It seems like everyone is making wireless mics with charging cases at the moment. If you are in the market for such a thing, you have a choice of brands like Sennheiser, RØDE, DJI, GoPro, Hollyland, Insta360 and any number of “no name” cheapies.
So, which is the best option? I have been able to review the units from Sennheiser, RØDE, Hollyland and DJI so will detail those only.
I’ll look at them individually taking each company’s flagship model and do a comparison and try and answer that question of which to get.
When comparing wireless mics, common things to look for include the bit rate for the recording, the wireless range, number of channels and is there a backup recording to the mic available among other things
And of course price is always a consideration.
RØDE Wireless Go 3
RØDE is an Australian success story making its name in the audio sphere, recently branching out into video as well with the RØDECaster video console adding to the RØDECaster Pro II and Duo audio mixers.
The company has a large range of microphones covering all aspects of audio recording, but the one we are interested in here is the Wireless Go 3.
This transmitter supports 32-bit floating-point recordings with a range offered of around 260 metres in ideal circumstances. A dual channel receiver means you can record two separate sources simultaneously and levels are automatically optimised with an intelligent gain assist system.
If your connection to the receiver fails, each mic has 32GB on board memory for backup, giving approximately 40 hours of recording. RØDE has put some nice thinking into the GO 3 too with locking 3.5mm inputs for external mics and low latency functionality. A built in “RØDE button” lets you add markers to the recording which speeds up finding different takes in post -production.
If you use a RØDECaster Pro II console, you can pair the Wireless Go 3 directly to it.
On the negative side there is no noise cancelling, only a high pass filter, the charging hub is an optional extra and to perform any advanced setups, connection to the RØDE Central app is needed.
Expect to pay around $250 for the RØDE Wireless Go 3 with USB-C charging, and an extra $150 for the charging case.
Hollyland Lark Max 2
Chinese based Hollyland has been around making wireless audio kit since 2013. Around 10 years ago it released the Hollyland brand and entered the wireless mic market in 2020.
With the Lark Max 2, we have 32 bit floating point recording, and for professional recordings, it supports timecode. There is very strong noise cancelling functionality and each transmitter – which at 14g weight are tiny – is 8GB backup memory good for around 11 hours recording.
The receiver can pair with up to four transmitters as against the RØDE’s two, and external lavaliere mics are supported. The range is around 150m for the transmitters and a cameraman can wirelessly monitor a recording up to about 100m.
Battery life is exceptional at 11 hours per transmitter and the included charging case increases that to approximately 36 hours.
If you have a Sony camera, the Lark Max 2 is compatible with its hot shoe and therefore no cables are needed.
On the other side of the ledger, the 32-bit recording is only available via USB-C connection to a smartphone or computer, the touchscreen is quite small and therefore becomes a bit fiddly for those with larger fingers, and there is no Lightning connection.
Potentially a major issue is the fact the Lark Max 2 runs on the same 2.4GHz band as lots of other wireless gear and therefore interference is possible in crowded RF environments such as events.
The Hollyland Lark MAX 2 solo mic system sells for around $270 and there is also a 4 mic system for $450 or so.
DJI Mic 3
DJI is a name synonymous with drones, but the company makes a wide range of gear including cameras, gimbals and of course microphones – in this case specifically, the DJI Mic 3.
For $409 you get a two transmitter 32 bit floating point recording system and the bonus of timecode synchronization. DJI claims 400 metres line of sight recording and unlike the Hollyland Lark Max 2, uses a dual band 2.4 / 5 GHz auto switching system to minimise interference.
Each transmitter has 32GB internal storage giving 57 hours of backup recording, and like the Lark Max 2, the transmitters are tiny. Up top 4 transmitters and 8 receivers are supported.
To handle unpredictable noise, an adaptive gain control with both automatic and dynamic modes looks after this and you also get a pair of voice tone presets.
If you use DJI cameras such as the Action 6 or Pocket series, the DJI Mic 3 pairs automatically with these and also supports the DJI MIMO app.
One drawback many reviewers have picked up is the lack of external mic support. I personally don’t subscribe to that view as the DJI Mic 3 is not aimed at that market. There is also no direct Lightning connection as you need to buy a separate $19 adaptor for that purpose, only USB-C is supported directly.
Reportedly there are some issues with the DJI Mic 3s Bluetooth capability. I know it does work with GoPro cameras but apparently does not work with the native iPhone camera.
Sennheiser Profile Wireless
German company Sennheiser has been around in audio products such as microphones, headphones and later wireless and broadcast equipment since 1946 and is a very respected name.
Today there are two separate companies with one developing and manufacturing professional audio equipment and the second selling Sennheiser consumer products only.
On the professional side, products that can be compared to those from RØDE, Hollyland and DJI are two versions of the Sennheiser Profile Wireless. In this range are a single transmitter and dual transmitter systems and while the mics and transmitters are identical, the two transmitter version comes with a multi-function “charging bar”. The single transmitter version uses USB-C charging only.
I’ll cover the transmitters and receivers first.
32-bit floating-point recording is standard giving protection against clipping or blown out audio recordings, and automatic backup to the onboard 16GB memory will kick in if the signal is dropped.
External lavaliere input is supported and like the RØDE, the connection is lockable.
A versatile set of connectivity adapters – USB-C, Lightning, cold shoe for cameras – is supplied, so it works across phones, laptops and cameras out of the box. Bluetooth is also supported for phone, tablets and laptops, so you can skip the receivers completely under those circumstances.
In the two transmitter version, the charge bar is a hold all for all the components (transmitters, receivers, connectors, magnetic holders for clothing placement of the transmitters) as well as connectivity to headphones, line out and USB-C.
The clever design also allows the two transmitter system in conjunction with the charging bar to double up as a handheld mic, complete with windsock.
It’s fair to say that the two transmitter Sennheiser Profile Wireless is an audio system as against a simple wireless mic setup and is the one I use on a daily basis due to the flexibility.
The single system can be bought for around $369 and the two transmitter system with the charging bar for $419. Bear in mind the receiver for the single transmitter version can support two transmitters – you’d just need to buy an extra transmitter for around $150 or so through Sennheiser directly as a spare part.
Conclusion
Each model has its pros and cons. For example, if you are already a RØDE user by way of the RØDECaster Pro II then the obvious choice is the RØDE Wireless Go 3 due to its connectivity compatibility. Similarly, if you use DJI cameras, then the DJI Mic 3 is the better choice, and it works with GoPro cameras via Bluetooth too.
If price is a consideration, the Hollyland Lark Max 2 is where I would point you, especially if you only need the one transmitter.
For sheer flexibility though, it is hard to go past the Sennheiser Profile Wireless 2 transmitter system with the charge bar. Added to that of course is Sennheiser’s long history and success in the audio sphere with a wealth of experience to call on.
In terms of audio quality from all four, I’d have to say it is a line call with the Sennheiser and the RØDE the pick of the bunch in that order.
One thing that may be a factor is the fact that the RØDE Wireless Go 3, Hollyland Lark Max 2 and DJI Mic 3 all have their logos prominently on the transmitters which may not be desirable in a production environment. The Sennheiser also has the branding, but it is not as in your face as you can see from the images.
Price Comparison
RØDE Wireless Go 3 2TX and 1RX $250
Charging case $150
Hollyland Lark Max 2 1TX and 1RX $270
4TX and 1RX $450
DJI Mic 3 2TX and 1 RX $409
Sennheiser Profile Wireless 1 TX and 1 RX $369
2 TX and 1RX with charging bar $419