Saramonic Blink500 B2+ 4-in-1 Wireless Mic System (Review)

Saramonic is back with a new wireless mic kit (Saramonic Blink500 B2+ 4-in-1 Wireless Mic System) for mobile setups looking to save money while still walking away with some of the most requested features and solid audio quality. When it comes to offering an attractive product, Saramonic doesn’t play around.

The new Blink500 B2+ landed this week with the company announcing its release on Monday. It is the next step forward from the B2 and offers some impressive features for only having a price tag of just $129. Making it a good choice for streamers, vloggers, interviewers, and more who don’t have the money to spend on big brands.

This isn’t the best that Saramonic has to offer, as it has a long list of products ranging from entry-level to prosumer. But it is the best it has to offer in its entry-level options. It satisfies four different usage scenarios, including USB-C, Lightning, and two versions of 3.5mm analog (aux).

Like most mobile kits, it comes with a charging case with the essentials tucked inside where they are kept juiced up and ready to go. It comes with a dual-channel receiver and two transmitters, along with two small adapters for USB-C and Lightning inside.

This means fewer things you have to carry around outside of the case itself as long as you are using one of these two options. The only thing else you would need to bring in addition to what’s in the case is the 3.5mm cables if you plan on needing them.

Saramonic includes two styles (as mentioned) of the 3.5mm cables. One TRS and one TRRS, covering everything from smartphones, laptops, computers, DSLRs, and other cameras. Anything that uses a 3.5mm input.

The TRS cable is for devices that have a dedicated microphone port. The TRRS cable is for those that have a shared port (headphones, headsets, microphones, etc).

A USB-C cable is also included for charging the case (or the individual units as they all have USB-C ports as well that can optionally be used. There are also two windscreens that click into the top of the transmitters for windy situations.

But when using them with a mobile device such as a smartphone that takes the USB-C or Lightning, it’s ready to go. Nothing else is needed as long as you keep the pieces in the case. This model uses a completely different approach to connecting to your phone using small modular adapters.

Normally, companies include cables so you can connect the receiver to smartphones and such, but this doesn’t always make it easy to deal with a smartphone that has a dongle and device hanging off of it.

Instead, Saramonic developed these adapters that slide into the back of the receiver. A small rubber piece slides out to reveal contact points and one of the adapters slides into its place forming the connection. Then the receiver plugs into the smartphone (or other device) and provides a stable connection. There are no wired dongles, just a nice solid connection to the device so you can worry about other things.

Honestly, it is a brilliant idea without having to build a USB or Lightning port directly into the receiver. Which you can find sometimes with connection-specific kits. Instead, you get a “works with everything” kit solution.

The transmitters (mics) are small in size allowing them to easily clip to your subject without sticking out like a sore thumb. They have a little weight to them but it isn’t bad. They feature a clip that is built into the back and also functions as a metal surface for the included magnet to stick to. Giving you options in case the person you are micing isn’t wearing something you can easily clip something (at least, to where you’d want it to be clipped).

Magnets have been something we have been using in the professional side of the industry for some time now. With things like the Lav Magnet being a popular/common thing to have in inventory. So it was no surprise to see that approach filter into the consumer and prosumer level as well.

There are no wired lavs or anything to attach. The mics are built directly into the transmitter units and feature noise reduction as well by filtering our environmental noise. The noise reduction is on at all times either as weak (the closest thing you’ll get to off) or strong (noticeably “on”).

If the noise reduction is set to weak (default), it will sound a bit standard. It doesn’t cancel much out of the environment but it doesn’t sound bad either. Everything is nice and crisp. Setting it to strong will definitely start canceling things out around you. However, we did find that it adds a little bit of a noticeable digital sound to things, thus you can tell the noise reduction is in the mix. It isn’t bad though and most consumers or even prosumers likely wouldn’t bat much of an eye at it.

Each transmitter only has a few buttons, including a power button (which also acts as a mute button with single presses) and a noise reduction button. Making for a friendly experience that doesn’t take a lot of getting used to.

There are minimal LEDs and no screens to stare at or distract with (at least on the transmitters). Allowing them to blend in all the more. Especially, if your subject is wearing a dark-colored shirt (or other apparel).

The receiver, on the other hand, does feature a screen (OLED). It provides all the usual information you’d look for in a receiver, including battery life, connectivity, levels, mutes, and a full menu. The menu provides a lot to choose from, including the ability to lock out the ability to mute the mics from the transmitters.

