I bought the MXL 990 for studio recording as an entry-level condenser, and in terms of sound it is genuinely impressive for the price: the self-noise is remarkably low, the frequency response behaves as advertised, and male vocals in particular are captured with pleasing presence and a natural top-end airiness.
And that’s exactly why I’m disappointed — because the mic could have a much stronger reputation… but it’s held back by very real mechanical issues.
On the very first use, the proprietary shock-mount failed: the tightening screw of the angle joint snapped internally under completely normal load. This is not an isolated incident: there are multiple videos on YouTube showing the exact same failure, which suggests a known design weakness that has not yet been addressed by the manufacturer.
Additionally, the grille arrived already slightly dented right out of the case.
In summary:
Sound: 4–5 stars (excellent for the price)
Features: 4 stars
Build quality: 2 stars
Overall rating: 3 stars
This could truly be a best-buy microphone if MXL invested a bit more in the robustness of the mount and the mechanical tolerances. Until then, buyers should know that the mic itself is very capable — but the included shock-mount needs to be handled like fine crystal, or replaced by a sturdier third-party alternative.
