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Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music (NOT gear) all over again, so…
Maono recommends this microphone for vocal recording, music creation, and sound productions.
I believe it’s at its best for voiceover and vocals, but I wouldn’t recommend recording acoustic guitar as it’s a bit muddy/too warm.
Just doing some vocal takes.
Even after EQ’ing out the low end, I wasn’t all that satisfied with how it came out.
But…
This is a great microphone if you’re looking to record some rap vocals and voiceover, and it would also work great for those into podcasting, spoken word, etc.
I would classify the sound as clear but with a touch of broadcast warmth and smoothness.
It just sounds very natural and inviting.
Not only is it incredibly durable and robust, but the overall value is excellent.
The bundle provides the microphone, an XLR cable, a shock mount, a windscreen, and a really nice scissor arm.
This is remarkable for the price as you’d be hard-pressed to find another company offering anything close.
The only issue I have is that the Scissor arm is rather small and can’t stretch as far or as tall as I’d like.
Still, it’s incredibly convenient and also built really well while remaining compact enough to quickly get up and running.
For recording guitar, I can easily swap out microphones and use the Blue Yeti Nano and it works incredibly well.
Mic Test
Here’s a video I recorded of the sound quality. Keep in mind I wrote the Volt 2 article first and titled it as such, but the mic used is indeed the PM500.
Mic Comparisons
MXL 990 w/ Pop Filter
Audio Technica AT2020
This is an old recording back when I had the Scarlett 2i2.
Blue Yeti Nano
Blue Yeti
Final Verdict
The PM-500 is a nice surprise and certainly a great value considering the entire package.
While not a great tool for the acoustic guitar, this mic greatly excels in anything voiceover related and really does rival a lot of expensive mics above its price point.
It also happens to be built extremely well.
The zinc alloy construction and premium feel, along with everything else we’ve discussed, garnered it an International Design Awards (IDA) 2022 Honoree and it was well deserved.
So do I recommend it?
It’s a tough call, but after listening to some of the other mics I’ve used in the past, I think the PM500 is a bit too gooey/warm and a bit muddy if I dare say so.
It does sound pretty good, but against the MXL990 and Yeti Nano I think it’s outclassed.
The Nano is pretty great, but I’d rather use that for recording my acoustic as it’s a bit brighter and brings out the tones of the instrument really nicely.
My current favorite budget XLR for vocals/rap etc. is indeed the 990.
It’s incredibly clear, articulate, and professional sounding and the reason why is that its frequency response is pretty much ruler flat across the board with some nice treble accentuation for added sparkle and presence.
Knowing you’re in the market for an XLR condenser, I wouldn’t look any further than the 990.
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Maono AU-PM500 Review and came away with some valuable insight.
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Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in an crowded industry.