You can choose between mono, stereo, or safety track. Where mono blends the mics together, and stereo separates them into left and right so it makes it easier to edit later on. The safety track option allows you to record directly to the unit so you have a backup for audio, which can then be accessed later on via USB.

There is also a lot of battery life for this set. The receiver is able to function for up to 16 hours on a single charge and the transmitters for up to 20 hours. Then with the case included, it can double that. Giving you plenty of time before having to place everything back on the charger.

It also supports the Saramonic App, which can be used to record everything to on your mobile device. Providing a bit of a software-driven field recorder. Thus, less things you have to carry around if you find yourself relying on a separate source for sound than the camera.

Our Conclusion

This kit offers a lot of features within a reasonable price range. The ability to mic two subjects at the same time with a single receiver, noise reduction, small profile, charging case with plenty of battery life, a nice app, a user-friendly menu system, and all of the normal features you find in these smaller kits (ie, mono/stereo/safety, etc).

The footprint is nice to have and you should never have to worry about charging in the middle of your shoot. Noise reduction could be a little cleaner, but at that point, you are spending money on a fancier model from the company. So they have to be able to leave an up-sale somewhere in the experience of it all.

This is a great option for those looking to save their money and focus on something that simply “gets it done”. And this kit does exactly that.

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Specifications:

RX Receiver
Display: OLED
Reception Type: 2.4GHz Digital Frequency
Modulation: GFSK
Operating Range: Up to 492.1′ (150m) Without Obstacles
RF Output Power: <13mW
Frequency Response 20Hz to 20KHz
Digital Resolution: 24-Bit/48kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >80dB
Distortion: <0.1%
Analog Audio Output: 3.5mm TRS
Digital Audio Outputs: USB-C and MFi Certified Lightning (via connection adapters)
Output Mode Types: Mono / Stereo / Safety (Mono)
Headphone Output Connector: 3.5mm TRS
Selectable Low-Cut Filter: 75Hz & 150Hz
System’s Voice Delay: =/<25ms
OLED Screen Resolution: 128 x 80 pixels
Power Requirements: Built-in Li-ion Battery, USB-C DC 5V or Charging Contact
Battery Life: Approximately 16-hours
Charging Time: Approximately 1.5-hours
Battery Specifications: 3.7V / 400mAh
Weight: 1.06oz (30g)
Dimensions: 1.94 x 1.48 x 0.74” (49.5 × 37.5 × 18.8mm)
Operating Temperatures: 0 to 122F (0C to 50C)
Storage Temperatures: -50 to 122F (–10C to +50C)

TX Transmitter
Transmission Type: 2.4GHz Digital Frequency
Modulation: GFSK
Operating Range: Up to 492.1′ (150m) Without Obstacles
RF Output Power: <13mW
Frequency Response 20Hz to 20KHz
Reference Audio Input Level: -30~-42dBv (Mic input, 0dB Attenuation)
Digital Resolution: 24-Bit/48kHz
Microphone Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
Microphone Maximum SPL: 120dB
Microphone Sensitivity: 40+/-2dB (1V/pa)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >80dB
Distortion: <0.10%
Other Functions: 2-Stage Noise Reduction & Tactile Microphone Mute Buttons
Power Requirements: Built-in Li-ion Battery, USB-C DC 5V or Charging Contact
Battery Life Recording On: Approximately 20-hours
Charging Time: Approximately 1.5-hours
Battery Specifications: 3.7V / 190mAh
Weight: 0.81oz (23g)
Dimensions: 1.77 x 1.24 x 0.51” (45 × 31.6 × 13mm)
Operating Temperatures: 0 to 122F (0C to 50C)
Storage Temperatures: -50 to 122F (–10C to +50C)

Charging Case
Power Requirements: Powered by USB-C Charging Port (DC 5V)
Power Capacity: 1250mAh
System Charging Time: Approximately 2-hours
Case Charging Time: Approximately 2.5-hours
Charge Cycles for Transmitters and Receiver: Approximately 1.6 Times
Weight: 4.97oz (141g)
Dimensions: 4.67 x 2.21 x 2.45” (118.6 x 56.2 x 62.3mm)
Operating Temperatures: 0 to 122F (0C to 50C)
Storage Temperatures: -50 to 122F (–10C to +50C)

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