I have a link to the WAV file of the comparisons in the description, in case anyone wants to hear the full quality audio. Also, it seems like the reduced price of the Rodelink Filmmaker kit was very temporary, as it is already back to $400.
Wow! This was probably one of the most useful reviews I have ever watched! I've been researching wireless mic systems (and have seen a number of videos) but this was so organized and consistent that I wanted you to know how much it helped me.
No side-by-side, but you can skip back and forth to hear the differences. 0:00 Overview 1:08 Fifine 2:44 Hotec 3:53 FotoWelt Air (aka Pixel Air) 5:06 Sokani (bad FotoWelt clone) 5:18 Saramonic Blink 6:40 Rode Wireless Go 8:57 RodeLink $400 10:30 Saramonic UwMic 9 12:00 Sennheiser EW G4 12:48 Conclusion
Dang bigtb1717, this is one hell of a video! Just bought my first camera to start vlogging and found was trying to find a video of someone comparing wireless lav systems. This is by far the most comprehensive - most other videos have only compared a few systems so the in depth review was super helpful! Thanks for making this!
Great video. I have sent back 2 systems on Amazon, the Comica BoomX-D1 2.4G And the Alvoxcon Dual Wireless 2.4G Both hissed beyond being acceptable. The shame with the majority of reviewers on Amazon is they are part of the reward program for reviewing, much like sponsorship reviews on RUclips. So you can't really put much faith in them. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate these videos that you do comparing without EQ, raw audio comparisons. Thank you for that. Not sure which route I'll be taking now, but most likely the Rode Wireless Go again.
@@bigtb1717 I'm certain they do. I have the Canon EOS M50 and the Canon EOS R and the floor hiss was just terrible with those 2 wireless systems. Whereas the Rode, much less. Also, if you notice, most reviewers do tests outdoors, in the wind, therefore it kind of "hides" the hiss. That's why I prefer your comparisons and ones like yours where it's indoors and you can come clearly hear the floor level hiss and feedback. I did see a couple videos last night where reviewers were plugging the receiver into the Line port on a mixer and then out to the camera and one lady even said in the comments that she uses a TRS male to XLR male cable and plugs into a mixer and then out to the camera which enabled a lot more control over the sound going into the camera. I've never tried that to be honest, but I will be trying it with the Rode. But to be honest, I really prefer simplicity, less wires, less set up and take down, etc. So I'm not sure that would be a good solution for myself having to add a mixer, a way to power it, etc. Id rather pay more for a better set, than having to add more equipment to make it sound better. Not very feasible out in the field.
I, myself, have the Hotec, Fotowelt Air, and Comica XU wireless mic systems. Comica is by far my absolute favorite as far as sound quality and range from the transmitters to receivers go. Fotowelt Air also has very nice sound quality. The Hotec, not so much. But it is budget friendly and will do in a pinch!
Thx man . At last I watched a video on youtube which I could hear the diffrences of systems . Im looking forward for your part III with other prosumer system to . Diaty and sony , and it could be perfect if you could compare them with most expensive one like audio limited too . Complete video with none useless words 👌
good job. straightforward and direct audible comparo. a few other brands jumped on the wireless mic bandwagon over the las two years. deity, dji and even rode upped their game with go2. hopefully you'll revisit the test with some of the new contenders in the near future. cheers.
Doing a bit of eqing fixes the quality of most all these mics. I notice that especially with the hotec if you do a lowshelf boosted at around 400hz with a highpass at 35hz. Nonetheless very nice video comparing these wireless mics
I've used the Saramonic UwMic 9, it worked great for a year before I started getting some sort of frequency noise - caused by the position of the battery compartment! If I push it down or wiggle it, it temporarily disappears, not ideal for professional use so now looking to buy some G4's to replace my G3's which worked great.
Thank you for the very detailed look! I think the Saramonics sound decent for the money, I downloaded the wav file and after some very quick EQs, it sounded good. It's a steal considering you get two transmitters for less than one of the Sennheisers. I already have the Sennheiser EW G3, but needed a dual lav setup, so thanks again for the comparison!
Happy to help. Keep in mind, I did some range testing in another video and the range of the Saramonic UHF system outside was a bit disapointing. Granted, I don’t think most realistic uses for most people will involve being over 50 feet from the camera very often.
Finally someone is Speaking with the Microphone he is Reviewing - Best Video i found so far. Question: Why is this Tech. so expensive? doesn't look like much to me and compared to Phones the Quality doesn't seem to Improve much o0
A great and helpful review. I appreciate that you cannot include everything available, but am interested in your views regarding sennheiser xswd and sony uwdp systems.
Yeah, unfortunately I don't have any direct experience with either of those systems, thought I've considered testing them out several times. There are things I like and dislike about each, and I would love to test them each out. I'd like to test them out eventually. I like how simple the XSW-D system is and from what I've heard it's one of the better sounding small 2.4 Ghz digital systems. But that simplicity also brings limitations. Supposedly the output is a bit hot for some cameras, as they make it very easy to clip, even with the camera audio levels turned all the way down. Probably not an issue with most cameras, but Panasonic is the one I've heard that about. The Sony system can interface directly with the hot shoe of certain Sony cameras, eliminating the need for a cable and allowing some other potential benefits, but that's only if you happen to have a compatible camera. Otherwise I suppose it's a good system, but I don't hear much about it one way or another.
I really wish you would have included the Sennheiser XSW-D Wireless system. But overall, this was the best wireless mic comparison video I've seen so far! It seems like Rode is always getting rave reviews but Senheiser's audio quality always sounds better to me. Thanks for the review!
Me too. I have the XSW-D system in my wishlist right now. Hopefully I'll be able to pick one up and review it eventually. I probably won't compare it to all these systems, but I'll compare it to a couple systems when/if I get it.
This is well thought out and very helpful. It really does show that you get what you pay for. I wonder how the Deity wireless would fit in here. Probably right next to the G4s
Thanks for putting this together. For the most part, it seems like you get what you pay for ;) Travor (also branded by Hotec) sent me a set to review and had to send back because the right button was depressed as it was sent to me. I returned it for another one hoping it was just a defective unit but later during my testing, the right button became depressed into the unit rendering it useless.
