Should You Buy the HyperX QuadCast 2 S? In-Depth Review

Explore how the HyperX QuadCast 2 S gaming microphone delivers premium sound and sleek RGB design for streamers and gamers alike.

The Evolution of a Beloved Gaming Microphone

If you’ve ever dabbled in the world of streaming or gaming audio, you’re probably familiar with the original HyperX QuadCast gaming microphone. It’s been a fan favorite for years—solid sound quality right out of the box, a handy one-touch mute, and that iconic glowing red light that instantly said, "I’m here to game." Later, HyperX gave us a colorful twist with the QuadCast S, swapping that aggressive red for a vibrant RGB lighting scheme and upgrading to a USB-C port, but essentially, it was the same trusted mic.

Now, HyperX steps up its game with the QuadCast 2 and the QuadCast 2 S. These aren’t just cosmetic upgrades: they bring slight design tweaks, improved shock mount mechanics, and most notably, an audio tech leap. Our spotlight today is on the QuadCast 2 S, which boasts an impressive 192 kHz / 32-bit recording capability—a huge jump from the 48 kHz / 16-bit of its predecessors. The QuadCast 2 (non-S) still records at 96 kHz / 24-bit, a step up but not as striking.

Both models are out now, with the QuadCast 2 S retailing around $150 (discounted from about $200), and the QuadCast 2 starting at just under that.

Design and User-Friendly Features of the HyperX QuadCast 2 S

The QuadCast 2 S sticks to the classic formula of a desktop condenser mic, featuring four selectable polar patterns to cover cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo needs. Its cylindrical body closely mirrors the original QuadCast’s silhouette—standing just over 8 inches tall and about 2 inches wide.

Mounted on a sturdy desktop stand with a built-in, yet removable, shock mount, it feels ready to rock your desk without wobbling. Currently, HyperX offers this model in sleek black, but given their habit of rolling out multiple colorways, a white version might be around the corner.

The mic also features a built-in pop filter surrounded by a honeycomb metal grille. When powered, this grille lights up with customizable RGB lighting, taking the colorful flair of the QuadCast S to another level. Meanwhile, the more affordable QuadCast 2 sticks to the classic red glow reminiscent of the original QuadCast.

Weighing in at just under 11 ounces without the mount, the mic plus shock mount tip the scales at just under a pound—slightly heavier than previous models but still very manageable. The included desktop stand adds another 9.7 ounces, providing a solid base that won’t topple easily.

A neat change with the QuadCast 2 S is the shock mount attachment mechanism. Where earlier versions required unscrewing to detach the mount, the new design uses two spring-loaded pins—just twist and pull to release. This makes swapping or removing the mic for other stands a breeze.

The shock mount itself includes a mount adapter compatible with most mic boom arms (3/8” and 5/8” threads), meaning you don’t have to stick to the desktop stand if you want to upgrade your rig.

On the front, the quadcast’s multifunction control knob is the star of the show. It lets you adjust microphone gain, monitor volume, and mix levels between mic input and playback sound. By default, it controls gain—you just twist to make your voice louder or softer.

When you plug in headphones to the 3.5mm headphone jack, this knob toggles through two additional modes:

• Monitor Volume (Yellow Indicator): Adjusts how loud your headphones play audio.
• Monitor/Playback Mix (Blue Indicator): Balances the volume between your microphone input and computer audio.

The gain control is marked with a playful pink glow, so you always know what you’re adjusting.

To switch between polar patterns, simply press and hold the knob. The mic's top features a clever light ring that visually shows which pattern is active by illuminating the direction the mic is picking up sound from. This intuitive visual beats the usual cryptic symbols, making pattern changes straightforward, especially when you’re live or in a rush.

And when you’re not adjusting settings, the ring doubles as a volume meter, pulsing with your voice level—a nifty touch for monitoring your audio visually.

Touching the top of the mic mutes it instantly, and the glowing indicators go dark, giving you instant visual feedback. It's a feature that streamers and podcasters have loved since the original QuadCast.

