Razer's Seiren X Mic Is Perfect for On-The-Go Streamers

If you want to get serious about Twitch streaming, you're going to need a high-quality microphone.

But many of the best mics out there are pretty bulky, which is a problem for streamers who travel often -- or simply don't want a big microphone taking up a chunk of their camera feed. That's where Razer's new $99 Seiren X comes in.

Razer's latest microphone is 50 percent smaller than the original Seiren, sporting an adorably tiny design that looks more like a Coke can than a giant recording contraption. I wouldn't take my gigantic Blue Yeti with me to work, but I've been throwing the Seiren X in my bag nearly every day since I've had it.

The Seiren X is remarkably simple, sporting a mute button and volume knob up front, and nothing else. You won't get the multiple recording modes of the Yeti (which is the go-to USB mic for most streamers), nor will you have a gain knob for adjusting how much noise the Seiren picks up.

One of my biggest gripes is the fact that the headphone and power jacks are located at the bottom of the mic, which, given the short distance between the stand and the microphone, always makes me feel like I'm going to damage my wires when I plug them in. Fortunately, you can remove the Seiren X's small, circular stand completely, should you want to attach it to your own mount.

MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Twitch Streaming

The Seiren X uses what Razer calls a "Super Cardoid" pickup pattern, which is designed to record your voice with precision while filtering out unwanted noise. However, when comparing voice recordings between the Seiren X and the Yeti's Cardoid mode, I noticed that Razer's microphone let in a lot more background noise. The Seiren X did pick my voice up with decent clarity, but it might not be the best mic out there for recording in noisy environments.

While the Seiren doesn't have all the features or overall quality of the $129 Yeti, it's also $30 cheaper. And its portability really is killer, especially for on-the-go streamers who want something a little more robust than, say, the $36 Samson Go Mic.

The Razer Seiren X and Kiyo

The Razer Seiren X and Kiyo

The Seiren X is launching alongside Razer's new Kiyo, which is the first USB webcam with a built-in ring light for illuminating your face (my colleague Andrew Freedman loved it; check out his review here). Between the Seiren and the Kiyo, Razer seems fully committed to solving some very specific problems for aspiring Twitch and YouTube stars, and we're eager to see what the gaming giant cooks up for broadcasters next.

Image Credit: Mike Andronico/Tom's Guide

TOPICS
Michael Andronico

Mike Andronico is Senior Writer at CNNUnderscored. He was formerly Managing Editor at Tom's Guide, where he wrote extensively on gaming, as well as running the show on the news front. When not at work, you can usually catch him playing Street Fighter, devouring Twitch streams and trying to convince people that Hawkeye is the best Avenger.

Latest in Gaming Peripherals
A pink and teal Cooler Master CH351 wireless gaming headset
This Cooler Master PS5 gaming headset works best when wired — so why call it wireless?
Qanba Q7 Obsidian 2
I just tested this arcade stick for PS5 and PC — and it's nearly perfect for fighting game fans
A black Cherry XTRFY H3 gaming headset
I tested Cherry's new $129 gaming headset on my PS5 — and it completely changes the way I play
Nacon Revosim RS Pure
I just tested the Nacon Revosim RS Pure sim racing rig — it feels like Fanatec for a fraction of the price
PlaySeat Formula Instinct — F1 Edition
I sim-raced an F1 season and dethroned Verstappen — thanks to the ultimate sim seat
Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot
I just tested the ultimate PC gaming controller — and it's like 4 controllers in 1
Latest in Hands-On
Gemini and ChatGPT logos on a phone
Forget ChatGPT Canvas — I just tried Gemini Canvas and I'm floored by the difference
Test images created using the Ideogram AI image generator
I generated 5 AI images with the new Ideogram 2a model — and the results truly surprised me
The Sleepyhead Cooling Copper Topper on top of a bed in a bright, clean dorm room.
I've been sleeping on the Sleepyhead Mattress Topper for 3 weeks — and now I get the hype
Mannkitchen pepper cannon
Is a $200 pepper grinder worth it? I tested the Mannkitchen Pepper Cannon for two weeks to find out.
A curved white pillow placed in the center of a blue with blue and white bedding and a side table next to it
I've been sleeping on this Tempur-Pedic pillow and the instant pressure relief is like getting a neck massage
Garmin golf watch
I played a golf round with the Garmin Approach S50 smartwatch, and it's fantastic — here's why