Review on 🎥 Enhanced Vidpro XM-88 13-Piece Professional Video & Broadcast Unidirectional Condenser Shotgun Microphone Kit - Comprehensive Set with 2 Mounts, Adapters, Cables, and More – Ideal for Indoor & Outdoor Recording by Scott Ramu

I'm a video professional with 25 years of experience. I chose the XM-88 over the VidPro XM-55 because of the improved high frequency response. I use a microphone with Canon DSLRs. PROS: Does a decent job. The microphone is quiet (especially when used with a 48V mixer with phantom power like the BeachTek DXA-SLR preamp). Comes with a handy little soft plastic case with decent snaps that contains the microphone and all the accessories that come with it. Comes with nice extras like foam and cat cases, cables and mounts. Note: I never use camera mounted microphones. That calls for trouble. I always mount my microphones on a tripod. CONS: The microphone is awfully big. The processing quality of the microphone can hardly be described as reliable. The on/off switch popped out when I pulled the mic through the rubber bands on the shock but snapped back slightly. The rear XLR connector is also too small. The XLR cable is so tight you'll fall over like ripping your guts out of the mic when you unplug the mic cable. Using professional cables does not solve this problem. I bought it as a backup for my Sennheiser MKH 416 P48. In an A/B comparison between the mics, it is noticeable that the Sennheiser is clearer and brighter in the upper mids. However, when editing, you can boost the upper mids a bit to compensate. I don't like the "tinny" voice. I like it relatively warm, so I record without the bass rolloff switch. I like to selectively control rolloff by using a high pass filter during editing. There's a reason high-end mics cost so much. Best build quality for a lifetime. The best frequency response. The best deviation from the axis. Despite the XM-88's weaknesses, for the money you can't go wrong. This is a very worthy performer. I can't give more than 3 stars because of the build quality.