At the back, you’ll find a USB-C port for connection and the headphone monitoring jack. Both are offset slightly to the side, cleverly designed so that mounting the mic on a boom arm doesn’t cause cable clutter.

Included in the box is the shock mount, desktop stand, and a 9.8-foot (3-meter) braided USB-C to USB-A cable—long enough to fit most setups comfortably.

Tech Specs at a Glance

QuadCast 2 S Performance: Does It Live Up to the Hype?

The headline feature here is the jaw-dropping 192 kHz / 32-bit recording capability, a spec that’s typically reserved for high-end studio gear. However, let’s be real: almost no gamer or streamer will need such high fidelity. Most content creators happily record at 48 kHz / 16-bit and never look back.

Still, the QuadCast 2 S sounds fantastic. It delivers clear and warm vocal tones without adding any weird color or distortion to your voice. The cardioid setting combined with the shock mount and sturdy base keeps annoying background noise like PC fans mostly at bay. However, the mic isn't a miracle worker when it comes to transient noises, like keyboard clacks—even quiet mechanical keyboards sneak through. While it has an internal pop filter, an external one is a wise accessory to tame the plosives.

One of the underrated perks is the four selectable polar patterns. Most gaming mics stick to cardioid or hyper-cardioid, but with omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo modes, you can adapt for group chats, instrument recording, or capturing room ambience—flexibility that’s rare in this price bracket.

Features and Software: The Role of HyperX Ngenuity

The QuadCast 2 S works with HyperX’s Ngenuity software, downloadable from the Microsoft Store. Unlike some peripheral software loaded with gimmicks (looking at you, virtual pets in mouse apps), Ngenuity keeps things simple—maybe a little too simple. You can adjust gain, monitor volume, mix, mute, polar patterns, and even enable a high-pass filter. That's about it.

The real reason to use Ngenuity? Lighting. The mic comes with a default rainbow wave RGB pattern but offers several presets and combinations for fully custom lighting effects. If flashy RGB isn’t your thing, you can turn it off. But honestly, if you don’t want the light show, this might not be the mic for you.

Final Verdict on the HyperX QuadCast 2 S

The QuadCast 2 S is a stellar gaming microphone. It sounds and looks fantastic (if you dig bold RGB lighting), and thanks to simple, intuitive onboard controls, you don’t have to fiddle with software. That said, the 192 kHz / 32-bit recording is overkill for most gamers and streamers—nice, but not a game-changer.

The QuadCast 2 (non-S) offers a more reasonable 96 kHz / 24-bit resolution but sticks to classic red lighting. So, effectively, you’re paying an extra $40–50 for the vibrant RGB rainbow effects on the QuadCast 2 S.

If pushing audio recording quality to the max is your quest, you might consider a studio-grade mic like the Rode NT1 Gen 5 microphone, which supports true 32-bit float recording and offers dual USB/XLR connectivity.

"The QuadCast 2 S works very well — the sound is clear and warm, and the shock mount with its sturdy stand does a great job minimizing constant background noise."

FAQ

• What makes the QuadCast 2 S different from the original QuadCast?
  The 2 S features improved recording resolution (192 kHz / 32-bit vs. 48 kHz / 16-bit), an updated shock mount for easy removal, and customizable RGB lighting instead of a fixed red glow.
• Is the high 192 kHz recording rate necessary for gaming or streaming?
  Not really. Most gamers and streamers will find 48 kHz / 16-bit more than adequate for their needs.
• Can I use the QuadCast 2 S with any microphone boom arm?
  Yes! It includes a shock mount adapter compatible with most boom arms (3/8” and 5/8” threads).
• Does the QuadCast 2 S have built-in pop filter?
  Yes, it has an internal mesh pop filter but for best results, pairing it with an external pop filter is recommended.
• What software features come with the HyperX Ngenuity app?
  You can adjust gain, monitor volume, mix levels, mute, change polar patterns, enable a high-pass filter, and fully customize the mic’s RGB lighting.

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