Yes, the MKE-2 connected perfectly with the Rodelink. The Rodelink actually has a Sennheiser style locking connector and the MKE-2 mic works perfectly with that system.
Very nice review and it helped me a lot! I was about to pull the trigger on a new Blink 500 Pro when I heard of the Hollyland Lark 150? After hearing comparison videos, I think I will get this mic system. Have you had a chance to test the Lark 150? It's competing against the Saramonic Blink 500 Pro and the Rode Wireless Go. I would love your opinion on the Hollyland Lark 150 and wonder how it would sound with the MKE 2 mic if it fits the Lark transmitter.
@@bigtb1717 Excellent! I think many will want to see that test. You give us a lot to think about, so I'm excited to hear your appraisal and testing of the Lark 150. Please do test it with the MKE 2 mic. I am thinking of getting a used one for my wireless mic system. It sounded amazing on this video, so you sold me on the MKE2. It's a little spendy, but the sound quality of the MKE2 sounds too good to pass up. Hope it fits the Lark 150. Stay safe and healthy.
I had planned to test it with the ME2 II mic in addition to the included mics, but I'll make a point to test it with the MKE 2 as well. Hopefully I'll start testing the Lark 150 soon, but I'm pretty busy with work and stuff.
@@bigtb1717 Thank you... I plan on either buying the MKE 2 or the Sanken COS-11D mic when/if I get the Lark 150. Just hope the MKE 2 fits into the Lark 150. If it does, so should the Sanken COS-11D. I'll stop bugging you now so you can get some work done. Take care.
Just an update. I have been testing the Lark 150 system and I don't find the Sennheiser MKE-2 mic reliable. Unfortunately, the locking connector doesn't seat quite far enough to be reliable in use. When just sitting in place it works okay, but as soon as I got up and started moving around I started getting static and it would frequently switch back to the internal mic as the Sennheiser lost connection. I'll mention all this in my review, but I just wanted to reply to your comment here as well. It did sound good with the Sennheiser mic, but you'd probably have to change the connector if you wanted the Sennheiser mic to be reliable.
I really enjoyed this video. I am looking to buy a wireless set. I like to have the built in mic and the lavalieres like the RODE. My use is for self tape and public speaking. Can you recommend the right set for me pref under $100. Thank you!!!
Unfortunately, in terms of stuff I've tested, that feature set for under $100 would mean something like the Fotowelt system, and that just isn't very good. The Saramonic Blink 500 system is decent, but it's also much more expensive. Unfortunately, it's tough to get a good quality system with those features for $100. The Synco G1-A1 system may be a good option for $100, but I haven't tested it out, so I can't say for sure.
In your opinion, is the Fifine a good inexpensive device? I need some of these devices for presentation (voice) and I purchased some very cheap that don't work that well - 2 pin mics, only. The Fifine produced a good sound with a better mic - and mics are probably the most expensive piece in these cheap devices, so they do cut cost there. Thanks!
I don't really recommend it for something like that. Getting any mic other than the included one to work was a frustrating series of trying various adapters and finally having to rely on having a mic not fully plugged in. It's not a reliable way to go. I have a feeling the mic jack on the transmitter simply uses a non-standard pin-out. It's possible this could be corrected by custom wiring a microphone, or by disassembling and re-wiring the jack on the Fifine system itself. But I don't think it's worth the hassle.
@@bigtb1717 Thanks! For now, the cheap devices I have are working more or less well. I'll save money for a better solution. Are those 1/8 TRS used because the input is balanced? Perhaps the problem you had came from the Fifine being actually a TS unbalanced input with a TRS connector but with GND and Cold shorted. I believe the Sennheiser mic is balanced and that resulted in the low gain. Balanced to unbalanced conversion is not simple ... the best practice is shorting GND and Cold but that not always work. If you look into the Otari MX5050 manual (vail. online) they give several options to convert their XLR line level out/inputs. Some mics, like the AT 3050 use the 1/8 TRS just to split the mono signal, for instance. I'll look into the Sennheiser to try and find out if it's balanced or not. UPDATE: The Sennheiser ME2 connects ground to sleeve and ring and signal to tip. It's not balanced. Thanks for your videos! They are really straight forward and BS free!!!
thanks for the video, i need a wireless microphone to present my online classes, which one you recommend, and do i need other complicated devices or just the mic and the receiver and the transmitter?
@@bigtb1717 i want to connect it to the laptop as an external mic the classes are 35 minutes each, and i have 2-3 classes a day i have the laptop in front of me at school and im using school board to write on and the students see me through a camera so i wanted them to hear me better when im away from laptop
If your laptop has a combination headphone/mic jack you might be able to use a TRS to TRRS adapter and plug the wireless system directly into the laptop. I can't say for sure you laptop would support that, but it might. A sure-fire thing would be to get a cheap USB audio interface/sound card and plug the wireless system into that. Most decent wireless systems will last 2-4 hour on a charge, so you should be good there. I just thought that if you need 6-8 hours you would either need a system with replaceable batteries or long life, but with 2-3 35 minute classes in a day you should be good with just about any system. What is your budget?
@@bigtb1717 my laptop has a headphone/mic jack, i did some research and i found wireless system called FIFINE its usb not headphone/mic jack i don't know if that would work my budget is like 250$ or lower
Nice video! I’m currently using my iPhone 12 Pro Max for recording. I usually use the Rode VideoMic Me-L when I’m doing selfie video or close to a subject. Recently picked up the Rode Wireless Go with the SC7 adapter. The Rode Lavalier Go $79 is back ordered everywhere so I grabbed a Shure MVL. I was wondering if maybe I should spend more on a lav esp. if I am contemplating switching to the Saramonic system specifically the new Blink 500 Pro B1 series... (since the stock lavs are usually mediocre) or even going with the UWMIC9 base systems with the SP-RX9?
Better lav mics can definitely make a difference, but it probably won't be a night and day difference. I'd test out the setup you have as it is and see how you like the sound.
