If you take a look at most of the technology in today’s modern era, post taking even a glance at them you will notice that the electronics sell themselves as ‘wireless’. It is very cool to not have the hassle of managing wires be it in a keyboard or mouse, or any kind of computer peripheral. This is because we started looked at wires as obstructions, and we started to yearn for a cleaner/neater space when we saw things go wireless.
If you think about it, the Microphones are no different. Almost every type of consumer that uses a microphone in the modern era has one need in common – they require the mic to be wireless. But, if you think about it with a skeptic’s eye, you will ask yourself a question along the lines of “How does the cable, or lack of a cable, affect the performance of a microphone?”.
Also read : Best Microphones for Youtube
Handheld hero
The handheld is probably what comes to mind to a lot of people when they think of a microphone. It is clutched by the singer or speaker and one of the biggest advantages that the handheld has over other types of microphones, like the lavalier is that the distance between the mouth and the microphone can be physically altered at will with ease, meaning the performer can orient their voice as they wish to do so, since physical movement of the mic changes the volume and fidelity of the sound.
Hence, a number of audio effects can be achieved using the handheld, whether it’s the artistic leanings of a performing vocalist or a higher emphasis on certain keywords.
Best Wireless Microphones to Purchase in 2019
Sennheiser EW 100 G-4
The Sennheiser EW 100 G4 setup is definitely what you consider cutting-edge tech. This can be observed by, most notably, the physical construction of the 135 receivers, since it has a solid metal housing with a really bright LCD screen. It appears as if it was built to last.
It’s meant to sit well and safely in a rackmount system, so it can be integrated with a larger sound setup perfectly. The 845 dynamic mic employs what is called a super-cardioid polar pattern, which basically means that it’s pretty directional and avoids spill and feedback. This feature makes this make perfect for vocals, presentations, choirs or really, in any situation that you need to focus on the amplification while keeping ambient noise to a minimum.
It won’t pick up any jolting or jostling from being the movement of the performer since the capsule in the mic is shock-mounted. Also, the mic has a hum-canceling coil, which helps to reduce any interference.
Speaking of interference, let’s talk about the connection protocol that this system uses, which is definitely another pretty innovative feature about the product. The receiver and the handheld unit connect seamlessly with new infrared technology that ensures that the units stay paired and recognized. Another huge plus about this product is that Sennheiser even lets you link the system to other systems with frequency allocation. This enables you to be able to control a vaster and more complicated setup.
Shure SLX2 SM58
This is the best mic that Shure offers, and buying it is a no-brainer because the SLX2 system employs the SM58 mic which is a vocal dynamic mic that has the capability to capture frequencies between 50 and 15,000 Hz. This enables the performer to push their limits since it covers the most important peaks in the standard voice, which makes it the ideal choice for a performer. It also features an automatic transmitter setup which is respectfully seamless. It operates within a range of 518 to 782 MHz.
This mic also has a bright LCD screen similar to the Sennheiser mic mentioned above, that shows you the transmission frequency and battery life which is displayed in a three-bar system. It can run for eight hours on two AA batteries and features an auto shut-off sleep function to save energy.
Nady DKW Duo
As the name suggests, the Nady DKW Duo comes with two microphones. The VHF broadcast protocol ranges from 170 to 216 MHz, which cannot be said to be as stable as some of the higher-end, more expensive options on this list. These microphones operate on a directional cardioid pattern, which is used to reject noise and feedback according to the company Nady.
It is important to note that Nady has found some legroom in the price by dropping the quality of construction a little bit. Another interesting thing about these mics is that they run on 9V batteries, which aren’t as cheap as the AAs that you use in other models but will easily squeeze out about 15 hours of operation which is about double of the AA battery models. This is the most affordable system on this list.
Gemini UHF-620
Gemini is one of those brands that have carved themselves a nice niche in the wireless audio system space, so it is not uncommon to see them in a lot of corporate presentation settings. This affordable set comes with two handheld mics and a receiver which makes it worth the money with the versatility it offers. It is important to note that these mics aren’t as well documented the other, larger brands (some users have complained about poor battery life), but this is because Gemini has dumped a lot of time and money into its wireless functionality.
The UHF-6200 system offers a wireless connectivity range from 682 MHz all the way to 694.75 MHz, which is a pretty respectable range for presentations. This wide range also facilitates a really long distance of operation, giving the users a radius of 240 feet, which makes it ideal for large-format commercial settings like auditoriums, or at weddings.
