Despite how easy modern consoles have made streaming, there still remains a lot of decisions to make. Do you go with a dedicated microphone? A headset? In 2021 you can even hop on with your next-gen Dualsense controller. Options are one thing, but if you want to make an impact in the very competitive streaming space you need quality. That’s what the EPOS B20 provides.
This is the first foray into streaming microphones for EPOS, the recently rebranded Sennheiser Gaming Headset Division. They are however veterans in the gaming audio space with Sennheiser being one of the best brands in the business for offering high-quality tech at affordable prices and explode onto the microphone scene ready to compete with the highly regarded Blue Yeti X.
DESIGN
From the moment you pull open the magnetic seal on the box, you can tell you are dealing with a premium product. The microphone itself has a stunning cylinder design encased in a semi-matte aluminium frame. It comes complete with volume, gain, polar pattern and mute controls that make adjusting the settings to your specific needs a breeze. Unfortunately, both the volume and gain dials have no minimum or maximum which eliminates the ability to log your preferred setting in these areas. This hasn’t been an issue for me so far though.
Another aspect of the design that I really appreciated was the sturdy base. Coming from the Samson C01u Pro, which is prone to keeling over if angled too much, it was nice to have confidence in the form factor. The same can be said for the arm, which lets you use the mic both vertically or horizontally with ease. The connection is USB-C and the cable provided is 2.9m, which may sound like a small detail, but a longer cable is so rare these days that it really stood out to me.
STREAMING OR PODCASTING
While the EPOS B20 is marketed as a streaming microphone I can also confirm that it works flawlessly for podcasting too. Below is episode 24 of our weekly gaming podcast – Pure Dead Gaming. Here we are running a three mic setup. I (Craig) on the EPOS B20, Andy on a Samson C01u Pro and Jessica on a YOTTO condenser.
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PERFORMANCE
Simply put – the EPOS B20 is the best microphone I have ever used. It provides crystal clear sound and is easy to set up for both beginners and more seasoned users. By default, you may find the mic particularly sensitive to background noise, so I would advise adjusting the gain on the unit itself for clearer output.
Pick-up patterns include cardioid, best used when sitting directly in front of the mic. Omnidirectional, which picks up sound equally from every direction. Bidirectional, which splits the output in two – ideal if you were conducting an interview and finally stereo, which uses the left and right channels for different sound sources. This allows the EPOS B20 to cater to whatever needs you have on any given project. It really is the full package.
If you want to get even more into the weeds you can also download the EPOS Gaming Suite, which includes noise cancellation features, reverb controls, an adjustable noise gate and more. While this isn’t necessary, I do recommend checking it out. Even novices will be surprised by how easy it is to navigate and make changes. Beware though, the software only works if you are also using wired headphones via the 3.5mm jack on the base of the mic.
VALUE
At £179 this is by no means an entry-level price, but the quality of the EPOS B20 reflects that. As someone who both streams and hosts a weekly podcast, I have used my fair share of audio equipment and in terms of bang for your buck, the build quality, superb audio and wealth of adjustable options combine to provide great value. In my experience, you will not get a better mic elsewhere for close to this price.
-Craig 🧐
🔷 Product provided by EPOS for review purposes.