@@bigtb1717 probably not a night day difference because its just paired with a smartphone using the stock camera app? And honestly I was impressed with quality with the stock mic in the transmitter on the Rode. The Saramonic is appetizing for its charging case what a beauty! and the new redesign with the OLED display. But that’s not the reason I should be buying a mic for... 😅
@@genericmike7361 Partly for those reasons, but also just because there is a point of diminishing returns. I'm not saying a more expensive mic wouldn't be better. Just don't think that it's going to be the difference between poor and excellent audio. More like the difference between decent audio and slightly better audio, lol.
not recommending the wireless go from Rode. stopped working after plugging in lavalier. now internal mic stopped working.. my device is not the only faulty one.
Thanks for the video. I need to connect 4 mics into one camera for different environments and different activities. I need a solid mic that doesn’t drop the signal out. What would be your suggestion?
I have a second video with all these systems where I test their range indoors and out. What type of range do you need? Will the people be moving around much?
Any reason you didn't look at any of the offerings from Comica? They seem to be decently priced and lots of people seem happy with them. There's so many mics out there it's just so hard to choose.
You hit on the reason at the end there. There are just so many options out there these days. No particular reason I excluded Comica or any other system other than the fact that I simply wasn't aware of them and/or didn't have them to test out. I have recently gotten a Sennheiser XSW-D system to test and I have been looking into a couple of the Comica systems as well.
what i was hoping to learn from you is: is it worth it spend more? Is there a range in quality? To use for my church, which do you recommend and which should i avoid?? thanks
There is a huge difference in quality. The more expensive Rode and Sennheiser systems have much higher build quality and will likely be more reliable. What distances will you be operating at and will there be any obstructions? If there are long distances or obstructions an analogue, UHF system would probably be best.
Some of the 2.4Ghz systems will cut out even from a person's own body getting in between the transmitter and receiver. I have a second video where I range test these systems and within 50 feet the Rodelink didn't experience any dropouts when obstructed by my body, but the rest of the 2.4Ghz systems and some others had issues too when outside. Indoors, the 2.4Ghz systems benefit more from reflections and may do a bit better. The Sennheiser system never had any dropouts, but the Saramonic UHF system had a surprising number of dropouts outdoors, so there is no guarantee that a system will do better with obstructions just because it is a UHF system.
Great comparison video! But the Sennheiser EW500 G4 with MKE-2 must cost over $ 600 - normally you would pay this amount for the EW100 series and with the cheaper ME 2.
Thanks. You are right that the EW500 is normally quite a bit more than $600. I got it on sale, but I understand most people won't. However, the EW100 will have the same audio quality, with the exception of the mic (though I don't find the ME2 II to be all that much worse than the MKE-2), but that's one of the reasons I used that mic on all the devices, so they would all get compared with that same microphone. Either way, you are right; the EW512P G4 is normally priced above $600.
I haven't tried it. From what I can see it isn't available yet. It is available for pre-order. I have a lot going on right now, so I may not be able to get one right away, but I'll put it on my list and consider it. When you say you have the Saramonic ones, are you talking about the one I show in this comparison, or the new Blink 500 Pro system? So far everywhere I look only has the Blink 500 Pro system for pre-order, but not in stock.
@@bigtb1717 ahh ok, I have been seeing reviews of it already. looks good and similar and better than than the rode go system. I have the Saramonic uwmic9 system, have had it for a few years now. two transmitter system
Yeah, I imagine people were given systems early for review. It would be interesting to compare it directly to some other systems like the Rode Wireless Go and the new Blink 500 Pro system.
What kinds of sports? Where will you be in relation to the players? Depending on the range and obstructions, some of the 2.4GHz systems may have dropouts. In fact, a small, portable recorder may make more sense than a wireless transmitter. A long shotgun mic could work as well, depending on exactly what you are trying to capture.
I just checked out your channel. For something like football, I don't know if putting a wireless mic system or a recorder on the players would work out very well. I think a long shotgun mic on the camera would work out better. If your camera only has a 3.5mm mic jack (not XLR), then something like a Sennheiser MKE-600 with an internal AA battery and an XLR to 3.5mm adapter could plug into a 3.5mm mic jack and would probably work out better, more reliably and safer than a wireless mic. If you do want to put something directly on one of the players, I think a small recorder would make more sense than a wireless system. But it's hard to say how well either would hold up on a football player.
@@bigtb1717 Thanks for the feedback!.Yes I have a wireless audio recorder that I hide under the shoulder pads. I haven't experimented much with it to say that it works well but I will give it a full run this weekend. I just wanted to see if that was my best option. I have a shotgun mic but it's nothing fancy. And using what the NFL uses is out of my price range for now. So ima gonna just try a couple of the wireless recorders and see if I can get some decent quality. Appreciate you checking the channel out.
I don't have any experience with that particular system. It doesn't seem to be available on frequencies that are legal for use in the US. The FCC changed the permitted spectrum for wireless mic systems at the beginning of this year.
I believe Shure lav mics use a TA4F connector, which is not compatible with Sennheiser systems or other systems using a 3.5mm locking connector. You may be able to find an adapter.
@@bigtb1717 thanks! Shure supercardioid seems to be unique in that it cancels out surrounding noises best (i plan on recording people speaking outdoors) I wonder why more brands don’t make something like that...
I think just because of how they are worn, cardioid and supercardioid aren't as popular. They are out there though. The Sennheiser ME-4 is a cardioid lav mic.
I've always thought that if you moved around or turned your head too much the audio wouldn't be very consistent. But I have considered trying one. Maybe I'll get one and do some tests in comparison with an omnidirectional lav.
could you please help me between rode vs saramonic ? i dont wanna spend nearly $300 on rode with lav mic but if saramonic sounds really bad compared to rode, i have to go with rode. i am make videos on youtube. i am planning to buy saramonic with one transmitter $179 ? do you think it is worth it ?
I have audio from both in this video. I do think the sound quality of the Rode Wireless Go is a bit better, but it isn't a huge difference. I certainly wouldn't say the Saramonic sounds bad in comparison. They are pretty close.
Well, the Lectrosonics systems are thousands of dollars. Most of them cost more than every other system in this test combined. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to test out some higher end systems. But renting is an issue for me because I don't have anywhere local to rent from and I don't always know when I'll have time to work on a video, so it's tough to order something without knowing I'll actually have time to use it during the rental period. I'd still love to try one out some day. Maybe some day.