They’ve sunk a lot of research into the CPU of the receiver as well and they tout it as containing “PLL oscillation”. Which is basically just a fancy way of saying that the mic will continuously adjust its frequency, which helps to maintain the connection of the receiver with your microphone, which is amazing because, at the end of the day, even the fanciest wireless microphone won’t do you any good if it cannot maintain a solid connection.
This system has the best range on this list.
AKG Perception
AKG has really earnt the trust of its customers, from its large diaphragm condenser microphones of the studio world. The HT 45 system is a pretty good option for those looking for something that can be said to be a reliable, meat-and-potatoes operation.
The handheld dynamic mic included in this system gives you a frequency response of 70 to 20,000 Hz, which covers a lot more ground so to speak on the higher end than most other microphones.
Another cool thing about the mic is that it has an onboard gain control, which is really helpful for presentations, especially in spaces where the sound is prone to feedback. Having onboard gain control means that if the squeal gets out of hand, the person that is operating the mic can quickly lower the volume and cut out the noise. This microphone easily operates for up to eight hours using only one AA battery which gives it an edge over the other mics on the list. The wireless connectivity on this system gives you stable sync from 500MHz to 560MHz and the signal is transmitted over FM.
This system has the best sound control of all in this list.
VocoPro UHF-5800
VocoPro offers a really great value for your money, especially if you’re in the DJ and karaoke space since this is a four-mic system. The microphones’ frequency response range is narrow in comparison, spanning only from 40 Hz to 16 kHz. Let me make it clear -this isn’t going to give you as rich of a spectral recreation as the bigger name models. But, it will do the trick for most applications and work out pretty well if you’re going to use it in a celebration space.
The system operates within the UHF transmission range, which basically means it’ll pick up less interference in general. The receiver also has a pretty crisp and bright LCD, and four distinct volume controls (one for each mic) that’ll let you dial in the ideal sound you’re wanting to hear.
The mics have been optimized for about 12 hours of usage, which beats some of the smaller systems here. Finally, the build quality is superb, and in addition, these pics are capable of porting into an intuitive rack mount receiver unit. They also come with a case to make carrying them around easier, if you’re a DJ or a Musician.
This is the best system for Karaokes and for DJs.
Sennheiser EW 122-p G3
It’s important to note that this mic is very directional, which is something that you will be looking for a lavalier to do well since the main goal is to only mic the voice of the person that is speaking. The Sennheiser EW 122-p G3 has a range of frequency between 80 and 18,000 Hz, so it proves to be a real workhorse. The construction of both the transmitter and the receiver is very sturdy and is made out of metal, which means it’ll most likely last you a long time.
Sennheiser also included what they call an “enhanced frequency bank system”, which gives you a ton of programmable transmission options and allows you to have a stable connection between 516 and 558 MHz. There’s even an automatic frequency scan feature on this system, that will sweep all the available bands to find you the most stable option. They are designed to give you upwards of eight hours of operation, and the displays are highly graphical and crisp. They even give you four bars of battery indicator precision, which is great for a wireless system since a lot of the times they surprise you with dead batteries.
This is the best lavalier on this list.
Advantages of Using Wireless Microphones
Well, the market offers a wide range of recording microphones, some that have cables and some that don’t. Let’s look at the advantages that wireless microphones have to offer –
Movement without restriction
This is by far the most obvious advantage of using a wireless microphone – the user can move around, unimpeded while performing or speaking. This is a huge savior for a singer or a public speaker, since it saves them from the hassle of handling a wire and rids them of the fear of tripping over when they move about the stage, and they don’t have to start worrying if they wish to move among the audience, or start worrying about losing sound quality when doing so.
A clean machine
Regardless of where the mic is being used, be it while staring into a camera or while performing in front of a huge crowd, or speaking to a small crowd in an auditorium, the cable makes the performer or speaker look shabby. The lesser the cables that are visible to the audience, the better they perceive it to be.
A wireless setup looks better because it gives a ‘clean’ look to the proceedings since viewers will not be distracted by the presence of dangling wires when they watching your presentation or your recording.
The cable conundrum
If you have ever owned a cabled microphone, you will recognize the inconvenience that the wires cause when they’re frayed, which happens more often if the cables are cheaply made.
Therefore, the cables that a cabled microphone uses will need to be replaced or repaired intermittently as it wears out with time and use.
In unfortunate circumstances, the cable can disconnect from the amplifier itself, which causes unnecessary embarrassment and an unwanted lapse in the proceedings.
Let’s quickly take a look at one of the most commonly used microphone – the handheld.
Thank you for reading and I hope this article helps you find the right microphone setup for you.
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