The discussion for the best boundary microphones rarely come up when there is a discussion about the different types of microphones for studio recording despite being very unique.
If you are looking for a mic that can take sound from an entire room, this is the type of mic to go for. They’re particularly best when recording meeting discussions and also used in studios.
What is a boundary microphone?
As the name suggests, these are microphones that are utilized where unobtrusive miking is required.
Unlike in other types of microphones, boundary microphones don’t use mic stands. They are small diaphragm condenser microphones with either cardioid or super-cardioid polar pattern
They are mounted on walls or in ceilings or kept on floors several feet away from the targeted source.
Another advantage that the boundary mics have over other types of microphones is that they are less susceptible to comb filtering. Comb filters are sound signals that are delayed and added back to themselves.
Boundary microphones are commonly used in conference rooms and theater halls. In the music recording studios, they can be used as room mics while being mounted on the walls or desktops.
Again, they are also commonly used to mic pianos by laying them in the grand. They can also be used to mic kick drums where you just lay them in the shell.
Similar to other types of microphones, you need to consider their polar patterns (cardioid, omni, and bidirectional) depending on where and what source/sources you intend to mic. You should also consider its signal-to-noise ratio and SPL capabilities.
Here we’ve picked the best boundary mics for different applications. Whether you’re looking one for piano, theatre or stage, we’ve one for you.
Our Top Picks
6 Best Boundary Microphones for Stage, Conferences & Piano
1. Audio-Technica PRO 44
As an industry leader in audio equipment, Audio-Technica is known for its outstanding recording studio gear.
Its AKG C1000 S MK4 and AKG K 240 are amongst the best studio items that we have on our lists of the best small diaphragm microphones and best studio headphones for 2017 respectively.
It’s, therefore, not surprising that one of the best boundary microphones comes from this American brand.
Audio-Technica Pro 44 is a cheap boundary microphone that comes under the 100-dollar price point. It’s a low-profile microphone ideal for places where minimal visibility of the mic is required.
It’s common in podiums, lecterns, and conferences. It can also be used in recording studios to mic instruments especially the piano.
The Pro 44 utilizes a wide-range condenser element and has a low-mass diaphragm that is responsible for its high signal-to-noise ratio of 66dB (1 kHz at 1 Pa). This boundary microphone’s superior performance is also contributed by its wide dynamic range of 86dB and its 70-16000Hz frequency range.
It also has 114dB of SPL handling which is average for a boundary mic at this price range. Worth pointing out, Audio-Technica Pro 44 comes with a 25ft cable that offers lots of flexibility on mounting options.
It can also be powered by any phantom power source with 9-52V DC.
2. Shure MX391
No list of the studio microphones would be complete without a piece from Shure. While this manufacturer’s SM57 and 58 are amongst the best dynamic microphones of all time, their Shure MX391, on the other hand, is one of the best boundary microphones below 200 dollars.
Like most microphones from this brand, Shure MX391 is not an exception regarding quality sound performance. In fact, this is one of the most advanced units on this list.
First, its low-profile makes it ideal for instances where complete unobtrusiveness is vital. Secondly, the MX391 is supersensitive to audios thereby making it amongst the best mic for conference and boardroom microphones.
Another amazing feature with the MX391 boundary microphone is that it’s available in different polar patterns. You can choose between any of the 3 major directionalities; cardioid, super-cardioid, and omnidirectional.
For studio recording, the omnidirectional polar pattern will add some of the room’s ambiance for more natural projects while the cardioid is ideal for isolating sound sources.
This mic’s frequency response from 50 to 17,000 Hz has also been tailored to pick up the best from human speech without any unwanted coloring. It also has a high signal-to-noise ratio (71.4dB) and an acceptable SLP capability too at 118.8dB.
Another mic known for its boundary effect is Shure Beta 91A Kick Drum Microphone, which is a Half-Cardioid Condenser mic for bass instruments and kicks drums.
Apart from Shure having one of the best wireless boundary microphones Shure MX690 J3, Microflex Cardioid Condenser Microphone
3. Beyerdynamic TG D71C
Are you in need of a boundary microphone for recording drums? This Germany-made tank will mic not only your kick drums but cajon and piano too.
Quite different from the MX391 and Pro 44 microphones above, Beyerdynamic TG D71C is purposely made for these low-frequency instruments. This means that you’re not forcing things here.
And it’s just a little over 200 dollars. Here is why you need it today.
First up, TG D71C is a tank by itself. This mic has a metallic housing construction and a compact design to help it withstand being roughed up on the stage on a daily basis. Its bottom features a rubber padding that makes mounting the easiest thing ever.
