If you’re just starting a YouTube channel to share your gaming videos or want to start podcasting, you must choose your audio gear carefully. For your audience to be able to enjoy your videos, the sound coming from an old muffled headset won’t be enough. At the same time, if you’re not yet making money from your channel/blog/podcast, spending $100+ on a Blue Yeti might not be viable.
Maono created a budget-friendly condenser microphone that could be the answer to your prayers. Check out our Maono DM30 Microphone review to see whether you should buy it as your next USB condenser mic.
Maono DM30 Programmable USB Condenser Microphone: First Impressions & Specs
The DM30 is marketed as a gaming microphone and would be an excellent choice for live streaming your game sessions on Twitch or Discord. However, if you’re looking for a mic to do podcasting or any other work in your home studio, that shouldn’t discourage you from picking the DM30.
This mic comes with a professional sound chipset to ensure great sound quality, high-sensitivity cardioid pickup, good durability thanks to the high-quality metal and plastic materials used to make it, and RGB lighting with different modes that you can control via a physical button on the mic or the Maono Link app.
Honestly, all of that sounds like more than you’d expect to get with such a price tag. Before we dive into our review of the Maono DM30, here’s the complete list of tech specs of this USB condenser mic:
- Weight: 16.9 oz (480g)
- Pickup device type: condenser
- Polar pattern: cardioid
- Connectivity: USB 2.0, USB type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Sensitivity: -4dBFS (1V/PA at 1 kHz)
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
- RGB modes: 7 solid colors + rainbow effect
- Color: black, purple, pink, white
- Price: from $33.59 (on sale) on Amazon or $49.99 on the Maono website .
Design and Unpacking
Typically, you wouldn’t expect much in terms of design and build quality from a budget microphone. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that the Maono DM30 went the other way and really focused on both those areas. While the mic follows the standard simple shape, Maono managed to make it look stylish and, dare I say, quirky, especially if you choose one of the colorful options – white, pink, or purple (I had the DM30 in purple color for testing).
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find during the Maono DM30 unboxing experience:
- Maono DM30 Programmable USB Condenser Microphone
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Desktop stand
- Use Manual
The build quality is quite impressive. The mic is relatively light, but the metal stand is solid and surprisingly heavy (so you don’t have to worry about accidentally knocking it over). The stand also has adhesives on the bottom if you want to mount the base of your mic onto your computer desk more permanently.
Thanks to the flexible knob on the side of the mic, the stand is adjustable and allows you to rotate your mic up to 300 degrees to accommodate a big range of motion.
If you want more control over your microphone’s position, you can purchase a boom arm stand separately. Some also let you hide the cables by placing them inside the cantilever frame to avoid dangling. You can then mount your DM30 on the boom arm by removing the bottom part of the mic’s all-metal base and using the screw hole on the bottom of it.
Maono has built the peripheral almost entirely of metal, except for the plastic top and buttons. The main button is the knob on the front of the mic – the headphone volume button. Aside from volume control, it functions as a mute button and allows for microphone gain control adjustment. Underneath the button are two LED lights, one for the microphone, which turns green when you plug in your mic and turns red when the mic is on mute, and one for the headphones, which is always off unless you plug in a headset.
On the bottom of the mic, you’ll find a USB-C port, a 3.5mm jack, and a button to control the RGB lighting. The USB cable that comes with the DM30 is a two-in-one USB-C and USB-A cable which comes in handy when you need to use the mic for recording on different devices, like a smartphone with a USB-C port or a computer with USB-A ports only. The headphone jack lets you connect your headphones for real-time monitoring of what the DM30 captures.
The bottom of the DM30 has an array of holes for the RGB lights. There are 9 RGB lighting modes you can choose from: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, rainbow loop, and off. The rainbow mode is just a loop, there are no fancy effects like Breathe or Strobe. You can switch the modes using the physical button on the bottom of the mic or via the Maono software.
If you want to create a more colorful atmosphere on your computer desk, check out the Maono DM30RGB mic. It’s a similar model that comes with more RGB lighting – not only the bottom but the mic’s body lights up as well.
Audio Quality & Features
Maono DM30 is extremely easy to set up with plug-and-play connectivity. I tested the microphone with my Mac and an Android smartphone. Maono DM30 delivers great sound quality for its price. You can expect your voice to sound clear on your recordings even if you move away from the mic slightly while recording.
The microphone captures a lot of detail, making the DM30 an excellent option for recording your singing or playing musical instruments. Besides, you can use the Maono Link app to tweak the audio settings and make your voice sound deeper by switching the preset sound modes. The DM30 would do well as a podcasting mic, as it makes your voice sound crisp and clear.
