HyperX DuoCast vs QuadCast
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Here’s what the DuoCast and QuadCast have in common:
Sound Quality. Even though the QuadCast has more condenser capsules, the actual sound captured by each is virtually the same.
Mute button. Both mics have a capacitive mute button at the top that turns off the LEDs.
Pop filter. The DuoCast and QuadCast have internal pop filters, however they don’t protect against plosives that well.
Shock Mount. Permanently attached to both mics is a shock mount. The DuoCast’s performs better.
3.5 mm headphone jack for mic monitoring.
Physical gain control. There’s a dial on the bottom of the QuadCast and a knob on the back of the DuoCast.
Included stands and 3/8 and 5/8 inch boom arm threaded adapters.
Differences
The DuoCast contains two condenser capsules and the Quadcast uses three.
The DuoCast can record in 2 polar patterns: omnidirectional and cardioid. These are toggled by clicking the button on the back. The Quadcast can record in 4 polar patterns: cardioid, omnidirectional, stereo, and bidirectional. A knob on the back switches between them.
The DuoCast is compatible with NGENUITY which lets you control the mic settings, lighting effects, and add impressive audio filters.
The DuoCast’s stand is made of plastic while the QuadCast’s is metal.
Specifications
HyperX DuoCast
Frequency Range: 20 Hz - 20 KHz
Bit depth and Sample Rate: 24-bit/96 KHz
Capsule: Condenser (x2)
Polar patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional
Connection type: USB-C (USB-C to USB-A cable included)
QuadCast
Frequency Range: 20 Hz - 20 KHz
Bit depth and Sample Rate: 16-bit/48 KHz
Capsule: Condenser (x3)
Polar patterns: Cardioid, Bidirectional, Stereo, Omnidirectional
Connection type: USB Mini-B (Mini-B to USB-A cable included)
Audio Quality
Both the DuoCast and QuadCast use electret condenser capsules. The QuadCast’s capsules are officially listed at 14 mm, while the DuoCast’s aren’t specified.
The DuoCast also records at a higher bit-depth of 24 bit and 96 kHz which helps keep the noise floor of the mic down. The older QuadCast records in 16 bit, 48 kHz which is still excellent quality.
But what do they actually sound like in practice?
The DuoCast and QuadCast sound almost identical in terms of clarity and tonality. The audio is free of distortion and the sound signature is very balanced - though there’s some body missing in the lower midrange.
Sibilance isn’t too harsh on these mics, and with minimal EQ adjustments, they’re versatile for a wide range of voices and even instruments.
Mic mute button on the top and knob for gain and polar pattern on back.
Polar pattern knob on back of QuadCast.
In theory, the noise floor (electronic feedback) of the DuoCast should be lower than the QuadCast. In practice, they’re both so low that they’re going to be imperceptible over any room noise these mics pick up.
As condensers, neither microphone rejects background noise very well - even on the cardioid pickup pattern. If keeping unwanted outside noises outside of your recordings or voice calls is a priority, getting a dynamic microphone like the Samson Q2U will be a better choice.
However, shock resistance is a different matter. The clicks of a keyboard come through easily on both mics, but the actual rumble and shake cause by typing is almost completely eliminated in the DuoCast.
This is because the bands on the DuoCast’s shock mount have more give. The QuadCast’s shock mount bands are pulled so tight that kinetic energy rises up to the capsule without much resistance which reduces its effectiveness.
A major caveat here is the above tests were done without any post-processing. The DuoCast gains access to the AI Noise Reduction filter in NGENUITY. This reduces ambient sounds greatly as I’ll demonstrate in the software section.
While both mics have an integrated pop filter, they don’t work very well to stop plosives. Keeping the mic too close to your face will easily distort either mic with breath sounds.
Audio Quality Summary
Oddly, since both of these mics sound basically identical except for the shock resistance, the DuoCast is actually the better choice if you just want the best sounds. They’re both exceptional for their price, but if you’re going to be using your keyboard while using these mics, the DuoCast will dampen bumps on your desk far more.
Software (NGENUITY)
The newer DuoCast functions with the HyperX NGENUITY Software. This lets you control lighting effects and basic mic controls like the gain, headphone jack output volume, polar pattern switching, and mic muting.
There are also a few filters that can be applied such as a high pass filter, AI Noise Reduction and a limiter. I find the noise reduction to be the best and it’s an excellent choice for anyone using a keyboard while using the mic.
The shift in the EQ makes the audio a bit more muffled, but the noise reduction effect still has utility. I wouldn’t keep it on all the time.
Build Quality
The QuadCast and DuoCast both have plastic bodies. However, the QuadCast is significantly taller and it has a metal stand compared to the plastic stand of the DuoCast.
Both use a convoluted method of screwing on and off the bases to use the mic arm adapter, but as long as you don’t lose any of the pieces, it’s not too annoying. The main functional difference is the DuoCast has a more effective shock mount. Since the bands have more give, bumps on a desk or even the mic itself create less handling noise than the QuadCast.
In short: durability goes to the QuadCast, but functionality goes to the DuoCast.
Verdict
For sound quality and functionality, I recommend the HyperX DuoCast. It records 24-bit audio over the 16-bit on the QuadCast, it has a better shock mount, and it connects to NGENUITY giving it impressive filters like AI Noise Reduction.
However, a lot of us by HyperX devices for the style. I’m a fan of the DuoCast’s subtle ring, but also look into the QuadCast S which is the coolest looking mic I’ve ever seen.
