When it comes to capturing professional quality sound, Audio-Technica is renowned for its excellence. And the company hasn’t missed a beat when it comes to creating a fantastic microphone for budget-conscious gamers, streamers, and content creators.
The AT2020USB-XP is a premium microphone that offers the stellar sound quality you expect from such a legacy and several impressive upgrades for power users looking for more control over their voice.
The design of the AT2020USB-XP remains largely unchanged from other AT2020 models, except for a sturdier stand that won’t wobble on the slightest breath, unlike the AT2020+ I tested previously. Another welcome change from the AT2020+ is the use of a USB Type-C connection instead of the USB-B input (yuck). You’ll find the headphone jack on the back of the microphone, while the front features a touch-sensitive mute button with LED indicator light and mix control dials.
I was particularly excited to test out two new features: automatic gain control and noise reduction, which can be activated using the small buttons below the microphone. The microphone’s built-in digital processing does a decent job of maintaining consistent audio levels as your voice volume fluctuates, as you can hear in the example below. However, it is more effective at boosting soft voices than reducing the volume of loud voices.
Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP Specifications
Polar Patterns: Cardioid polar pattern
Connectivity: USB
Recording Sampling Rate: 24 bit 48 kHz
Response frequency: 20–20,000Hz
Features: Headphone level control, mix control, mute, automatic gain control, noise reduction, pop filter, headphone jack
Price: $169 / £149.00 / $349.00 (AUS)
The auto-gain feature can be a real bonus for streamers who tend to speak softly and constantly need to boost their gain. Noise reduction buttons offer three levels of noise reduction, effectively reducing unwanted background noise.
While noise reduction was successful in eliminating the loud hum of my air conditioner, it wasn’t as good at filtering out keystrokes and mouse clicks, even at the highest setting. It’s nice that there’s no software involved in achieving this, which is the beauty of this plug-and-play microphone.
I mentioned the stand earlier, and there’s a little design element about it that I really appreciate. The bottom of the stand features a slight cutout for the USB cable, allowing you to neatly route the cable underneath to keep everything more organized. This little detail is a nice touch for someone who constantly struggles with messy cable management.
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Buy if…
✅ You need a solid, well-built mic: The build quality of AT’s streaming mics is second to none, and this one is no different.
✅ You have a soft voice: If you find yourself projecting often, the auto-gain feature amplifies your voice so you can be heard live without worrying about controls.
Don’t buy if…
❌ You need versatility: It has a polar pattern, and for the same price you can choose other options that you can use for group recordings if you are looking for flexibility.
❌ You are looking for calm: The built-in noise reduction is nice but doesn’t quite eliminate annoying keyboard clicks.
The microphone’s extended frequency response range ensures that no subtlety is lost during recording; as you can hear in the example below, my voice sounds crisp without auto gain turned on. The next recording with auto gain on didn’t sound as good and sounded way too loud to me. Again, if you speak softly, this might work for you.
While the clip-on pop filter adds a nice visual touch, I’m not sure if it effectively handles plosive sounds. Investing in a professional-grade pop filter might be a smart choice for podcasters or those who talk a lot in their recordings.
It should be noted that the AT2020USB-XP only offers a single polar pattern, without the versatility of a microphone like the Blue Yeti X, which can accommodate multiple speakers and various situations.
In terms of sound and price, the AT2020USB-XP competes with the HyperX Quadcast S and the Elgato Wave 3. You can hear how it holds up against those two in the sound comparison below.
If I had to nitpick, the other microphones offer more personality with their fun designs, color options and, in the case of the Quadcast S, RGB lighting. However, if you’re a streamer who doesn’t have the on-camera microphone, this may not be a major issue, especially considering the exceptional sound quality offered by the AT2020USB-XP.
With its exceptional audio reproduction, capturing the nuances of your voice during a true-crime podcast or other recording endeavor becomes effortless, eliminating the need for excessive post-processing. Not only does the AT2020USB-XP sound great, it also looks sleek and sturdy on your desk – it’s a visual and aural delight for just $169.