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Introduction
Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen an increase in the usage of external microphones. That’s partially because streaming and content creation have become more accessible, but we also see plenty of regular players who have a mic arm + external mic on their desk. As such, it’s no surprise to see brands creating microphones aimed at that section of the market. In our NZXT Capsule Elite review, we’re taking a look at one such microphone to determine if it’s worthy of a spot at the end of your mic arm or not.
At A Glance
NZXT Capsule Elite
Used by 1 player ()-
Fragstube
The NZXT Capsule Elite is an affordable microphone that has everything you need if you’re looking for a substantial upgrade to your gaming audio setup.
Pros
- Nice, warm sound
- Pleasing, relatively compact design
- Sturdy build quality
- LED indicators for mute, mic volume, and headphones volume are very handy
- Sound can be adjusted via software EQ
Cons
- Button on the front feels a little loose
- RGB strip at the back seems a little pointless
First Impressions and Packaging
Packaging
Inside the box, you get:
- The microphone
- A microphone stand
- A USB-C to USB-A cable
First Impressions
There’s not a ton to notice about a desktop microphone, but I do like the overall design that they went with here. I’m a fan of these more old-school-looking types of microphones so that’s a plus for me. Additionally, it’s not too large. Even on a smaller desk, the NZXT Capsule Elite won’t look out of place.
The build quality feels great as well. NZXT has used a combination of steel, metal, and aluminum, resulting in a durable-feeling product. The stand itself is also a plus: you can tilt, pivot, and swivel the mic while you’re searching for a perfect position. This is an upgrade over most stands in this price range, as those usually only allow tilt adjustments.
One slightly odd design choice I immediately noticed was the RGB strip at the back. Given that this is a cardioid mic (meaning that it only picks up sound coming from the front) I find it a little weird that they’ve not placed this strip on the front, or even just on both sides. It’ll no doubt look cool for people who are watching streamers using this mic, but as a user you’re not going to get a ton of enjoyment out of this RGB element.
Features
The NZXT Capsule Elite is a rather basic microphone by design. On the back, there’s a USB-C port and a headphone jack. On the side, there’s a headphone volume wheel, and on the front you’ll find a mic volume wheel that you can press to mute/unmute.
In addition to the RGB strip at the back, there’s also a lighting element on the front that acts as an indicator LED.
Tons of microphones have a mute indicator, but the Capsule Elite also displays the volume levels (for both the mic and the headphones) as a slider when you adjust their respective wheels. I love this aspect, as it gives you a clear indication of your levels even in the dark.
Inside NZXT’s CAM software, you have an EQ to tweak the sound of the mic, and you’ve got all kinds of advanced settings in case you want to mess around with the de-esser, de-popper, and what have you.
Speaking of de-essers and de-poppers: it’s really good to have these kinds of features in a microphone if you ask me. In case you’re not aware: de-essers reduce the harsh ‘sh’ sounds in speech, while de-poppers reduce plosive sounds (‘p’ and ‘b’ and the likes). To me, there’s nothing more annoying than microphones with excessive plosives, so it’s nice to see that NZXT have thought of these things as well. Sidetone is also present (if you want it) which is a plus.
Sound
When reviewing a microphone in the sub-$100 range, it’s crucial to set realistic expectations. The Shure SM7B, for example, is one of the most popular microphones for professional content creators and podcasters, but it costs over three times as much and targets a completely different audience. It would make little sense to compare both of these products, so when I’m talking about the sound quality, I’m talking about how it sounds in comparison to its peers.
With that out of the way, I must say that I am impressed with the sound that the NZXT Capsule Elite provides. Sound is (partially) subjective, but I do like the warm and rich tone that NZXT has gone for here. My voice is clearly defined and there are no fluctuations in the overall tone when I’m going on for longer periods of time. There’s is a slight ‘robot-like’ noise going on, but again: we’re talking about a sub-$100 microphone here.
What’s more is that the built-in filters also do their job remarkably well. Even at full volume and speaking right in front of the mic, there are no pops and there’s no obvious sibilance going on. Varying voice levels are also handled well.
If you place the mic further away from your face, the quality does drop somewhat. This is behavior that most microphones will exhibit, but if you plan to place the mic on your desk rather than an arm, it pays off to play around with the settings somewhat to combat this.
All in all, the sound quality that the Capsule Elite provides is really impressive. And if you don’t like the default sound, you can always play around with the EQ in NZXT’s CAM software.
Sound Tests
Out of the box
Plosives
Different EQ settings
Placed on a desk
Everyday Usage
I like the well thought-out simplicity of the Capsule Elite. You have separate volume wheels for both adjustable volumes, and you press the button on the front in order to mute. This, combined with the indicator LED strip at the front, makes for a product that’s super easy to tweak on the fly. Both wheels feel satisfying to use, though the headphone volume wheel is noticeably less rigid than the mic volume wheel. Additionally, the knob on the front volume button feels a bit loose. It’s nothing that hampers the experience, but it is noticeable.
Aside from this, I like the Capsule Elite and how easy it is to use. The design is nice, the software is easy to understand, and the base is stable and compact. The three-point approach to adjustability also means that you can position it perfectly with no issues.
The Capsule Elite is pretty much everything I imagine when I think of relatively affordable standalone mics.
Conclusion
The NZXT Capsule Elite is an affordable microphone that has everything you need if you’re looking for a substantial upgrade to your gaming audio setup. With its sub-$100 price point, it won’t break the bank but it does deliver a rich and warm sound that’ll make your voice come through a lot better than it would with a typical headset microphone.
On top of that, it does a great job at filtering out unwanted noises. The pop filter and de-esser perform exactly as they should, for example. And even if they don’t, you can easily tweak their performance in NZXT’s CAM software, which also has EQ settings to experiment with.
Aside from the fact that the button on the front feels a tiny bit loose, there are little to no objective flaws to be found here.
If you’re looking for an external microphone for your gaming, calls, or even content creation, this is one to look out for.
This product was received for free from the manufacturer and given to our reviewer to test and review. Brands and manufacturers have no editorial control over our reviews. For more information, check out our review FAQ.
