With more and more artists, producers, and engineers having to pull double duty as content creators and editors, there is more of a need now than ever for an affordable microphone that can handle vocals, broadcasting, speech, and other similar inputs that are low maintenance and targeted at working-class creatives. And with so many legacy brands riding the wave of their reputation and other upstart brands trying to topple the giants, it can be tough to know which mic in a crowded marketplace is worth the investment.
We had the opportunity to review the beyerdynamic M 70 PRO X a couple of weeks ago. Now it’s time to dive a bit deeper into its sister model, the M 90 PRO X, to discover how this cardioid condenser mic stacks up against the myriad other mics being sold and pitched to home studio vocalists, podcasters, and new producers looking to get into recording.
Learn More About This Mic While Supporting Our Team Of Writers Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Sweetwater Here
What Is The beyerdynamic M 90 PRO X?
The beyerdynamic M 90 PRO X is a large capsule cardioid condenser microphone, part of the broader Pro X range of microphones and headphones from Beyerdynamic. This microphone is designed to record vocals, speech, and musical instruments with pretty impressive sensitivity, providing a close, intimate, and detailed audio recording. The M 90 PRO X uses a 34mm true condenser capsule and requires phantom power ranging from 20 to 52 volts for operation.
While it does not include any switches or buttons on its body, the simplicity of its design ensures an approachable user experience focused on capturing sound accurately. It makes it an excellent option for those newer to recording who don’t need or want to be overwhelmed by bells and whistles.
The M 90 PRO X boasts a robust all-metal construction that is lightweight and durable. The microphone features grilles around its capsule but exclusively captures sound from the front by its cardioid polar pattern. The package includes a shock mount, a 5/8-inch thread adapter, a carrying pouch that helps reduce handling noise and floor rumble, and a detachable pop filter that reduces unwanted plosive and fricative sounds.
The Best Features Of The beyerdynamic M 90 PRO X
It’s Detailed!
The M 90 PRO X is incredibly sensitive in all the best ways. It captured a ton of detail and nuance in whatever we ran through it, which is most important when recording vocals (which is this mic’s obvious forte). We were pretty shocked by how clean and crisp the vocals we captured using this mic were. While we mainly focused on studio vocal recording work when conducting this review, it’s a feature that would also easily translate over the podcast and broadcast work.
Another factor that helps with the mic’s clarity and detail is the low amount of self-noise it produces, more so than its other competitors on the market, and it helps produce and record high-quality and professional vocal recordings. This helped a ton with producing clean vocals but helped even more when recording fast and transient-heavy instruments like fingerstyle guitar sections.
Its Design
Right out of the box, you can tell this mic is durable and well-built. The body of the M 90 PRO X is constructed entirely of metal, which helps keep the more delicate components in any cardioid condenser mic safe and sound. Even so, it still manages to pull off this rugged durability without being so cumbersome and weighted that it makes it hard to transport or to constantly move and rearrange around the studio throughout the recording process.
We were also a big fan of the matte-black design that gives it a sleek, modern, and sexy aesthetic without being flashy and overly eye-catching in the studio. It looks professional and delivers the expectations its curb appeal promises.
It’s Got A Lot Of Bang For Its Buck
Not only does the mic sport all of the cool features outlined above, but it also comes packed with a couple of added value quality-of-life items that let you know that beyerdynamic knows the market to which they are selling this mic.
It comes with a pretty solid shock mount which will help reduce much of the handling noise and rumble that this mic will likely pick up when you move the mic placements around the studio. This is an excellent feature to ship with the mic, as we can only imagine that most artists and engineers looking to snag this mic will be working in smaller studios, bedroom spaces, and other similar spaces that require often and countless re-Tetrising of the studio gear and instruments throughout the recording process.
The mic also has a pop filter to help handle and manage the plosives typically seen in vocal recordings. Sure, pop filters usually aren’t that expensive and are easy to snag on Amazon, but it’s the last thing you want to have to order once this mic hits your doorstep, and all you want to do is bust it out and start vocal recording ASAP!
What We Weren’t Crazy About
Lack Of Onboard Controls
Let’s preface this by saying that this is far from a game-changer and that we could also see a world where most of the target demographic this mic is angled for couldn’t care less about the lack of onboard controls. That being said, with so many different mics boasting intricate and powerful onboard features like analog compression or instrument-specific EQ curves, the ‘what you see if what you get’ nature of this mic could fall short of some producers’ and engineer’s expectations.
It’s Not Too Versatile
This mic is designed, first and foremost, for vocals, with a couple of other instruments being in its near orbit after that. And while it does this job incredibly well, especially considering the price point, it’s not as much of a ‘workhorse mic’ as some producers and artists might be looking for.
And to be fair, this is as much by its nature as it is by its design. Cardioid condenser mics rarely have the flexibility to handle louder instruments like drums and live-performance recordings – and that’s okay! If you’re an artist who moonlights as a podcaster and content creator, this mic will handle almost everything you need, making this mic an easy recommendation. And if you are a larger-studio owner, then you likely aren’t in the market for this mic anyways (unless you’re looking for an affordable backup vocal mic or something, of course).
Final Thoughts And Recommendations
In conclusion, the Beyerdynamic M 90 PRO X is a highly specialized tool designed with professional broadcasting and studio applications in mind. It brings the exceptional sound quality and meticulous German engineering that Beyerdynamic is renowned for, especially evident in its superior vocal clarity and impressive low-handling noise. Its rugged construction ensures long-term durability, emphasizing its suitability for demanding professional environments.
For those searching for a microphone that excels in capturing vocals and spoken words with outstanding precision, the M 90 PRO X is a compelling choice. However, it may be worth exploring other options for those needing a more versatile microphone for various sound sources or field recording. This microphone serves a specific niche and does so brilliantly, but it’s essential to consider your unique needs before deciding if it’s the right microphone for you. Despite these minor limitations, the M90 PRO X provides excellent value, making it a strong contender in the high-end microphone market.
Tech Specs Of The beyerdynamic M 90 PRO X
- Microphone Type: Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Diaphragm Size:1.33″ (34mm)
- Frequency Response:20Hz-20kHz
- Max SPL:133dB
- Output Impedance:180 ohms
- Sensitivity:36mV/Pa
- Signal to Noise Ratio:88dB A weighted
- Self Noise:5.6dB
- Connector:XLR
- Color:Black
- Power Source:20-52V phantom power
- Dimensions:7.75″ x 2.04″
- Weight:0.65 lbs.
- Included Accessories:Shock Mount, Pop Filter, Storage Bag
- Manufacturer Part Number:718211
Learn More About This Mic While Supporting Our Team Of Writers Through Our Affiliate Partnership With Sweetwater Here
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
