MAONO has been on a roll over the past year. From the solid entry-level PD100W to the surprisingly impressive DM40 PRO, MAONO has done a solid job of developing some solid entry points for new content creators that provide a quality experience without breaking the budget. The MAONO P1 USB Hybrid Audio Interface follows this trend by offering a quality audio interface experience at a fraction of the price of the competition. Offering impressive audio gain, built-in ASIO driver support, and a solid list of I/O, the P1 truly is a solid audio interface for both beginners and hobbyists.
While there are some solid features to highlight and unpack, I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to note the stellar build quality of the MAONO P1. Comprised of an aluminum shell, every element of the P1 feels solid and premium. Each control knob and button provides a tactile and consistent response when engaged, with excellent visual indicators of gain levels presented as coloured LED ring lights around their corresponding dials. The audio interface feels weighty when held and durable when moved around. It’s a solid piece of hardware.
The MAONO P1 offers a wide range of I/O solutions for users to utilize in their studio setup. The rear portion of the unit features a single mic preamp input, an instrument/line input, two 6 ¼-inch speaker outputs for monitoring, as well as two USB-C ports: one for PC connection and the other an OTG port for tablets and phones, allowing for a direct audio signal to these devices. The right side of the P1 houses two additional 3.5mm jacks, one for headphone monitoring with a dedicated gain dial and the second for a camera audio feed, also featuring a dedicated gain dial.
This latter 3.5 mm jack is especially appreciated, as it allows for an audio feed directly from the interface to a camera, eliminating the need for post-production audio/video syncing. As someone who spends a lot of time in post-production, this is a wonderful quality-of-life feature that every audio interface should include.
The one small critique I have of the system is that audio gain control for the speaker monitors and camera is linked to the same dial, meaning they essentially share a volume control. While it would have been nice to see these outputs have separate gain control, I can appreciate the desire to simplify both the interface’s layout and gain management.
“While there are some solid features to highlight and unpack, I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to note the stellar build quality of the MAONO P1.”
One of my favourite features of the MAONO P1 has to be the compatibility with such a wide range of software. I tested the audio interface on software including OBS, Reaper, and DaVinci Resolve via Fairlight, and Audacity, to name a few. In every case, the MAONO P1 is immediately recognized and works without issue. For those wanting more specific control over things such as custom Soundpads, virtual submixing and routing, the P1 works flawlessly with MAONO’s Pro Studio software.
For my testing, though, I ran the P1 primarily through Reaper with the Shure MV7+ in tow, and I have to say I was quite impressed. I chose the Shure Mv7+ specifically because it allowed for easy A/B testing due to its dual output capture. When comparing the USB-C capture to the XLR running through the MAONO, there was no notable difference in the capture. It was consistently clean and plenty loud thanks to the 70dB gain. There was no notable noise, just a pure audio signal.
For those leveraging condenser microphones, the P1 does support 48V phantom power that can be turned on via the interface. Whether using a condenser or dynamic microphone, the P1 has no issue providing a clean, rich signal. With a max sample rate of 192KHz, I found the capture to be a beautiful representation of the source audio signal. Instrument signals, likewise, come through clean and clear.
Even on gain-hungry mics, the MAONO P1 does an excellent job of keeping the signal clean. With an equivalent input noise(EIN) measurement of -130 dBu, the P1 is on par with many of the higher-priced audio interfaces on the market. The EIN, in layman’s terms, means a lower EIN measurement means there is less likely to be noise generated from gain-hungry mics that require cranking up the preamp. At -130 dBu, the P1 falls squarely in the professional grade tier. Considering its $129.99 price point, that is quite impressive.
The beauty of the MAONO P1 USB Hybrid Audio Interface, though, is its simple design and robust compatibility. It can almost certainly accommodate any creator’s studio setup. Whether you’re an influencer who leverages their smartphone for recording or a solo artist recording their first tracks, the P1 can manage it exceptionally well. It’s simple to set up and use, making it ideal for those wanting to break into audio capture without investing heavily financially. The P1, in essence, makes content creation more accessible to beginners and hobbyists.
The MAONO P1 USB Hybrid Audio Interface is an impressive piece of tech. It checks almost every box of what I would want in an audio interface and does it at an impressive and competitive price point. Everything about the P1 feels premium, from design to features to build quality, which is why I highly recommend the P1 for those looking for their next USB Audio Interface.
- HYBRID CONNECTIVITY: Dual USB ports with MFi-certified connectivity connect your computer and phone or iPad simultaneously. Record in GarageBand or Logic Pro, then stream or upload guitar & vocal covers directly from your mobile device. No workflow interruptions. The MAONO P1 USB-C audio interface instantly records to Mac, PC, iPhone, Android, or cameras. Perfect for creators and streamers who need total workflow freedom to record anywhere, anytime
- STUDIO-GRADE AUDIO: Up to 70dB gain drives hungry-gain dynamic microphones flawlessly—no external booster. Capture every vocal and guitar nuance in 24-bit/192kHz quality. Features a class-leading -130dB EIN for dead-silent recording in home studios. ASIO support deliver clean recordings and lower-latency monitoring for solo creators or music production