@@bigtb1717 it is worthwhile having Lectrosonics in there as they're "the standard" (even though there are better options out there, for instance I'd quite like to have a complete Shure Axient Digital setup, but for now I've got a much cheaper setup on my Sound Cart with a mix of a Lectrosonics Venue with VRT receivers and a bit of Shure ULX-D too). None of what you featured in this video I'd even dare bring along for talent on a paid shoot, they're not up to the standard necessary. Where are you based, perhaps there is a local sound mixer you could collaborate with for future videos?
Just about any of them can be used with an iPhone with the right adapter. The main consideration is going to be your budget and the features you are looking for.
@@spiritualandphysicalfitnes3331 They make furry wind muffs for lavalier mics which can help block wind noise. Putting the mic under clothing can help as well. Blocking wind from getting to the mic is much more important than which system you choose.
Which setup are you looking at in particular? In many cases that is the receiver, and would therefor absolutely be needed. It just designed to go on a desk or rack instead of mount on a camera or something like that.
Also note, that using two transmitters with one receiver is different than on transmitter with two receivers. Most receivers can only receive and demodulate one signal at a time, so you have to have to have a receiver for each transmitter, or get a system that is specifically designed to be capable of two transmitters with one receiver. I don't know if that's what you are trying to accomplish, just wanted to give you a heads up that with the majority of systems out there you can't use multiple transmitters with one receiver.
Lavalier microphones aren't the quietest mics. For example, a good quality large diaphragm condenser mic might have 5-10 dB-A equivalent noise level, a good quality shotgun mic might have 12-16 dB-A equivalent noise. Yet a good quality lavalier mic may have 24-28 dB-A equivalent noise. I did no noise reduction, noise gate or anything like that in this video. Typically, a lavalier is also used in situations where a little bit of ambient noise would be present and would drown out any self-noise. In my quiet sound booth any present self-noise will be more apparent. Also, many of these systems are cheap and simply have a lot of noise.
With adapters, any of them should work. It will mostly come down to how much you want to spend and what form factor and feature set works best for you. The Saramonic Blink 500 has specific versions with receivers specifically designed to mount on phones. But again, you should be able to use any of these systems with a phone/mobile device with the right adapter.
Do you know if i can use two UHF receivers with one transmitter? I'm still trying to solve the facebook live audio issue. though i could use a dongle to connect a receiver to an iPhone to fix recording problems.
With which system? It should work with some systems. Basically, multiple receivers can pick up the signal from a single transmitter. However, just because a system is UHF, doesn't guarantee this would work. You would probably want to look into the specific system you were considering.
Proper analog systems have virtually no latency. It's not literally zero, but as close as you can get. I think the specs I've seen are something like sub millisecond latency.
@@bigtb1717 thanks! Can I ask you one more question? Im looking to use the Hotec for my guitar since it’s analog and less latency…do u think that’s a good idea?
Is there any reason you have to use a wireless system to mic your guitar? I don't know that it wouldn't work, I'm just curious. I guess, maybe you will be on stage or something? I'm not sure the Hotec system is fully analog, but I don't remember hearing any latency either. If there is any, it's low.
@@bigtb1717 there are not many analog options available for guitar so most people just use the sennheiser G3/G4 and use an instrument cable instead of the lavalier mic..unfortunately that’s too expensive for me so I’m trying to find a cheaper alternative
Saramonic should be sued for a false advertising suit. They are claiming 12ms latency in their specs, and me and multiple others have measured in the range from 65-75ms latency. I also emailed them and never heard back-this issue is NOT unique to the unit you tested. It is across the board. Ruining jobs for audio engineers with false specs.
I have a link to the WAV file of the comparisons in the description, in case anyone wants to hear the full quality audio. Also, it seems like the reduced price of the Rodelink Filmmaker kit was very temporary, as it is already back to $400.
Wow! This was probably one of the most useful reviews I have ever watched! I've been researching wireless mic systems (and have seen a number of videos) but this was so organized and consistent that I wanted you to know how much it helped me.
Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful.
You're welcome, I'm subscribing to your channel!!!
Agreed, looking for a mic to upgrade to under a budget is hard! I will now be able to get better audio quality on my RUclips videos! Also subscribed
So does the receiver plug into the camera to sync the sound and video?
No side-by-side, but you can skip back and forth to hear the differences.
0:00 Overview
1:08 Fifine
2:44 Hotec
3:53 FotoWelt Air (aka Pixel Air)
5:06 Sokani (bad FotoWelt clone)
5:18 Saramonic Blink
6:40 Rode Wireless Go
8:57 RodeLink $400
10:30 Saramonic UwMic 9
12:00 Sennheiser EW G4
12:48 Conclusion
What's the best one?
Dang bigtb1717, this is one hell of a video! Just bought my first camera to start vlogging and found was trying to find a video of someone comparing wireless lav systems. This is by far the most comprehensive - most other videos have only compared a few systems so the in depth review was super helpful! Thanks for making this!
I am in the market for a dual wireless system and these two videos were immensely helpful. Thanks.
Great video.
I have sent back 2 systems on Amazon, the
Comica BoomX-D1 2.4G
And the
Alvoxcon Dual Wireless 2.4G
Both hissed beyond being acceptable.
The shame with the majority of reviewers on Amazon is they are part of the reward program for reviewing, much like sponsorship reviews on RUclips.
So you can't really put much faith in them.
I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate these videos that you do comparing without EQ, raw audio comparisons.
Thank you for that.
Not sure which route I'll be taking now, but most likely the Rode Wireless Go again.
I was considering testing out the Comica BoomX-D1 system. I wonder if some of the reviewers use noise cancellation in post.
@@bigtb1717 I'm certain they do.
I have the Canon EOS M50 and the Canon EOS R and the floor hiss was just terrible with those 2 wireless systems.
Whereas the Rode, much less.
Also, if you notice, most reviewers do tests outdoors, in the wind, therefore it kind of "hides" the hiss.
That's why I prefer your comparisons and ones like yours where it's indoors and you can come clearly hear the floor level hiss and feedback.
