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MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount | 
 enlarge | Brand: MXL
Category: Musical Instruments
List Price: $199.99
Buy New: $49.99 (On sale from $69.99)
You Save: $20.00 (29%)
New (2) Used (3) from $49.96
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 359
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4
MPN: MXL990
Model: MXL990
UPC: 801813080643
EAN: 0801813080643
ASIN: B0002GIRP2
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 3/4" gold-sputtered diaphragm | | • | Attractive vintage body style with champagne finish | | • | 30Hz-20kHz frequency response | | • | 130dB maximum SPL | | • | Sensitivity: 15MV/pa |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount has a silky, sweet high end while retaining tight, solid low and midrange reproduction. The 3/4" gold-sputtered diaphragm creates a professional sound suited for digital and analog recording. Attractive vintage body style with champagne finish. 30Hz-20kHz frequency response. 130dB maximum SPL. Includes custom shockmount, mic stand adapter, and case. Requires phantom power.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Too muddy. For $50 more you can get so much better. August 5, 2008
I had this mic for one day, which was enough time for me to put it through its paces for my use: voice-over work. Unfortunately, this mic didn't have the presence I was looking for in a condenser microphone, and the mids were far too muddy. I couldn't EQ them out with my basic 4-channel audio board + phantom power. Garbage in = garbage out. I returned the mic to the store about 24 hours later.
Someone said in another review that you'll quickly grow out of the MXL 990 mic once you realize that it sounds like a cheap Chinese condenser mic. I totally agree with that.
If you don't even want to bother with a mixer at all, check out some of the new USB mics on the market. AT2020 might be worth a look, or the Samson USB mic, or the Blue Snowflake. I have heard neither, though. I would have gone the USB route, but I need to mic up more than one person sometimes. I am reading good things about those mics.
Another good nod for the Zoom H2, which I own and use almost daily. I love it, despite its shortfalls. Based on results with it, I'd have to say the Zoom Podcasting mic must sound really great.
Again -- this MXL 990 mic left me unimpressed after I began using it and noticed its shortfalls.
Update: I purchased a Shure KSM27 Condenser Mic, which was about $300, but sounds much better overall. For $50, the MXL is a pretty good deal -- but for who? Podcasters should go for a USB mic or something like the Zoom H2. Musicians should spend a bit more and get something like the Shure KSM27, which just sounds so much better to me. In fact, I picked it over mics costing a lot more after listening to the transom dot org blindfold mic shootout test.
More expensive MXL mics are getting good reviews, but after comparing them to the Shure on the shootout, it was no contest.
 Best mic! July 21, 2008
Very good mic for live recording...don't let the price fool this is a really good mic.To hear a sound clip recorded by this mic go to [...] you will be impressed with the quality sound from this mic. Just buy it already!
More than a year later January 26, 2008
I bought one of these over a year ago, and it's been in regular almost daily use since. Easily one of my favorite mics for recording voice and acoustic instruments. I have had absolutely no problems with it, it's solid and reliable.
The sound is perhaps slightly warm for close-up vocal work, so for that you might want to roll back the lows on your eq just a tiny bit. But I find that bit of warmth very pleasant for recording acoustic guitar, dulcimer, flute, etc. If you're miking an acoustic instrument from 3 ft or further away, then the sound is crisp and has enough low end to just be pleasant.
I have microphones that cost more, but for recording this one would be my favorite. Amazingly good sound for the price.
Cheap and really not all that bad. December 14, 2007
[review updated after more time spent with the mic]
Well, there's definitely some detail missing in the mids, but it has a generally pleasing "very fat" (aka muddy) tone. Makes a fair snare drum mic. Needs a bit of EQ for almost any practical application. I don't think I'd use it to track the vocals on anything, but it works. You'd be better off with a similarly-priced small-diaphragm condenser and a windscreen.
 Mediocre Out of the Box, Great with Modifications October 14, 2007
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
The MXL 990 is one of many Chinese-manufactured condenser mics that suffer from two common problems - it is simultaneously ill-defined in the critical midrange and excessively harsh in the treble range. While the circuit used in the mic is quite clever and fairly well implemented, the sonic deficiencies lie within the condenser capsule and headbasket acoustics.
By and large, Chinese-manufactured mics use condenser capsules copied from classic Neumann designs. Unfortunately, these inexact copies fall short of delivering the magnificent midrange accuracy and smooth, sibilance-free top end Neumann capsules are known for. Most of the copied capsules deliver a sound that is often described as harsh, spitty, "eshy", sibilant or screechy. Poor headbasket acoustics compound the problems created by these capsules.
The MXL 990, like most microphones of its class, uses a multi-layer grille mesh headbasket. These multiple layers of mesh do protect the capsule from spittle and wind blasts - but at a cost. Multiple layer headbaskets have a very small percentage of open area in the grille. This means a great deal of sound is reflected back and forth between the capsule and headbasket. Cup your hands around your mouth or speak into a paper tube to get an exaggerated example of the standing wave artifacts caused by a restrictive headbasket.
What to do?
One of the great benefits of the MXL 990 and other similarly priced mics is low cost. With a very modest investment in the original microphone, it becomes an excellent platform for a microphone modification. The capsule can be upgraded and headbasket opened up.
With a suite of microphone modifications this mic, (as well as many other Chinese manufactured mics) can really become a solid performer that sounds much more like a professional tool.
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