The Best Boundary Microphone
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Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Boundary Microphone
A good microphone can make or break the audio and video of various applications. Not many people think of it much but a premium boundary microphone can help your voice stand out among others.
When giving public speeches or recording group meetings, we want to go hands-free and have a microphone or recording device that isn’t intrusive. Boundary microphones are incredibly useful for such situations. You’ll want a durable boundary microphone with amazing sound quality, high voice recognition system, wide frequency response, self-gain optimization feature and noise cancellation if you consistently need to record business meetings, on-stage speeches, specific instruments, and more.
Do you want to know the best boundary mics on the market and what fits your needs? Check this guide for the best premium boundary microphone out there right now.
What are the Top Boundary Microphones?
Editor's Choice  Best Overall |  Most Versatile Boundary Micropone |  Best for Instrumentals |
Audio-Technica PRO 44If you are looking for a durable boundary microphone with fantastic sound quality, the Audio-Technica PRO 44 is the best choice. | Audix ADX60This microphone is made for those wanting a more attractive and durable build perfect for multiple types of usage. The boundary microphone is quite durable as the grill is made of steel mesh. | Crown PZM30DThe Crown PZM30D is an omnidirectional microphone that is easily customizable and has two frequency ranges. This is perfect for orchestras, instrumental, and more. |
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Let’s Go Over Each Top Boundary Microphone
#1: Audio-Technica PRO 42
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The Audio Technica Pro 42 Boundary microphone is a very popular model that is multifaceted and incredibly reliable. The mic has a cardioid polar pattern and wide-range condenser element with a low-mass diaphragm for superior performance, with self-contained electronics.
The Audio Technica microphone has a frequency response of 70Hz to 16kHz and a maximum SPL of 114dB, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 66 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa. It has a very low profile design for minimum visibility, resulting in much better sound quality.
This Audio Technica boundary microphone has a rugged design and reliable construction as well. With a wide frequency response, the small diaphragm of the mic allows the microphone to produce crisp and clear audio quality, perfect for professional meetings, conference rooms, and even instrumental recordings.
For an all-around mic, this is the best boundary mic you could get your hands on in the microphone industry.
Pros and Cons of Audio-Technica PRO 42
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Low background ambient noise ✔ Excellent sound quality ✔ Durable and sleek design ✔ Reasonable price point | ✖️ Lacks minimum frequency response |
#2. Audix ADX60
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Audix ADX60 microphone is made for those wanting a more attractive and durable build that is perfect for multiple types of usage. The Audix ADX60 boundary microphone is reliable as the grill is made of steel mesh. It features high sensitivity and the ability to handle large amounts of distance, amplifying both voice and instruments at a highly increased range.
Audix ADX60 is the best boundary microphone you could choose for a wide range of settings, whether you’re in the music industry, speaking on a stage to larger audiences, or even conducting meetings in conference rooms. Audix ADX60 features an attractive design with its sleek black outer surface.
Pros and Cons of Audix ADX60
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Large range coverage ✔ Durable and sleek design ✔ Excellent sound quality | ✘ High sensitivity to loud noise |
#3. Crown PZM30D
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The Crown PZM30D boundary microphone is the industry standard microphone recommended by professionals. This mic contains a bass-tilt switch that enables the user to adjust its low-end response to whatever application aligns with it, allowing for more custom tweaking.
This microphone has two frequency responses of 20Hz to 20kHz, two selectable frequency responses, and a maximum sound pressure level of 150dB. When positioned flush against a surface, the mic capsule of the microphone will capture sound waves, yielding a stronger mic signal with less phase cancellation and coloration. This is compatible with both Mac and Windows.
This Crown PZM microphone does have a wide frequency range and hemispherical polar pattern, which you won’t find in other microphones. The hemispherical polar pattern is perfect whether you’re micing a room for individual instruments, full orchestras, or speech, this microphone is a top recommendation.
Pros and Cons of Crown PZM30D
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Affordable price point ✔ Wide frequency response range ✔ USB connectivity | ✘ High sensitivity. Not recommended for instrumentals |
#4. Shure MX391/0
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From the creator of the famous Shure SM58, the Shure MX391/0 has an Omnidirectional polar pattern and is an Omnidirectional condenser microphone with XLR connectivity.
The main grab of this microphone is the flat frequency response, noise cancellation, and no rf interference. It also features a sleek, low-profile design for a discreet appearance, making the boundary microphone stand out from the competitors.
