smooth Out Your Audio With the Best Desktop Microphones

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Buyer’s Guide: Finding Your Top Desktop Microphone

A good microphone is just as essential as good visuals on your laptop or desktop. If you’ve been surviving Zoom meetings and gaming sessions with a cheap pair of earbuds or your built-in laptop microphone, it’s time to level up your setup and invest in a high-quality desktop microphone. With so many microphone options to choose from and so many purposes — from Zoom calls to podcast recordings to playing video games — choosing the right one is essential. Our detailed buying guide lists some of the highest-rated desktop microphones of 2023. Plus, we go over some tips for buying the right microphone for your specific needs. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly what type of desktop microphone you need and how to choose the right one for you.

The JOUNIVO Desktop Microphone is a sleek option that’s sure to fit with any desk setup. This unique microphone features a built-in LED indicator that indicates the status of your microphone at any given time. Plus, thanks to its handy mute button, you’re only one click away from muting and unmuting your microphone. What’s more, this desktop microphone is a USB plug-and-play device that requires no device driver for installation. Plus, its adjustable gooseneck design allows this desktop microphone to be adjusted freely in a 360-degree range of motion. 

Featuring intelligent noise-cancellation technology with an omnidirectional condenser, this microphone picks up your voice clearly and reduces echo and background noise, making it our best overall choice.

Pros

• Features a mute button for easy control
• Stand has a 360-degree range of motion
• Compatible with Windows and macOS
• Offers astounding noise-cancellation
• No device drivers are required

Cons

• Not compatible with Xbox, Raspberry Pi or Android

This desktop microphone by TONOR is a plug-and-play device with a USB 2.0 data port. Thanks to these essential features, it doesn’t require any additional device driver. This desktop microphone is a flawless choice for conference meetings, distance learning, and Zoom meetings. What’s more, this microphone has cardioid patterns that capture clear and smooth sounds and remove background noise. Extremely easy to install, this microphone comes with a three-legged stand, pop filter, power cord, mini shock mount, and a foldable mic tripod. Simply attach the power cord to the microphone and attach the microphone to the stand and it’s ready to be used.

Pros

• Professional-sounding noise-cancellation
• Easy and simple to install
• Does not need device drivers to operate
• Comes with a variety of attachments

Cons

• USB 2.0 is not as fast as USB 3.0

The CMTECK Computer Microphone is a USB plug-and-play device with a built-in sound card, making it a simple, easy-to-setup microphone. What’s more, you can quickly mute and unmute your microphone with the on-station mute button and the built-in blue LED indicator — which can be turned on or off — which tells the operational status of the microphone. Its built-in high-performance CCS2.0 smart chip records a clear sound that effectively cancels background noise. This desktop microphone is most suitable for podcasting, recording YouTube videos, gaming, and more, making it the most versatile microphone on our list.

Pros

• Features six feet of cable length
• Built-in mute button and LED Indicator
• Compatible with Windows, macOS, and PS4
• Features an adjustable neck
• High-performance noise-cancellation

Cons

• Not compatible with Raspberry Pi or Android

The Logitech for Creators Desktop Microphone reduces background noise and produces high-quality audio for your YouTube videos, Twitch streaming, and Zoom meetings — all at an affordable price. It offers four audio pick-up patterns, flexible cardioid and omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo pickup patterns, which allow audio recording in a variety of ways using only one microphone.

With this desktop microphone, you have access to onboard audio controls, which control the headphone’s volume. Plus, an instant mute feature puts you in charge of the recorded audio level. Featuring outstanding, no-delay audio monitoring, you can track your voice in real-time. What’s more, it’s easy to install thanks to its plug-and-play feature; it can be set up in a matter of minutes!

Pros

• Has four audio pickup patterns
• Features an adjustable microphone stand
• Plug-and-play for simple installation

Cons

• Is only compatible with macOS and Windows

The FIFINE Desktop Microphone is a gaming microphone that is more commonly used for PS4. This handy microphone comes with a volume knob to adjust its audio to whatever volume you prefer. What’s more, this desktop microphone provides excellent audio when playing video games, conference calling, or recording vocals. Compatible with PC, this handy mic offers a cardioid audio pickup pattern to capture your audio and it isolates your audio by separating it from any kind of background or static noise. Because of these stellar features, we’ve chosen this microphone as the perfect fit for your gaming nights.

Pros

• Extremely efficient at capturing noiseless audio
• Compatible with a variety of applications
• Exceptional voice isolation
• Features on-deck volume control

Cons

• Not compatible with Xbox or mobile devices

Is the microphoneu2019s mute button replaceable?

Yes, most microphone mute buttons are replaceable. Many sellers sell mute buttons separately or they include an extra pair of mute buttons in the original microphone package.

Is my microphone compatible with any application?

Yes, once the microphone has been connected to your laptop, PC, or console, any application you open or use will work with the plugged-in microphone. If it is not auto-selected, the plugged-in microphone should be available as an option. You can set it as a default microphone for audio recording. It usually takes no time for an application to detect and recognize a plugged-in microphone.

How do I care for my microphone?

For a wired microphone, make sure you have proper cable management. Any kind of wire pull can damage both your internal and external microphone wires over time, making the microphone useless.nnDo not unplug the microphone while the power cable is switched on if it is a condenser microphone. To disconnect your microphone, wait 30 seconds after the power cable has been unplugged. Then, you can safely unplug the microphone.