The MXL990 is well made and sounds surprisingly good for the money. Many people use it as-is with adequate to very good results results. For me, it makes a solid platform for mods and upgrades. A K47 type capsule upgrade makes a huge difference. Searching the internet will reveal lots of upgrade options. It's a popular platform for upgrading and after doing two I can see why.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I recently picked up this model of Marshall's (MXL line of microphones) 990 Stereo condenser mic. It appears to be a solid value (whether new or used) - a no frills & no nonsense design that should meet your needs for stereo recording of ensembles from vocals to instruments and maybe even favorite soundscape. Just make sure your portable recorder/mixing console has 48v phantom power (going to both mic cables!) and a very preferable shock absorbing suspension mount. The dual condenser's angle of pickup is a fixed design- no user adjustable settings for fine tuning the separation of sources. Therefore placement of the performers will be of critical importance to optimize the stereo effect. MXL is apparently no longer offering stereo mics, as a visit to their website shows none in their product line-up. Glad I have one of these and their other (discontinued as well) model, the V67Q. Overall, they work nicely as they seem well built & also quiet enough for the more serious minded projects. I hope this helps.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
PRO: Great price, I bought a used one for under $50, bought one new years ago for $150 when they first came out. Easily competes with $500+ interface mics Very easy to use, plug-&-go didnt need software. Sound is great! Vocals and recordings are clear pristine and of studio quality. A slight digital sound can be heard if you listen to the recordings very carefully, but its very very faint, & is easily hidden with proper mastering. Lo - Mid - Hi sound recordings (if you are loud put it on low, if you are very soft spoken put it on hi, I found mid perfect for me, easy change slider on back of mic) Cons: Very Very faint digital sounds due to being recording via USB. If you add your vocals over a soundtrack then it is impossible to hear. If you are recording instruments or acapella then a simple mastering with your music software will mask the sounds.Read full review
Verified purchase: No
Price = this is a steal always less than $100 Quality = sounds amazing i have a orginal rode nt2 & nt1a and this mic fits good with my collection but i would say get a transparent preamp to boost for vocals because it does record a lower than my other mics but it depends on what sound source you are recording & editing software these days have vst preamps & sumtimes its good to record low for different applications durabilty = rugged this mic is almost if not jus as rugged as an audio technica dynamic mic is a condenser so try to drop it but if you do it most likely will recover from it Look = this mic looks very professional so when you have and artist or yourself somtimes you need to the feel that this mic it will produce great results & it does give u that sight you need (nothing like an eye sore steal your inspiration)Read full review
I have the 990/991 set, and the 990. Both came with stand mounts. Whether your giging, or just knocking out tracks in a buddies studio, you'll want these rigs. The 991 on a fixed stand in front of your accoustic, and the 990 dangling in your face comes out pure heaven on tracks. Crisp, clean, and as good as any $500+ I've been in front of. The cases protect them well. If you set in with your buddies band occasionally, bring these, your instrument, plus your mic stand, and everybody will be using your rig over the 54, 57s, or 58s up there. No kidding. They sound THAT much better. Use the shock mount and a pop screen for best results. One night I had to use electrical tape, and my cord box foam for a pop screen, and it worked great. I've had my stand kicked over, dented the screen a tiny bit, but it kept running like champ. How tough is it? 2 years of S. TX bars tough. So tough that after the first one took a HARD hit and kept running, that I bought another. Money well spent. Get one if you can. Needs phantom power, but if your boards, amps don't have it, you can get the mini amps, compressors that provide it. You won't regret getting one. I put a 54, 58, my 990, and a Peavey into our mixer/power amp, same settings, and this had the best clarity and volume. I'm going to buy a couple more before they go extinct at these prices. ✌☮Read full review
Verified purchase: No
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