Music equipment is one of the most expensive hobbies and professions that you can get into. One of the most expensive parts of it are the microphones and wireless microphones are no exception. Budget wireless microphone options are usually unreliable and cheaply made.
In this list, you will find a mixture of different types of budget wireless microphones that provide both quality and durability for their price range.
Best Budget Wireless Mic Overview
- Phenyx Pro – PTU-1U: Best For Quality for the Price
- Samson Technologies – Concert 88x: Best For Versatility
- XTUGA – 2×100 Channel UHF Wireless Microphone System: Best For Budget Option
- Phenyx Pro – PTU-7000A: Best For Multiple Microphones
- Sennheiser – XSW 2: Best For Sennheiser Fans
- Shure – PGXD24/SM58: Best For Shure Fans
Best Budget Wireless Microphones
Here are our choices for the best budget wireless microphones for 2023! These are listed in no particular ranked order.
Phenyx Pro – PTU-1U
Best for: Quality for the Price
Price: $179.99
I’ve had personal experience actually using the PTU units from Phenyx and for the price the quality is impressive! While this is one of the more expensive options on the list it gives the highest quality build as well as audio quality. With a metal casing, it has some heft to it but it can have a bit of handling noise that it picks up.
Check out this video review of the PTU-1U!
There are 2 options for the PTU units, the PTU-1U and the PTU-2U. The only difference is that the 2U has 2 units and the 1U has one unit. I would definitely consider this the best unit that Phenyx has to offer!
| Operating Distance | 328 ft. |
| Connection Type | XLR, TRS |
| RF Channels Per Mic | 2 |
| Power | AA |
| Battery Life | 16 hours |
| Rack Mountable | Yes |
Samson Technologies – Concert 99
Best for: Versatility
Price: $299.99
As a company, Samson has been around just over 40 years providing audio equipment. The Concert 99 systems are their latest wireless options and this has options for handhelds, headsets, lapels, and guitars.
To use the different adapters, you just need the pack (not the handheld). The pack takes mini XLR which many companies make compatible mics and cables.
| Operating Distance | 300 ft. |
| Connection Type | XLR, TRS |
| RF Channels Per Mic | 2 |
| Power | AA |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours |
| Rack Mountable | Yes |
XTUGA – 2×100 Channel UHF Wireless Microphone System
Best for: Budget Option
Price: $109.99
The XTUGA wireless mic is a great option for those working on a very small budget. With budget options there are a few things to note. On the back, most wireless mic options offer XLR out as well as TRS. While the Xtuga offers both, the TRS option is a mixed signal of both mics rather than giving you 2 separate channels of TRS.
Having used Xtuga microphones in the past they do provide good audio. However, I have seen issues of signal dropping out because it only has one antenna per microphone. But with small spaces and proper scanning, this can be a limited occurrence.
| Operating Distance | 320 ft. |
| Connection Type | 2 XLR, 1 Mixed TRS |
| RF Channels Per Mic | 1 |
| Power | AA |
| Battery Life | Not listed |
| Rack Mountable | No |
Phenyx Pro – PTU-7000A
Best for: Multiple Microphones
Price: $359.98
This is another option from Phenyx Pro Audio from their wireless catalog. Each mic functions through an individual antenna. With this you will not have as clear of an RF signal the same as the Xtuga. It also has the same function with the TRS being a combined signal of all 4 mics.
On the wings of the unit, next to the rack mount holes, you have holes where you can attach connections for antennas to be on the front of the unit. Phenyx Pro is a rather new company but it is starting to solidify itself as one of the best options for cost-effective wireless for both microphones and in-ears.
| Operating Distance | 320 ft. |
| Connection Type | 4 XLR, 1 mixed TRS |
| RF Channels Per Mic | 1 |
| Power | AA |
| Battery Life | 16 hours |
| Rack Mountable | yes |
Sennheiser – XSW 2-835
Best for: Sennheiser Fans
Price: $479
Sennheiser is one of the top 2 names when it comes to wireless microphone options. Even though this is from one of the best companies, this is one of their lower-end wireless options.
I did not want to include anything cheaper than this from Sennheiser because the issue I have seen with all of the lower models is connectivity. Without those antenna whips on the back, you don’t have much distance to work with.
| Operating Distance | 250 ft. |
| Connection Type | XLR, TRS |
| RF Channels Per Mic | 2 |
| Power | AA |
| Battery Life | 10 hours |
| Rack Mountable | yes |
Shure – PGXD24/SM58
Best for: Shure Fans
Price: $399
Shure is the other company that comes to mind when people start talking about wireless mic options. Their company has been on top for professional wireless mics for years and it doesn’t look to be changing any time soon.
Like with the XSW, this is not the cheapest option from Shure but it is the best of the cheap options. With their cheaper models like the BLX mics, it is extremely hit or miss. Sometimes they can provide great connection and other times you what RF noise throughout. That’s why the PGXD made the list instead.
| Operating Distance | 200 ft. |
| Connection Type | XLR, TRS |
| RF Channels Per Mic | 2 |
| Power | AA |
| Battery Life | 9 hours |
| Rack Mountable | Hardware not included |
What is a Wireless Mic
A wireless microphone is exactly what it sounds like, a microphone without wires. However, there is more to it than that. Any wireless mic has 3 key pieces, the transmitter, the antenna, and the receiver.
A transmitter is what sends the signal so in this instance, the transmitter is the mic itself. The antenna is what receives the signal from the transmitter. The antenna then connects the signal to the receiver, which is the box that connects the wireless mic to your sound system.
What to Consider With a Budget Wireless Microphone
When using wireless mics there is quite a bit to consider. The way wireless mics communicate is through radio frequencies. With radio frequencies, you need to make sure that you have clean frequencies because receivers look for any signal that is also on the frequency they are on even if it is not the corresponding microphone. If you are using a poor frequency, you could pick up radio stations, truck drivers, radios, and more. To help determine the best frequency, most wireless mic setups have a scan option that looks for the best frequency options.
One other important factor is the transmitting distance. Most microphones have a maximum transmitting distance. This is how far you theoretically can go without RF dropout. This is not always going to be the farthest you can go, sometimes you are limited in your distance to less than that. If you have 2 antennas per microphone, you will get a clearer connection and you can also transmit farther because of it. This allows the receiver to switch channels from A to B or B to A if one starts failing. This allows for the cleanest possible signal at all times.
FAQ’s
Are wireless mics worth it?
It depends on what the goal is. If you are a mobile setup and have the time to do the set up, it’s very helpful. You don’t have to run cables that become a tripping hazard. Same in an install, if the no wire asthetic is best, than wireless mics are going to be 100% worth it.
What is the disadvantage of wireless microphone?
With wireless microphones there is more to it than simple plug and play like with a wired mic. You need to make sure that frequencies are clean, the connection isn’t too far, and the batteries don’t die. This is just scratching the surface of what you need to account for when working with wireless microphones.
Are wireless mics better than wired?
This all depends on the environment. If you are working with someone who moves around a lot then yes wireless is worth it. But if you are working with set placements on the stage, wired is going to give you a more solid and reliable connection.
Working Withing Your Means
There is a lot more to consider when it comes to working with wireless microphones but it is too much to put into a post like this (soon I will try to put out a short guide with the basics of working with wireless microphones). Each option in this list is great, especially for the price point.
It is important to remember, that these are the mid to lower-end options in the world of wireless microphones and the more expensive options will yield better results. But that should never stop you from working with what you have and can afford. Everyone starts somewhere and it is important to do your best with the equipment available.
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