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Even though I follow the musical instrument and musical equipment industry quite closely, it can always happen that some new piece of gear, or a new manufacturer, goes unnoticed by me. For this reason, I was very happy when Joni from Vantaan Musiikki recently introduced me to the products of the Maono brand.
Maono is a Chinese company that specializes in podcasting, vlogging and livestreaming products. The brand offers studio microphones, wireless camera mics, podcast/streaming mixers, headphones, and audio interfaces.
I received two Maono microphones for testing:
The Maono PD400X (145 €) is a dynamic microphone that works both as a stand-alone microphone (via its XLR output) and as a USB microphone (using USB-C) with a richly specced, internal audio interface.
The Maono PM500 (159 €), for its part, is a large-diaphragm condenser mic (34 mm läpimitta).
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The Maono PD400X microphone’s appearance suggests its intended use as a podcast studio speech microphone. The PD400X is equally suitable for hanging from a suspension stand…
…as it is for use with a table stand.
The package includes the desk stand shown in the picture and a thick foam windscreen, as well as XLR and USB-C cables. The PD400X seems to be solidly made, and the weight of the microphone indicates that it is definitely not some nasty Temu-trash.
With the XLR cable, this Maono is a very straightforward dynamic microphone with an effective cardioid pattern and a very big sound.
The Maono PD400X’s internal digital sound card (48 kHz/24 bit) is activated via the USB port. At the base of the mic, you’ll find a headphone output and a three-position pre-EQ (bass cut, presence boost, as well as both simultaneously). The microphone’s large control knob works in four different ways – a short press mutes – and unmutes – the PD400X, while a longer push selects one of three control modes (microphone gain, headphone volume, and monitor balance).
The PD400X is directly compatible with Windows and Mac computers via USB, as well as Sony PS4 and PS5 consoles.
If you want to access all the microphone’s cool additional functions, you should definitely download the company’s Maono Link app. With Maono Link, you can, among other things, optimise the sound of the PD400X mic for different distances of the sound source to the microphone, use the internal audio interface’s own compressor and limiter, and adjust the equalisation more precisely.
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The Maono PM500 is the company’s straightforward, cardioid studio microphone with a large capsule (34 mm). It operates on 48 volts of phantom power.
The PM500’s solid build makes it look and feel much more expensive than it actually is.
The package includes a high-quality cradle mount, a metal pop filter that easily attaches to the cradle, an XLR cable, and a height-adjustable desk stand.
As you would expect in this price range, the Maono PM500 doesn’t offer any additional on-board features, such as a bass filter. This mic is simply placed in front of the sound source, and that’s it.
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I have to take my proverbial hat off to these Maono microphones. Despite being relative newcomers, they have managed to jump straight into the ranks of well-known quality microphones.
In terms of sound and features, the Maono PD400X is very comparable to, for example, Shure’s MV7 or MV6 microphones. The PD400X already has a big ”radio sound” from the start, to which the mic’s excellent internal audio interface (and Maono Link app) gives a professional touch.
In my opinion, the Maono PM500 plays in the same league as the recently released AKG C104. As with the PD400X, the basic sound of the PM500 is also very healthy. In studio work, the sound of the leakage picked up from the sides and back of the mic is also important, and in this area the quality of the Maono PM500 becomes very obvious.
With these specs at these affordable prices, I think it’s definitely worth checking out Maono microphones in person.
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