WHEN WE THINK of NZXT, the picture that
springs to mind is a case company with
a clean design language and reputable
build quality. So when the company
started to branch out into peripherals,
we had plenty of faith that the brand
could produce a range of items of the
same caliber as its cases. A move over
into the audio world wasn’t the most
obvious choice, but the company has
gone all out with the NZXT Capsule
microphone. So, was this a wise decision
by NZXT, and does the Capsule match the
level of quality of its cases?
The Capsule certainly fits nicely into
the rest of NZXT’s lineup. There are two
versions, one in white and one in black,
both of which get our seal of approval.
With a crisp cylindrical design, it has a
more professional look than most mics,
and could be used in a range of locations.
The compact footprint makes for a more
discrete addition to your desktop and,
with a tripod mount below, it can also be
mounted elsewhere.
There is no garish RGB, only a small
ring light on the bottom that glows white
when the mic is active and red when
you're on mute, a small and subtle detail
that helps the efficiency of using the mic.
We all know how frustrating it is when
you don't realise you're muted and the
ensuing cries of "you're on mute!".
It feels nice and hefty, weighing in at
just under 2lbs, which gives a feeling of
solid build quality. Made from extruded
aluminum and PC ABS plastic, it feels
premium for the most part. The majority
of the weight comes from the stand which
has a grippy rubberized base. Although it
isn’t the tallest stock stand, it has a great
function. On the back of the Capsule is a
quick-release button to detach the stand
from the microphone without fiddling
around with any screws. Also included in
the box is a cap that fits on the back and
covers the hole, which is nice attention to
detail.
However, the quality is lacking a
little on the biggest contact point of the
microphone, its two volume knobs. On
the front of the Capsule, there are two
dials, one for the microphone volume
and the other for headphone volume. The
top microphone dial also doubles as a
mute button but it feels a little loose and
A leap of faith or a comfortable
transition for NZXT?
NZXT Capsule
8
VERDICT NZXT Capsule MicA NEW CHAPTER Compact
microphone; plug and play; rich
detailed recording; quick release stand.
MISSING PAGES Poor dial controls; lack
of pickup patterns.
$130, http://www.nzxt.comSPECIFICATIONSSample rate 96kHzBit rate 24-bit
Frequency response 20Hz-20kHzRecording modes Cardioid
Connection USB Type C to Type AWeight 1.94lbscheap. The bottom dial is still made of the
same cheap-feeling plastic but as this is
solely a dial, it doesn’t wobble as much.
These dials also don’t have a stopping
point, which we would prefer as they spin
infinitely. That makes it hard to tell what
levels you're at without seeing it digitally
on your PC.A MATCH FOR ITS RIVALS
Enough of the nitpicking, how does the
NZXT Capsule perform? In terms of its
specs, it is more than a match for its
similarly priced rival mics on the market
with a 24-bit/96kHz sample rate. This
provides you with more than enough
data to play with and tons of depth
in the recordings. It doubles the bit/
sample rate of most standard headset
microphones, so if you're thinking of
upgrading, a standalone microphone is a
good route to take.
Stats aside, the Capsule records
warm and detailed sound through its
cardioid pickup style. Although this is
a pretty standard pickup pattern, it is
the only available recording mode for
this microphone, so you’ll have to make
sure you are talking straight towards the
Capsule to get the best audio recording.
For NZXT to make the move into the
world of audio tech was a bold step and
it has produced a well-rounded device.
At around the $130 price point, there
are a few offerings from brands such as
Elgato, MSI, and HyperX and this Capsule
mic can stand up strong against them. It
doesn’t quite have the features that MSI’s
first stand-alone microphone offers as
the MSI option provides multiple pickup
patterns. However, it has a similar high-
quality plug-and-play sound with plenty
of clarity whilst keeping background
noises to a minimum.
Even in environments with fans
and mechanical keyboards nearby, it
managed to pick up our voice recordings
well. If you're after a warm-sounding
and sleek microphone that can be used
for streaming, gaming, or in a more
professional setting, this NZXT Capsule
can tick those boxes comfortably. It
continues with NZXT’s long line of high-
end products with only the dials on this
device letting the quality side down a
little. –SAM LEWISJUN 2022 MAXIMU MPC 87