In fact, it does not require any specialized mounting. All you do is place it in the drum. Its rubber foot will keep it from sliding. It also offers permanent mounting option if need be.
Designed basically for low frequency and percussion instruments, the Beyerdynamic TG D71C boasts 25Hz-20 kHz frequency response, half-cardioid polar pattern, and an onboard pre-amp.
Moreover, it has the highest Sound Pressure Level handling capability at 148dB and 63dBA signal-to-noise level.
4. Crown PCC-160 Great for Stage, Choirs, Mic Drums and Orchestras
Crown PCC-160 is one of the most used boundary microphones on the market today. It’s a professional boundary mic used in lecterns, news desks, conference tables and stages where mic stands are a no-no.
It’s also a great home studio boundary microphone that can be used to mic drums and pianos. On stage, it makes it a breeze to record choirs, plays, and orchestras. So, what makes Crown PCC-160 an industry-standard microphone?
This microphone scores highly in terms of low profile. It’s also very rugged to offer you years of use and value for your money. It’s crafted from heavy-gauge steel and will doubtlessly withstand regular abuse.
It can either be mounted temporarily or permanently through the screw holes. This microphone also has self-contained electronics in its circuitry. As such, you don’t need to connect it to an in-line preamp box.
About performance, the PCC-160 utilizes PCC (Phase Coherent Technology) that makes it easy to use on large boundary surfaces. This technology uses a small supercardioid capsule that boosts the microphone’s gain-before-feedback and also rejects off-axis sounds and unwanted room noise.
The small capsule also ensures clarity even at the highest frequencies. It also offers a wide dynamic range with smooth frequencies from 50Hz to 18 kHz free of distortion.
5. Sennheiser e901 - Best for Kick Drums
Sennheiser has some of the best bass microphones. Their Sennheiser E604 (featured in our other work of the best bass mics for kick drums) is amongst the most affordable bass microphones you can hike up your home studio with.
Sennheiser also brings one of the best high-end boundary microphones for kick drums at a very affordable price point.
The e901 is mostly sought after due to its excellently defined and detailed sound reproduction.
This microphone is fitted with a pre-polarized condenser for natural sounds with fast transient response. Its 20 – 20000 Hz frequency response has been optimized for use on professional live sound applications and in studio on kick drums, pianos, percussion, and other low-frequency applications.
The e901 uses a half-cardioid polar pattern for fast and realistic sound transmission from kick drums. This directionality also increases gain-before-feedback and also minimizes distortion from stray signals.
It offers a unique balance of low and high frequencies with a good amount of bottom and also has enough amount of attack. It’s also capable of handling signals with high Sound Pressure Levels of up to 124dB and has 0.5 mV/Pa sensitivity.
Without forgetting, this boundary mic comes with a 10-year warranty.
6. Crown PZM30D
Crown PZM30D is Crown’s most popular boundary microphones. This is a Pressure Zone Microphone (PZM) commonly used in conferences, interviews, broadcasts, lectures, and group discussions.
It’s also one of the best home studio boundary microphones especially for video production and audio recording.
Though a bit pricey, the PZM30D microphone is renowned for its clean high frequencies ranging from 20Hz to 20kHz.
This mic utilizes a hemispherical polar pattern (half omni) when mounted on a large surface. It also has a wide dynamic range of up to 99dB and consistent pick up of sounds.
Worth pointing out, Crown PZM30D is good in minimizing vibration effects and noise. Its signal-to-noise ratio is rated at 73dB at 73dB SPL.
It has a balanced output and low impedance (150 Ohms) which enables the cable to transmit the sound with almost zero hum and reduced loss of high frequencies.
The PZM30D uses and XLR cable and requires phantom power from either a mixer or interface.
Boundary Microphones – Buyers Guide
First, they are visually unobtrusive. Secondly, they have low profile design meant for flat surfaces. These and other factors, make boundary microphones slightly different from other types you’ll find in the market. However, the main thing is that boundary microphones can be the best option for some specific contexts. But you may be wondering, why are they called boundary mic in the first place?
Here is the thing. This type of microphone is usually placed on a flat surface, just around the boundary of a room. And that’s why the design is very unique as well.
You can look at its distinction from these three perspectives highlighted below. This could make it easier to narrow down your best options.
- Wall-mounted boundary microphone
- Ceiling mounted boundary microphone
- Floor mounted boundary microphone
In terms of simple classification, these are the main types of boundary microphones you’ll find in the market. While you are reading through the mic reviews or this buying guide, this is something you have to keep in mind. With that, you’ll able to skip sections or specific models that don’t match your current needs. Fortunately, you could be saving a good amount of time in that process.
