Customer Ratings & Reviews

I love the Steel Series product line and free software they provide (SONAR), even if you don't use their products. I tried three different microphones before settling on this one. I went the budget option with a FiFine AM8 and even got the mixer and XLR hook up for it and mic boom. For my use that was overkill and did not like that the mic was picking up desk bumps due to not having shock mount, so it went back to Amazon. Next, I tried the Hyper X Quadcast S from Amazon (on sale). I purchased the Alias at the same time from Best Buy (not on sale) and did numerous side by side recordings and videos. After doing my own comparisons, I determined that the Alias definitely was the winner in terms of sound quality, size, and shock mount. I preferred the Hyper-X desktop stand over the Alias, and I like the RGB lighting, but in the end, the Alias was the clear winner, even with the much bigger price tag at the time of purchase. The only complaint I have is with the mic stand. It is nice and heavy metal, but with the plastic cover it has, it generates a flexing sound if you handle it or move it around. I know it is always best on a mic boom, but that isn't something I need currently, since I'm not a content creator or heavy streamer. I just wanted something that was better for game night with friends and family, and this is perfect for my needs. I honestly can't tell much difference between this running on usb-c versus XLR and with the oversized condenser mic, it is clean and close in quality when compared to a similar dynamic microphone. Overall, I am very pleased with this microphone and would highly recommend it others. They just need to go with a solid metal base on the next version and ditch the plastic overlay. Last note, I saved the mic in my cart and caught it on sale one week after purchase. Using the Best Buy chat feature, they refunded me the difference in a matter of minutes, and I didn’t have to go back to the store. Very pleased with the mic and Best Buy customer service!

This is my first USB microphone so my opinion is probably biased.. but this thing is incredible! My friends on Discord say it sounds like I am standing right next to them when I talk. I like the real-time LED feedback you get on the face of the mic as you're talking and the giant red X that shows when the mic is muted. It makes fine tuning the gain of the mic a breeze. If you plug your headphones into the back of the mic you get real time monitoring with no delay but don't expect it to drive 250ohm headphones. Even with my 28ohm PC38X's I have to have the dial turned to about 80% for good, comfortable sound. I could go louder for sure, but any lower and its too quiet for my "old man" ears. What I really like about this mic is using it with the Steelseries GG software. You can EQ just about anything and get the sound you want. It has to be the most user-friendly piece of audio software I have ever used.

Overall, it’s good for what it’s worth there is definitely better on the market. It is very finicky and you have to mess with the settings on your computer. They have an app for it but overall once you get past all the technical issues, it works really well and it makes you really clear. Very good for streaming or just talking casually to friends, I use it for school as well.

This product is great, it has a great quality for Audio and the AI helps to improve the output. It doesn't need to be on an Arm, it is more than enough to catch all the sounds and your voice. I'll highly recommend it

Use this mic for gaming and for our podcast works great for both!! Sounds amazing!

[Employee of bestbuy] Best mic I’ve used never was a fan of blue yeti or headset mic quality but this is simple to set up and use with very clear quality

Coming from a cheap headset microphone this was a huge upgrade. I got it to make youtube videos and I think it's pretty nice for the price so I recommend it, just throw it on a cheap amazon mic stand

Steelseries has proven time and time again that they are top notch as far as gaming products go. This mic is good example of that. Great packaging, easy to setup/use and it looks really cool!

coming from a blue yeti microphone i can tell a huge difference. even my friends i play with tell me that they can hear me so much better. the background noise cancellation is fantastic as well.

Decent microphone and you don’t have to run there software to use this mic

Sound options are great. Get the Steelseries GG engine for even better customization options.

Is great for me, does it's job good. And the Steelseries software makes it way better

Works great, easy to set up, good for the Steel series family

Great sound quality and the noise canceling is extremely good

Takes some playing around in sonar, but very good.

