Microphones are often one of the hardest peripheral accessories to shop for as a gamer. It’s one thing if you are purchasing an expensive dynamic microphone. However, when it comes to a majority of players, condenser microphones are the mic of choice for the price point and stress-free use. As soon as you step into the market, it’s hard not to get overwhelmed with the many choices. Do you look for something that’s from a big brand, or do you go for the little-known but highly reviewed option?
Thankfully, with the right search, you won’t have to choose between those options. Enter the RIG M2 Streamstar, the latest microphone from RIG, packed with a ton of exciting features. This microphone is the world’s first wired USB mic to include a Bluetooth audio gateway. If you’re a content creator and searching for a new upgrade for audio recording, the RIG M2 Streamstar should absolutely be on your radar.
Impressive Build Quality
Right out of the box, you’ll get the RIG M2 Streamstar, a base, a bracket, a USB-C to USB-A cord, and a 3.5mm extender. I’ve got to commend Nacon for including a long USB-C cable, as that is not always a given on microphones. This is all you’ll need to get things up and running, and that’s the best thing any creator could ask for. Unlike an XLR microphone where you’ll need multiple cables, an XLR interface, and maybe even an amplifier, the RIG M2 Steamstar only needs to USB-C cable to complete the setup.
As soon as you first grab the M2 Streamstar, it’s obvious there is a clear focus on quality. There is a very premium feel to this product, with smooth edges and a nice metal grill that wraps around the top, sides, and front of the microphone. There are only two buttons on the M2 Streamstar, with both being knobs for the playback audio and microphone gain. Each feels sturdy and gives a distinct, satisfying turn without any wiggle.
I found the bracket that holds the M2 Streamstar to be great, especially since it is ready to go with any boom arm. This makes life so much easier if you’re already using a boom arm in your existing setup. You can just take out the screw used for the base and throw it into the boom arm. I use the Gator Boom Arm from Shure for my SM7b, and it took basically 15 seconds to slot this in and get it hooked up.
The included desktop stand is also really great. I appreciated the rubber underside to prevent the microphone from moving if bumped. Additionally, there are two keyholes cut out here that can be used to mount the stand on either a desk or wall if you wish. The stand itself holds the microphone using a knob screw, and there’s a nice textured finish on top with a big ‘RIG’ logo.
If you look at the back of the unit, Nacon has included a removable RIG backplate attached with two magnets. If you pick up the M2 Streamstar, you are going to be able to purchase custom backplates to add some pop to your setup. The included RIG plate looks good with the design, but I’m very excited to see what options will be available here.
Additionally, I found the compact nature of the M2 Streamstar to be a huge plus. The microphone is really small and thin, with a light weight to it as well. The base, however, has a good amount of weight that helps the product feel sturdy and mounted. When thinking about the compactness of this microphone, I realized I’ve got a trip planned for later this year, and the M2 Streamstar is going to be perfect to easily slip into a backpack, especially considering I only need the stand and a USB-C cable to get recording.
Great Sound, Even Better Features
So, why should you care about the RIG M2 Streamstar? Let’s start with its big feature: a Bluetooth audio gateway. As aforementioned, this is the first wired USB microphone on the market to include one. This allows you to pair your Bluetooth headphones or earbuds to your microphone and listen to yourself as you talk in addition to any audio from your PC. The pairing process could not be simpler. All you need to do is hold the top knob in for a few seconds until it starts blinking, then bring your headphones close. It took my AirPods just a moment to connect, and then I instantly was able to listen in on my audio.
The M2 Streamstar uses Bluetooth 5.4, and it really is as simple as just plugging in the one cord to gain access to this. Even if your PC or laptop does not support Bluetooth natively, you can take advantage of this feature with the M2 Streamstar. I was quite worried about any potential lag from this setup, but I was pleasantly surprised that there was not any noticeable latency. While I did run into one or two instances of audio that were behind, it was very minimal and barely noticeable during my testing.
The RIG M2 Streamstar is simplified to be as easy as possible to use. Instead of having many different knobs or controls to toggle, the M2 Streamstar has only two located on the front for playback and gain. Not only are there simplified controls, but there is no software required to tweak the microphone. Everything is done on the unit itself. I love this and hate this. Sure, you get the simple setup that allows you to adjust gain, audio volume, and mute all in one place, but I think the simplicity on the software side especially can be disappointing. I would have liked to be able to access a more precise gain meter, but the M2 Streamstar only blinks red when you hit the limit.
For those who wouldn’t consider themselves very experienced or comfortable with setting up tech, the M2 Streamstar is perfect for you. I think this simplicity is fantastic for new creators especially those who might not have the familiarity with microphones.
Now, let’s talk about audio quality. This is a condenser microphone, with a 16mm precision electret condenser packed in. There are no options for patterns, so the M2 Streamstar is made for directional, cardioid polar pattern sound capture. The microphone should pick up all voices due to the 20Hz – 20kHz frequency, and the 24-bit/192 kHz digital resolution is a huge plus for high-resolution audio.
As for the audio quality, I was pretty impressed overall. It sounds like a quality condenser microphone, and I found it to pick up my voice and its range well. Now, speaking of range, I found the overall range to where my voice wasn’t too quiet to be a little shorter than desired. Even with the gain all the way up, I could really only be no more than a foot away before things got quieter than expected. For this reason, I highly recommend that you use the M2 Streamstar with a boom arm. I found this to be the most effective at capturing my voice without compromise, and it takes the microphone up and away from any keyboards or mice on your desk.
It’s impressive how crystal clear and high-quality the audio sounds when wearing Bluetooth headphones. I recorded numerous scripts as a test with the M2 Streamstar, and I continued to be satisfied with the quality of audio playing in my AirPods Pro. Whether for streaming, playing games, chatting on Discord, or recording for YouTube, the M2 Streamstar feels like a microphone that can easily get the job done and sound good at the same time.
A Game Changer
The RIG M2 Streamstar is a great condenser microphone, especially for the price. At $129.99, it’s going to be hard to find a microphone that sounds great and has the features this one does. However, the extreme simplicity might be challenging for some hoping for precise adjustment. If you’re a creator looking for an easy solution to audio playback, the RIG M2 Streamstar has you covered with the Bluetooth audio gateway, and the microphone quality is really solid. I think this would make for a wonderful addition to any streaming setup.
If you’re interested in checking out the RIG M2 Streamstar yourself, pre-orders are now available on Amazon.
Disclaimer: Nacon provided Final Weapon with a RIG M2 Streamstar unit for review purposes.
