Last updated on November 2nd, 2022 at 10:29 am
Musicians put their heart and soul into all their performances. If you are a type of performer that sings and plays some musical instrument at the same time and your performance involves a lot of head movement, a microphone on the stand might not be the best solution for you.
[wptb id="4562" not found ]In this article, we have covered everything you need to know to buy the best headset microphone for singing.
How to choose the best headset microphone for singing
Reading this buyer’s guide will help you in identifying your needs and making the decision accordingly.
Polar patterns
Like every other type of microphone, headset mics also offer three different types of polar patterns:
- Cardioid (Uni-directional)
The microphones that come with cardioid polar patterns hears the voice coming from only one angle i.e. front while ignoring voices coming from all the other angles.
Cardioid polar patterns are particularly useful in a studio setting where the microphone is fixed to hear the voice coming from a single sound source. Most of the musicians prefer these mics as they provide you with the highest sound quality. These types of mics are best in reducing background noise.
- Omni-directional
Microphones that come with Omni-directional polar patterns don’t restrict themselves to a single angle but instead hear all the voices coming from all the angles.
These types of microphones are worst in noise reduction and hence not preferred by musicians.
- Bi-directional
The microphones that come with bi-directional polar patterns hears the voice coming from two angles i.e. front and back. They hear voices around the mic area only while ignoring all the other voices.
Bi-directional polar patterns are not very popular in headset microphones.
Wireless vs Wired
Although wireless headsets are more expensive of the two, they offer greater mobility. As a music performer, you would know, your body language on the stage is the most important thing, especially if you are into pop music.
A wired headset would restrict your body movement on stage and the audience would not be able to feel the energy no matter how good you are singing. So, in order to give your audience, the time of their lives, we would suggest you use a wireless headset.
Construction
On-stage music performance involves a lot of emotions. The performers dance and jump and whatnot. In the midst of all this chaos, the headset is always vulnerable to wear and tear.
So, when you are choosing a headset for your music performance, always pay special attention to the material used in its construction. It should be strong enough to provide resilience against wear and tear.
Connectivity
If you are going for the wireless headsets, look out for the ones that offer easy connectivity. A wireless headset that is uncomplicated to connect will make your life a lot easier.
Although most of the headsets offer connectivity with bodypacks of other brands too, we would advise you to prefer the bodypack that comes with the headset. Choosing a mic that offers connectivity with a wide range of transmitters could prove to be very handy as well.
Comfort
As a performer, you are forced to wear a headset for longer periods. So, an uncomfortable headset that doesn’t sit well on the ear and keeps on falling could affect your performance. In addition to that, it could lead you to have an awful time on stage.
So, we advise you to spend a little extra on your comfort so that you can focus on your performance without worrying about the mic. A comfortable headset will lead you to have an enjoyable time on stage.
Good Range
Find a mic that comes with a transmitter that allows the mic to operate in a wider range so that you don’t have to restrict yourself to a certain diameter of an area.
You can’t afford your mic to dropout in the middle of a live performance, just because you moved a step or two, closer to the audience.
Battery Life
When we talk about wireless headsets, the battery life that it could provide is a factor you should look for. Long musical performances would give you very little time to charge in between. So, look out for the ones that come with a transmitter that takes less time to charge and give longer battery life.
List of the top 7 best headset microphones for singing
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1. Shure PGA31 – best headset microphone for singing
Key features
- Item weight: 4 ounces
- Polar patterns: Cardioid
If you have just started performing live on stage, and you require a mic that suits your budget, this headset is your best bet. Coming with an affordable price tag, it is no less than an expensive headset in terms of performance.
Due to its flexible gooseneck design, you don’t have to worry about it falling out in the middle of the performance. The design offers maximum comfort to the performer. Although it offers comfort, it is not the strongest and offers less resilience against wear and tear.
Moving further to the quality of voice, it comes with cardioid polar patterns that we know are best in noise reduction. Moreover, it covers a wide frequency range which makes it suitable for singing, as singing involves a lot of fluctuation between low and high notes.
