Best Wireless Microphone – Buyer’s Guide (February 2022)
Wireless microphones are where it’s at. No cords. No hassle. They’re perfect for karaoke, public speaking, weddings, and worship services. We’re here to help you find the best wireless microphone for your unique context. For first time buyers, you want to know you’re investing in the best professional wireless microphone, not some cheap product. For seasoned professionals, it can be difficult to keep up with new technology. Whether beginner or veteran, we’ve got you covered!
Below you will find our top 10 professional wireless microphones, in categories like handheld, lavalier, and headset. We know you care deeply about your craft, whether you’re a DJ, singer, or production company. To help you, we only highlight trusted brands like Shure, Sennheiser, and Electro-voice which have been industry leaders for decades. We know firsthand that when it comes to wireless mics, you need a product you can trust.
Finding the best wireless microphone should be enjoyable, so take full advantage of our individual product reviews. And don’t forget to read through our full wireless mic buyer’s guide, which will help you make a final decision!
Read below for a quick summary of the best wireless mics, categorized to make your life easier.
| Name | Category | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shure SLX |  | Best Overall |  |
| Electro Voice RE3 |  | Best for DJ | |
| Shure BLX |  | Best Dual Mic Set | |
| Shure SLX 124 |  | Best Combo (lav + handheld) | |
| Shure QLXD 124 |  | Best High-End Combo (lav + handheld) | |
| Sennheiser EW 112 |  | Best Lavalier Mic | |
| Shure SLX 14 |  | Most User-Friendly Lav Mic | |
| Audio Technica 3000 |  | Best Wireless Handheld | |
| Shure GLXD 14R |  | Best Wireless Headset Mic | |
| VovoPro 4-Mic Set |  | Best Budget Mic Set | |
1. Shure SLX24/SM58 (Best Overall)
The Shure SLX24 is one of the best overall wireless microphones out there. It’s unidirectional, meaning it picks up sound from one direction. This makes it a powerful vocal mic, perfect for live performances and studio recording. Thanks to its built-in spherical filter, wind and breath noises are limited. It’s one of the toughest out there, with a proven shock mount system, and a steel mesh grille that withstands rough handling. This mic is road-ready and industry tested.
The Shure SLX24 is one of the best wireless microphones not only because of durability, but also because of its clear sound and excellent volume. It features automatic frequency selection and transmitter setup (960 frequencies across 24MHz bandwidth). The Shure SLX24 is very user-friendly and makes an ideal addition to any professional gear setup.
- Automatic frequency selection
- Easy to use
- Filters out harsh breath noises
- More expensive than other brands
2. Electro Voice RE3-RE520-5H (Best for DJ)
The Electro-Voice Wireless handheld system is one of the best mics for mobile DJs, but we recommend it for other applications too. With this mic, you will experience minimal dropouts, which any wedding DJ appreciates. The last thing you want is the mic dropping out in the middle of the best man’s toast!
We also love the sync function, which links the transmitter to the receiver effortlessly. With up to 36 MHz tuning bandwidth, this wireless handheld system will detect sound clearly and efficiently. The EV achieves a clear low end, natural and present midrange, and detailed high end for excellent acoustic isolation.
- Quick and easy set-up
- Easy to read LCD
- Control setting can synchronize
- Doesn’t include protective case
3. Shure BLX (Best Dual Mic Set)
The Shure BLX288/PG58 is the best dual mic set out there. It comes with a dual wireless receiver with handheld transmitters and two microphone clips. It’s also got adjustable gain control with easy frequency matching. With up to 14 hours of continuous use and 300 feet of operating range, you can make it through any church service, party, or wedding without worry.
- Includes two handheld mics
- Batteries included
- Reasonably priced
- Less tonal distinction between highs, mids, and lows
4. Shure SLX 124 (Best Lav + Handheld)
This Shure SLX Wireless System features one handheld mic and one lavalier mic. We love the versatility of this system – it works great for presentations, weddings, DJ sets, and other events. With included rack hardware and detachable antennas, the SLX4 is ready to go right out of the box, and can easily be installed permanently. Like the other members of the SLX series, the handy sync button pairs mic with transmitter effortlessly. If you’re looking for a quick and easy setup, this mic is worth considering.
