Best Lavalier Mics | 10 Best Budget Options


Lavalier mics make recording extremely easy, Everyone wants to get the best lav microphone for distance recording or YouTube videos, etc. So that’s what this guide is all about. We’ve enlisted some of the best Lavalier mics that you can buy in 2024.

The ultimate goal of lav mics is to provide simplicity to the user. It helps a lot in traveling and carrying it out and even if you don’t need to keep it in a separate bag, you can always keep it in your pocket for quick use. So, this is the quickest way to record good-quality audio from any device you have.

The best advantage of Lavalier mics is portability & compatibility with all devices whether you’re using your smartphone, cameras, or camcorders. + While recording, you can attach it to your collar it captures pure audio and rejects the noise around.

So, in this guide, we’ll be covering different types of lav mics from mid-budget to expansive ones. To help you navigate fast to our top 10 picks, you can see the products table right down below:

BOYA by M1 Lavalier

This is a clip microphone, specially designed for smartphones, DSLRs, camcorders, etc. It comes with an Omnidirectional pickup pattern that captures the sound around the mic but is mainly focused on the front where the mic is pointing.

Top Picks – 10 Best Lavalier Microphones

ImageProductDetails  Price
01BOYA M1 LavalierWeight: 3.84 ounces
Product Dimensions: 3.39 x 4.33 x 4.25″
Manufacturer: Boya
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02Rode SmartLav+Weight: 0.212 ounces
Product Dimensions: 5 x 1 x 3″
Manufacturer: Rode
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03Shure MVLWeight: 2.08 ounces
Product Dimensions: 1.58 x 3.27 x 5.24″
Manufacturer: Shure
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04Audio-Technica ATR3350Weight: 4 ounces
Product Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 1″
Manufacturer: Audio-Technica
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05Rode Wireless GoWeight: 2.25 ounces
Product Dimensions: 1.78 x 0.73 x 1.69″
Manufacturer: Rode
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06Sennheiser ME 2Weight: 2.4 ounces
Product Dimensions: 3.6 x 2.5 x 1.2″
Manufacturer: Sennheiser
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07AZDEN EX503Weight: 1.6 ounces
Product Dimensions: 4.25 x 3.25 x 0.5″
Manufacturer: AZDEN
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08Sony ECM77BWeight: 14.1 ounces
Product Dimensions: 1.63 x 4.07 x 9.25″
Manufacturer: Sony
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09Shure TwinPlexWeight: 4.8 ounces
Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.8 x 2.4″
Manufacturer: Shure
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10Giant SquidWeight: 0.8 ounces
Product Dimensions: 72 x 3 x 3″
Manufacturer: Giant Squid
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1. BOYA by M1 Lavalier | The Best & Budget

  • Omni-directional Polar Pattern
  • 20 feet long cable
  • Amazing sound quality on a budget
  • 700 hours of battery life
  • Compatible with all devices
  • Manufactured by a reputed brand

I would love to start with affordable but top-quality and pretty popular microphones in the market. This is a top-selling Lavalier microphone online. So, everyone who makes a start picks this microphone for their initial projects.

I’m a content creator and have 300+ videos on YouTube and I still use the BOYA M1 Lavalier microphone as my premiere microphone in my studio. Because the results I get after the post-processing are unbelievable.

+ Some well-known content creators use this microphone. So this is a cheap but reliable option to start with. Now let me tell you some important features of this microphone.

This is a clip microphone, specially designed for smartphones, DSLRs, camcorders, etc. It comes with an Omnidirectional pickup pattern that captures the sound around the mic but is mainly focused on the front where the mic is pointing.

If you’re a pro user you should have this lav mic in your recording kit, because somewhere it will help you a lot. But if you’re a beginner this is also the best starter and delivers amazing and clean audio on an affordable budget. You don’t need any adapter or connector, you can directly plug it into your PC, Laptop, Smartphone, or Camera.

Lavalier M1 is manufactured by BOYA, which is an established microphone brand now and they have produced some amazing products in the past few years, this is also a phenomenal piece of work by BOYA.

This mic brings a standard 20.0′ / 6.1 m cable which is amazing and that means you can record from a long distance. On this mic microphone, there is a navigator between the camera and the smartphone. Once you insert a battery sell, you’ll have 700 hours of battery life. Overall everything about this mic is notable and nice in this price range.

