When it comes to electronics, gold plating seems to be, well, the gold standard; either because it helps the electrons make their merry way through the circuits a little easier, or because engineers like shiny things. In any case, a gold-plated large-diaphragm condenser microphone is a pretty big deal when you're looking for a tool to record deeper voices or spoken word, but it becomes an even bigger deal when that microphone features a USB connection that allows you to skip having to buy an expensive pre-amp and go directly into your computer. Such a microphone now exists and will make its official debut at NAMM, the music manufacturing industry's equivalent of CES, in two days. Made by Chinese manufacturer Marshall Electronics, whose reputation as a quality manufacturer of low-cost, high-quality microphones has grown over the past few years in an industry where the phrases high quality and high cost have gone hand-in-hand for years, the MXL.006 looks like a pretty cool purchase for $199.99. Claims by its manufacturer that it beat out a high-priced famous-brand condenser in a sound test sound like they might be a bit far-fetched, but if not, so much better for the consumer.

Via BusinessWire