A great entry-level mic, the MXL 990 won’t win any awards for its looks or style, but it bats deep when it comes to its price-to-performance ratio. A new or seasoned podcaster’s dream, the mic delivers great sound and fights way out of its <$100 weight division. Here are our three reasons why you can’t go wrong buying the MXL 990:
Affordability — We judge any mic under $100 on how well it bats above its weight on performance, and the MXL 990 is right up there among the best. A lot of the experienced podcast hosts we spoke to said it handles as well as any $200+ mic they’ve used.
Great sound — We spoke to one host who, after three decades working with professional-grade equipment in radio, couldn’t believe such an affordable mic could deliver such a deep, rich sound.
Durability — While the MXL 990 may not last you a lifetime, for the price-point they are wonderfully durable and long lasting. If you’re new to podcasting, we have no doubt this little beauty will see out your first few years in the hosting chair.
Under the hood
Patterns: Cardioid
Dimensions: 2.36 x 5.11 in (5.99 x 12.98 cm)
Weight: 1.20 pounds (544.3 grams)
Consumption: <3.0mA
Frequency Response: 30 Hz - 20 kHz
Max SPL: 130 dB
Sensitivity: 15mV/Pa
Equivalent noise level: 20 dB
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