Audio Technica AT831CW Clip-On Lavalier Microphone

The AT831cW is a cardioid condenser lavalier microphone that clips to clothing for crisp, full voice pickup. It terminates in a locking 4-pin connector for Audio-Technica UniPak body-pack wireless systems.

The cardioid pattern rejects sound arriving from the sides and rear, which gives good gain before feedback and holds down background noise in a room with an audience or nearby loudspeakers. Frequency response runs 40-16,000 Hz with a maximum input of 141 dB SPL, so it handles higher sound pressure than most lavaliers and stays clean on a projecting voice.

That headroom also opens up an application many clip-on mics cannot handle: acoustic guitar. Clipped to the body of the guitar, it captures warmth and string detail at close range without distorting, useful for a singer-songwriter running a wireless rig.

A switchable low-frequency roll-off at 80 Hz trims rumble and handling noise. Impedance is 250 ohms with a 112 dB dynamic range.

The microphone measures 0.98 in. long and 0.40 in. in diameter and weighs 0.1 oz, small enough to sit on a lapel without pulling fabric. A clothing clip and windscreen come included, covering mounting and breath noise from the first use.