Microphones with XLR connectivity and omnidirectional pickup pattern are excellent for catching sound from all directions in a room. This omnidirectional microphone is one of the best boundary microphones you could get that features a solid design and wide frequency range and transformerless output for increased immunity to noise over long cable runs.
Pros and Cons of Shure MX391/0
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Durable and sleek design ✔ Flat frequency response ✔ Large range | ✘ Less features compared to other boundary microphones |
#5. Movo MC1000
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This USB condenser microphone is a directional polar pattern conference microphone ideal for webinars, class conferences, or business calls, as it is equipped with three audio capsules.
The sound provided by the mic can capture everything in a 6-meter radius and 180-degree coverage, making this one of the best boundary microphones for the workplace, content interviews, meetings, and in conference rooms.
The polar pattern USB microphone has a speaker monitoring jack for live audio monitoring and instant USB connectivity, so if you’re looking to create a more successful business meeting, this boundary microphone will help quite a bit.
Pros and Cons of Movo MC1000
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Features a USB connectivity and headphone monitoring jack ✔ Sleek design ✔ Affordable price point | ✘ Cannot connect with PC speaker |
What is a Boundary Microphone Used for?
A boundary microphone, also known as a pressure zone microphone or PZM microphone, is a small diaphragm condenser microphone capsule that is mounted into a housing to lay on or be attached to flat boundary surfaces that are sturdy to experience fewer microphone falls. These microphones are typically compact but can record great distances, usually with a cardioid or super-cardioid polar pattern.
Boundary microphones are used for picking up multiple audio sources in a room. Ideally, the best place to put a boundary microphone is on a flat boundary surface, like a wall or a table. That’s because the best boundary microphone is made specifically to pick up sound that is reflected off the desired boundary surface it’s on.
Many premium quality microphones are most commonly found in settings like business meetings, but they can also be seen in other applications such as churches, sports (like hockey boards for body check sound effects), small musical ensembles, stage presentations, and more.
What is a Boundary Mic Good For?
Boundary microphones are designed to capture audio within a specific area or boundary, making them a versatile choice for a variety of applications. Boundary microphones are good for:
- Conferences and meetings. Premium microphones capture high-quality audio, improve speech intelligibility and reduce background noise.
- Boundary microphones are also used by music artists to record audio in any room sound. As these mics provide a crystal clear sound, artists can perform using acoustic instruments easily.
- Capturing audio for live events, performances, or on-stage presentations, delivering high-quality audio, and amplifying sound for audience members. This is perfect for a boundary mic that has a great frequency response.
- Sound reinforcement as boundary mics enhances the audio quality of video recordings, providing clear and natural sound for video content. Using a condenser boundary microphone provides much better sound optimization.
- Providing directional audio pickup in noisy or reverberant environments, reducing ambient noise and room reflections. Users with good control ideas can gain control of the different sounds that the microphone captures, significantly lowering unwanted sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do boundary mics need phantom power?
A condenser boundary microphone requires a phantom power supply to function, as the mic needs current to create a voltage that powers the internal circuitry, unlike dynamic and ribbon mics which make their own current.
While boundary mic works fantastically for indoor settings, they may not be as reliable outdoors. Instead, consider dynamic microphones which are able to capture the speaker while controlling ambient noise effectively.
A shotgun mic is one of the best boundary mics for capturing audio from a distance, as they have a directional pickup pattern and are able to focus on a specific source of sound while rejecting background noise.
Final Note
Whether you’re a public speaker, working in conference calls, or performing music, boundary microphones are a fantastic and relatively inexpensive means to record larger spaces with high-quality sound. If you’re on the hunt for a new microphone that can serve you multiple or specific purposes, this list has more than a handful of microphones you can choose from at costs you can afford.
Editor’s Choice
Audio-Technica PRO 42
The Audio Technica Pro Boundary microphone is a very popular model that is multifaceted and incredibly reliable. The mic has a cardioid polar pattern and wide-range condenser element with a low-mass diaphragm for superior performance, with self-contained electronics that eliminate the need for external power modules.
The Audio Technica Pro microphone has a frequency response of 70Hz to 16kHz and a maximum SPL of 114dB, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 66 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa. It has a very low profile design for minimum visibility, resulting in much better sound quality and sound optimization for professional use.
This boundary microphone has a rugged design and reliable construction as well. With a wide frequency response, the small diaphragm of the mic allows the microphone to produce crisp and clear audio quality, perfect for professional meetings, conference rooms, and even instrumental recordings. For an all-around mic, this is one of the best boundary mics you could get your hands on in the microphone industry.
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