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Upgrade your audio for your next Zoom meeting with an external mic. We’ve compiled the top options, all tested and used by our CNET staff.
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Whether you’re taking work calls or simply catching up with friends, nobody likes to deal with bad audio on a Zoom call. If you’re tired of being asked to repeat yourself because people can’t hear you properly over Zoom, grabbing an external microphone might be a good idea. It’ll help make your voice come through loud and clear while cutting out all that background noise.
While a good webcam is often the top priority for people upgrading their work-from-home setup, audio shouldn’t be overlooked You don’t need to spend a lot on a microphone; even a budget-friendly USB mic can make a noticeable difference. For clear audio and easy controls, we asked the CNET team what microphones they recommend.
Our team members like to use a variety of microphone styles for video calls. This includes USB mics, headsets and even earbuds with solid mic setups. If you’re looking to boost your work setup, we’ve put together a list of our favorite picks based on what we’ve tried out.
That’s not a dig at the Kiyo itself, which is better than internal microphones and most headphones. It’s a convenient all-in-one, and, given how annoying it is to switch between microphones on the half-dozen video chat platforms I use, it’s nice to have a reliable mic always plugged in and ready.
— David Lumb
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I wish I used my Yeti Blue microphone more, but my Razer Kiyo webcam has been my workhorse mic throughout the pandemic. That’s mostly because the Blue is too good, picking up clacky keystrokes from where it sits over my mechanical keyboard, while the Kiyo just gets my voice from its perch above my monitor.
That’s not a dig at the Kiyo itself, which is better than internal microphones and most headphones. It’s a convenient all-in-one, and, given how annoying it is to switch between microphones on the half-dozen video chat platforms I use, it’s nice to have a reliable mic always plugged in and ready.
— David Lumb