I did see a couple videos last night where reviewers were plugging the receiver into the Line port on a mixer and then out to the camera and one lady even said in the comments that she uses a TRS male to XLR male cable and plugs into a mixer and then out to the camera which enabled a lot more control over the sound going into the camera.
I've never tried that to be honest, but I will be trying it with the Rode.
But to be honest, I really prefer simplicity, less wires, less set up and take down, etc.
So I'm not sure that would be a good solution for myself having to add a mixer, a way to power it, etc.
Id rather pay more for a better set, than having to add more equipment to make it sound better.
Not very feasible out in the field.
I, myself, have the Hotec, Fotowelt Air, and Comica XU wireless mic systems.
Comica is by far my absolute favorite as far as sound quality and range from the transmitters to receivers go. Fotowelt Air also has very nice sound quality. The Hotec, not so much. But it is budget friendly and will do in a pinch!
Nice concise summary. Very insightful.
Great details and very concise. I by the time I thought of moving forward you were wrapping up.
Wish I'd seen this video before purchasing! Great comparison.
Excellent Review. Thanks. I have been hesitant to get a Röde Wireless go, due to the upper mid range bias, which most other reviews dont notice.
Great video. Explains everything and talks about details. Thank you for this comparison!
Thx man . At last I watched a video on youtube which I could hear the diffrences of systems . Im looking forward for your part III with other prosumer system to . Diaty and sony , and it could be perfect if you could compare them with most expensive one like audio limited too . Complete video with none useless words 👌
Thank you for making this!!!! 💛💛💛
Excellent comparison!
good job. straightforward and direct audible comparo. a few other brands jumped on the wireless mic bandwagon over the las two years. deity, dji and even rode upped their game with go2. hopefully you'll revisit the test with some of the new contenders in the near future. cheers.
Doing a bit of eqing fixes the quality of most all these mics. I notice that especially with the hotec if you do a lowshelf boosted at around 400hz with a highpass at 35hz. Nonetheless very nice video comparing these wireless mics
That is the best way to test the sets. Thanks!
Fantastic Comparisons!
amazing comparison of all products, very helpful thankyoU!
I'm glad it was helpful.
i have been bought it,here is the link:www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002298395672.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allProduct.8148356.37.a7174a48q9qWI8
Very nice overview. Thanks! 💯👍🏻
I've used the Saramonic UwMic 9, it worked great for a year before I started getting some sort of frequency noise - caused by the position of the battery compartment! If I push it down or wiggle it, it temporarily disappears, not ideal for professional use so now looking to buy some G4's to replace my G3's which worked great.
Thank you for this video, this was very useful for me.
Thank you for the very detailed look! I think the Saramonics sound decent for the money, I downloaded the wav file and after some very quick EQs, it sounded good. It's a steal considering you get two transmitters for less than one of the Sennheisers. I already have the Sennheiser EW G3, but needed a dual lav setup, so thanks again for the comparison!
Happy to help. Keep in mind, I did some range testing in another video and the range of the Saramonic UHF system outside was a bit disapointing. Granted, I don’t think most realistic uses for most people will involve being over 50 feet from the camera very often.
@@bigtb1717 Yes, I did watch that. And I think around 50 feet is the maximum my subjects would ever be from the camera/receiver. Thanks again!
Finally someone is Speaking with the Microphone he is Reviewing - Best Video i found so far.
Question: Why is this Tech. so expensive? doesn't look like much to me and compared to Phones the Quality doesn't seem to Improve much o0
Very nice Video dude!
Wonderful comparison. Thank you so much!
still not sure which one to buy though :D
Yeah, so many options these days.
Great vid. Super helpful!
Thank you so much! This was very helpful :)
A great and helpful review. I appreciate that you cannot include everything available, but am interested in your views regarding sennheiser xswd and sony uwdp systems.
Yeah, unfortunately I don't have any direct experience with either of those systems, thought I've considered testing them out several times. There are things I like and dislike about each, and I would love to test them each out. I'd like to test them out eventually.
I like how simple the XSW-D system is and from what I've heard it's one of the better sounding small 2.4 Ghz digital systems. But that simplicity also brings limitations. Supposedly the output is a bit hot for some cameras, as they make it very easy to clip, even with the camera audio levels turned all the way down. Probably not an issue with most cameras, but Panasonic is the one I've heard that about.
The Sony system can interface directly with the hot shoe of certain Sony cameras, eliminating the need for a cable and allowing some other potential benefits, but that's only if you happen to have a compatible camera. Otherwise I suppose it's a good system, but I don't hear much about it one way or another.
Keep up with this great content!
Great work, thank you !!!
I really wish you would have included the Sennheiser XSW-D Wireless system. But overall, this was the best wireless mic comparison video I've seen so far! It seems like Rode is always getting rave reviews but Senheiser's audio quality always sounds better to me. Thanks for the review!
Me too. I have the XSW-D system in my wishlist right now. Hopefully I'll be able to pick one up and review it eventually. I probably won't compare it to all these systems, but I'll compare it to a couple systems when/if I get it.
Also, thanks for the kind words.
Very helpful! Thank you
Very helpful. Thanks.
Perfect. Thanks.
Well done, thanks!
This is well thought out and very helpful. It really does show that you get what you pay for. I wonder how the Deity wireless would fit in here. Probably right next to the G4s
Great video & info! FYI, for these types of comparisons you should leverage RUclips Chapters.
Thanks for the tip. I'll look into that. When that feature first rolled out it wasn't available to me, but it probably is now.
Thanks for putting this together. For the most part, it seems like you get what you pay for ;) Travor (also branded by Hotec) sent me a set to review and had to send back because the right button was depressed as it was sent to me. I returned it for another one hoping it was just a defective unit but later during my testing, the right button became depressed into the unit rendering it useless.
Thanks a lot!!!
Thanks
Thank you very much
Great video 🕺😎
I was thinking to sell my rodelink to get smaller sized system but after this video I will keep rodelink. Now I am thinking to get Mke-2 mic 🤦♂️
Thank you!
Excellent review. Thank you so much. Do you recall if the MKE-2 clicked into the RODELink okay? (I liked the sound/price of this combo on this video.)