HERE IS A DETAILED REVIEW:) BOYA M1 Lavalier Microphone Review

Specifications:

Polar PatternsOmni-directional
Frequency Response65Hz-18KHz
Output Impedance1000Ω or less
Signal/Noise74dB or more
Power requirementLR44
Pros
  • Best & cheap
  • Excellent audio quality
  • 700 hours of battery life
  • 20 feet long cable
Cons
  • The capsule isn’t so sturdy.
  • If you don’t record from a distance, then the 20 feet cable might be irritating.

2. Rode SmartLav+ | Ideal for smartphones

  • Compatible with all smartphones
  • Great audio quality
  • Low self-noise
  • Superb build quality

Rode provides top-quality microphones for cameras, desktops, etc. But you can’t connect those mics directly to your smartphones, you need a TRRS adapter to connect them to your phone.

So, this is a big issue for Rode’s users. To solve this problem, Rode brings their lav microphones to the market ideally designed for mobile users. It helps a lot to get awesome audio quality directly into your smartphone without any adapter.

It comes from the MEGA microphones brand, so it has a nice and sturdy construction. In the box, you get a small pop filter to get rid of plosives and noise + a Rode branded carrying pouch, and a clothing clip.

In terms of specs, the mic has an omnidirectional polar pattern that usually comes with all lav mics. Honestly, this microphone sounds as amazing as Rode’s other mics. And if you shoot your videos just with your smartphone and you have a reliable budget, then this is the best option.

A good thing is you can install the Rode Microphones application on your smartphone and have all the controls of the mic on your phone. It comes with a very low self-noise. It does a good job of rejecting noise if you’re in a noisy environment. I would recommend you always use its pop shield to get rid of irritating room tones.

If you need one mic for smartphones, desktop recording, cameras, etc., SmartLav+ might not be suitable for this thing because of its small cable. But Rode provides their extension cable that will be required if you want to extend your cable, you can pick Rode’s Audio Extension Cable.

If you don’t want to get any adapter or extension cable, instead of this Rode SmartLav+, Boya does a pretty nice job in this scenario and provides a bit longer cable. So, both of these mics sound great, but you’ll have to choose according to your needs. Just the point of this mic is that SmartLav+ is manufactured by Rode with good build quality.

Specifications:

Polar PatternsOmni-directional
Frequency Response20Hz – 20kHz
Output Impedance3k Ω Typical
Signal to Noise Ratio67 dB
Equivalent Noise27 dB Typical
Maximum SPL110 dB
Sensitivity-35dB (17.8mV @94dB SPL)
Dynamic Range83dB Typical
Pros
  • Compatible with all smartphones
  • Great audio quality
  • Low self-noise
Cons
  • The cable isn’t very long.

3. Shure MVL Lavalier | Best Lavalier mic overall

  • Clean and simple design
  • Amazing build and audio quality
  • Bright response
  • Perfect for interviews, videography, etc.
  • Best and Affordable

Shure is also a well-known microphone brand. There are dozens of successful models designed by Shure e.g. SM7B SM58 etc. MVL is the best lapel/Lav microphone for Smartphones. It comes with a standard TRRS adapter to connect it to Phones, tablets, laptops, or headphone mic jacks.

Shure MVL comes with a very compact size and amazing build and audio quality. In terms of specs, features, and build quality, this thing is pretty similar to Rode’s SmartLav+. It has a nice windscreen and clothing clip to attach to your collar.

So, this is an omnidirectional condenser microphone, that will pick the sound from all around the mic, but from a limited distance. An impressive thing is, that it will work with the Shure Motive app to control the settings.

If you’re just starting on YouTube, Interviews of anything, lavalier microphones can make it easy for you to get nice audio quality on a low budget. So this is also a good-sounding microphone. If you can afford it, it is worth buying this microphone.

This mic has 4 feet long cable which is better than Rode’s mic. Though it’s a bit overpriced. But delivers nice audio and build quality and is provided by Shure. If you want good sounding lav mic with a good length of audio cable by a trustworthy brand, Shure MVL is the best option to go with. And this is the best Lavalier mic in today’s market.

Specifications:

Polar PatternsOmni-directional
Frequency Response40Hz-20kHz
Output Impedance350 ohms
Maximum SPL124dB SPL
Signal to Noise Ratio65dB
Self Noise29dB (A-weighted)
Sensitivity-44.0 dBV at 1 kHz (Pa=94 dB SPL)
Pros
  • Good sounding mic
  • Decent build quality
  • Bright response
Cons
  • A bit overpriced than it’s competitors

4. Audio-Technica ATR3350 | Best budget lav mic

  • Reasonable price
  • Awesome audio quality
  • Nice build quality
  • Designed by Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica presents its very compact Lav microphone ATR3350. It provides a really impressive and loud sound. It comes at a very reasonable price and everyone can afford it. + This microphone is designed and provided by Audio-Technica which is also a manufacturer of dozens of popular and successful audio equipment.

