Maono DM30 USB Microphone: The Best Budget Microphone in 2023?.Whether you’re just starting a YouTube channel to share your gaming videos or want to start podcasting, you need to choose your audio equipment carefully. For your audience to enjoy your videos, the sound from an old muted headset won’t be enough. At the same time, if you are not yet making money from your channel/blog/podcast, spending $100+ on Blue Yeti may not be worth it.
Maono has created an inexpensive condenser microphone that can be the answer to your prayers. Check out our Maono DM30 microphone review to see if you should buy it as your next USB condenser microphone.
Maono DM30 Programmable USB Condenser Microphone: First Impressions & Specs
If you’re looking for a budget USB microphone to complete your setup but are confused by the variety of options available, you want the best value for money. The DM30 seems like a good fit here, as it comes with promising gaming mic performance while not breaking your bank for under $50 (even under $35 if you can catch a sale on Amazon).Billed as a gaming mic, the DM30 is a great choice for livestreaming your gaming sessions to Twitch or Discord. However, if you are looking for a microphone for podcasting or any other home studio work, this should not discourage you from choosing the DM30.This microphone comes with a professional sound chipset to provide excellent sound quality, high sensitivity cardioid pickup, good durability due to the use of high quality metal and plastic materials, and RGB lighting with various modes that you can control with the physical button on the microphone or in the Maono App Link. 
To be honest, it all sounds more than you’d expect to get at this price tag. Before we dive into our Maono DM30 review, here is the complete list of specifications for this USB condenser microphone:
- Weight: 16.9 oz (480g)
- Pickup Type: Condenser < / li>
- Polar pattern: cardioid.
- Connectivity: USB 2.0, USB type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Sensitivity: -4 dBFS (1 V/PA at 1 kHz)
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz.
- Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux.
- RGB modes: 7 solid colors + rainbow effect.
- Color: black, purple, pink, white
- Price: Starting at $33.59 (on sale) on Amazon or $49.99 on Maono.
Design and Unpacking
Generally, you don’t expect much in terms of design and build quality from a budget mic. You will be pleasantly surprised to know that the Maono DM30 has taken a different path and really focused on both of these areas. While the mic has the standard simple shape, Maono managed to make it stylish and dare I say quirky, especially if you choose one of the color options – white, pink or purple (I had a purple DM30 for testing). ).
What’s in the box
Here’s what you’ll find when you unbox the Maono DM30:
- Maono DM30 Programmable USB Condenser Microphone
- USB-A to USB-C Cable
- Table Stand < /li>
- Use manually
The build quality is quite impressive. The microphone is relatively light, but the metal stand is solid and surprisingly heavy (so you don’t have to worry about accidentally tipping it over). The stand also has adhesive on the bottom if you want to secure the microphone base to your computer desk more firmly. 
With a flexible knob on the side of the microphone, the stand is adjustable and allows the microphone to rotate up to 300 degrees to accommodate a wide range of movement. 
If you need more control over the position of your microphone, you can purchase a separate boom stand. Some also allow you to hide the cables by placing them inside the cantilever frame so they don’t hang down. You can then mount the DM30 to the boom by removing the bottom of the all-metal microphone base and using the screw hole on the bottom of it.Maono built the peripherals almost entirely out of metal, with the exception of the plastic top and buttons. The main button is a knob on the front of the microphone – the headphone volume button. In addition to adjusting the volume, it acts as a mute button and allows you to adjust the microphone gain. Below the button are two LED indicators: one for the microphone, which turns green when you plug in the microphone and red when the microphone is muted, and one for headphones, which is always off unless you plug in a headset. 
At the bottom of the microphone, you’ll find a USB-C port, a 3.5mm jack, and a button to control the RGB lighting. The USB cable that comes with the DM30 is a two-in-one USB-C to USB-A cable that comes in handy when you need to use the microphone to record on different devices such as a smartphone with a USB-C port or a computer only with USB-A ports. The headphone jack allows you to plug in headphones for real-time monitoring of what the DM30 is filming. 
There are plenty of RGB lighting holes on the bottom of the DM30. You can choose from 9 RGB backlight modes: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, indigo, purple, rainbow loop and off. Rainbow mode is just a loop, no fancy effects like Breathe or Strobe. You can switch modes with the physical button on the bottom of the microphone or with the Maono software. 
If you want to create a more colorful atmosphere on your computer desk, check out the Maono DM30RGB microphone. This is a similar model with a lot of RGB lighting – not only the lower part, but also the microphone housing glows.
Audio Quality & Features
Maono DM30 is extremely easy to set up thanks to plug-and-play connectivity. I tested the microphone on my Mac and Android smartphone. The Maono DM30 delivers excellent sound quality for the price. You can expect your voice to sound clear on your recordings even if you move slightly away from the microphone during the recording. 
The microphone picks up a lot of detail, making the DM30 a great option for recording your singing or playing musical instruments. In addition, you can use the Maono Link app to customize your audio settings and deepen your voice by switching preset sound modes. The DM30 is great as a podcasting microphone as it makes your voice crisp and clear.The microphone has a cardioid pickup pattern and is directionally sensitive, which is most important if you are a gamer or streamer. This means the DM30 picks up heart-shaped sounds in front of the microphone, effectively filtering out background noise heard from a distance. However, if you place the microphone directly on a table and use it while playing, it will most likely pick up keyboard and mouse clicks. If so, consider investing in a pole to place the mic over the table instead of on top.The DM30 features a highly sensitive 24-bit/48kHz condenser microphone core. This allows you to get good audio recordings even if you are not sitting close to the microphone.
App and Compatibility
The Maono DM30 is a plug-and-play microphone, so it’s ready to use as soon as you plug it in. However, if you want to access more advanced customization options, you can download the Maono Link software from the company’s website and install it on your device.In the application, you can access all the features of the microphone. The application interface is divided into two areas: Standard and Advanced. The Standard tab has some basic microphone controls, while the Advanced tab lets you adjust the rest of the microphone settings. There is also a section that allows you to change RGB lighting modes. There is a switch that allows you to turn RGB on and off, a section for color selection and the ability to set the brightness of the lamp. 
Under the Standard tab, you get microphone gain control, headphone monitor, and headphone volume control – all functions that you can manually control using buttons on the microphone body. An interesting feature is the change in tone. You can choose from 4 presets: Deep, Natural, Bright and Legacy. You can test all four until you find the perfect voice setting. Personally, I prefer the Deep setting, as it makes my voice more solid and less effervescent.When you go to the Advanced tab, you’ll find all the same controls plus a few more to further customize your audio recordings. There is an equalizer that lets you choose from four different presets: one for flat sound, one with a high pass filter, one to enhance the presence of the midrange, and a combination of two midrange options. There is no way to create your own equalizer preset. On this tab, you will also find additional options for configuring the audio input, such as Limiter and Compressor controls.
Should You Buy the Maono DM30 USB Microphone?
The DM30 is not the first microphone I have tested. I previously reviewed the Maono WM821 and was impressed with how much Maono managed to pack into their dual wireless microphone system. While the DM30 is an impressive USB microphone, I wouldn’t recommend it to professionals looking for a premium peripheral due to its lack of advanced audio features.At the same time, the Maono DM30 is one of the best entry-level microphones on the market today and is a godsend for anyone looking to buy a budget microphone.
Maono DM30 USB Microphone: The Best Budget Microphone in 2023?
Maono DM30 USB Microphone: The Best Budget Microphone in 2023?