First things first. Let’s look into the most common applications.
Applications
This is the very first factor you have to consider when you are intending to buy a boundary mic online or offline. A high level of clarity in this regard will make both your research and eventual purchase decision relatively easier. The question is – how do you want to use this microphone?
Conference Application
This is one of the most common uses of a boundary microphone. When people are seating in a conference room, this type of mic can pick up an audio signal from different speakers at a time. The best type that usually works well in this context is a table-mounted boundary mic. However, you have to consider the room size, table size and seating arrangement.
Based on my findings, ceiling-mounted boundary mic can also work well for conference room applications. The best models in this category can pick up 360 degrees of sound within the entire room.
Recording Studio Application
Depending on the type and nature of the recording studio you want to build, this of mic also works well for recording studios. For this specific type of use case, both desktop and wall-mounted models have been serving people like you. In case this is the type you are looking for you may want to narrow down your search and reviews to make the process faster.
Kick Drum Application
Because of its dynamic pick up pattern, a lot of drummers have found great satisfaction by using this type of microphone. Instead of using conventional mic stands, you’ll find a good number of affordable options that just lay on the ground while delivering impressive performance. From Shure to Sennheiser and Audio Technica, many affordable kick drum microphones abound un the market.
Polar Patterns
The polar pattern is one important feature that differentiates one mic from the other. If you have used another type of mic that has either of these polar patterns, finding a boundary mic with the same polar pattern might be your best option. The main point is that you have to be specific about the polar pattern that could be the most suitable for your current needs. Below are the main options.
Cardioid Polar Pattern
The resemblance of the heart shape is the origin of this polar pattern name. In specific terms, this is usually the best option when you need to pick up sound from a single source. While picking up sound in this pattern, microphones built with this feature ignore sounds from the rear and other sides.
Super-Cardioid Polar Pattern
Unlike its cardioid counterpart, this one picks up sound signals from the rear and other sides of the capsule. It usually has a narrow front pick-up area with a slightly different shape. Assuming you want to be picking up sound from relatively distant sources, such as in sports events or outdoor documentaries, this is the best option. Moreover, boundary microphones with the super-cardioid feature are also good for picking up sound from different sources at a time.
Omnidirectional Polar Pattern
The main distinction about this one is the ability to pick up sound from all directions. Every mic built with this feature tends to be versatile. This adds to its applicability within diverse usage contexts. If you are one of the potential buyers looking specifically for a boundary microphone with an omnidirectional polar pattern, refer to the reviews above and you’ll find some affordable models. Probably, most of them will fall with your current budget.
Frequency Response
Technically, this refers to the range of frequencies that audio equipment can reproduce. Though it is hard to tell the difference by merely looking at microphone packs, it another interesting feature that often differentiates one mic from the other. In other words, the frequency response rate is rarely equal.
This frequency response is usually measured in cycles per second or Hertz. At the point of purchase, you’ll find the range stipulated between 20Hz – 20KHz. However, your best option is to test every feature, including this one immediately after arrival.
Connection Ports
In some specific contexts like a studio recording, you are probably going to connect your mic to other relevant instruments. Because of this fact, it is very important to check the nature of connection ports in your amplifier, piano or mixer. Having clarity in this regard will help you to check the compatibility of the microphone you want to buy and your existing instruments.
Try to check the type of USB port or cable required to make the need connection of compatible instruments. If in doubt, consider asking specific questions on each product sales page.
Interestingly, you could have the seller of each mic or the Amazon community provide insightful answers to every question you may have.
Boundary Microphone Price
What is the price of a boundary microphone? Where can I buy a boundary mic? These are some of the questions that some potential buyers are asking. First, the price range is usually between $50 and $200. If you are buying a bundle, it could be cheaper.
In terms of where you can buy one when you are ready, just follow the links around each of the boundary mic reviews above. From there, you’ll land on Amazon to choose and order the most suitable option for your current needs. Meanwhile, you can check other online and offline retailers as well.
Best Brands
Whether you are loyal to a particular brand or not, some of the best microphone brands include the ones listed below. Please note, it is in no particular order.
- Shure
- Audio-Technica
- AKG
- MXL
- Movo
- Sampson Technologies
Warranty
The very first step here is to check what you are getting in the box or package before you place your order. After that, try to confirm the warranty on each of these products. While some will give up to five years, others may not have this stated clearly on the product sales page. Once again, you have to ask the seller before clicking the buy now or pay button.
Doing this will help you to avoid return and replacement headaches in case of any factory defects. Getting clarity in this regard will also make it possible to get a stress-free refund if required. But please, do not buy and keep any of these for future use. Test everything immediately after arrival in your home or office.