I really wanted the DJI Mic to be great. Hadje did the same. Ultimately, however, he awoke from the experience unimpressed with the end result. It was a letdown from a category that could really use a mobile-era upgrade. As someone who has done his fair share of TV spots, videos, and on-stage interviews over the years, it seems like the world of wireless lavalier/lapel mics has remained largely stagnant all along.
Over the past decade, as DJI has evolved from a drone manufacturer to an audio/video specialist (a surprising but logical leap in retrospect), the Shenzhen hardware giant has been perfectly positioned to take on the job. But Haje’s review ultimately found the system lacking in cost characteristics.
These days, DJI isn’t alone in this growing niche. Rode has released a few offerings in the Wireless Go line (though it’s reportedly run into various hardware issues), while Anker swooped in and undercut everyone with the $250 M650, which can currently be had on Amazon for $180. I played with a set at CES last week, though Covid severely hampered my real-world testing.
Image Credits: DJI
Available today, DJI’s Mic 2 promises improvements in sound isolation/cancellation and noise – the latter of which is paramount for loud settings like CES. The company says the new system will also be able to handle loud volumes without peaking/distortion.
The battery capacity has also been improved from 2,600 to 3,250 mAh, increasing the operating time up to six hours (from five). Like its predecessor, the Mic 2 works in single- or dual-mic configurations. As someone who is always looking for ways to up my podcast game, I was hoping that DJI would add the ability to bring a third microphone into the fold.
Image Credits: DJI
The company says to me, “As of now, the receiver can connect to up to two transmitters,” which seems to leave the possibility open – perhaps via a future firmware update. Meanwhile, you can buy it in two main configurations: two microphones, a receiver, and the charging case for $349 (not bad, if you ask me), or $219 for a single microphone, receiver, and phone adapter. Which makes sense depends exactly on what the person wants to do with the system. If it’s just a standup on camera, one should do it.
The company also sells accessories, including an additional $39 wired lavalier microphone. The Mic 2 is available now through the DJI website.
