MXL MXL-770 Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphone, Black, 8.00 x 4.00 x 12.00 inches

Product Information

Looking at the spectral data for the spoken audio, it’s plain to see that the 770 has a much more prominent peak at 10 kHz. Vocals definitely sound brighter on the 770. The 990 also sounds slightly muddy, which is confirmed by higher peaks in the bass region. The MXL 770 is by no means a Neumann U87, but it’s a solid beginner mic that can help you achieve great results on a budget. If you’re out looking for a cheap condenser mic that can handle more than just vocals, then we highly recommend the MXL 770.

We understand that it is a difficult decision to make and that's the very reason we are here with this discussion today. MXL has been in the microphone game for over 30 years, coinciding with the home recording boom. Plenty of basement and bedroom studios upped their game thanks to MXL mics and their affordable price points. It’s inevitable that a mic decision would one day come down to two MXL mics, particularly if your mic budget is more no-name soda, yet you want a decent sparkling wine. The bass response of this microphone is incredible, and it features an option of adding a high pass filter; hence, the record becomes super clear for the best audio production. The first thing we notice about the MXL 770s frequency response curve is the massive spike in gain from 5 kHz all the way to 20 kHz. Parts of this bump in the treble response are nearly +10 dB! That’s quite a bit, but independent testing shows that the MXL 990 is the one with the exaggerated high-end. Another pro of the MXL 770 is its versatility. The MXL 770 comes with a FET preamp that allows the mic to capture a wide dynamic range. More specifically, the MXL 770 performs well with a variety of instruments such as voice, piano, strings as well as guitars.The MXL 770 condenser microphone is a well-known mic especially among those who just want to break into the home recording hobby without breaking the bank. See also Blue Hummingbird Microphone Review: Top Full Guide 2023 MXL 770 Cons 1. Favors High Frequencies The 990 has a few peaks in the 15 kHz range and generally higher gain above that. This simply isn’t the case with the 770. I could see this making a big difference with high-pitched sounds. The treble roll-off in the 770’s response curve from MXL is definitely steeper, so the evidence for this is twofold.

This isn’t a problem with the MXL 990. It’s a half pound heavier than the MXL 770 but handles a slightly more modest 130 decibels (dB) in sound pressure level (SPL). That’s still a hefty volume level, making the MXL 990 capable of use on virtually any studio sound source. We did some of our own testing and audio comparison to verify whether or not the claims already out there are true. For the test, we used the following equipment for both microphones to ensure everything was apples to apples:As with all condenser microphones, the MXL 770 is quite sensitive, and is prone to capturing hard “T’s” and “P’s” when recording vocals. This is easily fixed with the use of a pop filter, but unfortunately, the MXL 770 doesn’t feature one. I wouldn’t say the MXL 770 has any downsides, although you can certainly look elsewhere for other alternatives. Furthermore, the Audio-Technica AT2020 is capable of handling loud sounds better than the MXL 770 because of its higher maximum sound pressure capacity.