The audio and build quality is superb. But honestly, the thing I don’t like about this mic is, that it picks up a bit of rumble, but this isn’t a big deal. We don’t use audio output directly for our final project.

We clean the audio and remove background noise in any audio editing software. So it will be crisp and clear in the final production. And this is a natural thing that you see in any other mic. On the mic’s battery compartment, you’ll see an ON/OFF switch because it is powered by batteries.

But here is a tip, if you use this microphone with Zoom H1 you can use it as a wireless lav mic. So, it can be really helpful in some cases. But obviously, you’ll have to sync with your video in the post-production.

You get 15 – 20 feet of a standard cable, which is amazing if you’re recording from a distance. The good news is, that it comes with a Mic/Headphone adapter so you can plug it directly into smartphones, computers, tablets, or anything else.

So, with all these nice features, it is cheaper than its competitors out there in the market. If you’re starting and want to make your audio better on a budget, this mic can be a perfect option.

Specifications:

Polar PatternsOmnidirectional
Frequency Response50 – 18,000 Hz
Output Impedance1,000 Ω
Open Circuit Sensitivity-54dB
Battery TypeLR 44
Pros
  • Reasonable price
  • Awesome audio quality
  • Nice build quality
  • Designed by Audio-Technica
Cons
  • A bit self-noise

5. Rode Wireless Go | Best wireless lav mic

  • Compact Size
  • Magnificent build quality
  • Good recording range
  • Amazing audio quality

This is an Ultra-compact wireless microphone system by Rode. I know it’s a bit expensive for new users, but it brings really good sound with dozens of exciting features. It comes with a transmitter and receiver and delivers crystal-clear audio.

The mic has USB-C rechargeable batteries, and if you fully charge it then you can use the mic continuously for 7 hours. +You get a battery-saver mode.

Wireless Go can work perfectly in any situation and you can record from a long distance. It is super lightweight and easy to use and produces impressive and warm audio.

You can pair the transmitter and receiver within 3 seconds. On the receiver, you can see every control of your audio and blinking lights to indicate that the mic is turned on. You’ll get 3.5mm non-locking input for plugging in other microphones.

At the bottom of both components, you’ll see the power button that can also be used as a pairing button. On the transmitter, there is a clothing clip so you can clip it on your shirt.

The thing I love is you get a hot shoe mount with this mic so you can mount the microphone at the top of your camera. In the box, you’ll get a TRS connector to connect your receiver to the camera.

This mic can be connected to any other microphone i.g if you don’t want to use its default transmitter, you can attach any microphone to use it as an external transmitter. So, this is truly amazing and packed with flexibility. If you’re gonna use it with everything e.g computer, smartphone cameras, etc, this is a versatile option.

Specifications:

Polar PatternsOmnidirectional
Frequency Response50Hz – 20kHz
Maximum Output Level+3dBu
Maximum SPL100dB SPL (1kHz @ 1m)
Dynamic Range
100dBA (Mic Preamplifiers)
Power Requirements
Inbuilt Li-po battery rechargeable via USB
Battery LifeUp to 7 hours
Pros
  • Compact Size
  • Build & Audio Quality
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • Expansive

6. Sennheiser ME 2 | Best Mid-range lav mic

  • Nice build & audio quality
  • Longer audio cable
  • Good design
  • Simple to use

Sennheiser also brings its very classic mid-range Lavalier microphone. The mic is designed to record Speeches and Vocals professionally. It comes with a nice design and minimal construction.

This mic delivers very nice and crispy audio and has a 3.5mm jack and you’ll have to get an external adapter to use it with your phone.

But it can be used with computers, cameras, and camcorders, etc. I 2 is a very popular mic in the lav mics world, but in my opinion, it is a bit overpriced. But sounds great and natural. This mic has low self-noise and picks closer sounds.

So it would be better for outdoor and windy conditions. You get an inbuilt windscreen to reduce bumps and handling noises. A good thing about this mic reduces higher frequencies if you are at a distance, you’ll have to be closer to the mic, to get better audio.

If you’re on a budget and trying to improve your audio quality from inbuilt mics of basic crapy stuff, this is a superb option. This is not a high-end model, but you can utilize it to enhance your audio and it delivers amazing audio. Also provided by Sennheiser which is a trusted brand and provides real sturdy audio equipment.

