HyperX Caster microphone arm review: Undeniably premium, but is it really worth it?
The HyperX Caster is an undeniably nice microphone boom arm, but I'm unconvinced anyone should be spending this much.
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Windows Central Verdict
The HyperX Caster is an ultra-premium, ultra-adjustable arm mount for your microphone or camera, and it does mostly deliver on its lofty promises. The design is sleek, and the spring-assisted adjustability is awesome when you find the sweet spot — but finding that sweet spot can be a right pain. More than that, the Caster is abnormally expensive for a microphone arm, enough to make it difficult to easily recommend.
Pros
- +
Sleek, high-quality design
- +
Spring-assisted adjustment does feel great when you get it tuned right
- +
Simple, toolless installation and wide threading support
Cons
- -
Can be annoying to find the right balance for the tension joints
- -
Very expensive for just a microphone/camera arm
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WhenI agreed to review the HyperX FlipCast microphone, I didn't expect I'd need a mount, as there's no stand included in the box. I've tested a number ofmicrophones and mounts, but I'm always moving betweenheadsets,webcams, and microphones for my audio recording needs, so my desk is often bereft of a boom arm.
So,HP andHyperX sent me its premium Caster arm for microphones and cameras, and I decided to review this often-overlookedaccessory alongside the FlipCast microphone.
This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HyperX and HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.
Easy setup, easy adjustment, easy headaches
A microphone arm isn't terribly complex, so I won't waste time in this review. The HyperX Caster's sleek, subtle design is reminiscent of other premium mounting solutions, but this microphone arm boasts a completely toolless setup.
There's only one clamping option, but the included C-clamp should provide enough leeway to support most desks and tables. You have 360 degrees of rotation, and three spring-assisted joints that can all be moved independently, capped with a standard 5/8-inch mounting thread (with 3/8-inch and 1/4-inch adapters in the box).
I've absolutely no complaints about the Caster's appearance, and it feels reliably constructed. There are also tracks for cable management built in that are equally easy to wrap your mind around. Once the HyperX Caster is properly set up, you're left wanting for nothing.
The HyperX Caster's spring-assisted joints are its greatest strength and biggest weakness.
Setting up the HyperX Caster can be a real pain, though, and it's because of those "simple" spring-assisted joints. Tension dials in each joint adjust the strength of the springs, so you can tune the Caster to the weight of your microphone or camera, and ideally be able to move your microphone around freely without needing to make follow-up adjustments.
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It works, but setting the tension in the joints can take alot of trial and error, and the dials themselves feel cheap and fragile (none of them broke for me, but I can't say I wasn't worried). There's also very obviously a "happy medium" the joints prefer to stay in, so it's another exercise in patience if you need to adjust the HyperX Caster to a more extreme position.
It doesn't help that the Caster is simply large, even by microphone arm standards, so it's not as well-suited to compact, space-restrained setups.
HyperX Caster review: My final thoughts
✅You should buy this if ...
- You want a premium microphone mount and are willing to pay for it.
- You want toolless installation with easy, intuitive adjustment.
- You have plenty of space to make use of this range of motion.
❌You should not buy this if ...
- You just need a basic mount for your microphone or camera.
- You have limited space or a setup that won't work with a C-clamp.
Choosing an arm mount for your microphone or camera is definitely setup endgame, a way for content creators and professionals to take things to the next level. Microphone arms rarely break the $100 barrier, though, and the HyperX Caster soars across that threshold.
Is it worth the price? I think so, but only if you're actuallywilling to pay that much. Most people won't be, and that's fine. There are plenty of other excellent microphone arms that cost less and still do the same basic job.
Once you properly set up the HyperX Caster, though, I have to admit it looks great and is incredibly convenient for perfectly positioning your microphone or camera without having to think too hard about it. If that's what you need, you canget the HyperX Caster for$139.99 at HP.com.
You can also find more information on the microphone I used to test the HyperX Caster by checking outmy in-depth HyperX FlipCast review.
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Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft.
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