Maono PD300X Review (2025): Best Budget Podcast Microphone?
Looking for an affordable podcast mic? Read this honest Maono PD300X review to see if this $89 microphone is good enough for your needs.
When choosing the best microphone, sound quality is the most important thing. I want a mic that makes me sound clear and professional. If it does that, I’m happy — no matter the price.
That’s why the Maono PD300X got my attention. It promises professional podcast sound for just $89. The brand also talks about “breakthrough audio performance” and “6 major upgrades.”
But after using it, I can say this mic is decent, not amazing. The sound is good enough for beginners or small podcasts. However, it doesn’t match premium brands like Rode or Shure.
It’s not bad, but it’s not the best. If you need a cheap mic for practice or as a backup option, the PD300X can be useful.
In this Maono PD300X review, I’ll share its main features, sound quality, and if it’s worth buying.
Maono PD300X Specification
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Microphone Type | Dynamic |
| Audio Resolution | 192KHz/24-bit |
| Connectivity | XLR, USB-C |
| Colors | Black, White, Pale Pink |
| Max SPL | 135dB |
| Dimensions | 13.8 x 13.8 x 7.8 inches |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz – 16KHz |
| Price | From $89 / £99 |
| Weight | 12.3 ounces |
Maono PD300X Microphone Review: Price & Availability
The Maono PD300X microphone is sold in different bundles. The mic alone costs $99 from Maono. In the UK, it costs £91.
If you buy it with a boom arm, the price drops to $89 on Amazon U.S. and £99 in the UK. With a desktop stand, the price goes up to $129 on Amazon U.S. and a surprising £231 on Amazon UK. However, buying directly from Maono brings it down to £113.
While the mic itself is affordable at $89, adding accessories like a stand or boom arm increases the total cost. This makes it less of a budget-friendly option if you don’t already own these extras.
For beginners, the Shure MV6 is a better choice. It costs $149 with a stand, just $20 more than the PD300X desktop bundle. The MV6 offers better sound quality and is my top recommendation for podcasting, streaming, or content creation.
If you’re just starting out, I suggest skipping the PD300X and going straight for the Shure MV6.
Maono PD300X Microphone Review: Design & Controls
The Maono PD300X is a dynamic microphone for podcasting, available with a boom arm or desktop stand. It comes in black, white, or pink (I tested the black version). The pink version looks great for streamers.
The mic has a thick muff that feels soft, but it doesn’t block out pops as well as expected.
At 2.4 inches in diameter, it’s a small and easy-to-use mic. The PD300X is a dynamic mic, which works best in rooms that aren’t soundproofed. It gives a warmer sound, which is great for podcasting and streaming.
Setting up the mic is easy — just plug the USB-C cable into your laptop and start recording with software like Audacity. No extra software needed.
If you do use the companion software, you can customize the button on the mic. The button can mute the mic or control things like noise reduction. A short press mutes the mic, and a long press activates other settings like noise gate.
One downside is that the button doesn’t light up, so you can’t tell if it’s on or off without the software. There’s also no red light when muted, just a rainbow light when the mic is picking up sound.
Maono PD300X Microphone Review: Features & Connectivity
The Maono PD300X is a plug-and-play microphone with both XLR and USB-C connections. It’s easy to set up: just plug the USB-C cable (included) into your laptop, or use an XLR cable (not included) for audio interfaces. Keep in mind that the app features only work with the USB-C connection.
As for features, I was a bit disappointed. The Noise Gate is meant to reduce ambient noise by cutting off signals below a certain level. The mic is set to 25 dB by default, but you can adjust it up to 90 dB. Unfortunately, it didn’t work as well as I hoped, which I’ll explain more in the sound quality section below.
The PD300X also offers vocal tone options like Podcasting, Recording, Gaming, and Original. However, these presets didn’t sound great. The Podcasting preset made my voice sound too robotic, while Recording and Gaming were also lackluster. I switched to the Original setting, which sounded more natural.
You can adjust the EQ manually using a 10-band setting to change the sound of your voice, such as making it deeper. But overall, the presets didn’t improve my voice much.
Maono PD300X Microphone Review: App
The Maono Link app (available for Windows and Mac) is easy to use but lacks the advanced features of apps like MotivMix (Shure) or GG/Sonar (SteelSeries). While you can manually adjust the EQ settings, it requires more time and effort compared to the simple presets offered by other apps.
The Link app homepage is simple and straightforward. It lets you control headphone volume, mic button settings, and noise gate. However, there’s no digital pop filter option, which was a problem during testing (I’ll explain more in the Audio Quality section below).
The EQ presets in the app are not very useful, so I wouldn’t rely on them much.
Maono PD300X Microphone Review: Audio Quality
Maono PD300X is a decent microphone, but it has some issues. It has trouble with plosives (p and b sounds), can clip (distort the sound), but does okay with sibilance (hissing sounds like ‘s’).
If you want a better mic for a similar price, I recommend the Shure MV6. It’s easier to use and sounds better, even though it doesn’t have an XLR port.
The PD300X sounds clear, but not amazing. It often peaks and causes pops with p and b sounds. It’s usable, but the Shure MV6 sounds smoother and richer.
The PD300X does well at reducing hissing sounds, even without extra settings in the app. This is good for clearer recordings.
The mic has trouble with plosives. Every time I say ‘p’ or ‘b’, the mic pops. You’ll need to use good mic technique to avoid this.
The noise gate in the Maono Link app didn’t do much to reduce background noise. It made the recording sound choppy instead of clean. It works better in quiet environments, like a home studio.
The EQ settings didn’t improve my voice much. My voice sounded flat, and the preset settings didn’t help. Other mics offer better sound options.
The Maono PD300X is okay for beginners but not the best. For better sound quality, go for the Shure MV6 or the NZXT Capsule Elite.
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Conclusion
If you’re looking for a microphone in a pinch, the Maono PD300X might work for you. But if you’re seriously shopping for a reliable, long-term mic, there are better options.
I’d recommend the Shure MV6 instead. It’s easy to use, sounds amazing, and is just as simple as the PD300X. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the Shure MV7+ or MV7i (a mic and interface in one) are great choices.
For streamers, both the NZXT Capsule Elite and SteelSeries Alias Pro offer excellent features at similar price points. They provide more than the PD300X, making them better options for just a bit more money.
