• Reporters mike
• Cardioid, similar to famous MD 46
• Good price that is more than twice lower - https://www.amazon.com/Saramonic-Professional-Unidirectional-Microphone-Presentation/dp/B076DZXXK7

Mikes Difference

Tips

Although one can find locking TRS extension cables, they apparently act like radio antennae, and the longer the distance the worse the distortion. Balanced XLR seems like the obvious choice, but that presents another issue: how to adapt a mic that requires 10v mic power, to an XLR cable that either has no power or has 12V / 48V phantom power.

After a little research, I bought a Provider Series PPA XLR to Sennheiser (threaded TRS) power adapter, to match my TL-40. The Provider Series PPA is small tube just larger than an XLR plug, that uses 48V phantom power from XLR on one end, to power any kind of lavalier mic on other end, and balances the signal at mic level for transmission through the XLR cable. By the way, I got a PPA with AUT plug on eBay for $1 with shipping (usually $90), and ordered a SENN replacement plug from Performance Audio for $29 -- but instead they sent me another PPA WITH a SENN plug: another $90 value!. Got lucky on both counts!

Anyway, I don't currently have an XLR recorder (I'm expecting a DR-60D in the mail on Friday), but I have been testing this new setup with my iRig PRE on my iPhone and on my DR-05. It works, but I'm a little surprised by how high the noise floor is, and how flat the sound is. I compare the recordings on the DR-05 with and without the iRig PRE / PPA adapters, and I get a MUCH cleaner and fuller recording plugging the lav mic directly into the recorder and turning mic power on. I was lead to believe that the iRig PRE is a decent pre-amp, with a low noise floor. Does that mean the Provider Series adapters are causing the degraded quality? Or maybe my iRig PRE is a lemon? Because of the error with Performance Audio I have two PPAs, and I get the same results using both of them. So I kind of doubt it's a bad copy, more likely the design is bad.

I will do more comparisons once the DR-60D arrives, and hopefully figure out which unit is the culprit. I'll post my findings here, but in the mean time, I wanted to know what everyone else is doing when they want to go wired with their lavalier mics.

• 4 Channels + Stereo Mix
• 4 XLR/TRS Inputs with Phantom Power
• Dual Built-In Omnidirectional Mics
• Stereo 3.5mm In for Stereo Mic
• 3.5mm Camera In/Out
• BNC In for Sync to LTC
• HDMI In Can Receive Timecode From Camera
• HDMI Out Can Send Audio & Incoming Video
• Records Up to 24-Bit/192kHz
• Price - $599
• http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1189478-REG/tascam_dr_701d_linear_pcm_recorder.html

This guys are after Zoom :-)

Voking VK-WM220 Features

• Dual channel UHF wireless receiving technology for using two transmitters simultaneously.
• Double conversion DSP receiving processor for strong anti-mirror interference ability.
• Professional circuit structure provides low cut function.
• Dual independent output and MIX output optional.
• Equipped with headphone output socket for real-time monitoring.
• Both headphone and recording output volume can be adjusted independently, with memory function.
• WNCR noise control technology can suppress environmental noise and wind noise.
• Integrated high-performance audio compander provides a wide dynamic range.
• Provides up to 100 wireless frequencies to set up multiple channels working at the same time.
• Supports external power supply, so as to adapt to various occasions.
• Rugged metal construction for excellent electrical characteristics and mechanical strength.

Voking VK-WM220 Specifications:

• Frequency range: 538-594 MHz
• Modulation mode: FM
• Frequcy response: 30 Hz-18 kHz
• Microphone type: Condenser Omni
• Channels: 100
• Frequency control: PLL Synthesizer
• Transmit power: ≤ 10 mW
• S/N ratio: ＞90 dB
• Power supply: DC 3V or 2pcs AA size batteries
• Operating time: ≥ 10 hours
• Operating range: 100 meters at outdoor open area
• Operating temperature: 0-55 C
• Store temperature 20-55C
• Dimension: 896322 mm
• Net weight: 120g

After a week, they called and said, might I have a broken cable. I told no. The mic itself is broken. After another week, they sent the mic back and told they were unable to find anything wrong with the mic.

Then I contacted Thomann.de as they advertised they have a 3 year warranty to everything they sell. They asked me to make a video, demonstrating the fault in the mic. So I did. Then they asked me to send the mic to them. I did.

After weeks, the mic was sent back to me, stating that the repair personnel were unable to find anything wrong with my mic. I called thomann. I told it takes about 10 minutes for me to find the fault in the mic. Also, it is being clearly demonstrated in the video I made to thomann.de. They took the mic back again for inspection.

After many weeks, again, they contacted me, stating that they were unable to find anything wrong with the mic. I said fine, you can send the mic back to me, but then I was going to send the mic to a professional microphone repair person, and if he was able to find anything wrong with the mic, I was going to offer the story to media. After few hours of this the person from thomann told that he had INSISTED to make yet another inspection to the microphone, and what do you know, they were able to find the fault I had been talking about. Then it was revealed the the mic had been twice in some german representative of Rode and now, thomann was going to send the mic for the third time to the same Rode people, to “fix” the mic.

This whole process had now taken over 6 months.

I contacted rode australia, and they asked me, where my mic was...

