We’ve all been there. You buy a wireless gaming headset only to find out the mic was a complete afterthought. Or maybe you’ve just bought an expensive pair of wireless headphones and don’t want to step down to a gaming headset. Enter the ModMic Wireless, a wire-free mic that promises better quality than any gaming headset you’ve ever heard. Does it deliver? Let’s find out in our full review.
Specifications
- MSRP: $119.99 (Antlion Audio Store)
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Head Unit
- Charging Port: Micro USB to USB Type-A
- Quick Mute
- LED Status Indicators (Power, Charging, and Mute)
- Clasps: Plated Neodymium N45 strength magnets
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Wireless Receiver
- USB 2.0 Full Speed Type-A with included USB Extension Cable
- LED Status Indicators (Power, Charging, and Mute)
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Microphone Capsule Specs
- Dual electret capsules: omni- and uni-directional Selector switch on microphone housing
- Range: 10+ Meters (32+ ft.)
- Bit Depth: 16 bit
- Sample Rate: 48khz
- Codec: aptX Low Latency
- Latency: ~34ms
- Response Range: 20hz to 20khz
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There’s a running joke in our house that our baby has a nickname for my wife. We call her “the answer,” because no matter what he needs, she’s the answer to his problems. I share that because in a lot of ways, the ModMic line has stepped up to be the answer to your headset microphone woes.
Most wireless gaming headsets have passable mics at best and terrible, tinny sounding garbage heaps at worst. Heck, even a lot of wired headsets treat microphones as an afterthought. Even before I started reviewing hardware, I remember buying highly reviewed headsets from big companies like Corsair, getting home and wondering why, when the rest of the headset was so good, would they cheap out on the mic? This was before streaming was so popular and now it’s even more puzzling. Microphones are more important than ever and not everyone wants a boom arm in from of them all the time. That’s where the ModMic comes in.
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The different versions of the ModMic that have come out over the years have all served the same basic purpose. They attach to the side of your headphones or headset to provide a high quality capture when you need it and detach for when you don’t. We reviewed the ModMic 4 and ModMic 5 around this time last year and came to a simple conclusion: By focusing on doing one thing and doing it well, they were able to become one of the best microphone options on the market, vastly exceeding anything most built-in headset mics could deliver. On top of that, their modularity meant that you could turn any set of headphones into a gaming headset, opening the door to a world of options that weren’t possible without a big, bulky mic setup. If you wanted a better headset mic, the answer became ubiquitous: get a ModMic.
If there was one criticism, though, it was that there were an awful lot of wires to manage and clipping/sleeving was a pain. That’s where today’s product comes in.
With the ModMic Wireless, Antlion has rebuild the ModMic from the ground up to deliver the best wireless mic we’ve ever used with our PC. It’s so good that it honestly makes you wonder what these other companies have been doing for so long. Have a listen:
Now compare that to the otherwise excellent Razer Nari Ultimate wireless headset we reviewed last week:
Massive difference, no? There is just no question, the ModMic Wireless is better in every single way. In omni-directional mode, there’s hardly any compression to speak of whereas the Nari, and most other wireless gaming headsets, are plagued by it. The volume level is also on point, loud enough to be clear with the mic far enough away to avoid breathing into it and popping with every “p” and “b” you speak. Even uni-directional mode, which you can swap into easily with a switch near the capsule, manages to sound better than most gaming headsets while still rejecting background noise. They’ve also given the Wireless AptX Low Latency compatibility to get rid of any transmission delays, which isn’t something I’ve seen on a gaming headset at this point.
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Getting things set up is easy and almost foolproof. You wipe your mounting surface (the side of your headphone) with an alcohol pad and press the mount in place. The head piece is held in place by a much stronger magnet this time, so it won’t fall out with a little bump, but it does mean that it pulls on the adhesive, so Antlion recommends letting it cure for a full 24 hours before using it. Once it’s set, it’s as simple as plugging in the transmitter and turning on the mic. My machine instantly recognized the ModMic Wireless and I was off and running in less than five minutes.
It’s refreshing to be able to stream and podcast without changing out headsets. I have a nice fancy mic on a boom arm, but there are times when I’d rather just kick back and be comfortable. This microphone allows you to do that with very few sacrifices, and thanks to a 12 hour battery and smart sleeping if you forgot to power it off, it’s good for a nice long stretch with every charge.
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Taken as a whole, it’s a nice package. The ModMic Wireless comes with a nice carrying case to hold the mic and transmitter, two sets of mounts so you can use it with more than one pair of headphones, a USB extension cable for the transmitter and a micro-USB charging cable, a pop filter, and the microphone and transmitter itself. Since the mic retails at $119 at the time of this writing, it is good to see them including extras like the additional mount and nice hardshell case.
Final Thoughts
I’m extremely impressed by the ModMic Wireless. After using so many wireless headsets that boast about the quality of their microphones, it’s refreshing to find one that’s actually boast-worthy. At $119, this is a specialized purchase to be sure, but if you’re a streamer or content creator that’s ready to cut the cord for good, there’s really no better option in wireless headsets. Put simply, with the ModMic Wireless, Antlion has done it again.
Pros
- Excellent audio quality
- Easy setup
- Turns any headphone into a gaming headset
- Carrying case, extra mounts included
- Good battery life, can be used while charging
Cons
- Will be too expensive for many
The product discussed in this review was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
