Fun fact – in twenty years of doing reviews, I have never written a review about a microphone. When the Maono PD200W came across my desk, I thought I should find out what the big fuss is about.
Ginger, Sime and I have been skirting the idea of a podcast for a while. Whilst I have always used a headset and mic setup, there has got to be a reason why the market is so hot for dedicated microphones.
The Maono PD200W: A Triple-Mode Game Changer
When it was announced in October 2025, the Maono PD200W was billed as the world’s first microphone with triple-mode connectivity:
- wired
- wireless at 2.4GHz
- XLR
Why is it important? Flexibility and options. It means if you are just starting out on the streaming or podcast track, you do not need to splurge on a “pro” gear. Don’t worry, I will talk more about it later.
In the box, it came with the:
- Maono PD200W with a shock mount
- a desktop stand
- long USB cable
- short USB cable
- USB-C wireless adapter
- two spare o-rings (industrial rubber bands for the shock mount)
It was pretty simple to put everything together. The desktop stand comes in two pieces – a base and a riser that just screws in. It feels pretty solid and has a bit of weight to it.
The PD200W screws in to the top of the riser and you are done with the assembly. Far less time required than an Ikea build, not a single Allen key in sight.
There is some blingy lights around the microphone near the mute button, and it sports a removable foam cover over the microphone itself.
The foam feels a little dense, but has plenty of give. It isn’t like the sheep skin sock you see on professional setups so we will see how it performs.
From 0 to ready: Plug-and-Play Simplicity
If you have to get started right this moment, plugging in the USB cable will get up and running in no time.
There is no driver installation, no BlueTooth handshake. Just a cable into the right USB port – USB-A or USB-C are both supported with the supplied cable.
It was long past midnight when I first fired up the P200W, and I just wanted to have a feel for how the sound is. The zero fuss setup was something I really appreciated at that time of the night. I have never been a big fan of hearing myself talk, especially hearing my voice on recording, and the P200W is at least capturing it faithfully.
Software Mastery: Customising with Maono Link
Whilst getting to “just use” the PD200W was simple, that was hardly getting the most out of it. To do so you need the Maono Link software.
The Maono Link software is available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
It is important to note that the PD200W needs to be connected to your computer in order for the software to work. The splash screen will complain if it does not find the microphone.
A good thing is that the splash screen will show you exactly which microphone you have, and how you are connecting to it. Right now I have the wireless mic kit plugged in and it is clearly reflected on the screen. It’s a nice touch so you aren’t scramble to figure out the basics.
For mobile devices, it supports both USB and wireless connectivity via the dongle. You do have the launch the app first before you power on the PD200W for it to be detected.
In the software, you can adjust all the key features – and I don’t mean the RGB lighting.
It is nice to see Maono prioritise function – the first screen you land on is the basic controls:
- the microphone
- headphone volume
- noise cancellation
- monitor output
The microphone gain is from 0 to 20, but what is more useful is the labelling in distance from the talking person – from 0cm to 50cm. This takes out the guess work for tuning microphone gain, especially if you are new to the scene.
In the next tab, you can set the “scene”.
This is where you can play with the EQ and adjust the sound profile. By default there are four scene, but under each scene you can create “configurations”.
The four scenes are: Original, Podcast, Game and Sing.
In any other words, configuration are profiles. You can create custom EQ profiles with extensive granular control.
The EQ chart gives you freedom to set what frequences your HPF (High Pass Filter) and LPF (Low Pass Filter) are set to. There are also five points of tuning so you can adjust these at any point between 20Hz and 20kHz.
Another thoughtful design in the software is the ability to export and import your configurations. It makes it simple to share the same settings, or back it up somewhere so you don’t lose it.
Flashy RGB is not my thing, but it is important to others.
The good news is, if you are like me, you can turn it off completely for a professional look.
Or you could set a colour and set it as “fixed”, or let it “breath”, which is a gentle pulse. In the screenshot I have it in this mode, with a custom colour – the DRN Orange. The only complain I have here is that I have to choose the colour from the wheel, no hex code input here.
For those inclined, loop is the one that cycles through the colours. Perfect for a teenager’s bedroom.
Audio Performance: Testing AI Noise Reduction
Over a few weeks, I put the PD200W through it’s paces and it performed flawlessly – both in wired and wireless mode. I had expected a drop in quality in wireless mode, but Maono has done an excellent job here and did not compromise on the sound quality.
Setting the correct distance from the talker to the microphone is vitally important. If you are too far away, you will lose the “meaty” part of your voice. The PD200W will struggle to pick it up and that is on you.
I did a bit of playing around with the noise cancellation. There is hidden away in the AI settings menu is an AI noise reduction setting. This will automatically perform noise reduction, and it will also override any standard noise cancelling settings. This is available only on the desktop version of the Maono Link software.
Both types of noise cancellation seems to work well. The AI version does edge out the standard in my test environment.
However – neither mode would sufficiently filter out the noise of me banging on the keyboard. I am currently using a G915X with tactile switches. It is more clicky then I normally prefer, but it’s such a nice keyboard!
Anyways I digress. If the keyboard was between the microphone and me, the PD200W picks up the typing. Clearly. Even if the microphone gain is all the way down to minimum and I am practically swallowing the microphone to talk.
That equation changes completely when the keyboard is not in line of pick up with the microphone. It isn’t perfect but the difference is significant enough to mention.
Ideally you wouldn’t do what I do, and type as you record. But if you are inclined to play around, the HPF and LPF could very well help clip this out.
The PD200W has a 3.5mm microphone jack if you wish to plug in an In-Ear Monitor (IEM). That is something I probably will get to next if I start using the PD200W in earnest. Or if my daughter decides to record more singing.
Room for Improvement: Minor Design Hurdles
I do have a few.
The wireless adapter could be better designed. It is not particularly large, but it is wide and on a computer will block the ports next to it. It would have been nice if the port is angled. That said, Maono does provide a short extension cable to alleviate that pain point. Good job!
The foam over the microphone element is on the soft side. Something with a little more density would not go astray.
The shock mount, whilst a very welcome addition at this price point, is plastic. It does feel a little flimsy so just look out when you adjust that tensioner.
Lastly, the microphone gain knob at the top of the PD200W. It’s a nice touch, but it is an infinite knob with no markings whatsoever. You have to look at the software to figure out where you have set it to.
Verdict: Exceptional Value for Creators
With a price point of A$149 (desktop version), and A$179 with a boom arm, the Maono PD200W is honestly really good value.
Bearing in mind it has triple connectivity – wired, wireless and XLR, it is pretty sweet for the first few years for any streamer or podcaster. The desktop stand is adjustable from 15cm to 28cm, giving it plenty of versatility in use.
It is not perfect, I have put some complains in above, but realistically none of them are deal breakers at this feature set and price point. If you are looking for a microphone that will do voice filtering, then look elsewhere. The Maono PD200W is for “serious” work.
DRN would like to thank Maono for providing the review unit.
And here are some audio samples of my daughter singing.
Billie Eilish – Ocean Eyes, cover by Arraiya Cheng
Regina Spektor – Two Birds, cover by Arraiya Cheng