Yes, the MKE-2 connected perfectly with the Rodelink. The Rodelink actually has a Sennheiser style locking connector and the MKE-2 mic works perfectly with that system.
@@bigtb1717 Cheers! (Liked, Subscribed, and I've just been over to Amazon!)
Very nice review and it helped me a lot! I was about to pull the trigger on a new Blink 500 Pro when I heard of the Hollyland Lark 150? After hearing comparison videos, I think I will get this mic system. Have you had a chance to test the Lark 150? It's competing against the Saramonic Blink 500 Pro and the Rode Wireless Go. I would love your opinion on the Hollyland Lark 150 and wonder how it would sound with the MKE 2 mic if it fits the Lark transmitter.
I just got the Lark 150 System. I will be testing and reviewing it soon.
@@bigtb1717 Excellent! I think many will want to see that test. You give us a lot to think about, so I'm excited to hear your appraisal and testing of the Lark 150. Please do test it with the MKE 2 mic. I am thinking of getting a used one for my wireless mic system. It sounded amazing on this video, so you sold me on the MKE2. It's a little spendy, but the sound quality of the MKE2 sounds too good to pass up. Hope it fits the Lark 150. Stay safe and healthy.
I had planned to test it with the ME2 II mic in addition to the included mics, but I'll make a point to test it with the MKE 2 as well. Hopefully I'll start testing the Lark 150 soon, but I'm pretty busy with work and stuff.
@@bigtb1717 Thank you... I plan on either buying the MKE 2 or the Sanken COS-11D mic when/if I get the Lark 150. Just hope the MKE 2 fits into the Lark 150. If it does, so should the Sanken COS-11D.
I'll stop bugging you now so you can get some work done. Take care.
Just an update. I have been testing the Lark 150 system and I don't find the Sennheiser MKE-2 mic reliable. Unfortunately, the locking connector doesn't seat quite far enough to be reliable in use. When just sitting in place it works okay, but as soon as I got up and started moving around I started getting static and it would frequently switch back to the internal mic as the Sennheiser lost connection. I'll mention all this in my review, but I just wanted to reply to your comment here as well. It did sound good with the Sennheiser mic, but you'd probably have to change the connector if you wanted the Sennheiser mic to be reliable.
Thank you.
I really enjoyed this video. I am looking to buy a wireless set. I like to have the built in mic and the lavalieres like the RODE. My use is for self tape and public speaking. Can you recommend the right set for me pref under $100. Thank you!!!
Unfortunately, in terms of stuff I've tested, that feature set for under $100 would mean something like the Fotowelt system, and that just isn't very good. The Saramonic Blink 500 system is decent, but it's also much more expensive. Unfortunately, it's tough to get a good quality system with those features for $100. The Synco G1-A1 system may be a good option for $100, but I haven't tested it out, so I can't say for sure.
This is fantastic - thank you!!!!!
In your opinion, is the Fifine a good inexpensive device? I need some of these devices for presentation (voice) and I purchased some very cheap that don't work that well - 2 pin mics, only. The Fifine produced a good sound with a better mic - and mics are probably the most expensive piece in these cheap devices, so they do cut cost there. Thanks!
I don't really recommend it for something like that. Getting any mic other than the included one to work was a frustrating series of trying various adapters and finally having to rely on having a mic not fully plugged in. It's not a reliable way to go. I have a feeling the mic jack on the transmitter simply uses a non-standard pin-out. It's possible this could be corrected by custom wiring a microphone, or by disassembling and re-wiring the jack on the Fifine system itself. But I don't think it's worth the hassle.
@@bigtb1717 Thanks! For now, the cheap devices I have are working more or less well. I'll save money for a better solution. Are those 1/8 TRS used because the input is balanced? Perhaps the problem you had came from the Fifine being actually a TS unbalanced input with a TRS connector but with GND and Cold shorted. I believe the Sennheiser mic is balanced and that resulted in the low gain.
Balanced to unbalanced conversion is not simple ... the best practice is shorting GND and Cold but that not always work. If you look into the Otari MX5050 manual (vail. online) they give several options to convert their XLR line level out/inputs. Some mics, like the AT 3050 use the 1/8 TRS just to split the mono signal, for instance. I'll look into the Sennheiser to try and find out if it's balanced or not.
UPDATE: The Sennheiser ME2 connects ground to sleeve and ring and signal to tip. It's not balanced.
Thanks for your videos! They are really straight forward and BS free!!!
thanks for the video,
i need a wireless microphone to present my online classes, which one you recommend, and do i need other complicated devices or just the mic and the receiver and the transmitter?
What will you be connecting the system to? A camera, or some other system?
Also, how long are your classes? How many hours a day do you need to be able to use the wireless mic system?
@@bigtb1717 i want to connect it to the laptop as an external mic
the classes are 35 minutes each, and i have 2-3 classes a day
i have the laptop in front of me at school and im using school board to write on and the students see me through a camera so i wanted them to hear me better when im away from laptop
If your laptop has a combination headphone/mic jack you might be able to use a TRS to TRRS adapter and plug the wireless system directly into the laptop. I can't say for sure you laptop would support that, but it might. A sure-fire thing would be to get a cheap USB audio interface/sound card and plug the wireless system into that.
Most decent wireless systems will last 2-4 hour on a charge, so you should be good there. I just thought that if you need 6-8 hours you would either need a system with replaceable batteries or long life, but with 2-3 35 minute classes in a day you should be good with just about any system.
What is your budget?
@@bigtb1717 my laptop has a headphone/mic jack,
i did some research and i found wireless system called FIFINE its usb not headphone/mic jack i don't know if that would work
my budget is like 250$ or lower
Nice video! I’m currently using my iPhone 12 Pro Max for recording. I usually use the Rode VideoMic Me-L when I’m doing selfie video or close to a subject. Recently picked up the Rode Wireless Go with the SC7 adapter. The Rode Lavalier Go $79 is back ordered everywhere so I grabbed a Shure MVL. I was wondering if maybe I should spend more on a lav esp. if I am contemplating switching to the Saramonic system specifically the new Blink 500 Pro B1 series... (since the stock lavs are usually mediocre) or even going with the UWMIC9 base systems with the SP-RX9?
