Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X USB microphone: features and spec-based rating

Audio-Technica’s AT2020USB-X is a cardioid condenser USB microphone.

A USB microphone is a microphone you can plug straight into a computer by USB. You can start streaming or recording without an audio interface.

In this article we rate it on 4 criteria using only the specifications the manufacturer publishes, and show how it ranks among the 11 USB microphones we compare.

Disclosure: This site takes part in affiliate programs. Specifications are as of the date we checked them and can change.

Figure: SoundBounty

Summary

Among the 11 USB microphones, AT2020USB-X is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5) gives 2.8.

Strengths

• Recording detail (24-bit/96 kHz, 4 points): It records finely, at a high sampling rate.
• Controls at hand (4 of 5, 5 points): You can control mute and volume at the microphone.

Things to keep in mind

• Switchable pickup patterns (1 pattern, 1 point): It has one pickup pattern.
• Range of connections (0 of 2, 1 point): It connects only one way, by USB.

Who it suits: judging from the specifications, it suits people who want to record in fine detail at a high sampling rate; people who want to control mute and volume at the microphone.

Main features of AT2020USB-X

A USB condenser microphone with the AT2020 sound

It carries on the sound quality of the standard AT2020 series condenser microphones and connects straight to a computer by USB-C. It can record at up to 24-bit/96 kHz. It is made for video streaming, game commentary, home recording and narration.

Controls you can operate by hand

It has a headphone jack that lets you hear your own voice without delay, and a volume knob for it. It also has a mix dial that changes the balance between the microphone’s voice and the computer’s sound (BGM and game sound).

A touch mute

A touch-sensitive mute silences the microphone when you simply touch the body, and the state is shown by the color of the light (blue while recording, red while muted). The official page says it mutes “quickly and quietly”. A desk stand is included.

Video: official Audio-Technica YouTube channel (narration in Japanese) Watch on YouTube

Where it is useful

• Starting cover songs or narration without an audio interface
• Adjusting the balance between game sound and your voice by hand during game commentary
• Muting quickly for just the moment of a cough or sneeze during a stream

Rating by criterion

Recording detail: 4 / 5

How finely it can record the sound (the sampling rate).

AT2020USB-X: 24-bit/96 kHz. That is a high rating among the products we compared. It records finely, at a high sampling rate.

Switchable pickup patterns: 1 / 5

How many pickup patterns (directions it listens in) you can choose from.

AT2020USB-X: 1 pattern. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. It has one pickup pattern.

Controls at hand: 5 / 5

How many controls you can operate at hand, such as mute, a gain knob and a headphone jack.

AT2020USB-X: 4 of 5. That is a high rating among the products we compared. You can control mute and volume at the microphone.

Range of connections: 1 / 5

How widely it connects: an XLR output, and whether it can be used with a smartphone.

AT2020USB-X: 0 of 2. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. It connects only one way, by USB.

The gray marks in the figure below (the dotted line on the pentagon) show the average of the 11 products we compared. Price is not part of the score.

How we score (USB microphones)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Recording detail	Highest supported sampling rate	192 kHz	96 kHz	48 kHz	44.1 kHz	Lower
Switchable pickup patterns	Number of selectable pickup patterns	4 or more	3	2	—	1 (no switching)
Controls at hand	Mute, gain knob, headphone jack, headphone volume, mix control	4 to 5	3	2	1	None
Range of connections	XLR output and smartphone (iOS / Android) support	2	—	1	—	None

Scored only on the specifications published by the manufacturer. Price and accessories are not part of the score. USB microphones often do not publish the sensitivity or self-noise that ordinary microphones do, so they are compared on the things that make a difference when you plug straight into a computer: recording detail, switchable pickup patterns, controls at hand and range of connections. Smartphone support counts only where the manufacturer states iOS or Android compatibility. Weight is shown in the table for reference.

AT2020USB-X connection and getting started

Connection	USB-C (directly to the computer)
Power	Runs on USB power (5 V)
In the box	Stand AT8702, adapter screw, USB cable (about 2 m, Type-C to Type-A) and a USB adapter
Other	The shock mount AT8455, which reduces vibration, is sold separately

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.

Compared with other USB microphones

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Before you buy

• It connects straight to a computer by USB. You can start recording without an audio interface. It cannot connect by XLR, so if you plan to use an audio interface later, compare models that also support XLR.
• It records at up to 24-bit/96 kHz. For ordinary streaming and singing, 48 kHz is enough. A bigger number records in finer detail, but the files are larger.
• Controls at hand: mute, headphone jack, headphone volume, mix control. Anything not on that list (gain, for example) is adjusted in software on the computer.

Read next

• ATR2100x-USB: features and rating (rank B)
• Blue Yeti: features and rating (rank B)
• MV7: features and rating (rank A)
• NT-USB Mini: features and rating (rank C)