Sandberg Streamer USB Microphone RGB – Hardware Review
Recently, we took a closer look at MAONO’s GamerWave Condenser USB Gaming RGB Microphone, which proved to be a decent microphone for its asking price. However, we did find some components to be a bit flimsy and the base was too light, making it move around easily when simply pressing buttons or adjusting cables. Now, Sandberg has offered us the chance to take a closer look at their Streamer USB Microphone RGB, which has a striking to MAONO’s microphone. However, when opening the box, we quickly noticed that both products are leagues apart in terms of build quality.
Design
The Streamer USB Microphone RGB is a good-looking piece of hardware. Sandberg’s device has a matte finish and looks perfect for different (gaming) setups. The device doesn’t have too many intrusive standout features, and it only shows the Sandberg logo on the side of the actual microphone. The mute (and function) button on the top is clearly marked with the mute symbol. The round base looks classy, and you can clearly see that the overall package is sturdy. The pop filter is also discreet and properly complements the entire package. The aluminum finish also ensures that this looks like a premium product and not a cheap plastic microphone.
As the name clearly states, Sandberg’s microphone comes with RGB settings. The device does light up your setup if you so desire, but the RGB lighting can also be turned off by a simple press (and hold) of a button. The microphone only comes with one standard RGB setting, which is somewhat of a shame. Even so, it does look quite nice.
Comfort
When it comes to the overall comfort factor, there are a few noticeable features. To start off with the slightly negative, with the pop filter on the front of the device, you’ll find the dial to adjust volume settings a bit hard to reach. We did prefer the bottom dial of MAONO’s device in this aspect. Even so, when you have set up your microphone the way you want it, you probably won’t need the front dial anymore.
The mute button, which works via touch controls, works rather well, and it registers tap and hold commands very nicely. We found the device to be very solid, and compared to the GamerWave microphone, this one doesn’t completely move when pressing the button. This further translates to the base of the device as well, as the base is heavy and solid, making sure the microphone stays in place. The added layer of grip to the underside of the base also helps with this.
Specs
- Aluminum microphone body
- USB-C interface in microphone
- Direction: Cardioid pickup pattern
- Microphone type: 14 mm capacitor microphone
- Frequency response: 30 Hz – 18 kHz
- Sensitivity: -42 +/-2dB
- S/N ratio: >75 dB
- Sampling rate: 48 Khz/16 bit
- Mute function
- RGB light function (Random patterns/RGB off)
- Headset output 3.5 mm
Overview
The Streamer USB Microphone RGB is a simple plug-and-play device. There is no complicated setup required, and the device is instantly recognized by your PC. There is no supporting software either, which means that all functions can be accessed via the front dial and the top button. Overall, the functions are a bit simple, but it suffices for a microphone such as this. You can basically adjust volume settings, turn the RGB lighting on or off, and you can also mute the microphone. There is also a 3.5mm connection on the back of the microphone.
For recordings and calls, we found the audio quality to be very crisp and clear. There were no real interferences, and most background noise was not picked up. The latter of course also depends on the volume of what is going on around you. We felt that the sound quality was quite a bit better than MAONO’s similar-looking microphone.
Conclusion
Sandberg’s Streamer USB Microphone RGB is a great addition to a streamer’s setup, but also to that of a serious gamer. The microphone proved to be extremely sturdy, as it came with aluminum housing, a solid base, and overall decent components. We enjoyed crystal-clear recordings and those on the receiving end of calls or streams could also enjoy top-notch audio feedback. For its asking price, it’s hard to find a better microphone. We only wished the RGB had a few more options, but it’s only a small blemish on an otherwise perfect experience.
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