Be careful while choosing the wireless system for this mic as many customers reported that it is not compatible with all Shure’s wireless systems.
Pros
- Affordable
- Ideal for small to medium-sized venues
- Cardioid polar patterns
- Flexible gooseneck design
Cons
- Not the strongest in terms of construction
- Not compatible with all Shure’s wireless systems
2. Shure SM35 – high sound quality headset
Key features:
- Item weight: 4 ounces
- Polar patterns: Cardioid
The product is considered to be one of the best Shure’s headsets for singing. The good thing about the product is that it comes both wired and wireless, providing you with an option to choose according to your preference. In terms of price, the product falls in Shure’s intermediate category.
The product has a solid construction, which makes it more resilient to wear and tear. Despite having a solid construction, it is quite comfortable to wear. The wireless headset offers great mobility. Another good thing about the headset is it is compatible will almost all the Shure’s bodypacks.
The headset uses a condenser mic and hence, it is very effective in capturing delicate sounds. Moreover, its cardioid polar patterns are very helpful in reducing background noise. The result is loud and crystal-clear sound quality.
Some customers find it to be a bit bigger than the usual size. Few customers have reported some serious durability issues with the product.
Pros
- Offers good sound quality
- Solid construction
- Comes with both wired and wireless options
- Cardioid polar patterns are very helpful in reducing the ambient noise
Cons
- Bigger in size
- Not durable
3. Shure SM31FH – affordable headset microphone
Key features:
- Item weight: 4 ounces
- Polar patterns: Cardioid
Coming with an affordable price tag, the headset is ideal for beginners who like to sing. With this headset, forget about interference issues. It comes with a quick scan function, that automatically scans the clearest frequency and shifts on to it in case of any interference.
Due to its flexible gooseneck design, you don’t have to worry about it falling out in the middle of the performance. The design offers maximum comfort to the performer. It is lightweight and offers great ease of use.
You are advised to keep the mic at the corner of the mouth so that you don’t have to face pops and plosives. The mic comes with a windscreen that is effective in eliminating unnecessary noise. Its cardioid polar patterns further make sure that you get a clear sound quality.
Customers have raised some serious questions regarding the quality of the product. They reported that it lasted for only a few months.
Pros
- Affordable price tag
- Moisture-resistant material
- Flexible gooseneck design
- Cardioid polar patterns
- QuickScan feature
Cons
- Lasts for only a few months
- Requires manual sound optimization
4. Sennheiser EW D1-ME3 – wireless headset microphone
Key features:
- Item weight: 37 pounds
- Polar patterns: Cardioid
Belonging to a much expensive wireless headset category, the product offers great features. You just have to start singing, the mic will adjust according to your voice and environment you are singing in.
It prevents frequency clashes by automatically scanning the clearest frequency available. The system saves you from the embarrassment of outside interference by switching to the scanned frequency, without dropping out even for a moment.
The headset has low latency, great dynamics, and wider frequency response and hence provides great sound quality. Its all-metal construction makes it one of the most durable. The company offers a 2-year warranty on this headset showing their trust in the product.
Users have reviewed that it has a problem of dropping out at busier places where there are a lot of WIFIs or Bluetooth around.
Pros
- High-quality sound
- Mic adjusts according to your voice and environment
- All metal construction
- Strong and stable wireless technology
Cons
- Expensive
- Short battery life
- It has problems of dropping out at busier places
5. JK MIC-J 071S – sweat and dustproof headset
Key features:
- Item weight: 96 ounces
- Polar patterns: Omni-directional
With a low-price tag, the product offers decent sound quality. We would advise you to go for it if you are a beginner on a budget and want to use it in a quieter setting.
Due to its flexible gooseneck design, you don’t have to worry about it falling out in the middle of the performance. Moreover, it comes in beige color that camouflages with the skin, adding a more natural feel into your performance.
