Whether you’re a video or audio content creator, having a piece of great audio equipment is crucial to making your video or audio projects look good. But what’s even better is if your audio equipment is wireless — who wants to deal with lengthy wires anyways.
We got our hands on one of the more popular wireless microphone systems out there — the Maono WM821 dual wireless microphone system — and one thing is for sure, it’s a looker when in the charging case (also outside), and does get the work done.
Here we’ll give you a few highlights, followed by a review of the Maono WM821 and let you judge whether it’s worth your buck.
First, let’s go over some of the key features of the Maono WM821 wireless microphone system with dual transmitters before getting on with the review.
- The WM821 features a transmission range of up to 100 meters.
- The transmitter and receiver pair automatically as soon as they’re switched on.
- Both have a built-in antenna.
- The transmitters have built-in omnidirectional microphones, but you can also attach external lavalier mics.
- The compact wireless microphone system uses the 2.4GHz wireless tech for audio signal transmission.
- The lightweight and portable wireless mic system can work continuously for eight hours and weighs merely 35g per wearable.
- The output volume can be controlled. Mute is also controllable.
- The latency can be monitored in real-time via the receiver.
You can skip to the review directly by clicking here or go through our quick snippets below.
Maono WM821 price
The Maono WM821 is available on Maono.com for $169.99 and $189 on Amazon.
Maono WM821 specsheet
Here are the technical specifications for the Maono WM821 wireless mic system.
| Transmission type | 2.4GHz Wireless |
| Polar Pattern (Built-in Mic) | Omnidirectional |
| Built-in Mic frequency response | 80Hz-16KHz |
| External Mic frequency response | 50Hz-18KHz |
| Maximum Output Level | 10dBu Line Output | 3.2dBu Headphone Output |
| Maximum SPL (Sound Pressure Level) | 105dB SPL (1KHz@1m) |
| Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N) | 0.90% |
| Signal/Noise Ratio (S/N Ratio) | 75dB Line Output | 80dB Headphone Output |
| Battery Capacity | 350mAh/3.7V for the transmitters and receivers | 2500mAh/3.7V for the case |
| Charge Port | Type-C, DC 5V |
| Battery Life | 20hours |
| Audio Input | 3.5mm TRS lavalier microphone input (Transmitters) |
| Audio Output | 3.5mm TRS (Receiver) |
Maono WM821 dual wireless microphone system review
Here’s a first look at the Maono WM821, alongwith our initial review after testing it during a video project voice-over for the same over a day. We’ll be adding more details to this review after a month of using it and doing several projects.
Design and build quality
The Maono WM821’s overall build quality feels premium. The case is sturdy, and the pocket-sized transmitters and receiver are lightweight, with clicky keys that’ll last long. The weight also helps, as if you can work with the built-in omnidirectional mic and aren’t attaching a lav mic, you can easily keep the transmitters pretty close to the speakers. The two fur windshields also help diffuse the audio, producing high-quality output.
The transmitter has a power, mute, pairing and low-cut button. The receiver features a LED screen, output jack, headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring and power, stereo/mono and volume control buttons. Both devices have a solid clasp/hook at the back to attach them to thin surfaces or clothes.
Connectivity
The transmitters and receiver pair automatically once switched on — press the power button on each for a few seconds — and you’ll be able to see the battery level of the transmitters as well as the volume levels for each on the receiver’s display.
It is compatible with devices that come with a 3.5mm port. However, a lightning adapter cable will be required to connect it to iPhones, which isn’t supplied in the box.
Audio quality
The Maono WM821 boasts noise cancellation tech, wide frequency response and a Signal to Noise ratio of 82dB, all of which ensure that every audio detail is captured — making it easier to filter ambient noises when editing. The fur windshields supplied alongwith can be easily attached to the transmitter and provide a helpful cover in windy conditions.
If you’re not a fan of a built-in omnidirectional microphone, you can use the lavalier mics in the box or one of your own to get that perfect sound.
Range
The company promises an operational distance of up to 100 meters, which is more or less true in an open field but can be hindered by objects or walls in urban setups, making the effective range a little less. But nonetheless, the device does a good job of maintaining a seamless connection even while walking or jogging. Also, the real-time latency monitoring system is really helpful.
At times, we did face minor transmission issues when moving through rooms when recording the audio, but that can be fixed by adjusting the transmitters a bit, as we found obstructing them mainly causes the issue.
Battery life
The WM821 dual wireless microphone boasts up to 20 hours of recording on a single charge. They can also be continuously used for 8 hours. The charging case does a good job of keeping the battery levels up, so whenever you’re not using the transmitters and receivers for a long time, keeping them in the charging case is effective in keeping them charged and safe.
Maono WM821: What’s in the box?
The box contains the following:
- 1 Charging Case
- 2 Transmitters
- 1 Receiver
- 1 Audio Cable for the Camera
- 1 Audio Cable for the Phone
- 1 USB-A to USB-C Cable
- 2 Lavalier Mics
- 2 Fur Windshield
- 1 Storage Bag
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