This is the result of a discussion in the LAB about cheap Chinese knock off headset mics. The Pyle was a purchase on Ebay and was compared to one of our stock Countryman E6 headset mics. The E6 was fitted with a 'flat' capsule ring. Please check the photo and measurements for references. Both of the mics tested are omni capsules with TA4 style connectors to mate to Shure beltpacks. The Pyle is over all stiffer in the mic boom, ear loop and cable. This is probably a plus for the target market as the Countrymans are quite delicate. The cable is permanently attached to the earloop despite a very similar looking connection. The mic head is slightly larger than the omni E6 as well. The Countryman cable is 15" longer than the Pyle and the Pyle was 15db higher in output than the E6 I used for test. The E6s are available in several sensitivities while the Pyle website does not list any options in this regard.
How did they compare in sound? I have yet to test them on show site. The tests, both acoustic and aural were simply done in our warehouse. Comparing the E6 to the Pyle on sound alone I would certainly not hesitate to use the Pyle on all but the most high end applications. Clarity was good, handling noise was no worse than the E6. Stability around the ear was good but still requires surgical tape for the cable. The mic boom is slightly longer than the E6 so for small faces the mic will protrude more. Having only one on hand ( the supplier had only one ) I can't assess unit to unit consistency and this has been a problem with Chinese clone mics before.
The measurements were done at 3.15ft from an EAW JF100 on its back on the floor with the mics suspended over head and the capsules gathered together. Almost by definition the extreme high frequencies show some phase problems but more than I would have expected with the difference in spacing being under 2 mm. Any observations on the measurements are welcome
The screen shoots are in order :
- Picture of the mics side by side
- Transfer function of the E6 and Pyle only
- Transfer functions of the E6, the Pyle and a Countryman B3 lav that I used as a control
- Transfer function of the three mics in pairs measured against each other to measure the difference in response. The onscreen legend from SpectraFoo shows which mic is which color trace.