While most gamers will probably choose agaming headsetif they are looking for an audio solution that combines sound output and input, the Antlion ModMic offers a similar experience and much better performance than any gaming headset. Not to mention, you can use your favoritepair of headphoneswith it.
Recently, Antlion released version 2 of their two most popular models: the ModMic USB and the ModMic Uni. Both models have received a number of updates over their predecessors, and over the last couple of weeks, we have had the opportunity to put them to the test recording, hanging out on Discord calls, and taking professional meetings to see if they are worth pairing with headphones to round out your gaming audio experience.
ModMic Uni 2 Box Contents
ModMic USB 2 Box Contents
While we knew Antlion was no slouch for delivering premium products, we were pretty surprised when we opened up these mics and saw how many accessories and extra pieces they came with. It can be a bit overwhelming when you first open up the box, but after processing what everything is, it is super nice to have multiple of a lot of things. Whether you misplace the mic on your headphones on the first try or want to have a spot for them on multiple headphones, the two base clasps give a lot of forgiveness. For someone who gets overwhelmed just placing design stickers, this is very nice to see.
After positioning the microphones on the headphones we used for testing, the next step in the setup is cable management. How you run these cables depends on what kind of computer you are using; when we tested them out for laptop use, the process was pretty easy. Just run the cables together and plug them into the laptop. The cable is two meters long, so you shouldn’t have any issues running out of length.
However, for desktop use, the Uni 2 and USB 2 were pretty tricky to manage the cables cleanly. It is worth noting that the desktop we used for testing has no front I/O, so if you have front I/O, this might not be as big of a problem, but we had to get a bit clever for both of them to work with our current setup. It was by no means detrimental to the overall use after we got it set up, but up-front, there was a bit of frustration.
Design and Features
If you have never heard of Antlion Audio’s ModMic lineup before, these microphones might look pretty weird at first glance. However, thanks to some clever design, these microphones easily attach to most headphones using a 3M adhesive clasp that magnetically attaches to the cup of your headphones.
The two models have slightly different designs, but are very similar overall. If you are using an over-ear pair of headphones, you should have no issue attaching either microphone to an earcup, but on smaller on-ear or in-ear headphones, these mics do look pretty out of place and, in some cases, will not have enough surface area to stick at all. While most gamers probably wouldn’t be planning on using either of these mics with in-ear headphones, it is worth mentioning.
The boom arm is long enough to comfortably position the microphone in front of your mouth for the best sound quality. Thanks to the noise cancelation, which we will discuss in more depth in the sound quality section, I never had any concerns, even with the microphone capsule a bit further away. The positioning will differ from headphone to headphone, but we found it best to place the base clip near the bottom front of the earcup for the best results.
The instructions recommend cleaning any surface to which you plan to attach the microphones with the provided alcohol wipe beforehand. We were skeptical if this really made a difference, but even if you think your headphones are pristine, a quick wipe beforehand will make it much easier for the base clip to stick to your headphones. Because we were using open-back headphones, the mesh design did cause some issues initially, but after holding the base clip on for about 30 seconds, it was on there and was not coming off.
The Uni 2 and USB 2 have in-line mute buttons, but weirdly, they are implemented slightly differently. On the Uni 2, the mute button is a flippable switch, whereas on the USB 2, it is simply a button. Regardless of which one you end up going with, the mute buttons are very convenient to use. However, our favorite was the flick switch on the Uni 2. It felt more definitive and easier to mute or unmute without having to look down at the cable.
Besides the mute buttons, these microphones are very similar for the most part; the main difference is the devices supported. The Uni 2 is a great choice for most users, whether you are using a console, a desktop, a laptop, or even a handheld gaming device. However, keep in mind that you may need to get a Y-splitter to connect it to devices that only have one 3.5mm audio jack, because most of the time these are only made for audio output, and not input.
The USB 2, on the other hand, does have some limitations, but it is very easy to connect this microphone to most devices that support microphone input via USB. Notably, if you are a PS5 gamer, the ModMic USB 2 is going to be the better option. Plus, with the included USB-A to C adapter, even if your device only has USB-C ports like most laptops do, you can easily connect the USB 2 without the need for a USB hub.
Sound Quality
As we have covered in the past, a standalone microphone will always provide at least slightly better sound quality than an integrated microphone, whether in-line mics for headphones or boom mics on gaming headsets. Because the ModMics have a pretty small capsule, we were a bit hesitant when we first started testing them out, but after getting the first recordings done, we were blown away by the quality these microphones produce.
Both microphones produce a very similar sound, with natural-sounding voices and pretty good separation from your surroundings. You will still get a bit of keyboard and mouse sounds picked up in these microphones, but with lower gain and placing the microphone closer to your mouth, you can avoid these sounds overriding your voice pretty easily.
In a world of gaming mics and even professional microphones that offer digital noise suppression, it is surprising that Antlion does not provide that with either of them, but it is also by no means a deal-breaker for us. Digital noise suppression makes microphones more approachable to beginners, but because these microphones are at most a couple of inches away from your mouth, noise suppression would be a bit overkill.
It will take some more playing around with mic positioning and monitoring levels than a microphone with noise suppression to cut out most background noise with either the USB 2 or UNI 2, but after finding those settings, you are good to go. Down the line, it would be fantastic for Antlion to include some digital noise suppression in at least one of the ModMics, but our experience was not hindered by its absence at all. Plus, this missing feature means that both of these microphones are entirely plug-and-play.
Are the ModMic Uni 2 and ModMic USB 2 Right For You?
While these mics still have flaws and are not perfect, they are filling a need not met by any other brand at the moment. If you have a pair of headphones that you absolutely love, but their microphone is either non-existent or just plain sucks, the ModMic Uni 2 and USB 2 are quick, affordable, and easy-to-use tools for instantly boosting your audio quality, without losing the compact form factor that comes with having headphones with an attached microphone.
Antlion Audio ModMic Uni 2
ModMic Uni 2 is the culmination of over a decade of attachable microphone technology. The uni-directional noise-canceling microphone has been upgraded for even better quality and noise rejection. With the 3.5mm connection, this microphone is pretty much compatible with every device that has an aux port that allows for audio in, making it incredibly flexible.
Antlion ModMic USB 2
ModMic USB 2 takes everything great about the original design and delivers it all in a single microphone capsule. The USB 2 features professional grade mic quality with a noise rejecting cardioid pickup pattern, –making it the most advanced wired ModMic. And with the included USB-A to C adapter you may easily hook this up to your PC regardless if you are using a desktop or laptop.
Related Products
When it comes to sound quality and ease of use, we have nothing to complain about with these two microphones. The main problem we have is with cable management, and that might be due to our own shortcomings. That being said, if you struggle with cable management like us, the ModMic Wireless might be a better option. If you prefer an in-ear headphone experience, the Antlion Audio Kimura is the way to go.
FAQ
Q: Are Modmics worth it?
While the use case might seem a bit niche, ModMics are definitely worth it if you are looking to add excellent microphone quality to your favorite pair of headphones that don’t have an in-line microphone.
Q: Does Antlion ModMic work with PS5?
The PS5 is quite the process of finding compatible microphones. Luckily, if you are looking at the ModMic USB 2, this microphone is fully compatible with PS5.