Specifications:

Polar PatternsOmnidirectional
Frequency Response50Hz – 18kHz
Maximum SPL
130 dB SPL
Sensitivity
20 mV/Pa (1 kHz)
Equivalent Noise Level
36 dB
Pros
  • Nice build & audio quality
  • Longer audio cable
  • Good design
Cons
  • No high pass filter
  • Overpriced

7. AZDEN EX503 | Best & cheap option

  • Very Cheap
  • Good sound quality
  • Simple to use
  • Natural sound
  • Excellent noise rejection capability
  • Best and Budget

EX503 is an excellent omnidirectional Lapel microphone designed by Azden. This is ultra-compact and lightweight. I would recommend this to everyone because it is cheap and the best. But it can be more helpful for mobile users because it has a little short cable. So, to record from a distance, you’ll need an external audio extension.

The comes with a pop shield or windscreen and microphone clip in a simple plastic bag. If you’re on a very low budget, this mic would help get nice and clear audio.

It produces some self-noise, but we can fix it in post-production. Apart from that, it is cheap but the best option for beginners. To get rid of adapters and other stuff, I would suggest picking a Zoom H1 or any other audio interface to use properly.

It doesn’t polish sound and just provides a relatively natural sound as it picks. The thing I don’t like about this mic is, that it produces a really low output which means you’ll have to set the gain high or boost it in post.

However, producing low output helps reduce extra noise or rumble from audio. E.g you can boost your gain, it’s easy but removing all noise is a bit difficult. So this isn’t a con but might be irritating sometimes.

This microphone comes with excellent sensitivity & feedback rejection. If you were using any other basic mic or inbuilt microphone for your video, but now you want to improve it, this is not a bad deal. You can pick this up and after a little bit of enhancement, your audio will be on the next level. So this is an amazing starter.

Specifications:

Polar PatternOmnidirectional
Frequency Range30-18,000 Hz
Sensitivity
-44dB at 1kHz (0dB=1V/Pa)
Impedance
2.2kΩ (at 1kHz)
Power Requirements
Plug-in power DC 1-10V
Pros
  • Very Cheap
  • Good sound quality
  • Simple to use
Cons
  • Too short audio cable

8. Sony ECM77B | High-end lavalier mic

  • Outstanding audio quality
  • Nice frequency response
  • Noise rejection
  • Provided by Sony

This is the high-end version of the Lavalier microphone by Sony, which is a well-known brand. This is apparently the most popular microphone in the market. However it is an expansive mic, but a solid option for pro users, exclusively designed for theatre, live & studio use.

In the package, it includes a windscreen, clip, and case. You can run it on 48V of Phantom power or use AA batteries. As always, Sony ECM-77B has a miniature omnidirectional pickup pattern that provides even frequency and sensitivity response at the direct and off-axis parts of the mic capsule.

This microphone comes with a wide frequency of 40 Hz to 20 kHz. It will help the microphone collect every source to produce warm and natural audio. If you’re trying to upgrade from any other microphone and want to enhance and take your audio to the next level, you should try this microphone.

If you compare this lav mic with some top-quality industry standard microphones in the industry, this mic does better than those mics. You can watch some reviews on YouTube as well. It is a compact and minimal-designed microphone to get high-quality broadcast audio. If you can afford it, you’ll get what you’ll pay. So, it is worth its price.

Specifications:

Polar PatternOmnidirectional
Frequency Range40 Hz to 20 kHz
Sensitivity
-52 dB (1 kHz)
Impedance
150 Ohms at 1 kHz
Signal to Noise Ratio
64 dB A-Weighted
Pros
  • Outstanding audio quality
  • Nice frequency response
  • Noise rejection
  • Provided by Sony
Cons
  • Nothing

9. Shure TwinPlex | Pro Lavalier mic

  • Durability, awesome build quality
  • Great audio quality
  • Very compact
  • Good long cable
  • XLR output

The Pro-level microphone by a top brand in the industry. Shure brings this microphone for professional recordings and broadcast sounds. It comes with a variety of color options and connectors. This is an expansive microphone, but we’ve considered this mic because of its durability, features, and sound quality.

TwinPlex is specifically designed for high-end recording and professional works. It includes a case and mounting accessories with 2 years of warranty.

In terms of build quality, this thing is just amazing and you won’t have to be sensitive about the construction and overall build.

