MXL 990 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone

Home recordists searching for a high-quality — yet eminently budget-friendly — condenser microphone will find exactly what they are looking for in the MXL 990. Centered around a gold-sputtered, 6-micron diaphragm, this mic employs all discrete components, which include a battle-tested, German-style transformerless circuit with a FET preamp and bipolar transistors. The 990 makes an excellent cardioid vocal mic, imparting a neutral and balanced sound with enough bottom end for radio-ready voice-overs and enough sizzle to make your tracks pop. It also lends a nice silky sheen to acoustic instruments. The 990 vaunts a durable housing with vintage styling and an attention-grabbing champagne finish. Lest we forget, you also get a custom shockmount, mic stand adapter, and foam-padded case.

Renowned German-style transformerless design

Simply put, the MXL 990 is entry-level nirvana. This condenser microphone houses MXL's version of a tried-and-true, German-style transformerless circuit, which employs a FET preamp. The 990 includes a gold-sputtered, 6-micron diaphragm in a capsule with a predominantly flat response from 30Hz–20kHz. A gentle 8kHz-ish presence peak ensures articulate, intelligible vocals without harshness. At Sweetwater, we've found the 990 to be a worthy vocal microphone. In fact, it might be the microphone for certain voices. It also boasts enough low-end girth for radio-announcer-style voice-overs and handles acoustic guitars with aplomb