REVIEW: HyperX Solocast, a good entry mic at a fair price

Recently released by HyperX, the HyperX Solocast is a condenser microphone focused on the entry-level audience, which came to the market to populate a segment that until recently was very scarce. The peripheral is a more basic version of the beloved Quadcast and it surprised us positively in the tests, although it is not perfect.

O HyperX Solocast was kindly sent by HyperX, and after a few days of testing, we present our full review of the microphone.

Design and construction

HyperX hardly disappoints in the construction of its products. The headphones are stylish, the keyboards are well finished, the mice are generally very comfortable and their main microphone, the Quadcast, is a masterpiece of elegance. However, beauty and a lot of performance are characteristics that only high-end products carry, with few exceptions.

The big bet on HyperX Solocast was to create a product that captured the sound well and was cheap, but for that it was necessary to give up a more robust design. However, this does not mean that the microphone is in debt in this regard, quite the opposite. The device is mostly constructed of black polycarbonate, in a more matte tone, and is very resistant in everyday use.

The model has a very simple look, without unnecessary frills. The microphone body is very reminiscent of the shape of a classic tablet and doesn't have the feel of a generic product, but I found it scratches quite easily as I placed the peripheral on the articulated arm. However, I don't think it's a big negative point and it's not very noticeable.

Other than that, there are two small “hooks” that hold the solocast on its base and a red indicator LED above the brand logo, painted in dark gray. This LED is lit red to indicate that the microphone is on or off. There is a button for that. touch de mute button on top. Just a tap to mutate, which the LED will start blinking indicating that it is not capturing sound, and another to return to normal.

O HyperX Solocast it is modest in appearance, more minimalist, compact and is an item that looks good in any setup. Its lack of exaggerated LEDs, multiple buttons or functions gives the microphone a more practical touch, catering to an audience that doesn't want complications to record their content.

Connection is via a USB Type-C cable that is included in the box and plugs into the back of the microphone. Incidentally, the HyperX Solocast operates on the scheme plug and play, that is, just connect it to the computer and that's it, it works normally in a few seconds.

a dubious support

If things were very interesting so far, HyperX, in an attempt to “help” make the user's life easier, sent a small table stand in the box. The stand is very useful for supporting the microphone on the table and has a nice slightly rubberized finish so it doesn't slip or mark surfaces.

The mini pedestal can still be disconnected very easily, removing a small peg that attaches the main support ring, where the microphone is fitted. In practice, this can help those who intend to do some “gambiarra” with pedestals or articulated arms.

However, HyperX's desktop support is not a good option for those who will work with recordings of gameplays and mainly livestreams. The reason is that the base is not completely rubberized, not even this ring that surrounds the HyperX Solocast. This makes any knock on the table, sound alteration, impact or the simple act of typing on the keyboard reverberate in the microphone, which picks up these waves and spoils good audio.

For this reason, most of our tests were carried out on an articulated arm attached to the table, but which also has a shock mount/spider, possessing ropes of nylon and rubbers to prevent this reverberation. In fact, what I recommend most is using the HyperX Solocast in this way, which will guarantee more quality for the creation of content.

There is also the possibility to connect the HyperX Solocast directly into the articulated arm/pedestal thread without the shock mount, as shown in the cover image of this review. Although it is an alternative, there are still chances of eventual knocks on the table influencing the sound capture. However, only with tests on your setup it will be possible to find out.

Quality

O HyperX Solocast It's a condenser microphone. This means that this model has a high sensitivity, capturing many external sounds. Although it is the type of mic most used by content creators, it is good to worry about noise when recording and, if possible, invest in sound insulation or treat the audio well.

In practice, the HyperX Solocast surprises with a capture quality as good as that of the Quadcast, his older brother. The model doesn't pull as much external noise and the sensitivity setting in Windows is very pleasant between 75 to 80 dB. The microphone operates in cardioid format, without the possibility of exchanges, as in the Quadcast, as its name suggests. Another detail is the presence of a pop filter internal, which also helps with quality.

The cardioid polar pattern means audio is captured only from the front, not the sides or rear. Consequently, the front part of it, that is, the one with the LED and the HyperX symbol, must face the speaker. The best example of tests we can give is the ShowmeCAST recording below. The episode had audio treated only with the “noise reduction” function of the Audacity, which most creators use to clean up the audio.

Conclusion

O HyperX Solocast it was a good addition to the catalog of microphones available in the Brazilian market. With so many cheap options and with little performance, the model proves to be very competent and arrives at a competitive price of R$ 429 at Amazon, but in promotions I've seen the peripheral in the range of R$ 360 or R$ 380 at retail.

In the end, I believe that the microphone is really a good option for those who cannot invest so much, but want to record videos, lives or podcasts with quality. However, the buyer should worry about acquiring another support or articulated arm, preferably with shock mount to avoid some headaches.

Datasheet — HyperX Solocast

See also other features

Now that you are familiar with HyperX Solocast, check out our review of the HyperX QuadCast S, an excellent condenser microphone.