MAONO PD400X Podcast Microphone Review – Neat Allround Microphone for XLR and USB

1 - Intro and Unboxing 2 - Technical Data and Features 3 - Sound-Check 4 - Maono Link Software 5 - Summary and Conclusion

Many people are skeptical about Kickstarter projects. But you can certainly have good ideas, even if you don’t yet have a reputation and lack start-up capital. Maono translates as “vision” and the young company has set the ambitious goal of gaining a foothold in the competitive hi-fi market with high-quality products. After a few years of the company’s existence, they now advertise that they are the world’s best-selling brand of Internet microphones. We test whether the new PD400X delivers what Maono promises.

I must honestly say that I had never heard of the manufacturer Maono when I was asked the other day if I wanted to take a look at this product. I’ve gotten to know a lot of renowned as well as unknown manufacturers over the last few years, especially through my work as a freelance hardware editor, and you can never know them all anyway. In the process, I learned that you shouldn’t underestimate young companies either. Everywhere in the world there are clever minds and people with great ideas, so why shouldn’t those who haven’t been in the business for decades manage to make a big splash?

Especially since the Maono team also has plenty of expertise, as they were able to poach experienced employees from renowned companies such as Foxconn and Huawei when the company was founded, which enables the company to realize everything from R&D to electrical design to software development and, according to their own statements, even production, all from their own hand

With that knowledge in mind, I took a look at the PD400X podcast microphone and at first glance it didn’t seem like anything special at all. Well, XLR and USB on one device, that’s not necessarily common, but it’s been around for years. Nor were there any promises of super duper noise cancellation, special RGB lighting or built-in air conditioning in the product description. So it’s just a normal microphone? Let’s find out.

Unboxing

Visually, the packaging makes a solid impression. Black with yellow accents and an image of the product, on the back a few features. However, the weight of the box makes an even more solid impression.

Under the cover is a completely yellow box, this also feels like a high quality product.

Inside, the individual components are neatly and securely enclosed in molded foam.

The complete contents unpacked.

An XLR cable and a USB cable with Type-C connector on one side and Type-C/Type-A adapter on the other side are also included. I think this is the first time I’ve seen a USB C-C cable. The sense? The microphone can also be operated on the smartphone.

The XLR, USB Type-C and a 3.5 mm jack are found on the bottom. There is also a switch for manually switching the equalizer, which can also be used without the Maono Link software.

Haptically, the microphone makes a very high-quality impression, there is nothing to complain about.

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A windshield is also still in the box