MAONO GamerWave Condenser USB Gaming RGB Microphone – Hardware Review
Recently we took a closer look at Sennheiser’s Profile Streaming Set USB Microphone, and we were very impressed by the overall package. Of course, this was a more premium investment which was probably not something for more casual gamers or gamers on a budget. This sometimes makes it hard to find the right device for your setup while wading through more budget-friendly devices. You often don’t find a lot of information about the actual quality of a product, and due to this, you might buy a shoddy product. We were offered a review sample of the GamerWave Condenser USB Gaming RGB Microphone by MAONO to try out, and we were quite impressed by this very affordable microphone.
Design
The GamerWave microphone looks rather classy. You’ll get an almost monochrome black device with no real bells and whistles, making it ideal for any type of gaming set-up (or even an office set-up). The brand name is only visible on the bottom of the actual microphone, and there are no real standout features. The pop filter does show the MAONO logo in a very subtle way. We quite enjoyed the more simplistic design choices made here, as it emanates premium-quality vibes.
As this is a gaming device with some RGB light functionalities, there is of course the option to ‘light up’ your gaming set-up. The device allows for a few different RGB light settings, allowing gamers to add some flashiness to their gaming room(s).
Comfort
In terms of comfort, there is not that much to mention. You’ll be treated to a fairly small device that should fit on every type of desk or table without really claiming too much space. The thing we noticed is that the base should have been slightly heavier, as it currently feels a bit too light, meaning it moves around a bit too easily.
We very much loved the inclusion of a USB-C to USB adapter that was incorporated into the actual USB-C cable. This means you can easily plug in the microphone in a USB-C or a regular USB device whenever you want. The cable is long enough, but the device does not come with a braided cable. You can adjust the microphone’s angle with a small screw on its stand, and this works reasonably well. The screw itself feels a bit flimsy, but still solid enough to support the device.
Specs
- Element Type: Condenser microphone
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Connectivity: USB/USB-C
- Bit Depth/Sample Rate: 24-bit/48kHz
- Frequency Response: 80Hz-10kHz
- Monitoring Function present
- Sensitivity: -40±3dB
- SNR: 1kHz＞70dB
- RGB Light Mode: 9 Modes
Overview
Truth be told, there isn’t that much to tell you when it comes to the overall capabilities and functionalities of the GamerWave microphone, as all the standard features are present. You’ll find a mute/noise cancellation button on the top of the device, which works perfectly fine for both functions. You’ll also find the button for the RGB settings right next to it, making sure everything is neatly in one spot. These are touch-controlled buttons, so you will not receive clear tactile feedback by pushing them. You can adjust the mic gain by using the dial on the bottom of the actual microphone and there’s a 3.5mm headset plug to monitor your own recordings. We were rather impressed by the overall quality and easily accessible functions for such a budget-friendly device.
Those on the receiving end of your Discord calls or streams will mostly receive clear audio feedback, but the microphone does sound a bit muddy at times. We are not certain why, as this would happen at random intervals when it seemed as if we were further away from our device (when we weren’t). Nonetheless, this is us just nitpicking, as for a very affordable device such as this, you’re truly getting your money’s worth. The noise cancellation button does clean up background noise quite a bit, which is also a huge plus.
Conclusion
MAONO’s GamerWave Condenser USB Gaming RGB Microphone is a great budget-friendly microphone for streamers or gamers who simply don’t like a headset. You’ll be treated to a versatile device that comes at a very fair price, and we did quite enjoy the added RGB functionalities. The only thing we would have liked to see differently was a more weighted base, but other than that, you’re getting a great piece of hardware for your gaming set-up at a very low price.
MAONO GamerWave Condenser USB Gaming RGB Microphone - Hardware Review,
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