Beyerdynamic

T
he M 90 Pro X is a
new large capsule
cardioid condenser
from Beyerdynamic
and forms part of
their wider Pro X
range of mics and
headphones. Designed for vocal,
speech and instrument use, it
features a reasonably large, 34mm,
true condenser capsule and is
phantom-powered. At £269 we can
consider this a budget design. Still,
out of the box, the package oozes
quality. With an attractive large
headstock, and a well damped case
with no annoying resonances when
tapped, there’s lots to like about the
physical design. Meanwhile the
included suspension mount is broad
(about 14cm) but very low profi le,
top to bottom, with a cup section
that accommodates the bottom of
the mic. This all slots together
nicely, and the combo of plastic and
metal means the overall rig including
the cradle is light. Hidden in the
bottom of the box you’ll fi nd a proper
dual layer 15cm pop shield with fl exi
arm mount, and both this and the
mic body sports Beyerdynamic’s
latest logo and branding.
A quick look at the spec reveals
not only very low self noise but also a
close. That said, I did fi nd that
although the off axis response is
reasonably acceptable to the sides
and back, above and below it is quite
coloured in higher frequencies. So
I’d be less inclined to use the M 90
Pro X as an ambient mic or overhead
mic on drums for example. But for
close miking instruments such as
acoustic guitar this really isn’t
noticeable, and I like the moderate
high frequency lift and the solid but
not overbearing low mids.
Overall, I really like this mic. It
successfully ticks a number of boxes
and although not a complete all
rounder is exceptionally well put
together and really looks the part.
very healthy output level, and this
was confi rmed when I fi rst plugged
up the mic. Although we typically
use a pop shield for close miking
vocals, it’s always interesting to see
how much the mic can handle
without one. The M 90 Pro X actually
copes pretty well, and this may be
down to the two-layer grille, which
appears to have a very fi ne diffusing
inner layer. The proximity effect is
also reasonably restrained, and I
found it only became obvious when
right in close. All this bodes pretty
well for vocal and speech use, and
once I got the pop shield hooked up,
I got excellent intimate sounds that
were crisp and clear with nice low
mid body, but importantly not
unpleasantly boomy. It’s great to see
a proper two-layer mesh pop shield
in a mic bundle. To me these are the
only designs that consistently deliver
and allow you to get in nice and
close without too many problems.
Sonically, the M 90 Pro X sounds
pleasantly articulate without being
unduly bright and although the
frequency plot indicates a broad
boost of over 4dB in the upper mids
and high frequencies, this is not
unduly harsh. So on percussion, for
example, I got a pretty smooth
response even when miking a bit too
THE PROS & CONS
+
Pleasant broad high
mid to high
frequency lift
Avoids overbearing
proximity effect
Excellent, low-noise
performance
Really well designed
mic and cradle
I ncludes proper
dual-layer pop shield
-
Not ideal for ambient
miking needs
FM VERDICT
9.2
A slick performer that –
despite not being a total all
rounder – is ideal for any
vocals and instrument close
miking requirements
Beyerdynamic M 90 Pro X | Reviews
87
FMU383.rev_beyerdynamic.indd 87FMU383.rev_beyerdynamic.indd 87 12/04/2022 16:1112/04/2022 16:11