TwinPlex is made for everything, whether you’re in filmmaking, Interviews, News TV, YouTube, or anything else. The mic comes with a very compact Shure branded case, with all its accessories.

To improve the audio quality, Shure has included 2 diaphragms in the microphone capsule. So, you’ll have more surface area and will provide a nice and clean bass response and frequency response.

When you look at the microphone, it is compact and small in size. It has a self-noise of 24.5 dB which is very impressive as compared to some of its competitors.

Durability is the big issue with almost every Lavalier microphone because these mics come with a really sensitive construction. But TwinPlex amazingly builds and has a strong audio cable. So this is a plus point of this mic.

So, overall it is nicely packed with pros. But this isn’t made for beginners who are just trying to get the best mic for YouTube videos or something like that. There are a ton of cheaper options for them. If you’re entering the music world of getting into professional recording works, this is recommended.

Specifications:

Polar PatternOmnidirectional
Frequency Range20Hz-20kHz
Signal to Noise Ratio
24.5 dB (A-weighted)
Self NoiseSignal-to-Noise Ratio
MAX SPL
142 dB SPL
Pros
  • Durability, awesome build quality
  • Great audio quality
  • Very compact
Cons
  • Obviously, the price tag, but it worth its price.

10. Giant Squid | Cheap Lavalier microphone

  • Crystal clear audio quality
  • very low self-noise
  • Good build quality
  • Easy to use

This is an omnidirectional XLR mono microphone. This mic is ideal for YouTube videos and more. It comes at an affordable price. If you hear its audio, it provides smooth and clear sound quality that is notable in this budget. If you keep it closer to your mouth, it eliminates a lot of distracting noise.

So, to get better sound, keep it closed and it will reduce all traffic noise or room tone from your audio. If you record with an inbuilt microphone or any other low-quality microphone, they produce a bit of noise and deliver the audio with echo and some other noisy kind of stuff.

But this microphone has a crispy and warm audio tone. It has a 3.5mm plug and you get 5 feet 5-foot-long cable which is good. This is specially designed to plug into audio recorders such as Zoom H1 etc. But to use it with your smartphone, you do have to get an adapter. No need for any special thing, just pick a standard adapter and you’re ready to go.

You get windscreen, with the mic, if you’re recording outdoors, make sure to put it to record effectively. The microphone doesn’t produce a lot of HIS, so this is a nice feature in this price range. This is a durable microphone and comes with a nice construction.

Specifications:

Polar PatternOmnidirectional
Frequency Range20 – 20,000 Hz
Sensitivity
-35 decibels +4 decibels
Low Sound to Noise Ratio
62dB
Cable
6 Feets
Pros
  • Crystal clear audio quality
  • very low self-noise
  • Good build quality
Cons
  • You can’t connect it directly you your smartphone.

FAQs | The Best Lavalier Mics

What are the three advantages of using a Lavalier microphone?

There are tons of advantages to using a lav microphone. As we mentioned before lav mics are simple to use, and deliver amazing sound quality at a reliable budget. Here are some advantages of using Lavalier Mics.
– Affordable
– Amazing audio quality
– Plug and play
– Compatible with all devices

Can you use a Lavalier mic for Zoom?

Yes, You can use a Lavalier microphone for Zoom or any other application.

Which is the best Lavalier mic?

All the mics we’ve shared in this post are the absolute best in their categories.

What is the best budget Lavalier microphone?

As we discussed, the BOYA BY M1 Lavalier microphone is one of the best lav microphones for beginners who are just starting. It produces great audio.

Are lavalier mics condenser or dynamic?

Usually, lavalier mics come with an omnidirectional polar pattern and condenser type that captures sound from all around the microphone capsule. So, you’ll have to record in a treated environment to get noiseless audio.

Conclusion | Best Lavalier mic

Now, it’s time to conclude everything. All the mics we shared in this guide can be helpful somewhere. Every microphone comes with some unique features and a different purpose of use. So it’s you who will decide what to go with. The budget is an obvious thing to consider before buying anything.

But people usually ask to rate a specific microphone. So, in this scenario, I will share some picks from this guide.

If you’re on a very low budget, I would suggest you go with Boya by M1, this is a low-budget but supremely amazing microphone with impressive audio quality and I’ve been using this for a long time.

In terms of mid-range microphones, there is a mic called Sennheiser ME 2, this mic can be a good fit for mid-budget users and this mic is also amazing for everything.

But, if your budget is high and you want something very special and a high-end microphone, then there are several options available and I would recommend, Shure TwinPlex or there is Sony EXM-77B.

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