Maono PD400X Microphone Review – Solid in Every Way

Imaginative and prescient PD400X Microphone Evaluation – The Maono PD400X is a dual-mode USB/XLR microphone designed for content material creation like podcasts, streaming, and common audio recording. Priced at 154.99 USD (round 240 AUD), it outperforms its worth level when it comes to construct, sound copy, and EQ options.

I wish to make clear that this overview is tailor-made for these new to audio recording or on the lookout for a simple opinion on this microphone. I received’t delve into my opinions on the extremely technical specs, however I intention to supply easy definitions of the microphone’s key elements, making it straightforward so that you can grasp the important particulars.

Packaging and Set-up

The packaging contents embody:

1. XLR dynamic microphone
2. Desktop stand base
3. Wind foam
4. Person guide
5. XLR-XLR audio cable
6. USB-C cable with interchangeable USB-C/USB-A finish.

Arrange is extraordinarily easy, simply plug in through USB-C or USB-A to your telephone or laptop computer, and it’s able to report. You can even plug the microphone to an audio mixer through the XLR cable.

Construct High quality and Design

Not one of the supplies look or really feel low-cost. The all-metal physique and totally steel base contribute to a stable, hefty, and premium really feel. I additionally love the glossy all black design, which once more, provides on to the general sense of high quality.

Angling the microphone on its fastener is each easy and but has a refined resistance for a managed feeling through the adjustment.

When urgent down on the 3-in-1 Good Knob, you’ll really feel good stable suggestions. Even turning this knob is kind of satisfying. It’s exhausting to elucidate, however the knob has an incremental adjustment the place turning it feels inflexible and distinct, however by some means easy as properly.

Options

1. The three-in-1 Good Knob means that you can swap between microphone achieve, headphone quantity, and monitor combine. Turning the monitor combine louder will mean you can hear extra of your voice and fewer laptop audio
2. Faucet to mute – silent faucet display on the physique permits muting/unmuting with no noisy button
3. Twin audio outputs: XLR and USB-C.
4. Headphone jack
5. EQ adjustment button – on the backside of the mic is a small button that permits switching between flat, high-pass filter, presence increase, and high-pass filter + presence increase modes.
6. The Maono Hyperlink companion software program allows detailed changes to the EQ, achieve, limiter, and different settings.

Sound High quality

I’ve solely been testing the Maono PD400X with the USB connection, connecting it to my telephone for audio recordings and my laptop computer for each audio recordings and on-line conferences. From these exams I might say that the sound high quality is exceptionally clear and crisp, each for voice and devices. It’s also actually forgiving when it comes to angles of sound seize (so that you will be off axis to the proper or left and nonetheless seize sounds fairly properly.

Nevertheless, I did discover that the recording ranges are typically a bit gentle, requiring me to extend the achieve to ~30% for a passable degree of loudness. Nonetheless, total, I’d say the sound high quality is great.

Noise-Discount

The noise discount facet truthfully falls a bit wanting expectations. When positioned on a desk with the stand, it tends to seize numerous sounds and vibrations, akin to keyboard typing, slight actions within the base, and even the rocking of the desk. Even when elevated off the desk, it nonetheless picks up faint keyboard typing from behind. Moreover, noises (akin to home equipment being turned on) metres away, even with minimal achieve, stays audible within the recording.

Utilizing the wind foam will be efficient, but it surely may additional scale back recording ranges. So, utilizing software program to eradicate background noises is likely to be a greater method.

Portability

Dimensions: ~21.8 cm tall, ~8-9 cm on its widest half. Weighs approx. 1 kg. It’s properly sized, and though hefty, the burden makes it really feel stable and prime quality.

Full Specs

1. Capsule kind: Dynamic
   • The capsule is the part that converts sound waves into electrical alerts.
   • Dynamic microphones are strong, sturdy, and versatile, however much less delicate (so that they deal with louder sounds properly).
   • They’re usually used for stay performances and recording vocals akin to podcasts.
2. Directionality/Sample: Cardioid
   • The directionality of a microphone describes how delicate the microphone is to sounds coming from completely different instructions/angles.
   • A cardioid sample is most delicate to sounds from the entrance, much less delicate to sounds from the edges, and rejects sounds from the again.
3. Sensitivity:
   • XLR: -51.2dBV/Pa.
     That is the microphone’s sensitivity when linked through an XLR cable and signifies how successfully the microphone converts sound into {an electrical} sign.A decrease destructive worth like -51.2dBV/Pa typically implies increased sensitivity.
   • USB: -8.5dBFS/Pa (Max).
     That is the microphone’s sensitivity when linked through USB, and a decrease destructive worth signifies increased sensitivity
4. Sampling fee: 24-bit/48kHz
   • The sampling fee is the variety of knowledge factors taken per unit of time from an analogue audio sign to transform it right into a digital one.
   • Greater sampling charges can present extra element and doubtlessly seize increased frequencies.
5. Frequency Response: 40Hz-16kHz
   • The frequency response signifies the vary of frequencies over which the microphone can precisely reproduce or transmit audio alerts.
   • The Maono PD400X ought to subsequently be capable of precisely reproduce frequencies from 40 Hz – 16,000 Hz, which covers a considerable portion of the audible spectrum (which is usually 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz).
6. Mic achieve vary: 0 to +42dB
   • The achieve management means that you can regulate the amplification degree utilized to the microphone sign.
   • At 0dB achieve, the microphone sign is neither amplified nor attenuated (the sign is at its unique degree).
   • At +42dB achieve, the microphone sign is amplified by 42 decibels. This may be helpful in conditions the place the microphone is positioned at a distance from the sound or must seize quiet sounds.
7. SPL: >130dB SPL
   • SPL stands for Sound Strain Degree
   • Which means that the microphone is designed to deal with sounds with a degree > 130 decibels with out vital distortion or injury to the microphone itself

Maono PD400X Microphone Evaluation Conclusion

Total, the Maono PD400X is a superb beginning microphone, with its versatility, vary of outstanding options, and providing professional-grade sound high quality with out the professional-grade price-tag.

Disclosure: Maono PD400X USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone overview pattern was equipped for reviewing