The RIG M2 Streamstar Pro HD enters the crowded content creator gear market with a straightforward approach. This tool isaimed at streamers, podcasters, or casual creators who want an easy way to get good vocal clarity without an elaborate setup. Theplug-and-play natureof the mic adds to its appeal, making it especially friendly for users who want to start recording without dealing with software installations or complex audio chains.
Despite its user-friendliness, the M2 Streamstar isn’t a perfect solution for everyone. It’s best positioned as a middle-ground option; muchbetter than a basic headset micbut not quite a substitute for high-end XLR microphones with external preamps. Some quirks in its controls and Bluetooth connectivity slightly undercut its polish, but overall, it strikes a reasonable balance of performance, features, and simplicity for the price.
In the Box
The M2 Streamstar Pro HD ships with a complete set of accessories. Included is a weighted desktop stand with a sturdy screw mechanism that allows for quick attachment or removal. The package also provides a 3-meter, or approximately 10-foot, USB-A to USB-C cable, with a convenient 90-degree connector for the microphone side. It ensures wide PC and Mac compatibility right out of the box. The mic includes built-in Bluetooth capabilities and a 3.5 mm jack, so wireless and wired monitoring is covered from the start.
The mounting mechanism is compatible withstandard boom arms, which is a nice touch for users with existing setups. Abuilt-in pop filterkeeps plosives in check without requiring an external screen, although its not perfect in terms of plosive mitigation by any stretch. Lastly, there’s a small extension cord for the 3.5 mm jack to make connecting wired headsets easier. Overall, it’s a package that allows creators to go from unboxing to recording in minutes without missing essentials.
Build Quality
There’s asatisfying sturdinessto the M2 Pro HD that’s immediately noticeable. The housing is a mix of matte-finish plastic and a metal mesh grille, giving it a sleek, lightweight body that feels robust enough for long-term use. While it doesn’t have the all-metal construction of higher-tier microphones, the quality doesn’t feel compromised. In fact, since the plastic somewhat resembles anodized aluminum, we initially thought it was wholly made of metal. It stands fairly securely on a desk without wobble, offering a good balance of weight and stability with its rubberized bottom.
The dials are a mixed experience. On the one hand, the soft,push-capable dialsare convenient for adjusting settings on the fly without going into menus. The tactility of both the turning and pressing is on point. On the other hand, the lack of any visual indicator makes it difficult to track mic gain levels without monitoring headphones. For the headphone volume, this isn’t as much of a problem, as you can hear the difference, although it would still be a plus. This could even be a dealbreaker for users who rely on consistent microphone levels between sessions, especially without a clipping indicator built in.
Audio Performance
In terms of sound capture, the M2 Streamstar Pro HD offers clean, usable voice quality with enough fidelity for streaming, casual voiceover work, and podcasting. The 16 mm cardioid condenser capsule picks up voice clearly witha natural tone and minimal background hiss. Its 24-bit/192kHz resolution is a standout on paper, providing some headroom and detail for basic editing and post-processing. However, the sound still lacks the warmth and depth found in similarly pricedXLR microphones. For those who are very particular, this might sound a little tinny compared to many studio microphones. However, in terms of similar USB microphones, the fidelity is decent.
The microphone performs well in untreated environments thanks to its focused pickup pattern and internal pop filtering.Podcasters are happy to hearthat there’s not much coloration, and background noise rejection is decent as long as you’re close to the mic. That said, the recording still benefits from external EQ or enhancement software, especially for creators looking to dial in a signature sound. For those who don’t have the boom arm and plan to use the microphone on the desk, additional backgroundnoise cancelation software is also highly recommended. Adding gain to receive enough voice volume also increases the amount of ambient noise tremendously.
Overall, the audio performance of the M2 Streamstar Pro HD is right where one would expect. This microphone is not designed to record a studio album, it’smeant for streamers and creators. Itputs most headphone microphones to shameand gets close to cheaper XLR condenser microphones. It doesn’t do aggressive post-processing and maintains a fairly natural tone. As a USB mic, it holds its own but clearly caters to the mid-tier segment rather than aspiring audiophiles.
Features and Controls
One of the mic’s more unique features is its dual headphone connectivity support, with both Bluetooth and 3.5 mm monitoring options. Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX HD support allowlag-free wireless monitoring, when it works. Unfortunately, the Windows setting for the sidetone wasn’t available in our setup. Initial pairing was not always reliable, and reconnecting headphones can be inconsistent. Once connected, however, the audio remained stable and synced with no delay. For those who prefer reliable wired monitoring, the 3.5 mm jack works forwired headsetsand headphones as expected without fuss.
On-mic controls are minimal but intuitive, featuring mute, mic gain, and volume all controlled by the dual dials. The muting function, which is available with the click of each dial and turns the dial LED red, has a noticeable delay. Theclicky button can also be easily picked up in recordingsunless the software cancels it out. That limits its utility in real-time editing or live performance, where pickup sensitivity isn’t set or is suboptimal. More critically, the free-turning dials make it hard to return to a known setting, especially for mic gain, which can affect consistency between sessions.
Final Thoughts
The RIG M2 Streamstar Pro HD is best seen as a clean, practical tool for creators who want better-than-average sound without getting too technical. It won’t replace a full studio setup, but it isn’t trying to. Instead, itdelivers decent clarity, wireless headset support, and a user-friendly design that makes sense for livestreamers, podcasters, and even remote workers who aretired of horrible headset mic quality. Its form factor and feature set offer great versatility for a variety of creator types.
There aredefinite trade-offs, most notably in control precision and connectivity quirks. However, they don’t overwhelm the experience if expectations are realistic. The mic offers just enough customization for semi-serious users without overwhelming casual recorders. For $129.99, the RIG M2 Streamstar Pro HD holds up as a solid mid-rangeUSB microphonethat prioritizes ease-of-use over in-depth options, and in the right use case, that’s more than enough.