Due to it being sweat and dustproof, the product is advertised to be great for both indoor and outdoor use. But, due to its Omni-directional polar pattern, we would advise you to use it indoor, in a quieter setting, especially if you are using it for singing.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Sweat and dustproof
- Its beige color camouflages with the skin
- Stealthy design
Cons
- Lacks sturdiness
- Omni-directional polar patterns are not the best for singing in louder settings
6. Shure GLXD14R/MX53-Z2 – professional headset microphone for singing
Key features:
- Item weight: 2 pounds
- Polar patterns: Cardioid
This extremely expensive Shure product is made for highly professional work. This superior wireless system has the capability of handling 9 microphones simultaneously, without any of them clashing with each other, which makes it ideal to use in a bigger setup.
The mechanism through which it prevents frequency clashes is its automatic frequency management system. The system saves you from the embarrassment of outside interference by switching to the clearest frequency available, without dropping out even for a moment.
Let’s move towards the quality of sound it provides. The headset has a frequency response value of 20hz-20KHz, which means it covers the whole audible spectrum. The microphone provides exceptional sound clarity.
The downside of the product is that it has an SPL value of only 107dB, which means it not that great in capturing very loud sounds. Despite the company’s claims of it being an interference-free system, some customers faced interference problems in relatively busier venues.
Pros
- The capability of handling 9 microphones simultaneously
- Prevents frequency clashes through its automatic frequency management system
- Covers the whole audible spectrum
- Exceptional sound clarity
Cons
- Comes with an SPL value of only 107dB
- Interference problems in relatively busier venues
7. AKG C520 – lightweight headset microphone
Key features:
- Item weight: 9 ounces
- Polar patterns: Cardioid
In terms of the price, the product belongs to the intermediate class of headset microphones. The design of the headset is as such that it offers flexible boom mounting on both sides, giving you the option of placing the mic on either side.
This wireless headset offers great mobility, allowing you to open up your body and adding energy to your musical performance. It is lightweight and offers great ease of use with the help of its adjustable headband. Another good thing about the headset is its compatibility with Shure’s bodypacks.
The mic comes with a condenser capsule and cardioid polar patterns. Both combined are very effective in reducing background noise. As a result, we get a high quality, noise-free sound.
If you are looking for a stealthier option, this headset might not be suitable for you. Some customers find the headset uncomfortable to wear.
Pros
- Belongs to the intermediate price class
- Offers flexible boom mounting on both the sides
- Lightweight
- Compatible with Shure’s bodypacks
Cons
- Not stealthy
- Uncomfortable to wear
Conclusion:
We have concluded from our research that it is worth spending on the best headset microphone for singing. As it will not only provide you with greater mobility, but it will also enhance your performance on stage.
If you are new into headset microphones. Don’t worry! we have done all the hard work for you and have listed the top 7 headset microphones available in the market, that will enhance your singing performance, on stage.
FAQs:
1. What are the disadvantages of a wired headset?
A wired headset would restrict your body movement on the stage and the audience will not able to feel the energy no matter how good you are singing.
2. Which polar pattern microphones are suitable for singing?
Cardioid polar patterns are the most suitable as they are very effective in noise reduction and hence provide you with high-quality sound.
3. Does the construction of a headset matter?
A live musical performance involves a lot of jumping and dancing making the headset vulnerable to falling. A headset should be strong enough to provide resilience against wear and tear.
4. Why should you avoid using uncomfortable headsets during your singing performance?
Because an uncomfortable headset that doesn’t sit well on the ear and keeps on falling could affect your performance. In addition to that, it could lead you to have an awful time on stage.
5. Why should you look for a headset microphone that offers a wide range?
Because you can’t afford your mic to dropout in the middle of a live performance, just because you moved a step or two, closer to the audience. A wide-ranged headset will not restrict you to a certain diameter of an area.
6. Do the color of the headset microphone matter?
Yes, in terms of appearance, it does. A headset color that matches your skin, camouflages with your skin, and adds a more natural feel into your performance.
