Online audio/video retailer Monoprice offers a dynamic vocal microphone that works surprisingly well for its price point. The mic is solid, fits well in the hand, and even sounds pretty good. A few other brands such as Nady and Behringer also have models under $15, all of which seem to be manufactured in Asian plants.
Monoprice is headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, operating out of a 173,000 square foot warehouse. They specialize in selling generic consumer electronics products branded with their name, with annual sales of around $120 million. Their products offerings cover: audio and video cables; accessories for cameras, mobile phones, computers, and networking; home theatre audio; gaming devices; printer ink and toner; and the Pro Audio Series line. The latter includes dynamic and condenser mics, monitor speakers, guitars and basses, mixers, keyboards, and more. Their tag line is “Best Quality Products at the Lowest Price – Always!”
How It Looks
The model 600020 dynamic mic (the numeric designation on both the mic and as the product number on their web site) is actually quite attractive in its appearance. The paint job is nicely done and evenly applied – likely a powder-coated finish – in dark gray, with a silky feel. The brand name and model numbers printed in gold ink on the mic handle between the head and the on/off switch are crisp and clear. The “bumper” at the bottom of grille is actually part of the metal, rather than being rubberized to minimize noise from bumps, so is mainly for appearance – and also prevents the mic from rolling when it is placed on a surface.
The zinc-alloy metal handle has a smooth taper, with a comfortable feel in the hand and a sturdy weight. The mic's grille of heavy-duty hardened woven wire appears strong, attractively shaped, and is robustly affixed to a collar that threads into the handle. Removing the grille, a 1/8-inch thick foam screen rounded to exactly fit the inside of the grille provides some protection of the mic element from wind noises and moisture, and is also removable for cleaning. The XLR connector is firmly attached, appears to have gold-plated pins, and fits solidly and tightly without wiggle room.
The Monoprice dynamic microphone ships in a plain white box, resting within foam cutout. A mic clip or pouch are not supplied.
How It Sounds
The Monoprice dynamic mic sounds all right with spoken word and singing, and the frequency response appears to be relatively even without any noticeable holes or peaks. The overall level is fine, though the microphone doesn't have the high-end crispness of a higher performance dynamic or condenser. On the web site, a frequency range of 50 Hz to 15 kHz is specified, with a sensitivity of -52 dB and maximum SPL greater than 130 dB.
The polar pattern appears to be cardioid, and the pattern is fairly well controlled across the frequency range. The mic has good rejection from the sides after about 80 degrees off axis, and the null at the rear is quite good, even in the low frequencies. Talking into the rear ports of the mic along the handle is well attenuated, so the mic will offer fairly good isolation at the rear.
How It Functions
This microphone seems to work best when speaking or singing into it closely. The level diminishes significantly after moving an inch or so away from the mic head. Even when using the mic with lips touching, the proximity effect bass boost is fairly modest, so close use will be fine in most cases.
It is a solidly built microphone, and the handling noise from movement on the handle is fairly low, and not transferred excessively to the mic element. Ring clicks on the handle do come through, but are well damped. The internal wind screen provides moderate protection from wind noise, and the p-pops are a bit more noticeable than on a higher end microphone.
The on/off switch slides easily with the thumb. When turned on (or off), a slight noise is audible. If you are using the mic with a mixer that has phantom power across all channels, avoid using the switch or turn off the phantom power, because it will result in a very loud pop. The switch did function properly through a number of on and off cycles.
Customer Feedback
Reading through the customer comments on the Monoprice web site, I found mixed reviews. Kudos were extended for the visual quality of the mic, and for its performance for the price. I read about user applications ranging from Skype conversations to karaoke, DJ work, and live singing.
The negatives were mainly around manufacturing consistency, with a couple customers saying their mic was nonfunctional when it arrived, or that the switch didn't turn on or off. In these cases, the mics were promptly replaced, or allowed to be returned. Loud pops when the mic was switched on were also mentioned, and this may have been related to the phantom power effect. A more sophisticated user mentioned a susceptibility to EMI, which he traced to a problem with the wiring on his particular mic and repaired; I did detect more of a hum when I held the mic nearer to an AC power source.
Final Thoughts
The Monoprice handheld cardioid dynamic vocal microphone is obviously not a high-end, professional mic, yet it is solidly built and is certainly functional. If you are looking for a spare utility microphone for a portable PA or a less critical application, and have a strict budget, this one is a possibility. At $14.07 for a single mic, from the perspective of having worked with a microphone manufacturer for several years, I find it amazing that it looks as good as it does and performs decently as an audio tool.
