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Should You Use A Lav Mic?
If you’re looking to break away from using the built-in microphone that comes with your camera, cellphone or laptop, a lavalier or lav mic is a great starting option without having to spend tons of money.
Technical Specs
✅ Condenser Microphone
✅ Omni-Directional Polar Pattern
✅ Frequency Range: 65Hz – 18 KHz
✅ Signal to Noise Ratio: 74dB SPL
✅ Power Requirements: Built-in, Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery
✅ Cable Length: 20 feet (6 meters)
✅ Working Time: Up to 90 Hours
✅ Audio Connector Input: 3.5mm TRRS cable
✅ Mic Weight: 68 grams
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Package Contents & Build Quality
In the package, you get the microphone lavalier unit, which has 20 feet of cable (6 meters), a micro USB charging cable, two foam windshields, a 1/4″ stereo jack adapter, a clip for the microphone, and a carrying pouch.
The central housing unit that stores the rechargeable li-polymer battery is made of metal and has a metal clip on its back to secure it to clothes. It feels like a very sturdy unit. The lavalier cable is somewhat soft and thin, but this allows it to wrap and run under clothes easily. The micro USB charging port is located at the bottom of the unit shown in the image.
Maono AU-100R Mic Setup
Microphone Unit
The microphone has an Omnidirectional range, so it will pick up sound from all directions. This means that the microphone placement is a bit more forgiving, as it does not have to be directly in front of your mouth like a cardioid microphone. If you do not want to hear too much background noise or plan on recording audio in noisy environments, this will not be a good option.
To use it with a camera or laptop, simply plug the microphone into the device’s audio-in port and switch the button on the main housing unit to On/Others. That’s it. There are no other options to configure on the unit, such as gain adjustments or high pass filters.
To use it with a smartphone, simply leave the button on the Smartphone/OFF option, and plug the unit into your phone’s 3.5 mm jack (something that is becoming a myth these days). The smartphone will power the unit.
When you turn the unit on, the LED light will flash white to indicate that it is fully charged. If it flashes green, it has over 20% battery remaining, and if it flashes red, then it has less than 20% battery life remaining.
Mounting Options
The lav unit is meant to be clipped on clothing under the mouth, so it comes with a small metal clip. The clip is also made of metal and feels sturdy. If you want to attach a foam windshield to the lav unit, it comes with two different foam windshields.
Battery Life
The microphone is rated for up to 90 hours of battery life, so you will definitely be covered for a couple of days of recording without issue.
Audio Testing
I tested the microphone without editing the audio, which can be found in my YouTube video here. The link starts at the time code of the audio from the lav unit: https://youtu.be/giyQtoiCYMU?t=205
I also performed a test comparing the audio from my cellphone’s built-in microphone and the Maono AU-100R lav mic, which can be found here: https://youtu.be/giyQtoiCYMU?t=295
These are not technical audio tests, but they give an idea of how the audio performed.
Summing Up
For this unit’s price, it is a great buy for those who are just starting out and looking to get away from using their devices’ in-built recording unit. The sound coming from this unit sounds slightly muddy and could use a small treble boost to my ears. However, if I did not test it against three other units, I may not have noticed this as an issue.
Some great features of this unit are that the cable’s length is quite long at 20 feet or 6 meters, which should cover most use cases. The 90-hour battery life is also a significant advantage, and so is the built-in rechargeable battery. You will save money over the long-term vs. units that require you to swap out batteries—recommended for those on a budget who are just starting with making YouTube videos or recording audio for tutorials.
If there is anything that I missed in the review, or if you have any questions that I did not cover, please leave a comment below.
Some links may be referral links, which means I earn a small commission for qualifying sales. There is no additional cost to you.