- Includes handheld and lavalier mic
- Sync button makes setup simple
- Crystal clear sound
- Not recommended if you don’t typically use a lavalier
5. Shure QLXD 124 (Best High-End Lav + Handheld)
The Shure QLXD124/85 is the best high-end combo set for all your needs. This combo set includes QLXD2/SM58, WL185, QLXD1, QLXD4, microphone clip, 2 zipper bags, 4 AA batteries, power supply, 2 1/2 wave antennas, 2 BNC cables, 2 BNC bulkhead adapters, rack mount kit, and a user guide. It’s significantly more expensive than Shure’s SLX series, but comes with 2,500 selectable frequencies (compare that to the SLX’s 960).
- 2,500 selectable frequencies
- Includes handheld and lavalier mic
- Extremely high-quality sound
- Pricier than SLX and other Shure series
6. Sennheiser EW 112 (Best Lavalier Mic)
If you’re in the market for a lavalier microphone, the Sennheiser EW 112P G4 is a strong player. It’s omni-directional clip-on mic fastens securely to the speaker, producing clear sounds that’s ideal for weddings, presentations, or other events. Impressively, the range on this unit is 330 feet, so you won’t have to worry about the signal fading on you.
- Two year warranty
- 330 foot range
- Omni-directional
- Does not include carrying case
7. Shure SLX 14 (Most User-Friendly Lav Mic)
The Shure SLX14/93 Lav Mic is the most user-friendly lav mic if you’re looking for something that is powerful and easy to use. It’s ideal for presenters, performers, clergy, and lecturers.The SLX wireless system is known to be powerful and easy to operate, and this lav is no exception. This lav does a great job capturing the speaker, while eliminating ambient noise (such as wind).
- Hassle free setup
- Lightweight body pack
- User friendly
- Body pack is larger
8. Audio Technica 3000 (Best Wireless Handheld)
The Audio Technica 3000 Series is the best wireless handheld microphone out there. This series contains the Atw-r3210 True diversity receiver, Atw-t3202 handheld transmitter, Atw-c710 Condenser microphone capsule, Wide 60 MHz UHF Tuning bandwidth and offers 2395 frequencies and a 328′ operating range. This series is designed to provide clear and intelligible natural audio while minimizing potential interference, for stage, television, lecture, event presentation, or house of worship applications.
- Battery use interchangeable
- 360 foot range
- Works in venues of all sizes
- A bit pricier than other models
9. Shure GLXD 14R (Best Wireless Headset Mic)
Shure rules the market here. The Shure GLXD14R/MX53 is the best wireless headset mic. The GLX-D has proprietary lithium-ion rechargeable batteries with accurate battery metering for up to 16 hours of use when fully charged. This Shure system also offers advanced wireless receiver communities that are easy to find and continuously move away from interference, making sure you find the clearest channel every time.
- 16 hour runtime
- Hands-free
- Battery powered – no cords
- Less sleek than lavalier
10. VovoPro 4-Mic Set (Best Budget Mic Set)
The VovoPro 4-Mic Set is the best budget mic set. It comes with four wireless handheld microphones – each with it’s own channel, XLR output, and volume control. With a 900MHz frequency band, this mic set utilizes 24 bit digital technology for a clean and professional sound. If you’re looking for a financially reasonable mic set, this is an excellent option.
- Use all four mics simultaneously
- Clear, consistent sound
- Reasonably priced for 4 mics
- Sound quality could be better
What is a wireless microphone?
A wireless microphone is a microphone that does not have a physical cable connecting it to its recording or amplifying equipment. Wireless microphones are also called radio mics, because they contain small, battery-powered transmitters.
The other half of the wireless audio equipment is contained within a separate unit called a “bodypack”, usually clipped to the user’s belt or concealed under clothing. The bodypack is connected by wire to a “lavalier microphone,” which is a small microphone clipped to the user’s lapel, a headset or earset microphone, or another wired microphone.