THIS… Is the Steel Series Alias and it is replacing my Blue yeti, and to my shock, I didn’t realize just how much I had been left behind in the dust after having my eyes opened. This mic outside of having a super easy interface and built in shock absorber, has probably some of the best software I have used when it comes to peripherals. Every metric can be adjusted, it has great adaptation to block out the background noise while talking and just is an overall very satisfying experience with the built in cardioid mic. With a great aesthetic, some cool features on board and priced alongside all the top dogs, lets take a deeper dive into the Alias. Software ================= The software that came with the Alias was honestly so chocked full of features that I just assumed that they wouldn’t do too much, after all…. How much can software alter and improve a microphone? A LOT! The software allowed me to balance out my voice, reduce high pitches and eliminate background noises almost entirely. I mean seriously this is pro grade software and it WORKS. No lag, a slight learning curve but it is all well explained in the software what it all does so you are never left wondering. Truly the greatest part about the Steel Series Alias is the great software that comes with it. Sound ================= All things considered, from the physical mic to the software adjustments - this is the best sounding mix I have heard and used. Certainly better than my outgoing Yeti and a step above Hyper in regards to software control and ability to block out background noises. I think this Mic really punches up, and should you want something with more on the fly control and an XLR input then the Alias Pro has you covered with the same great software. Aesthetic and UI ================= Out of the box the Alias comes with a desk stand attached to it, with an adapter in the box that lets you attach it to a boom arm quite easy (which I did). Something I want to note is that everything that came with the Alias and the Alias included is very nice quality, and I was shocked at the heft from the adapter as they used really nice quality metal with a sleek dark gray finish. Something really cool to note is that when the mic is muted it has a giant red X displayed on the mic, and when you are talking there is a visible 5 stage led to make sure you aren’t blowing out your friends speakers on the other end (or to make sure that you are!). Cool Features ================= – Uses AI to block out background noises so the only thing screaming in Discord is you! – Built In Shock mount – Led Pitch monitor to show how loud the input sound is and a giant red X for when you are on mute – RGB Downlighting to sync with your gaming setup and is a great nightlight on your desk – Next level customization of sound and sound design Conclusion ================= This is actually a no brainer when it comes to Mics, we have known for a while that Steel Series is pretty much running the show when it comes the headphones and has some really good peripherals… and this is just another example of how SteelSeries creates great in house next generation products. I think the software suite is really what sold me on this Mic, as there are plenty of high end good looking microphones on the market, but this is the only one that has such a comprehensive suite that is able to drone out literally anything in my background. THIS is the Mic to have and the next Microphone to beat. As always, if you don’t like the product as well, Bestbuy’s return policy and procedures are so easy, you should give it a try! TL;DR - A must have for anyone looking for that ‘final mic’, high end but not excessive with features the average person doesn't need, but enough software control to really make this near studio quality. High end fit and finish coupled with everything you could need to set it up on your desk or attach it to your already existing desk arm. Alias vs Alias pro - The Alias uses USB type C while the Alias Pro uses an XLR connection.

I have tried many USB microphones, with varying success, but the SteelSeries Alias USB Microphone is the best I have used. The overall design is superb and unique. It comes with a stand and shock mount (wow!), and the SteelSeries Sonar software adding customization that flat out just works. If you so desired, you could also move the Alias off your desk completely by utilizing a Boom arm (since the Alias is boom compatible). There is a gain nob on the front along with a mute button. On the back you have a 3.5mm headphone jack and gain for that as well. For the sound and background pickup right out of the box, we get good sound, but we do also get background noise picked up (keyboard, mouse clicks, etc). I found using the Desk Stand preset to eliminate most if not all my background noise and it was noticeable different when playing with friends. Everyone that I asked stated the mic sounded great and with the Desk Stand preset, background noise was next to nothing. The Alias comes with the microphone itself, already attached to the stand, as well as a USB-C to USB-A cable. Overall, I have loved using the Alias as it has allowed me to have the option to remove my headset (which gets tiresome after a while), and still have a great microphone that simply performs. The SteelSeries Sonar software is amazing and is the icing on the cake. I cannot recommend the Alias enough.

I’m usually not a big fan of USB microphones. But this guy has some unique features that separate it from the competition and should be seriously considered. Starting off, it comes with a stand, with a shock mount, that works so-so. Bumps and taps on my desk are picked up rather easily. This is easily rectified with the Steelseries Sonar software and their “Clearcast AI Noise Cancellation” which works brilliantly at removing/blocking nearly all background and unwanted noises. The stand only moves up or down. I found that the tightening screw was a bit weak as it comes loose easily and when tightening barely moves at all. This could be improved. It does come with a metal fitting to allow it be placed on any boom arm. The microphone itself is awesome. It has a sleek attractive design that looks professional. On the bottom you have an LED light that you can adjust in the Sonar software. I find it gives good ambiance but can be disabled if that isn’t your jam. On the front you have three important features. From the button up, you have a volume knob that has around 340 degrees of rotation. Unfortunately, this only works if you have a headset plugged directly into the microphone. As it doesn’t adjust Windows sound. Additionally, it CANNOT be changed to be something different in the software. Which would have been epic. Next up is the capacitive touch mute/unmute button which when activated will show a red X below the capsule. It does not make any sound when activating/disactivating. Third is what I think is the best part of this microphone and what sets it apart from the competition, the real-time voice monitor. Which tells you how loud you are so you can adjust if needed. You have 5 LED’s, 3 green (all three mean just right), 1 yellow (loud), and 1 red (peaking). You can adjust the gain on the back of the device (again 340ish degrees of rotation). On the back, from the bottom to the top, you have your 3.5 mm aux port, which is in a good place as you can easily reach it and route it out the back. Then comes your USB-C port which again can be routed out the back so you don’t see it. Last, above that you have your gain knob. Overall, you can tell that a lot of time was spent making this an attractive but functional design that really paid off. Perhaps, most importantly we have the actual sound. They report it comes with a larger capsule than normal, which is very sensitive at stock settings without Sonar software, and definitely picks up everything, which is to be expected for a condenser microphone. I found it to be great for my voice. I personally used the “Alias – Desk Stand” preset. Which turns on the EQ, Clearcast AI Noise Cancellation, and Compressor. I also added a noise gate. There is a “Noise Reduction” setting that can be activated without the AI Noise Cancellation for “Background” and “Impact”. Simply by activating that preset I got excellent performance out of it. Even without it at stock settings without any software it was good. It just picked up more background and desk noise than I would want (clicking of mouse, and keyboard typing). Again, that was fully solved with the preset. Where my voice had good bass along with good presence where I had the podcast/streamer sound while still being very clear. It didn’t click up my clicks on my loud optical gaming mouse or me typing on my clicky keyboard. That I’d happily use for recording, streaming, podcasting, or anything else. All my friends said I sounded great. Last, we have the Sonar software, which is the star of the show. Easy to navigate and is for the most part very intuitive. A ton of great features that level up the experience. Such as tuning your headphone/headset (EQ, Spatial Audio, Volume Boost, Smart Volume). Microphone sound (EQ, ClearCast AI Noise Cancellation, Noise Reduction, Compressor, Noise Gate). The Mixer has 5 Virtual Audio Sources (Game, Chat, Media, Aux, and Mic) along with a Master Control. Where you can adjust volume to you and your stream/recording. Along with independently adjust those sounds and see which apps are currently utilizing them (which you can drag and drop into which one you want, say Game to Chat). You can easily switch devices (say you have multiple microphones or headphones attached) to whatever you want. For example I tend to have a wired studio grade headset, along with a wireless headset. This makes it easy to switch without needing to go into windows sound or give up the features used here. I rarely talk about software. As I avoid it whenever I can. But this guy is almost a must have. Which is shocking coming out of my mouth.

