Maono PD200X USB/XLR Podcast Dynamic Microphone Review

Review of the Maono PD200X USB/XLR Podcast Dynamic Microphone.

I’ve been recording my own music at home for almost 30 years now, from a Tascam Porta 05 cassette-based multi-track, through most of the BOSS BR series, and finally onto GarageBand for iPad. In all that time, I’ve only ever used two mics: The Shure SM58 and a RODE Videomic Me. Truth be told, neither of those mics were ideal for home recording and I’ve never been totally satisfied with the results… Until the Maono PD200X came along!

So why is the Maono PD200X so good?

Built-in shock mount

A small thing to start off with. However, having a built-in shock mount immediately solves any issues with handling noise, so that’s an early tick in the box.

USB/XLR flexibility

My use case for the Maono PD200X is an XLR mic through my Presonus iOne USB Audio interface into Garageband iPad and in this scenario, it performs flawlessly. Direct monitoring is handled through the Presonus as opposed to the PD200X in this mode.

But say for example I upgraded to a MacBook. That would negate the need for the Presonus and I could use the USB connectivity directly, PLUS with the added bonus of being able to set up various configurations for the PD200X, as well as being able to direct monitor through the mic itself. These extra features are not just a gimmick; the RGB lighting is genuinely useful for dark and dingy rooms and the halo around the dual gain/monitor level is particularly helpful for clarity of your current level status.

More valuable and impressive than that are the various tonal configurations that can be set up via the downloadable app and saved to the mic, which truly is a great timesaver when setting up your favorite EQ, limiter, and compressor settings. In fact, the only negative thing I have to say about the USB mode is that I miss the feature in XLR mode!

Build Quality

The Maono PD200X certainly punches above its weight for a £69.99 mic, with a sturdy metal casing and solid plastic switch/smart knob. I really love the detachable fabric grill which is held on by a magnet. Nice touch! All connectors are also solid and reassuring and it’s nice to see a couple of adaptors in the box meaning the PD200X is easily integrated into any existing setup.

Performance

I was even more presently surprised by the manner in which the captures vocals and acoustic guitar, which is precisely what I’ll be using it for. The Shure SM58 was always very plain sounding, although It got the job done. The RODE Videomic was a bit of a compromise in that it was, in essence, a small, portable mic, that could be plugged directly into the iPad mic socket. Quick? Convenient? Absolutely. But the drawback was an overly compressed, middly, unnatural tone.

Now for the Maono PD200X.

Gone is the compression of the RODE, and it’s such a relief to be going back to a ‘proper’ full-size dynamic mic. The PD200X supports and encourages your vocals, and the task, sometimes the chore of singing, is a pleasure again. It captures everything, all the nuances you’d hope to convey, all the passion in perfect dynamic, punchy clarity.

As for acoustic guitar, It’s no longer just mids. Now the zing is back, and just like the vocals, it’s not just a facsimile anymore, it’s a true representation of your performance.

How does it compare with the Shure SM58? That never did inspire me. It is, after all, designed to be a live mic. The Maono PD200X, on the other hand. feels much more at home. It’s billed as a Podcast rather than a vocal mic, so that’s probably why it seems to possess that condenser mic magic that boosts and adds sparkle to anything you throw at it., which is a great quality to have, given the levels of distraction and noise in my house, a full-blown condenser mic would be far too sensitive and absolutely out of the question.

Check out my video of the Maono PD200X below. And I apologise for completely forgetting about the gain knob!

Looks

It also doesn’t hurt that the Maono PD200X looks fantastic, particularly in all its RGB glowing glory. Just look at it. A very stylish mic to own indeed.

Specification from maono.com

Conclusion

The Maono PD200X is the best mic I’ve ever owned. For home recording, it not only captures my vocals and acoustic guitar perfectly, but it also adds a little condenser mic-style magic that gives your performances more emotion, confidence, and quality. It’s well made, keenly priced, looks great, and has the added flexibility of really useful USB-only features when you need them, which elevate it even further in my estimations.

I hope to be recording with the Maono PD200X for many years to come!

Pick one up today by clicking here.