Better lav mics can definitely make a difference, but it probably won't be a night and day difference. I'd test out the setup you have as it is and see how you like the sound.
@@bigtb1717 probably not a night day difference because its just paired with a smartphone using the stock camera app? And honestly I was impressed with quality with the stock mic in the transmitter on the Rode. The Saramonic is appetizing for its charging case what a beauty! and the new redesign with the OLED display. But that’s not the reason I should be buying a mic for... 😅
@@genericmike7361 Partly for those reasons, but also just because there is a point of diminishing returns. I'm not saying a more expensive mic wouldn't be better. Just don't think that it's going to be the difference between poor and excellent audio. More like the difference between decent audio and slightly better audio, lol.
not recommending the wireless go from Rode. stopped working after plugging in lavalier. now internal mic stopped working.. my device is not the only faulty one.
Thanks for the video. I need to connect 4 mics into one camera for different environments and different activities. I need a solid mic that doesn’t drop the signal out. What would be your suggestion?
I have a second video with all these systems where I test their range indoors and out. What type of range do you need? Will the people be moving around much?
AWESOME
Any reason you didn't look at any of the offerings from Comica? They seem to be decently priced and lots of people seem happy with them. There's so many mics out there it's just so hard to choose.
You hit on the reason at the end there. There are just so many options out there these days. No particular reason I excluded Comica or any other system other than the fact that I simply wasn't aware of them and/or didn't have them to test out. I have recently gotten a Sennheiser XSW-D system to test and I have been looking into a couple of the Comica systems as well.
Curtis Judd speaks badly of Comica...
what i was hoping to learn from you is: is it worth it spend more? Is there a range in quality? To use for my church, which do you recommend and which should i avoid?? thanks
There is a huge difference in quality. The more expensive Rode and Sennheiser systems have much higher build quality and will likely be more reliable. What distances will you be operating at and will there be any obstructions? If there are long distances or obstructions an analogue, UHF system would probably be best.
@@bigtb1717 No obstructions. sound board is in rear corner. preacher is up front. 40 feet at most.
Some of the 2.4Ghz systems will cut out even from a person's own body getting in between the transmitter and receiver. I have a second video where I range test these systems and within 50 feet the Rodelink didn't experience any dropouts when obstructed by my body, but the rest of the 2.4Ghz systems and some others had issues too when outside. Indoors, the 2.4Ghz systems benefit more from reflections and may do a bit better. The Sennheiser system never had any dropouts, but the Saramonic UHF system had a surprising number of dropouts outdoors, so there is no guarantee that a system will do better with obstructions just because it is a UHF system.
Great review. All those mics suck. Thanks for going through the effort.
Great comparison video!
But the Sennheiser EW500 G4 with MKE-2 must cost over $ 600 - normally you would pay this amount for the EW100 series and with the cheaper ME 2.
Thanks. You are right that the EW500 is normally quite a bit more than $600. I got it on sale, but I understand most people won't. However, the EW100 will have the same audio quality, with the exception of the mic (though I don't find the ME2 II to be all that much worse than the MKE-2), but that's one of the reasons I used that mic on all the devices, so they would all get compared with that same microphone. Either way, you are right; the EW512P G4 is normally priced above $600.
All three are best but price pls...
Fotowelt looks like the least expensive and best value at 100
It removes background noise nicely
I know this is a while ago. have you tried and tested the new Hollyland Lark 150? I have the saramonic ones right now.
I haven't tried it. From what I can see it isn't available yet. It is available for pre-order. I have a lot going on right now, so I may not be able to get one right away, but I'll put it on my list and consider it. When you say you have the Saramonic ones, are you talking about the one I show in this comparison, or the new Blink 500 Pro system? So far everywhere I look only has the Blink 500 Pro system for pre-order, but not in stock.
@@bigtb1717 ahh ok, I have been seeing reviews of it already. looks good and similar and better than than the rode go system. I have the Saramonic uwmic9 system, have had it for a few years now. two transmitter system
Yeah, I imagine people were given systems early for review. It would be interesting to compare it directly to some other systems like the Rode Wireless Go and the new Blink 500 Pro system.
I do sports videography and I'm looking for a cheap alternative way to mic up players. Do you think one of these mics can do the job.
What kinds of sports? Where will you be in relation to the players? Depending on the range and obstructions, some of the 2.4GHz systems may have dropouts. In fact, a small, portable recorder may make more sense than a wireless transmitter. A long shotgun mic could work as well, depending on exactly what you are trying to capture.
I just checked out your channel. For something like football, I don't know if putting a wireless mic system or a recorder on the players would work out very well. I think a long shotgun mic on the camera would work out better. If your camera only has a 3.5mm mic jack (not XLR), then something like a Sennheiser MKE-600 with an internal AA battery and an XLR to 3.5mm adapter could plug into a 3.5mm mic jack and would probably work out better, more reliably and safer than a wireless mic.
If you do want to put something directly on one of the players, I think a small recorder would make more sense than a wireless system. But it's hard to say how well either would hold up on a football player.
I watched a couple of your videos. You do a great job at following the action!
@@bigtb1717 Thanks for the feedback!.Yes I have a wireless audio recorder that I hide under the shoulder pads. I haven't experimented much with it to say that it works well but I will give it a full run this weekend. I just wanted to see if that was my best option. I have a shotgun mic but it's nothing fancy. And using what the NFL uses is out of my price range for now. So ima gonna just try a couple of the wireless recorders and see if I can get some decent quality. Appreciate you checking the channel out.
which one did u use bro for recording your own voice in the starting of the video ?
At the very beginning I was using a studio microphone recording into a laptop via a USB audio interface.
Can you post a link to the mke mic you're using?
Which one? Are you talking about the Sennheiser MKE 2?
hi, what about Samson Airline? could be a good choice with Me2 lav?
I don't have any experience with that particular system. It doesn't seem to be available on frequencies that are legal for use in the US. The FCC changed the permitted spectrum for wireless mic systems at the beginning of this year.
Nice review, do you know if I can use a Shure lavelier mic with the senheiser system?
