Wireless microphones for actors and speakers

Although many theatres are small enough to keep speech intelligible without amplification, there is a clear need for microphones with as unobtrusive a design as possible. Most commonly used are headset microphones that rest on the ears on either side of the head. There are also models that are attached to one ear and then often combined with tape for stability. There are also drop microphones that can be attached with tape directly to the skin.

For events and presentations, handheld microphones are often sufficient. Even when more extreme demands are made on sound quality or directional characteristics, handhelds are often chosen. Like headsets and drip microphones, these can also be used wirelessly, if equipped with a transmitter unit.

Harsh

In practice, headset microphones prove to be fragile. When they are carefully inserted and removed again, there is not much to worry about, but in daily use, this is also often done by actors or speakers themselves and this is often not done gently.
Also, the fit is not always ideal and the bracket of the headset microphone has to be bent to achieve good intelligibility and not end up in a prominent place in front of the speaker or actor's face.
For these reasons, the robustness and ample adjustability of headset microphones is crucial, but so is the ease of interchanging parts.

Colouring

It is difficult to position headset microphones so that the sound produced is uncoloured. Cardioid microphone capsules (kidney-shaped directivity) are more convenient in terms of feedback, but for consistency of sound quality, a capsule with omni characteristics (all-round sensitivity) is preferable. Condenser microphones are often chosen for both sound quality and ease of placement. They are more vulnerable than dynamic microphones, but the sound flexibility and low weight of condenser microphones are decisive.

Wireless microphones

Condenser microphones need power. With wired use - which is hardly ever the case with headsets - this is provided via phantom, and with wireless use, the transmitter used supplies the microphone with the required voltage. In theatre performances, wireless microphones are mainly used because of the visual aspect, while pop and jazz concerts also use many 'fixed' microphones.

As a general rule, it is not necessary for the headset microphone and the transmitter/receiver system to be of the same brand. So you can combine your favourite, best-sounding, most solid headset microphone with the most convenient and reliable transmitter/receiver system.

Brands

Of course, we can offer you headset microphones from DPA, Shure, Sennheiser, Røde or any other bigger brand, but currently we ourselves are very enthusiastic about JAG, an Australian brand of headset microphones with a sound quality that rivals sets costing three times as much, and which have a very solid and easy-to-use construction and very attractive pricing.

With us, you can always test all microphones with no obligation!