Perfect small size, good sound quality, easy to use. I used to turn on the fan at night to help fall asleep. Hope this little machine will lower the power bill.

MAONO's newest Podcast focused mic offers a strong entrant into the mid-range podcast market.Polar Pattern: Cardioid (End Addressed, not face - use it like a shotgun mic)Connection Type(s): USB-C and XLRTarget Use: Podcast/Vocal focused recording/streamingUser Experience Level: AllLet's start with the negative(s):- Quality control on the finishing elements, specifically the base stands' pads, could be better (picture attached) The pads were there, but 2 of them had to be reseated (one of those was more toward the middle of the stand)- Real-time on-mic monitoring is only supported when using the USB mode (the on-board audio controller is powered by the USB port)- Mounting adjustments don't seem to really get tight enough to hold the mic in position (not a huge issue for most podcast usage with on the desk stand, but might be an issue from a boom bar/standing mount- Included USB-C cable is short (~1m/3ft) for a mic cableThe Neutral:- Mic build quality is about what you'd expect if you've ever used a MAONO product, they didn't skimp on the materials for what is a quality, mid-range mic- Included cables (XLR/XLR and USB-C) are much better than the average included cables I've seen. Both are rubberized, thick sheathed cables, flexible enough to snake around obstacles, and the XLR cable should be long enough for most common home office/podcast studio routing needs- Included Plosive filter (foam "hat") works okay, it does it's job, just larger than I would like- (USB-Mode) 1-button, multi-setting controls. Not a huge fan, but it is fairly straightforward, easy to use, but also easy to select the wrong setting/balanceThe Good:- XLR audio is solid when using my own XLR setup (vs same settings as my Logitech Blue Sona) the MAONO stands up fairly well against a mic roughly 2x the price- USB audio (all on-board filters/gates disabled) vs the Rode NT-USB was a bit quieter (maybe 2 to 3 dB lower than the Rode) at the same settings. At on-board 100% gain, the MAONO had a bit more distortion, but still within an expected range for the peak testing- Good value for a USB/XLR hybrid mic on quality/functionality vs price and intended useOverall:MAONO has a rep for being hit or miss for some users, the products aren't "bad", just tending toward "safe" in ways that some folks don't connect with. In this case, I think they found a nice balance between function and cost to deliver a solid value mic with some pretty interesting features for a streamer/podcaster who may want to start on USB before investing more into a dedicated XLR setup.

Some of the sounds are so so, but I really enjoy the musical selections.