MAONO A04 Gen2 vs MAONO PD100X
Two of our picks from Best MAONO Microphones: PD200X, PD300X, PD100X and the Wireless Ones Compared, compared side by side on the specs and trade-offs that actually matter.
Short answer
Between the MAONO PD100X and the MAONO A04 Gen2, we recommend the MAONO PD100X ($42.47 when we checked it on 2026-08-31) as the better maono microphones: pd200x, pd300x, pd100x and the wireless ones compared for most people. A first mic in a noisy room, or a second mic for a guest chair. The MAONO A04 Gen2 ($61.16 when we checked it on 2026-08-31) still makes sense if someone who wants the whole desk in one box: mic, arm, shock mount, pop filter.
MAONO A04 Gen2 XLR/USB Condenser Microphone Kit for PC Podcast Recording
$61.16observed
Lowest we have recorded: $61.16 on (2 weekly checks)
MAONO USB/XLR Podcasting Microphone for PC, Gaming Streaming Dynamic Mic with Mute Button, RGB, Desktop Stand,Computer Mic for Video Studio Recording-PD100X,Black
$42.47observed
Lowest we have recorded: $39.99 on (12 weekly checks)
Our take on each
MAONO A04 Gen2
Best for: Someone who wants the whole desk in one box: mic, arm, shock mount, pop filter.
The MAONO A04 Gen2 is a condenser kit: the mic, a boom arm, a shock mount, a pop filter and the cables, in one box for about $60. The Gen2 adds an XLR output beside the USB port, which fixes the original's dead end when buyers outgrew it.
The A04 family carries nearly 20,000 ratings at 4.5, most of them from first-time buyers, and the reviews read the same way: good for the money, sensitive to the room. The arm in the box is light and the shock mount is plastic, and both do the job on a desk that does not get bumped.
It is the most complete first setup on this page, and the one whose parts you replace one at a time rather than all at once.
MAONO PD100X
Best for: A first mic in a noisy room, or a second mic for a guest chair.
The MAONO PD100X takes the PD200X idea down to about $40: a dynamic capsule, a USB-C port and an XLR socket, and a tap-to-mute cap. It sounds thinner than the PD200X and needs to be closer to the mouth, which is the trade at this price, but it still rejects a keyboard in a way no $40 condenser can.
It ships with a desk stand rather than a boom, and the stand is the first thing to replace, because a dynamic wants to be near the mouth and a desk stand puts it near the keyboard. Owners rate it 4.5 across about 1,000 reviews.
Buy it as a first mic, or as the second mic on a two-person stream where the guest does not need the PD200X.
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