Overall and Final Verdict
Well, I may not have heard of Maono previously and if you listen to our audio recordings I may not be able to say the name correctly. But I don’t think I will forget the brand now. The PD200X USB/XLR Podcast Dynamic Microphone is an interesting microphone option. As the full name implies they have designed this with podcasting in mind but to me, it is just as focused on streaming as well, especially with the RGB lighting integrated into it. The PD200X comes with an anti-vibration mount and a foam pop filter which help keep costs down and help address some of the issues you will run into with a desktop microphone. It also has both XLR and USB connections which to me is perfect for someone getting started who would need USB right now but you don’t have to worry about buying a new microphone right away if you decide to upgrade to a mixer. But even without the mixer their software does get you a basic limiter and compressor which are helpful for people who are loud and being a dynamic microphone, it helps with that as well. The design has an easy to use volume control that handles both the microphone and the headphone output on the bottom as well as push-button mute. For those who are worried about aesthetics, it is available in both black and white and the white with the RGB looks especially good. For myself, I don’t need the RGB at all but there is an option to turn it off.
The PD200X isn’t without issues, the biggest of those was a static noise when running at full volume. Turning the volume down does help with that and we can’t expect perfection from a budget microphone. Beyond that, the audio performance wasn’t too bad. You will still need to plan on buying a microphone arm or stand and Maono does have one that I showed in the photo section that is $29.99 but there are similar options for cheaper on Amazon.
For pricing the PD200X has an MSRP of $79.99 but at least at the time of writing this, it is down to $72.99 along with a 5% coupon making it $69.34. Just a few days ago it was lower at $67.99 plug the 5% making it $64.59 so you may want to keep an eye out for those deals. But even at the regular price it is in line with the cheapest options from brands that I haven’t heard of and a lot cheaper than similar options (with RGB) from well known brands. So the PD200X isn’t perfect, but it can be a good value that also helps you transition later to an XLR setup if your Podcast or Stream takes off.
Live Pricing: HERE