The mic has a cardioid polar pattern and is directionally sensitive, which is most important if you’re a gamer or a streamer. This means the DM30 picks up sounds in a heart-shaped pattern in front of the microphone, effectively filtering out the background noises that can be heard at a distance. However, if you put the mic directly on your desk and use it while gaming, it’s likely to pick up those keyboard and mouse clicks. If that’s the case, consider investing in a boom arm to place your mic over the desk rather than on top.
The DM30 has a high-sensitivity condenser microphone core with a sampling rate of 24-bit/48 kHZ. This allows you to get good audio recordings even if you don’t sit close to the microphone.
App and Compatibility
Maono DM30 is a plug-and-play microphone, so it’s ready to use as soon as you plug it in. However, if you want to get access to more advanced customization options, you can download the Maono Link software from the company’s website and install it on your device.
In the app, you can access the full capabilities of the microphone. The app’s interface is divided into two areas: Standard and Advanced . The Standard tab has some basic mic controls, while the Advanced allows you to tweak the rest of the microphone’s settings. There’s also a section that allows you to change the RGB lighting regimes. There’s a toggle that allows you to switch the RGB on and off, a section to choose the color, and an option to set the Lamplight Brightness.
Under the Standard tab, you get the microphone gain control, the headphone monitor, and the headphone volume control – all of the functions you can manually control using the buttons on the mic’s body. The interesting feature is the tone change. You can choose from 4 presets: Deep, Natural, Bright, and Legacy. You can test all four until you’ve found your perfect voice settings. I personally prefer the Deep setting, as it makes my voice carry more weight and sound less bubbly.
When you go to the Advanced tab, you’ll find all the same controls plus a few more for further customization of your audio recordings. There’s an equalizer that allows you to choose from four different presets: one for flat sound, one with a high-pass filter, one for boosting the mid-range presence, and a combination of the two middle options. There’s no option to create your own custom EQ preset. In this tab, you’ll also find advanced options to tweak your audio input, like the Limiter and Compressor controls.
Should You Buy the Maono DM30 USB Microphone?
The DM30 isn’t the first microphone I tested. I previously reviewed the Maono WM821 and was impressed by how much Maono managed to pack into their dual wireless mic system. While the DM30 is an impressive USB microphone, I wouldn’t recommend it for professionals looking for a premium-grade peripheral due to its lacking advanced audio features.
At the same time, the Maono DM30 is one of the best entry-level microphones currently on the market, and it’s a steal for anyone looking to buy a budget microphone.
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If you don’t have a full-sized printing machine at home and often need to print a document on the go, check out the Newyes portable printer . This wireless printer is lightweight and small enough to fit in your bag. Not to mention it’s environmentally friendly, since it uses thermal paper instead of ink.
Follow our review of the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer to see if it suits your printing needs.
Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal A4 Printer: First Impressions & Specs
When I was a student, I remember my university always required hard copies of documents. Luckily, there was a print shop on campus where I could always pop in to print something.
Then I became a professional, and to my surprise many life spheres still required me to have printed versions of documents with me. Of course you can get your own full-sized machine to print things at home, but if like me you live in a small apartment, you value every extra bit of space and don’t want a massive printer to take it up.
One day, when I was looking for a neighbor with a printer to help me with my event tickets, they introduced me to the concept of a portable printer. Seeing how easy it is to use, I immediately wanted to get my hands on one of those. So here I am, reviewing one of the most useful gadgets I received recently – the Newyes portable thermal printer.
Before we continue with this review, here is the full list of specs of this printer.
- Model: Newyes LD0801
- Dimensions: 10.4 x 1.2 x 2.28 in (265 x 58 x 30.5 mm)
- Weight: 16.8oz (475g)
- Paper format: A4
- Paper width: 210mm or 218mm
- Printing Type: thermal paper
- Resolution: 203DPI
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Charging port: USB type-C port
- Input Voltage: DC 5V / 2A
- Battery: 1200mAh lithium battery
- Charging time: 75 min
- Automatic shut down: after 30 minutes
- Stand-by: about 30 days
- Extra features: LED light, reset, on / off switch button
- Color: white, black
- Warranty: limited one year warranty
- Price: $199 on the Newyes website
If you find yourself in need of hard copies of important documents while on the move, the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer will become your go-to gadget. Newyes calls it “the world’s smallest printer”, and with the weight of under 500g this seems plausible. This mini printer offers a handy solution for those moments when you need to quickly print an important document but don’t have access to an office setup.
