With so many options on the market, creators have a mild boggling amount of gear to choose from. From ring lights to monitors, there is a staggering amount of options to read up on, and that research becomes more essential the more specialized their needs are. Maono’s new PD200W packs enough features into one, somewhat sizable, wireless dynamic microphone that it might be the answer that you’re looking for.
The PD200W microphone is full of options. Straight out of the box, it can connect to a computer or phone either through a cable or wirelessly via the supplied USB-C dongle. Users can also pick up additional dongles to expand their connectivity, including wireless Lightning connections or even a stand-alone camera. The PD200W can also route sound through an XLR output to whatever professional audio interface an audiophile could want.
While not endless, the options are impressive. In testing my own recordings, the PD200W performed well, capturing high-quality 24-bit audio with little to no distortion. I found some very minor interference when testing the range of its wireless capability once I approached about 30 metres, but nothing constant or severe.
“In testing my own recordings, the PD200W performed well, capturing high-quality 24-bit audio with little to no distortion.”
It boasts a 60-metre wireless range as well as a 60-hour battery life, which looks great on paper, but due to its size (it’s roughly eight inches long with an attached shock mount) and its cardioid pickup pattern, I do not see much utility in using it on the go. Street interview-style recordings would look awkward, with a somewhat bulky mic being pointed at the subject like a strange, glowing gun. That said, the prospect of losing wires in a more stationary environment is definitely enticing. This bit of tech would be wonderful on a boom arm.
Sadly, there is no boom included in the creator’s kit, though I should note that one is available separately, as are the aforementioned wireless dongles to connect via Lightning or to a camera. As it stands, the kit includes the PD200W microphone with an attached pop filter and shock mount, an adjustable desk mount, a USB-C wireless dongle, a USB-C to USB-C cable with a USB-A adapter, and an extender for the dongle so it can connect to your phone without having to remove a bulky phone case.
The microphone itself is quite slick. It has outputs for XLR, USB-C, and a 3.5-mm headphone jack on the back, positioned around a small button to control the RGB lighting. On top is one multifunction dial that can adjust gain, monitor output, and select from three different noise-cancellation profiles. A small band of RGB lights wraps around the microphone, providing eye-catching colours without being too obnoxious. Several colour profiles can be selected with the button on the back, but more in-depth adjustments can be made in the Maono app.
My time with the Maono PD200W was largely positive. The noise-reduction settings were effective and didn’t leave my voice sounding overly produced. When I wasn’t handling the actual body of the microphone, the shock mount negated any mechanical noise from the mic itself, even as I clumsily gripped it by its mounting arm. The whole thing is plug-and-play, so setup was a breeze on both my computer and my phone. The features the Maono PD200W offers make it a real contender in the market, especially at its price point, and it would be a welcome addition to any up-and-coming creator’s kit.
