We tested the Saramonic Blink500 T2 to see if it’s worth it

The Saramonic Blink500 T2 is a dual-channel wireless lav microphone system used to record audio on the go by clipping it onto your clothes. The Saramonic brand, which specializes in audio equipment, including a broad range of microphones, claims the Blink500 T2 is lightweight, easy to use and can produce “broadcast-quality sound.” 

To see if it could live up to its promises, the BestReviews Testing Lab ran this mic through a series of tests in various environments at different ranges to determine if it’s worth the price. We also looked at how it holds up compared to similar but more affordable products. Ultimately, we found it did a solid job indoors but struggled with ambient noise when we recorded outside.  

What is the Saramonic Blink500 T2?

This Saramonic microphone thrives in quiet, controlled indoor environments where it can produce a clean and very usable raw audio file.

Product specifications

Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional | Frequency Response: 2.4 GHz | Connector: USB-C | Dimensions: 2.4” L x 1.7” W x 0.64” H | Weight: 1.2 oz  | Material: Metal | Accessories: 2 transmitters, 1 receiver, charging cables, carrying pouch, smartphone cable, camera cable and microphone      

Released in 2022, the Saramonic Blink500 T2 microphone is designed for interviewing, podcasting and other uses by digital content creators. Its wireless feature and dual-channel ability gives it versatility over more limited models. It has an easy plug-and-play setup, and boasts a transmission range of 328 feet, or 100 meters. It comes with cables built for smartphones, laptops and a variety of cameras — but not for iPhones or iPads.Saramonic offers a diverse range of lav mics and many other models of the Blink product as well. For instance, for half the price of the Blink500 T2, the Blink Go-U2 has nearly the same features, except the range is reduced to 165 feet and the battery life is two hours shorter. It also has a 77-decibel signal-to-noise ratio compared to the Blink500T2’s 78 decibels.

Pros

• Dual-channel transmission
• Carrying case for easy travel
• Good battery life

Cons

• Poor sound quality when used outdoors
• Expensive compared to similar products
• Settings are confusing

Testing the Saramonic Blink500 T2

Testers took recordings using the Saramonic Blink500 T2, both indoors and out, to assess sound quality.

We ran the Saramonic Blink500 T2 through a series of tests to see for ourselves how well it performs. We took recordings on a variety of audio devices, both indoors and out, and at varying ranges to test the sound quality. We adjusted settings on the mic to determine how easy it is to make adjustments and to evaluate ease of use right out of the box. We also performed the same tests with competitor products to see how well the Blink500 T2 holds up to other popular lav mics on the market.

When setting up the microphone, we struggled with decoding the messages from the LED lights. The Blink500 T2 has no touchscreen or display, so changes in settings and volume levels are only confirmed via LED lights. This made it very difficult to understand if we had the volume on the right setting. We also placed all the components into the carrying case to determine how easy it was to transport. While the case was convenient, if we needed to bring everything with us, it was overstuffed and difficult to close.

We tested the audio quality both indoors and outdoors and found a marked difference. The audio is fine indoors and ambient noises, such as ceiling fans or the low hum of a refrigerator, cause no issues. However, the quality outdoors is very poor. The mic picks up way too much ambient noise, and adjusting the volume, lowering the gain or moving closer to the source helped only a little. This makes the mic lack the flexibility to interview people in noisy outdoor environments.

Saramonic Blink500 T2 price and where to buy

You can purchase the Saramonic Blink500 T2 now for $199.95 on Amazon. 

Saramonic mic setup and ease of use

The Saramonic Blink500 T2 is ready to go right out of the box, reducing your setup time so you can get to recording quickly.

The packaging of the Blink500 T2 is basic. It’s ready to go right out of its box, and it doesn’t require any companion app setup. While this does cut down on the setup time, it leads to confusion later when you need to adjust settings; for instance, it’s nearly impossible to tell what the volume setting is on. We liked that the included carrying case is secured by Velcro, so there’s little fuss in getting your items in and out. It has cables to connect to a variety of devices, including basic cameras or expensive DSLR cameras. However, Apple fans should note that it has no cables to connect to iPhones or iPads.

Transmitter and receiver

Testing Team evaluates the design and functionality of Saramonic Blink500 T2.

The Saramonic Blink500 T2 has a dual-channel feature with two transmitters and one receiver, which makes recording audio for interviewing or conversing far easier. The wireless range is 328 feet. While that allows you a lot of maneuverability, there are cheaper mics with greater ranges. The mic uses the 2.4-gigahertz spectrum and will hop to free channels to prevent static. The transmitters and receiver are small and durable, but the design does feel outdated and comparatively clunky alongside more modern designs on the market.

Sound quality

The sound quality of the Blink500 T2 microphone was good within a quiet, indoor environment when we tested it. But when we went outdoors, the mic really struggled, picking up way too much ambient noise. We were able to combat this by lowering the gain, moving the mic closer to the audio source and speaking at a greater volume. However, this defeats the purpose of the versatility of a lav mic. The Hollyland Lark M1 microphone, which we also tested, offered significantly better audio quality at a cheaper price ($129). 

Settings and features

While still comparatively small, the Saramonic Blink500 T2 feels bulkier and heavier than its counterparts that offer sleeker designs.

The Saramonic is simple and straightforward to use. There aren’t extra features, there is no companion app, and there isn’t even a touchscreen to customize options. While this would seem to make it ideal as a beginner mic for new content creators, the higher price made us wonder what we were actually paying for. The LED indicators are unhelpful when adjusting gain levels and mic settings, and we found ourselves with the user manual open frequently.  

Saramonic Blink500 T2 benefits

The dual-channel transmission is a nice feature of the Blink500 T2 that isn’t found on every lav mic. Even though it could be bigger, the carrying case provides you with better transportability for the cables, transmitter and receiver. The 10-hour battery life is impressive, so you can stream or vlog for hours without worrying about switching out your microphone. These are all improvements over cheaper Blink options from Saramonic, such as the Blink Go-D1, which has a shorter range, a shorter battery life and a slightly less impressive signal-to-noise ratio at 77 decibels.

Saramonic Blink500 T2 drawbacks

The audio quality is a big letdown. It’s impossible to operate in an outdoor environment, or an environment that otherwise is noisy. For a lower price, you can get the Hollyland Lark M1, which has no such issues. Truly, the price of the Blink500 T2 left us scratching our heads, wondering what it offers that is more competitive than similarly priced items. For the same price, the Comica BoomX-D2 Pro gives you a display screen, iPhone connections, internal recording and a 48-kilohertz sampling rate.

Should you get the Blink500 T2?

The Saramonic Blink500 T2 comes with a convenient carrying pouch.

Unfortunately, the Saramonic Blink500 T2 is not as impressive as its competitors. Its old-fashioned look, poor quality and lack of features don’t hold up to more modern mics.

This simple and straightforward Saramonic lav mic struggles to provide the type of audio quality you expect, and it offers very little options for flexibility and customization. Consumers will be left wondering what they paid for.