Best Mic Under $100: Maono HD300 Dynamic Microphone Review

Considering getting a Maono HD300 microphone but not sure if it will work for you? 

I've not had the best experiences with cheap dynamic microphones, but I was blown away by the Maono HD300, even after having a great experience with Maono's condenser mic (see my review of that here).

This mic might be insanely affordable, but it is far from cheap. From the high-quality sound, to the robust metal design, it's a great mic to have in your arsenal if you are a beginner, or looking for a versatile microphone.

Is Maono Any Good?

Maono is a great brand that creates high-quality, affordable, microphones. You can buy with confidence and won't be disappointed. Their microphones are made from high-quality materials and sound rich, clear, and natural.

You can hear how it sounds for yourself in my video review above.

I had been using the same condenser microphone for going on 10 years when Maono sent me their AU-PM500T condenser microphone.

I was absolutely blown away, and instantly replaced my old mic with Maono's.

When Maono said they would send me a dynamic microphone that cost only $65, I was skeptical. In my mind, cheap dynamic microphones were only good for live situations, or screaming vocals.  

Dynamic mics under $100 have always sounded thin and dull to me...

Not the case with the Maono HD300. 

When I tried it out, I was amazed, as it was deep, rich, and lush, while also maintaining pristine clarity in the high-end. 

This does not sound like a budget mic!

Maono HD300 Overview & Specs

The Maono HD300 is a cardioid dynamic microphone with a frequency response from approximately 40hz up to 17,000hz. 

Not only does the dynamic nature make this a flexible mic capable of capturing the audio of just about any source well, but it also can be used as both an XLR mic or a USB mic, giving you even more flexibility. 

It even has a headphone port built in to allow for zero latency monitoring. 

What All Comes Included With The Maono HD300? 

If the quality and flexibility isn't enough to convince you, the HD300 also comes with all the extra gear you need to start recording professionally from home. 

As you can see in the picture below, when you purchase the Maono HD300, not only do you get a great mic, but you also receive:

• XLR cable
• Shock mount
• Adjustable desktop microphone stand
• Pop filter
• USB-C cable

Is Maono HD300 Good For Singing?

The Maono HD300 is an excellent microphone for singing and recording vocals. The sound is clear and rich, capturing exquisite detail for a dynamic microphone in its price range. Its subtle presence boost makes it especially good for recording vocals.

You can hear how it sounds for yourself on vocals by watching my video here.

Is Maono HD300 Good For Podcasting?

The Maono HD300 is a fantastic microphone for podcasting and recording the human voice. The sound is clear and rich, capturing exquisite detail for a dynamic microphone in its price range. Its dynamic build also makes it great for rejecting background noise, which is perfect for podcasting. 

I used this mic to record audio for some of my YouTube videos, which is basically the same as use as podcasting, and it sounds great. 

Here are what a couple of other podcasters had to say about it:

Is Maono HD300 Good For Recording Instruments?

The Maono HD300 is an excellent microphone for recording instruments. It captures high-quality audio while also sounding natural. Additionally, its dynamic build ensures that you can safely record even the loudest instruments without clipping, distorting, or damaging the mic.

Here is what another user had to say:

"If you're looking for a well-built, clean-sounding, good-looking microphone for your podcasting, video-conferencing, or vocal needs, you're going to have a hard time beating the AU-HD300. It punches well above its price tag in terms of quality, features, and ease-of-use."

Pros & Cons of The Maono HD300

While I've been gushing about this microphone, no microphone is perfect. 

Pros

Because the HD300 is a dynamic microphone, it works the way a dynamic microphone should. 

It records high-quality, clear, rich audio when used the way it is designed. 

It also rejects background noise well which makes it great for when you are recording at home. 

It's also durable and can record very loud sounds without clipping or distorting.

Finally, it comes with all of the extra tools you need for professional recording from home (cables, shock mount, mic stand, pop-filter, etc.)

Cons

The pros of this mic could also end up being cons, depending on your situation. 

If you want to record someone who is farther away from the mic, then a dynamic mic might not be the best choice for you. 

This is not a drawback of the Maono HD300, though, but rather the nature of all dynamic microphones. 

Dynamic microphones are designed to only pick up the audio directly in front of it. This makes it great for rejecting background noise, but not great if you need to be farther away from the mic for recording. 

I had to look hard to find some negative reviews of this microphone, but I did find this one. 

With all due respect to "Amazon Customer", they have no idea what they're talking about. 

Of course, you have to get close to the mic in order for it to pick up audio well. This is a FEATURE, not a bug. All dynamic microphones are like this because of the nature of their construction. 

If you want to pick up audio from farther away...

Then you should get a condenser microphone, like the Maono AU-PM500 here.

Another con is that mic isn't as sensitive as some other mics, but again, this could be considered a "pro" depending on your situation. 

By design, dynamic microphones aren't going to be as sensitive. This allows them to not pick up background noise as easily, and it also allows them to withstand loud sounds, such as drums, or a screaming rock vocal. 

Therefore, if you are looking for a super sensitive microphone to pick up small details, or to record very soft sounds, the HD300 might not be the best choice for you. 

If you want to learn more about the difference between dynamic and condenser microphones, then check out my article here. 

To summarize this article, here are the pros and cons.

Looking for a condenser microphone instead?

Check out my review of the microphone that I use on a daily basis here.