Operating this printer is a breeze – a simple Bluetooth connection is all that’s required. Once connected, just fire up the app, choose the file you want to print, and send it over. Efficiency is at the forefront, and you can easily print multiple sheets by inserting new pages back to back.
The only limitation this printer has is that it can only print in black. So even if your original file is in color, the printed document will still come out in black and white. Other than that – you can print a variety of file types including Excel, Word, PDF, JPG, PNG, and web pages – and it only takes seconds.
The Newyes portable wireless printer combines convenience, portability, and efficiency – all the things I appreciate in a modern gadget.
Design and Unpacking
Let’s have a closer look at the design and build of this smart printer, as well as what you get included in the package when you purchase it.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find when unpacking your Newyes portable thermal printer:
- The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer
- Bracket
- USB type-C cable
- Storage/carrying pouch
- 100pcs thermal printing paper
- User manual
You can use the Newyes portable printer right out of the box, as you’re all set with essential accessories. Aside from the printer itself, the package includes a bracket which will make printing more than one page smoother, a convenient storage bag for carrying your printer with you, a USB-C cable for charging, and a supply of 100 pieces of thermal paper to get you started.
One important thing to remember is that this printer only works with thermal paper. While thermal paper is significantly more expensive than normal paper, this printer also uses inkless printing and works without a ribbon and toner. Since you don’t have to spend money on ink, carbon ribbons or toner cartridges, you ultimately end up saving money with thermal paper.
The Newyes LD0801 is a pocket-sized printer that features straightforward design. For the purpose of this review, I had a printer in white color. The printer looks like a small white brick with just two pressable buttons on top – one for switching it on and off, and another for opening the printer’s cover. You’ll also see the paper entry slot on top of the printer.
On the side of the printer, you’ll find a single charging port.
The printer is made of plastic, but the build feels sturdy. I never have to worry about throwing it into my bag or damaging it when traveling. Besides, you can use a nice carrying pouch included in the package for protection.
Performance & Features
According to Newyes, the portable printer has a “handheld size and two times the weight of an iPhone”. This can give you an idea of how portable and convenient this little gadget is. In a month of testing, I used it at home, in a store, and even in a car while on the road.
Using the printer is unbelievably easy. Connect it to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, press the button to turn the printer on and put a sheet of thermal paper into the paper entry slot. Make sure to use thermal paper and not standard paper, and put it with the black marks facing down. Bear in mind that the thermal printer can only print in black and white and only on one (marked) side of the thermal paper sheet.
Then open the iPrint app on your smartphone. If you’re printing an A4 document, you can select one of two options – Photo Printing and Document Printing . Then choose the document from your phone’s files and print it.
The printer is reliable and in the time that I used it the Newyes LD0801 never let me down. The printing quality will surprise you, as it’s sometimes better than what you get from a full-sized printer. The printer supports printing in various formats, and you can use it to print documents from your smartphone (Android and iPhone), iPad, and Android tablet.
When fully charged, the printer can support up to 90 pieces of paper continuously, which is very impressive for a gadget of such a small size.
Software
The Newyes portable printer requires an iPrint app to operate. The app is available for free on iOS and Android. You’ll need to download the app on your device from the App Store or Google Play before you begin printing your documents.
The app has a simple and user-friendly design. You’ll need to pair your device with the printer on the first use via Bluetooth.
Depending on the type of document you want to print, you can choose different options from the app. There’s photo printing, document printing, web printing, and banner printing.
The app also has Materials and Template sections, where you can find various pictures and templates for printing to-do lists, post-its and holiday cards. You can also use the Newyes LD0801 as a label printer using these templates.
Battery Life
The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer is equipped with a decent 1200mAh lithium battery. This high-capacity battery allows you to print on the go without constantly worrying about running out of charge. When I received the printer, I charged it fully once, and it still hasn’t run out of battery after one month of use (I use it to print something almost every other day).
Charging this printer is quick and takes just over an hour to charge the printer from zero to full. The type-C charging cable facilitates a rapid charging experience. And if you run out of battery while on the go, you can quickly charge the printer from a portable power station or a power bank to continue printing.
The printer doesn’t support wireless charging, so I’d recommend always bringing the usb-c cable with you just in case.
Should You Buy the Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal Printer?
The Newyes portable thermal printer ensures high-quality wireless printing while on the go and easy operation. It’s not the most budget-friendly option, but this purchase will save you money and nerves in the long run thanks to its versatility and portable nature.
Personally, I can say that this printer made my life easier. So much that it’s probably my favorite smart gadget of the year. If you’re looking for a portable printer that won’t take any space in your house, I’d certainly recommend considering the Newyes LD0801 model.
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