Sandberg Streamer USB Desk Microphone – Hardware Review
In 2018 we had the chance to see Sandberg tread the waters of making professional microphones for streamers. We were treated to the Studio Pro Microphone USB, which proved to have a lot of value for its money. This item was later discontinued and made way for the Streamer USB Microphone Kit, which was the ideal package for starting and semi-professional streamers. This package basically had it all, ranging from an adjustable desktop arm to a pop filter, a foam cap, and so on. We were quite impressed with Sandberg’s first attempt to at making microphones, and now in 2020, we have the chance to try out the USB Desk Microphone, which is basically the youngest sibling of those that we just mentioned.
Design
Just like its older brothers, the USB Desk Microphone is very simplistic in its design, but also very classy. The microphone itself is matte black and only bears the Sandberg logo on one of the sides. The gridded top is nicely detailed and the overall shape has a certain retro feel to it.
The body itself, or rather the base, is a very standard looking tripod, albeit tiny compared to those used for cameras. The overall design is nicely handled, even if there are no bells and whistles available. We noticed the absence of a LED light to indicate if the device is even really on, but even without this function the device still looks professional.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, there is not too much to say when it comes to a microphone that is designed to stay in a fixed position. You have a basic tripod supporting the microphone, but you can change the angle of the microphone itself. This is basically just tilting it in an upward or downward angle. There is not much to it, but depending on the position of your microphone, this can help a lot in audio clarity for the receiver or your recording sessions.
There is an anti-wind foam cap for the microphone, which is a nice addition to the package. It can replace a pop filter to a certain extent, and prevent certain background noises coming through. It’s always nice when companies add accessories such as this in the box, making it so you don’t have to look for them online as an extra order. While a foam cap such as this is quite cheap to make, it’s a very nice gesture to actually have it included.
Specs
- Type: Back Electret Condenser
- Directivity: Uni directional
- Frequency response: 30 – 16,000Hz
- Sensitivity: -38 +/-3dB
- S/N ratio: 70dB
- Sampling rate: 192Khz/24bit
- Equivalent noise level: 16 dB Max
- Voltage: Powered from USB, DC 5.0V
- Material of main body: Aluminum + ABS plastic
Overview
Like many standard microphones, the Streamer USB Desk Microphone is a plug and play device. You plug it in and your PC will immediately recognize the device and many other programs will also do the same. It’s possible that you have to change the recording device if you also have a webcam with a microphone that is attached, but this is done in mere seconds in the settings of the program(s) you’re using.
As this is a very basic microphone, even though it looks like a professional device, there are no extra functions to be found on this item. You will just plug it in, use it to your liking and that’s basically it. While a volume dial and such would be nice, the only thing we really miss is a mute button. The Studio Pro Microphone had this, and this was a very convenient function/add-on.
Conclusion
Sandberg’s Streamer USB Desk Microphone is graced by its simplicity and its easy to use formula. While the microphone may not be the cheapest on the market, it does offer very high quality in terms of crystal-clear sound. We only regret the device not having a mute button or a volume dial on the microphone itself. Other than that, there’s no way you can go wrong with this device.
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[…] Face it, platforms such as ours are getting a bit dated for many youngers gamers and influencers out there. It has become a fairly attractive pastime for gamers to stream their adventures, and while many are doing great attempts at doing so, they often lack the proper setup to provide qualitative entertainment. Luckily, one of our long-supporting contacts has made it possible for a lucky streamer to win a Sandberg Streamer USB Desk Microphone, which we recently reviewed. You can read our initial review by clicking here. […]
[…] line of products. Amongst those products were several microphones, designed for streamers, with the Desk Microphone and the Microphone Kit being the most prominent ones available. We have discussed both of these […]