The best podcasts, live streams, and let's plays have one thing in common. It's something most people probably don't realize. No one thinks about audio until they hear something with bad audio. A good microphone can make or break your content. Imagine spending hours getting the perfect shot with perfect lighting, only to have viewers run away because the sound is muffled.

It is no surprise that there is no shortage of great sounding USB microphones in 2020. The biggest surprise, however, is the rise of cheap microphones under $100. While they lose many features to justify the low cost, the way the voice sounds more than makes up for it.

The microphones nominated for Best Microphones of 2020 are affordable, easy to use, and most importantly, sound great. These plug-and-play microphones require no sound engineering or special software; all you need is a USB port and a dream. Like the great Biz Markie, make music with your mouth with the best microphones of 2020.

Check back on New Year's Eve, when we'll announce the winner of the Best Gaming Monitor of 2020, along with the other winners of the PC Gamer Hardware Awards 2020. Until then, check out the best microphones for streaming, gaming, and podcasting here.