Best Lavalier Microphone — Pros & Cons, Prices & Specs

The Sennheiser MKE-2-PC is the most expensive lavalier microphone on this list by a significant margin clocking in at $399.95. This is still far from being the most expensive lavalier on the market. The MKE-2-PC has great audio fidelity and has strong background noise reduction capabilities. Two cool bonus features with this lapel mic are the stainless steel cable and waterproofing which both help ensure a long life span for the product. Despite the drawbacks, it is still one of the best wired lav mics on the market.

Priced at $274.99, the Sony ECM-77B lapel microphone is a good deal cheaper than a previous entry but still toward the more expensive end of the scale. Unlike some of the others on this list, the ECM-77B lavalier microphone is considered industry standard and finds extensive use in the television, theater, and radio industries. The audio quality is very high, making it one of the best lav mics available. This lavalier microphone can be run on phantom power or on AA batteries. This mic is also extremely small, even by the best lapel mic standards, measuring just 5.6 millimeters in diameter. If low-profile/invisibility is a priority in your lavalier microphone decision making, then the ECM-77B may be your best choice.

The AT899 lavalier microphone is similar in price to our previous entry, landing at $269. This lapel mic is considered sub-miniature at just 5 millimeters in diameter, meaning a great deal of attention has been paid to the size and profile of this mic, making it one of the top lapel mics if invisibility is a high priority for you. The small size, luckily, does not translate to a drop in audio quality. This lavalier microphone also comes with a generous accessory kit.

The next step down in price is the Tascam DR-10L which lands $199.99. Unlock other entries on this list, the DR-10L is not just a lav mic but also a portable audio recorder. This lac/recorder combo is a great value for what is on offer and allows for wireless recording. The DR-10L is a favorite amongst documentarians and videographers.

Our next option is a huge leap down in price. This is our first lav under 100 dollars and finds itself selling for just $79.95. This is an especially great value considering that the WMIC50 is a wireless system which includes a transmitter, receiver, and the lav itself. The way this mic system works is through a bodypack transmitter worn by the subject which sends the information to a receiver pack that is mounted on the camera itself and plugged directly into the camera’s microphone port. Battery life is one concern with this product as both the transmitter and receiver require two AAA batteries each, and those will typically need replacing after 3 and a half hours.

The Rode smartLav+ is essentially the same cost as our previous list entry, just 95¢ cheaper at $79 flat. Rode is one of the most trusted names in audio recording and the smartLav+ is one of the cheapest offerings, designed for budget conscious and indie filmmakers. This lav was made specifically for use with ios devices, though adapters are available to allow compatibility with other devices. The smartLav+ features a common headset jack that plugs straight into your iphone or ipad to record audio directly to that device. Under the right conditions, this cost-efficient and user-friendly lav mic can produce professional quality results.

The Shure MOTIV MVL is a similar price to the two previous entries but just a little cheaper. The MVL runs just $69 and, similar to the smartLav+, is designed for use with smartphones. The MVL has a leg up on the smartLav+ as it is not confined to Apple devices specifically; the MVL will work with both ios and Android. This mic can also be run directly into a DSLR camera but requires an adapter to do so.

Best cheap wireless lavalier mic

1. Giant Squid Audio Lab

This goofily named lav mic is the cheapest by far, clocking in at just $40. This is insanely cheap for a quality lav mic. Any mic being offered for cheaper than this is likely not going to perform the job you need it to do. The sound quality is surprisingly high for a mic of this price and rivals the audio captured by either of the other lav options in the under-$100 range. The Giant Squid is designed to be plugged directly into the camera’s microphone port and also works well when plugged straight into many models of laptop.