MXL AC-404 Black USB Connector USB-Powered Microphone

Pros: This has a nice quality, chunky, heavy all-metal construction. Using it on a Macbook Air for all the various video chat applications and works superb. I used to have the input volume cranked all the way up and people could still barely hear me and words would be garbled. With this mic the input volume is barley halfway turned up and people say it's like being in the same room it's so clear.

Cons: I need to pull it out and connect it to my laptop for video chats. I also have to be more careful about what I fiddle with or do off-screen while video chatting, since people can hear EVERYTHING that happens around me now, like planes flying overhead or dogs barking next door.

Other Thoughts: It came shipped in a bubble-wrap envelope instead of a box. The mic box was all crushed to smithereens and the plastic bag the mic was in was pressed so hard against the mic it was shredding against the top grating. When I pulled the mic out there wasn't a scratch or dent on it, that's how durable it is.

Pros: Superior clarity, range, and build quality. I love that it's heavy. I also really like the neo-retro look of this mic. The rubber base pad is nice too. Plus, it's USB so you can extend the signal distance with a USB extension and hub, while an analog-only mic's signal would degrade considerably with an extension.
We host a daily company-wide video-conference with 16 people standing/sitting scattered around a roughly 400 sq foot open work floor with moderate background noise from running equipment. After installing this mic and finding the right spot to place it, I received several comments from the other end saying that it sounded so much clearer, and even the people in the back are more audible now. Even though the speakers are behind the mic, there is no feedback at high volumes. We use Google Hangout for our video conference.

Cons: It was damaged (bent grill) in shipping. I can't ding the device's rating for this, and since it is hardly noticeable and doesn't affect performance, I'm not going to bother replacing it. Be warned though, Newegg shipped this highly sensitive and relatively expensive piece of equipment in a bubble-wrap envelope. Others may not be so lucky (or complacent) as me. Be prepared to return it.

Other Thoughts: It comes with the same kind of cleaning cloth that eye glasses or tablet PC's come with. Why?

Pros: Very professional looking.

Cons: Horrible sound quality.

Other Thoughts: Purchased this for use in Counterstrike GO. Sound quality was consistently horrible.

Pros: Do you play online games or make conference calls online? The MXL USB Microphone has been the best microphone I've used for both. The clarity of the mic is unparalleled no matter which way one faces it. With a 180 degree range, people on the communication program Ventrilo was shocked when I told them I wasn't even facing the mic while talking (also tested on google and teamspeak). There are some options under the playback devices (recording section) to customize your microphone (which will need to be done as well for best results). For me, due to it being a few feet away, it required me to lower the level to under 10. Believe me; this MXL is very VERY sensitive to sound if it isn’t setup right and probably will never need to be placed even anywhere near level 50 unless you want to have everyone in your building to be heard on your microphone.

Cons: One doesn’t need to be super computer savvy to use this device but will require at least in the beginning trial and error. I tested each decibel level with a few people on Ventrilo when I first got it to find the best range for me. Fans, computer motors and other device noises will be picked up on this device if the 180 degree range (and sometimes then some) is present. This will factor in where your MXL can be placed as well as how much background noise one can have in the background. I've had many complaints at times on ventrilo when gaming that they heard my fan or music in the background so I had to lower it to quiet and roast a bit... Also if you leave in your microphone into your computer while turning it on and off it doesn’t always pick it back up at least on my Windows 7 Ultimate OS version. The easy fix is though unplugging it and plugging it back in and it works flawless after.

Other Thoughts: The packaging includes a two sided user "manual" pamphlet which is useful, 6' USB extension cable which is very handy is the placement of this device, headphone/speaker jack which I never used yet actually, but seems useful for traveling purpose, and a leather zipper case which to me was surprisingly made well since most cases I find that come with products such as these are terrible. The construction of this MXL Mic is very well made and doesn’t seem as if it would break for awhile. There’s a red light within the product though that doesn’t seem necessary, but shouldn’t bother anyone either if placed over 3 feet away due to the angle. This microphone is quite a bit of money not on sale, but it seems as if this mic will be the last one I’ll need. If it breaks I will most likely buy this one again. See you next time on Dariusreviews!

Pros: The construction and materials used are fantastic. This is a company that specializes in studio quality recording. I use this mic for gaming, conference calls, and even some VoIP relation stuff. Overall I am very happy with this purchase.

Cons: None so far, packaging was a little messy when I got it. However it works just fine.

Other Thoughts: Worth the money.

Pros: I use this primarily for use in Mumble/Skype while gaming. It's a bit much for what I use it for, but it's high quality and gets the job done nicely. After throwing away my 3rd "high-quality" headset I decided to get a standalone microphone that emphasized build-quality.

Well, this thing is built like a brick. It's bigger than the picture would lead you to believe, but I'm very happy with it. It doesn't slide around and Windows has no issues detecting it. You'll see it labeled generically as a USB audio device.

Long, detachable cord and a leather carrying case if that's your thing.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: This thing picks up everything. For my intended purpose (gaming) I should probably exhibited more restraint when buying a microphone intended for conference calls. If you are getting this for home use, be warned that it will pick up everything going on within 2 rooms.

Pros: 1. Sturdy construction, you can probably kill someone with it, if you hit them hard enough
2. Great sound
3. Automatically detected in Windows 7
4. Long USB cord and foam bottom (stays put on the desk)
5. Headphone jack for real-time monitoring
6. Great price

Cons: A little big, but not overly so.

Pros: Amazing sensitivity. Even my whispers were audible. I am teacher and I use it to record podcasts. The logitec mic I had made me sound... well... recorded. The sound with this one is so natural. The recordings sound like my voice, with all of the fullness. Doesn't sound like I am in a tin can. And I don't have to think about where the mic is. I don't have to lean towards it or worry about which way I am facing when I speak. It gets everything. I forget it is there.

Cons: Price. I got it when it was on sale, but if you are looking for something to record your voice, this is fabulous. It is worth paying full price. Don't know how it would sound with music or more complex sounds. Haven't tried.

Pros: Hardware self-adjusts to the audio level,
Picks up quiet noises amidst louder noises,
Comes with a great case to protect it,
Great for audio/video conferencing,
No configuration or manual adjusting needed.

Cons: A bit bulky for a microphone,
Designed to only pickup sound in 180 degree range.

Other Thoughts: I have been using this microphone for various projects and uses and it is beyond anything I have used before. I mainly use it for recording family history interviews and it was able to pickup every syllable from everyone in the room and even interjections from people in other rooms. The microphone itself will reduce noise and adjust recording volume on a hardware level before sending the info to the computer so it takes very little configuration.

Pros: It sounds pretty clear, I don't know much about audio, but it is better than my webcam which was loud and clear, and way better than my headset microphone. lol

Cons: The packaging was kind of poor, I open it and the microphone fell out. Luckily I think it is still working like it is suppose to.

Other Thoughts: I am not sure, maybe I expect to much, but I made my microphone "level" +25 db because it wasn't picking up my voice loud enough. Again I am not an audio expert so I don't know if that is normal. Also you can hear loud "room noise" when you record, I don't know if it is just me or all microphones do that.
When I was purchasing this item, I was hoping that it will pick up my voice only, and not the emptiness in the air. I was probably looking into the wrong type of product, so it is probably my fault.