Most body pack designs also support a wired instrument connection (e.g., to a guitar). Wireless microphones are widely used in the entertainment industry, television, places of worship, and public speaking to allow public speakers, interviewers, performers, and entertainers to move about freely while using a microphone without requiring a cable attached to the microphone.
Parts of a Wireless Mic
There are three important parts of the microphone:
The Grill: the part of the mic you speak into, which allows sound to enter.
The Diaphragm: sits just above the grill, converting sound waves into vibrations, then into an electrical signal.
The Body: of the mic is what protects the delicate parts of the device.
What To Look For
Budget: Clearly, this will be a deciding factor. Start by looking at what you can spend and what your intended use will be. How much can you spend and what do you intend to use it for?
Venue Size. You will need to decipher what your range is, what frequency you have access to, and how many sources or people you will need to be on a mic. If you need multiple microphones, you’ll need to make sure you purchase a unit that can use more than one.
Type of mic. You have choices here. Do you prefer a wireless, lavalier, handheld, or headset. Some deciding factors here are whether your speaker will be moving around the room, using their hands, or things of the sort.
Analog vs. Digital. Analog uses your microphone to connect to a receiver while digital uses a signal that is typically uninterrupted to transfer the sound.
Wired vs. Wireless?
The decision between wired and wireless microphones is no longer about sound quality. Some benefits for the wireless are:
Safety: A wireless microphone poses no hazard of tripping as it is cordless. As a performer you won’t have to worry on stage!
Freedom: With a wireless microphone you are able to move around without concern of tangling the wires. Within a large range, you are free to move however you’d like.
Options: Being able to use different transmitters is a huge benefit. With wireless you have the option to use a handheld, a lav or a headset. This freedom can really help your performance if one option is preferred over the other.
Types of Wireless Microphones
Handheld – The handheld microphone is your standard microphone for vocalists. These mics are usually held during the performance or speech, but can also be mounted on a stand if needed for someone like a guitarist.
Lavier – The lavier or lav mic is a small microphone clipped onto clothing from a small bodypack transmitter. This mic is great for conferences, speeches, lectures and houses of worship where the speakers don’t want to hold a mic.
Headset – The headset mic is worn on your head and has a body pack transmitter to relay the signal to the audio equipment, similar to the lav mic. This mic is great for active performers like workout coaches or dancers who need flexibility during their performance.
Benefits of Wireless Mics
Safety: A wireless microphone poses no hazard of tripping or tangling. If your performance is active, such as dancing, then a wire will interfere with your routine.
Freedom: A wireless microphone is able to be taken all across stage without concern of interfering with any props, side dancers or stage equipment. You can take a wireless mic anywhere!
Options: There are many options with wireless microphones. Depending on your performing needs, there is a handheld, a lav or a headset. Having multiple options can really boost your performance.
Multiple Mics: With wireless it is much easier to have multiple mics in an active performance as the cords won’t get tangled with each other. This is ideal for groups who dance and sing at the same time!
Aesthetics: Having no wires strung across the stage or across your platform makes your performance look a lot cleaner. This will help keep the audience focused on the performance.
Analog vs. Digital?
Analog connects your microphone to the receiver via a radio frequency. Digital receivers, use a signal that is typically uninterrupted, like WiFi, to transfer the sound. Digital technology is generally more expensive.
While both are reliable options, going digital gives you obvious benefits. You can definitely use an analog unit if you know you won’t find many frequency interruptions or plan on being in a smaller environment.
Which Wireless Mic To Buy?
As with any purchase, it’s important to consider what you really need. Ask yourself the following questions:
How large will your audience or group be?
How big is your venue?
How many hours of broadcasting or recording are you doing?
What is your budget?
What style of mic (lav, handheld, headset) makes most sense in your context?
Some of the things we’ve considered in this article are cost, level of user-friendliness, and sound quality. Have fun browsing through our list of best wireless microphones. We’re confident that you will find what you need, so enjoy!
In conclusion, when it comes to finding the best wireless microphone, we hope this review has been helpful. There are so many great products on the market, so check out our categories and individual product reviews to locate exactly what you need. Wireless mics make any event more safe and fun, so whatever kind you choose, take your craft to the next level!