I believe Shure lav mics use a TA4F connector, which is not compatible with Sennheiser systems or other systems using a 3.5mm locking connector. You may be able to find an adapter.
@@bigtb1717 thanks! Shure supercardioid seems to be unique in that it cancels out surrounding noises best (i plan on recording people speaking outdoors) I wonder why more brands don’t make something like that...
I think just because of how they are worn, cardioid and supercardioid aren't as popular. They are out there though. The Sennheiser ME-4 is a cardioid lav mic.
I've always thought that if you moved around or turned your head too much the audio wouldn't be very consistent. But I have considered trying one. Maybe I'll get one and do some tests in comparison with an omnidirectional lav.
@@bigtb1717 I would love to see that! Super hard to find this comparison on youtube
could you please help me between rode vs saramonic ? i dont wanna spend nearly $300 on rode with lav mic but if saramonic sounds really bad compared to rode, i have to go with rode. i am make videos on youtube. i am planning to buy saramonic with one transmitter $179 ? do you think it is worth it ?
I have audio from both in this video. I do think the sound quality of the Rode Wireless Go is a bit better, but it isn't a huge difference. I certainly wouldn't say the Saramonic sounds bad in comparison. They are pretty close.
thank you so much
Where is the industry standard Lectrosonics in this test? Leaves a big gap missing. Next time rent a set please!
Well, the Lectrosonics systems are thousands of dollars. Most of them cost more than every other system in this test combined. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to test out some higher end systems. But renting is an issue for me because I don't have anywhere local to rent from and I don't always know when I'll have time to work on a video, so it's tough to order something without knowing I'll actually have time to use it during the rental period. I'd still love to try one out some day. Maybe some day.
@@bigtb1717 it is worthwhile having Lectrosonics in there as they're "the standard" (even though there are better options out there, for instance I'd quite like to have a complete Shure Axient Digital setup, but for now I've got a much cheaper setup on my Sound Cart with a mix of a Lectrosonics Venue with VRT receivers and a bit of Shure ULX-D too). None of what you featured in this video I'd even dare bring along for talent on a paid shoot, they're not up to the standard necessary.
Where are you based, perhaps there is a local sound mixer you could collaborate with for future videos?
What’s the best wireless mic to use with iPhone for recording a car video?
Just about any of them can be used with an iPhone with the right adapter. The main consideration is going to be your budget and the features you are looking for.
@@bigtb1717 thanks for your reply 🙏🏽 I’m mainly concern about wind noise because I want a clean recording of the engine and exhaust sound 😅
@@spiritualandphysicalfitnes3331 They make furry wind muffs for lavalier mics which can help block wind noise. Putting the mic under clothing can help as well. Blocking wind from getting to the mic is much more important than which system you choose.
If i buy a pair of mics, how do i know if i need the desk top box that comes with some of the sets??
Which setup are you looking at in particular? In many cases that is the receiver, and would therefor absolutely be needed. It just designed to go on a desk or rack instead of mount on a camera or something like that.
Also note, that using two transmitters with one receiver is different than on transmitter with two receivers. Most receivers can only receive and demodulate one signal at a time, so you have to have to have a receiver for each transmitter, or get a system that is specifically designed to be capable of two transmitters with one receiver. I don't know if that's what you are trying to accomplish, just wanted to give you a heads up that with the majority of systems out there you can't use multiple transmitters with one receiver.
You’re referring to the 1/2 RU receivers.
Why do they all have so much noise
Lavalier microphones aren't the quietest mics. For example, a good quality large diaphragm condenser mic might have 5-10 dB-A equivalent noise level, a good quality shotgun mic might have 12-16 dB-A equivalent noise. Yet a good quality lavalier mic may have 24-28 dB-A equivalent noise. I did no noise reduction, noise gate or anything like that in this video. Typically, a lavalier is also used in situations where a little bit of ambient noise would be present and would drown out any self-noise. In my quiet sound booth any present self-noise will be more apparent.
Also, many of these systems are cheap and simply have a lot of noise.
Which one is the best for android or IOS mobile?
With adapters, any of them should work. It will mostly come down to how much you want to spend and what form factor and feature set works best for you. The Saramonic Blink 500 has specific versions with receivers specifically designed to mount on phones. But again, you should be able to use any of these systems with a phone/mobile device with the right adapter.
seems like bottom line, you really do get what you pay for.
Do you know if i can use two UHF receivers with one transmitter? I'm still trying to solve the facebook live audio issue. though i could use a dongle to connect a receiver to an iPhone to fix recording problems.
With which system? It should work with some systems. Basically, multiple receivers can pick up the signal from a single transmitter. However, just because a system is UHF, doesn't guarantee this would work. You would probably want to look into the specific system you were considering.
Do the analog systems really have no latency?
Proper analog systems have virtually no latency. It's not literally zero, but as close as you can get. I think the specs I've seen are something like sub millisecond latency.
@@bigtb1717 thanks! Can I ask you one more question? Im looking to use the Hotec for my guitar since it’s analog and less latency…do u think that’s a good idea?
Is there any reason you have to use a wireless system to mic your guitar? I don't know that it wouldn't work, I'm just curious. I guess, maybe you will be on stage or something?
I'm not sure the Hotec system is fully analog, but I don't remember hearing any latency either. If there is any, it's low.
@@bigtb1717 there are not many analog options available for guitar so most people just use the sennheiser G3/G4 and use an instrument cable instead of the lavalier mic..unfortunately that’s too expensive for me so I’m trying to find a cheaper alternative
what do u think the best mic for pranks would be?
I suppose you just would have to decide what your specific needs are. Do you need to hide the mic, what range do you need, etc.
Must say. Sennheiser probs...
If you have so many good moc use them y can hear the noice of your mic from miles.
I'm not sure what you are asking. If you are able to clarify your question I will try to answer.
Saramonic should be sued for a false advertising suit. They are claiming 12ms latency in their specs, and me and multiple others have measured in the range from 65-75ms latency. I also emailed them and never heard back-this issue is NOT unique to the unit you tested. It is across the board. Ruining jobs for audio engineers with false specs.
The fotowelt quality is so pathetic who approved that to go into production omg hahaha
The first half of these mics are terrible. How can they even sell that crap
Thanks