This SteelSeries Alias USB Microphone for Gamers is a professional level microphone. This microphone is loaded with features. Starting with the shock mount and stand, it is designed so that there will not be any vibrations or other noise that comes from the keyboard, fans, or anything else that would cause unwanted noise in your microphone. The reason is because the stand is built very well with a non-skid surface on the bottom of the stand. The stand allows you to tilt and adjust the microphone to bring it to your desired level and position. There is also an adapter included so that if you want to attach it to a boom arm, you can. It fits two sizes 3/8 and 5/8. The microphone itself is shaped like a capsule or some may say pill. It has a lot of things on the microphone itself. There is a mute, volume, gain, a peak level LED of 5 lights, a 3.5 headphone jack, and an RGB light on the bottom of the microphone. The light is customizable in the software. The microphone is a condenser microphone with a Cardoid pattern, which means that the microphone will pick up from the front side and anything in the back will be inaudible. This makes it great for gaming, because you don’t want any unwanted noise. The software will allow you to customize the microphone to most of your games. It’s pretty cool software, but you don’t have to use it for this microphone to sound incredibly well. During my gaming experiences with this gaming microphone, my opponents and allies were very impressed with the sound quality of my voice. They all agreed that this microphone sounds better than any microphone I have used before. There were no issues with feedback, background noise, or any type of unwanted sounds, including heavy breathing. While I didn’t use separate noise cancellation software outside of SteelSeries Sonar, Prism and GG to customize the RGB lighting and game mapping. All in all, this is a very good sounding plug and play gaming microphone. I do like the software and the options it gives for gaming.

First things first, let's talk about how this mic looks and feels. The SteelSeries Alias USB Microphone has a sleek and modern design. It's not bulky or obtrusive, which is great because it doesn't clutter up my desk. The build quality is solid. It feels like it can handle a bit of rough handling, not that I'd recommend dropping it, but accidents happen. The sturdiness gives me confidence that it will last, and I can focus on my games without worrying about it breaking. I'm not a tech wizard, but I like things to be simple, and this microphone doesn't disappoint. The setup is as easy as pie. You just plug it into a USB-C port, and you're good to go. You will definitely want to install and update the SteelSeries GG Software. The software alone is a huge bonus. Once you get it installed you'll see what I am talking about. Now, this is where the SteelSeries Alias USB Microphone truly shines. The sound quality is crystal clear. When I'm gaming with my friends or in a video call, folks on the other end can hear me loud and clear. No more muffled or distorted audio. It's like upgrading from an old CRT TV to a 4K monitor – the difference is that noticeable. The noise-cancelling feature is a bonus, so you don't have to worry about background noises distracting you or anyone listening to you. What's great about the Alias USB Microphone is that it's not a one-size-fits-all deal. You can adjust it to your liking. The stand is handy and if you have a arm it comes with an adapter to mount it on one. Gaming is the main highlight of this microphone, but it's not limited to just that. It's versatile, which is a plus. I've used it for making video calls with friends and family, and the audio quality there is impressive too. It's great for recording videos, creating content, or even having a clear, noise-free voice for virtual meetings. To sum it up, the SteelSeries Alias USB Microphone is a fantastic addition to any gamer's setup. Its simple plug-and-play setup, crystal clear sound quality, versatility, and durability make it a winner in my book. It's not just a gaming mic; it's an all-rounder that can level up your audio experience. If you're a gamer or someone who needs clear audio for any purpose, this microphone is worth every penny. It's like a trusty sidekick on your gaming adventures, always ready to make your voice heard.