The teaching of this lesson? If you buy a Rode microphone, you better pray it is not broken.

http://www.lectrosonics.com/US/Menu-item-for-category-listing-module-497/product/561-smwb.html

And the info for the dual battery version:

http://www.lectrosonics.com/US/Menu-item-for-category-listing-module-497/product/562-smdwb.html

Wish I could get one of each and a SRc!

Ah well, maybe next year....

However, it is very weird that it has a max of 44.1KHz?? What on earth are they smoking....

Also is a damn pity there is no TC :-( Guess they're still keeping a reason for you to buy their PDR instead.

But having a split gain recording option is nice.

Some little fun at test part to check if you can make cheap microphone to sound like expensive.

Specs

• Camera-On Condenser Microphone
• Supercardioid polar pick up pattern
• Records 24-bit/48kHz wav audio to a Micro SDHC card
• Easy-to-use menu system and LCD display
• Detachable 3.5mm Gold-Plated Audio Cable
• Switchable low-cut filter
• 3.5mm headphone monitor input
• Standard size shoe mount
• Includes Foam Windscreen
• 78 dB signal to noise ratio
• Two AA batteries power
• Price start from $100, but usually around $120
  • https://www.aliexpress.com/item/BOYA-BY-DMR7-Condenser-Microphone-with-LCD-Display-Broadcast-Quality-w-Integrated-Flash-Recorder-for-Canon/32847590201.html

BOYA BY-DMR7 is good quality condenser microphone specially designed for DSLR cameras and camcorders. The integrated flash recording allows you to record 24-bit/48kHz wav audio files to MicroSDHC cards(not included), supporting capacities up to 32GB. It features one-button recording and easy-to-read menu display, making your recording work much easier. The 3.5mm data cable connects the BY-DMR7 Recorder to your camera's audio input, while the stereo headphone output allows you to monitor incoming audio. The shock mount system provides isolation from vibration and mechanical noise.

Specs

• TRESMIC build-in mike
• Works from AAA Alkaline or Rechargeable Battery (comes with it)
• USB Charging
• Recording to FLAC, and also MP3, PCM
• Bluetooth Playback on Headphones
• 8GB internal
• Support for MicroSD
• Can act as audio interface for PC and Mac
• $179

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1390100-REG/olympus_v409160bu000_ls_p4_audio_recorder_black.html

All three are considered best amoungs Chinese designed and manufactured headphones :-)

As for manufacturing quality, it is clear that thay can compete with best and pricey phones.

Sound is also very good, and different amongst all three. This is usual thing for heaphones. :-)

But my favourite is still Panasonic HTF890.

I'll write more about this phones later.

TASCAM’s compact DR-10X attaches to a handheld microphone for the ultimate compact news gathering recording system. A captive XLR connector attaches firmly to your microphone, capturing interviews at 48kHz/24-bit Broadcast WAV resolution. Offload recordings through the microUSB connection or by removing the MicroSD card.

Specs

• XLR jack mounts directly to dynamic microphone (It also can use condenser microphone powered by battery.)
• 48kHz/24 bit BWF mono recording
• Uses MicroSD or MicroSDHC media, up to 32GB
• Mic pre gain Low/Mid/High control
• Instant record mode – power on while holding record button side switch
• Limiter and low cut filter
• Manual or automatic gain control
• Dual recording mode captures a copy of your audio at a lower level as a safety track
• Time Track Increment function writes a new track marker after a set time limit. There is on/off setting, but the time is 15 minutes fixed when turn it on.
• Easy-to-read OLED display
• Edit settings on a PC and send them to the DR-10X through the microUSB port
• Playback function with headphone out
• More than 8 hours of recording with single AAA battery
• IR transmit/receive to copy settings between units

http://tascam.com/product/dr-10x/specifications/

Specs

• 1-inch gold-plated, phantom powered true-condenser capsule.​
• Record 24Bit 96kHz studio-grade audio to built-in 16gb of storage.
• One button on top to start/stop recording, and buttons on the back for level adjustment as well as power on/off and bluetooth pairing.
• Headphone jack for monitoring or line out. And there's a 3/8" and a 1/4-20" accessory thread on the bottom.
• It has a USB micro jack for powering and recharging.
• Mikme app syncs with an iPhone and automatically replaces the internal microphone, for both audio and video recording.
• Battery lasts up to 3.5 hours of continued recording.
• 2.75 x 2.8 inches size, and less than 6 ounces weight.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1338439-REG/mikme_m54_002_03_01_blackgold_wireless_microphone_and.html

https://www.mikme.com/

Price starts around $195 from Asia - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-ICD-SX2000-Stereo-IC-Recorder-Portable-16GB-Linear-PCM-Hi-Res-USB-Direct-/262820798903

Check also http://www.prosoundnetwork.com/gear-and-technology/sony-icd-sx2000-digital-recorder-with-bluetooth-remote/47188

• 22mm Large gold dual diaphragm
• Hyper-cardioid option
• Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20KHz
• Sensitivity: -39dB±2dB (0dB=1V/Pa 1000Hz)
• Output Impedance: <200 Ohm
• Equivalent Noise Level: ≤22dB (A Weight)
• Max SPL: 134dB for 0.5% THD
• Connector: 3-Pin XLR
• Power Requirement: 48V phantom power supply
• Around $57 shipped

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Alctron-T-01A-Instrument-Mic-with-mic-clip-Pencil-Condenser-Microphone-Instrument-studio-mic/2201040_32686192800.html