A wireless lavalier mic is a small microphone that clips to the clothing of the person wearing it.
This is called lavalier mics because of their name.
Most top budget wireless lavalier microphones are two-piece mics, meaning they have two parts: the transmitter and receiver.
These units are usually housed in a case with a clip for easy portability.
Wireless lavalier mics offer the best of both worlds – the ability to record audio to PowerPoint without the hassle and inconvenience of cables.
If you’re into cinematic filmmaking, then a wireless lavalier mic is just what you need to capture sound on your camera for those dramatic shots.
In addition, wireless lavalier mics can easily be hidden on your actors for discreet on-screen audio recording.
So, what are the best budget wireless lavalier mics? How do you choose them? Read on to find out.
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Table of Contents
How to Choose a Budget Wireless Lavalier Microphone
Five things you should consider before buying a wireless lavalier mic are:
Durability
This will have to do with the quality of the set. Lower-end sets might not be as durable and could break easily when dropped or hit.
Range
The range is one of the major considerations for those in performance. The quality of frequency used by the system depends on range, as does RF interference. Higher-end models can pick up sound up to 100 meters away, but lower models usually top out around 40-50 meters away depending on what frequencies they use.
Audio quality
Audio quality is ultimately what we’re aiming for with a wireless lavalier mic set. Lower quality systems might have crackle or hiss and static. People want their videos to have the best quality audio possible, so it’s imperative that you check the sound quality of a potential set before buying it.
Recording
if you want to record with your mic, you should look for models with recording options included. With such a setup, the sound would come through clearly without having to sync audio in post-production.
Price
The typical price range for a wireless lavalier mic is generally within $300-$500 for a good entry-level set. Some higher-end sets might cost up to $1000, but they offer better sound quality than their lower-end counterparts. You should also look into the durability of the product before committing your money to it.
Whether you’re filming or in theater arts, you’ll probably need a wireless lavalier mic set at some point.
8 Best Budget Wireless Lavalier Microphones
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1. Shure BLX14/CVL
The Shure BLX14/CVL is a wireless system with a bodypack transmitter, two microphones (an XLR/XLR balanced in-line microphone and a 1/4″ unbalanced handheld condenser microphone), a bodypack receiver, and a pair of Lavalier mics. The system comes with everything you need to put the BLX14 into operation and use it right out of the box.
2. Rode Wireless Go 2
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The Rode Wireless Go is a wireless system with a transmitter and receiver that is a great option for DSLR films and video productions requiring a simple setup. It has an integrated lavalier mic, which works with most DSLRs. In addition, it has a separate 1/8″ stereo mini-jack for a boom pole or any other external microphone. The Wireless Go also comes with an XLR cable and power adapter that can be used with your favorite wireless microphone accessories.
3. Rode RodeLink FM Digital
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The Rode RodeLink FM offers a system comparable to the Sennheiser EW100 G4 wireless system. It is a professional digital wireless system that comes with a transmitter, receiver, and two handheld microphones with a convenient belt pack kit. The back of the receiver offers a 3.5mm input jack for an external microphone or audio device that you may want to connect to it.
The Rode RodeLink FM has an LCD display that shows output levels for both channels, battery strength, and signal indicators.
4. Samson Go Mic Mobile
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Samson Go Mic is one of the most compact wireless microphones available. It is designed with a 1/8″ mini jack, which can be plugged directly into a DSLR camera.
The battery lasts for 12 hours, giving the user the ability to work all day long without having to recharge. The receiver has a frequency range of 160–20000 Hz and can switch between channels on the go for a more reliable signal transmission when working in crowded areas.
The Samson Go Mic also includes an XLR adapter and an AC adapter for powering up through household power outlets.
5. Sennheiser AVX ME2 Lavalier Set
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The Sennheiser AVX is a digital wireless microphone system with a transmitter and receiver that can be used to eliminate audio cable clutter when filming videos. It has everything that you need to put the system into operation right out of the box.
The entire package includes two bodypack transmitters, a receiver, two ME2 microphones (an in-ear clip-on mic and an eyeglass mic), four AA batteries, two belt clips for the bodypack, a gig bag, and an XLR cable.
6. Rode SmartLav+ Omnidirectional
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The Rode SmartLav+ is a lavalier microphone designed for use with Apple iPhones, Android smartphones, and Windows phones. It has a frequency range of 50–18000 Hz, a signal-to-noise ratio of 68 dB and an impedance of 100 Ohms.
Despite its small size, the Rode SmartLav+ has a low-profile mic element that is built to withstand heavy winds and rumbles. This makes it ideal for outdoor shoots where there is a possibility of unwanted noises interfering with audio recording.
7. Saramonic LavMicro Broadcast-Quality
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Saramonic LavMicro is a professional-quality lavalier microphone that can be used for professional videos requiring high-quality audio recording. This small, compact lav mic is designed to record stereo audio at up to 48 kHz with a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB. It has a low self-noise of 16 dB and an impedance of 600 Ohms, making it compatible with most digital recorders and cameras.
8. Yamaha SRH440 Micro Wireless Receiver
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If you’ve got a reasonable budget, or don’t mind doing a little DIY work, then we’d recommend Yamaha SRH440 Micro Wireless Receiver – This receiver clip-to-mic wireless system offers good sound and reliability. It’s also compact and lightweight. Image Quality is quite good for such a small mic (unlike some of the Bose systems that have terrible audio quality). It’s our top pick for a budget lavalier mic.
Types of Wireless Lav Mic Systems: What to Choose?
If you’re looking for a wireless lavalier mic that won’t cost too much, then you really don’t have a lot of options. This is because wireless lavalier mics fall into two categories:
a) Lavalier Lapel Systems
They have 1 receiver unit, which you hook up to your camera. There are no other components and each receiver covers a single lav mic.
b) Radio Systems
They consist of two parts: the receiver and the transmitter. The transmitter clips to the lavalier microphone and you plug your lav microphone into this transmitter. You can then control your audio levels with an audio mixer or a wireless controller.
If you’ve got a reasonable budget, or don’t mind doing a little DIY work, then we’d recommend the following:
Yamaha SRH440 Micro Wireless Receiver – This receiver clip-to-mic wireless system offers good sound and reliability. It’s also compact and lightweight. Image Quality is quite good for such a small mic (unlike some of the Bose systems that have terrible audio quality). It’s our top pick for a budget lavalier mic.