Microphone Performance

The Maono PD400X features a dynamic capsule with a cardioid pickup pattern. Unfortunately, Maono provides limited details about the capsule, leaving its exact size, frequency range, and other specifics unknown. What we do know is that it has a sensitivity of -51 dBV via XLR and -8.5 dBFS/Pa via USB, can handle a maximum sound pressure level exceeding 130 dB, and includes an internal A/D converter capable of recording audio at 24-bit/48 kHz resolution. The microphone supports both USB-C and XLR connectivity. While this review focuses on its USB-C performance, pairing it with a quality audio interface and appropriate VST plugins can unlock even greater potential. Exploring the intricacies of audio interfaces and plugins is beyond the scope of this review, but if you're experienced in that domain, you're already well aware of the possibilities a capable microphone can offer.

The cardioid polar pattern means that the capsule picks up the sound in front of it while rejecting (to a certain level) everything coming from the sides and even more from behind. In practice, that means your room noise won't be as audible as with other polar patterns, especially if the microphone is close to your mouth. A cardioid polar pattern is preferred when you're the only one using the microphone; it doesn't work well for interviews or other multiple-people scenarios. The Maono PD400X is a top-address microphone, so regardless of how you use it, you should always aim its perforated top side toward your mouth.

To examine the performance of the Maono PD400X, I recorded voice samples in two different scenarios: with the microphone mounted to the supplied table stand and sitting on the table between myself and my keyboard, approximately 35 centimeters away from my mouth, and after attaching it to the Maono BA92 boom arm, and putting it roughly five centimeters away from my mouth. The samples have been recorded in a fairly quiet room, with audible traffic from a nearby street, and with the microphone gain set to 100%.



The performance of the Maono PD400X varies from decent to excellent, depending on its placement relative to your mouth. Its dynamic capsule truly benefits from the proximity effect, which is achieved by positioning the microphone within 10 centimeters of your mouth using a boom arm. In this setup, the microphone delivers a rich, full-bodied sound with the quintessential radio broadcast or podcast quality that most users seek, without requiring significant adjustments to the settings. The only configuration I applied was switching to Advanced mode in the Maono Link app. I left the equalizer off and kept all sliders at their default positions. As a result, the audio quality in my sample represents an excellent starting point, well-suited for broadcasting directly to your audience without any additional tweaking.

As for the sample recorded after placing the microphone on the table stand, my voice sounds hollower in comparison, which is to be expected. However, it is still quite a bit deeper and more natural than what's achievable by the likes of Elgato: Wave 3 or AVerMedia Live Streamer Mic 350 in the same scenario, with both costing more than the Maono PD400X.


The Maono PD400X struggles with noise rejection when used on the supplied table stand, particularly with sounds like table tapping, keyboard mashing, and anything else that might cause vibrations and get transmitted through the stand to the capsule. In the sample above, while the noise from mechanical switches isn't particularly loud, the microphone picks up the keys bottoming out and interprets these as deep, distracting 'thuds.' This test demonstrates that the PD400X is best paired with a boom arm, such as the Maono BA92, to minimize unwanted noise. I'd consider using it on a table stand only as a handy solution for online meetings, where you'll be heard and understood properly, and nobody will care if you sound like a radio host or not.


When mounted on a boom arm and equipped with the supplied pop filter, the PD400X excels at rejecting plosives, solidifying its status as an excellent and reasonably priced option for podcasting and live streaming.