Thank you Maono for providing us with a review sample!

XLR microphones are considered superior to USB in regards to sound quality. In order to use XLR, you’ll need a dedicated audio interface to plug it into. What’s nice about the Maono A04 Gen2 is that it supports both USB and XLR connections. However, the podcasting microphone kit only includes a USB cable and it does not include a tripod like the Maono AU-A425Plus we reviewed.

Without a tripod, you’ll have to use the included metal boom arm. The suspension boom scissor arm stand is fully adjustable all around. The arms of the stand are extensible at 135° back and forth and 180° up and down. The microphone is cradled in a shock mount cradle to absorb accidental bumps. Due to the unidirectional design, you’ll need to make sure that the Maono logo is facing you!

The cardioid pattern on the microphone picks up sound directly in front of it and picks up less background noises as a result. The frequency response is listed as 20Hz-20kHz. The sensitivity is -3dBFS at 1KHz(1pa=94dB SPL). Maximum sound pressure level (SPL) is 120dB. One downside with the 70dB signal-to-noise ratio is that some slight background noise may be heard. According to various articles I have read online, aim for a minimum of 80dB. 70dB is still considered to be decent though. The Maono microphone prioritizes picking up lower frequencies, which can bring out more richness in deeper voices than the higher frequency pickup pattern of competing products.

I have recorded multiple streams with this microphone. If you want to hear it in action, please check out this stream of Fresh Tracks.

This kit comes with two pop filter configurations. You can slide a black foam covering over the 16mm condenser or leave it bare and use the detachable pop filter that can clamp on either the boom arm or tripod. The box shows it with the microphone bare and using the detachable pop filter on the boom arm. I used the microphone covering one. The purpose of a pop filter is to reduce the “plosive” sounds from pronunciations of the letters "p," "b," "t," or "k".

At the time of this review, the Maono Link software is only available for Windows for this model microphone. Other microphone models have macOS and Android editions as well. The software only works for USB configurations. With the software you can adjust the gain, EQ, apply various sound effects, and adjust RGB settings (on other models!).

The MSRP for this kit is a reasonable $95.99. At the time of this review, the Maono A04 Gen2 is only available on Amazon and is currently on sale for less than $66. If you’re still on the fence, it’s worth noting that this product is backed by a 30-day return/refund policy and a 12-month warranty.