HyperX’s new ProCast XLR Microphone is so good it has a massive 1-inch gold condenser

What you need to know

• HyperX, now owned by HP, has announced its new ProCast XLR Microphone
• The mic features an XLR connection, a cardioid polar pattern input, and a gold-sputtered large diaphragm condenser capsule.
• The HyperX ProCast large diaphragm condenser mic will be available in the U.S. through Amazon, Best Buy, and the online HyperX Shop for $249.99 MSRP starting in October.

When it comes to microphones, you can go from cheap to extraordinary, depending on your needs, profession, and income level. For those who fall into “pros” or with the ability to justify dropping $250 on a PC microphone, the new HyperX ProCast XLR will do the trick.

The mic, which looks much like its others, including the excellent QuadCast, swaps out three 14mm electret condenser capsules for a massive “one-inch gold-sputtered externally-polarized condenser.”

It also drops a standard USB connector for a more professional XLR one, resulting in more precise sound quality and letting you connect to an external XLR mixer.

The ProCast frequency response remains the same (20Hz~20kHz) vs. QuadCast, but the overall quality from the large diaphragm condenser and XLR cable results in a much richer sound for vocals.

And unlike the QuadCast, which has options for stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, and bidirectional polar patterns, the ProCast only offers cardioid. Cardioid is the most commonly used one (it’s most sensitive at 0° and least sensitive at 180°) as it focuses on the sound source.

HyperX also notes that the ProCast features “a switchable -10dB PAD allows the microphone to handle loud audio sources and an 80Hz high-pass filter switch helps to reduce unwanted low-end frequencies.”

Like other HyperX microphones, the ProCast also includes a snap-on metal pop filter and a built-in shock mount to reduce background noise and steady the mic.

However, to likely keep costs down, no XLR cable is included, so you’ll need to buy your own (in addition to an XLR USB mixer, like the popular Beringer U-Phoria UMC22). Likewise, there is no base stand to connect to the 3/8-inch and 5/8-inch mount adapter.

Availability

The HyperX ProCast large diaphragm condenser mic will be available in the U.S. through Amazon, Best Buy, and the online HyperX Shop for $249.99 MSRP starting in October.

If you’d like to hear the ProCast in action, tune into the Windows Central Podcast this Friday at 1:30 PM ET, as I’ll be using it, while co-host Zac Bowden will be using the HyperX QuadCast, letting you compare the two.

For those on a budget, check out HyperX's new $100 DuoCast USB microphone, complete with RGB lighting. And for more ideas, see our best microphone for streaming guide.