BOYA BY-XM6-S2 Wireless Lavalier Microphone
About the product
We tested the BOYA BY-XM6-S2 to see if it’s worth it
The Boya BY-XMG-S2 wireless microphone system is designed for content creators looking for an affordable alternative to more premium lav mics like the Rode Wireless Go II. Released in 2021, it’s a worthy budget option, boasting features that other mics in the same price range don’t, such as an OLED display to view the settings on. It’s easily pairable with a variety of devices, and if you don’t want to use the built-in mic on the transmitters, there are two discreet lav mics included.
The BestReviews Testing Lab ran the Boya mic through a series of recording tests to see how well it performed under different circumstances, both indoors and out, and if it could hold up well against its competitors. Overall, we found it to be a durable and reliable mic for simple recording tasks in controlled environments.
What is the BOYA BY-XM6-S2?
Product specifications
Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional | Frequency Response: 2.4 GHz | Connector: USB, 3.5 mm jack | Dimensions: 1.2” W x 0.65” D x 2.5” L | Weight: 1.13 oz | Material: ABS plastic | Accessories: 1 receiver, 2 transmitters, 2 fur windshields, 2 lav mics with foam windscreens and clips, carrying case, TRRS cable, TRS cable and 3 USB-C charging cables
The Boya BY-XMG-S2 comes with both wireless clip-on transmitters that have built-in microphones as well as more traditional lav mics that you can clip to your clothes. It offers a range of 328 feet from the receiver, which gives you the flexibility to move around without any interruption to your recording. And with a battery life of seven hours on the transmitters, you don’t have to worry about switching out mics. It comes with two transmitters and one receiver that are already paired for you. The OLED display is easy to understand and use, and the carrying case can fit inside large jacket pockets.
Boya offers this mic in several colors for more money, including blue, aqua, orange, pink and yellow; this is a fun feature that’s rarely seen in lav mics. Designed especially for video usage, it comes with cables that work with smartphones, iPhones, cameras, video cameras and expensive DSLR cameras. Therefore, the best quality of audio is produced when facing the camera directly.
Pros
- OLED display
- Easy to transport
- Easy setup and usage
Cons
- Picks up ambient noise
- Wireless built-in mic on the transmitter has a lower audio quality
Testing the BOYA BY-XM6-S2 Wireless Microphone
We ran this Boya mic through a series of tests to see how well it performed. We took recordings using the different cables and mics. We varied how far away we were from the receiver and recorded ourselves at different noise levels. We ran the same tests with competitor microphones to see if the Boya BY-XM6-S2 is better or worse than similar systems on the market.
The Boya mic was easy to use right out of the box, with very little setup required. Adjusting the settings was simple, and everything was clearly communicated on the display screen. This feature was really handy and not commonly seen in mics in the same price range. All the equipment the Boya mic came with was easy to transport — we could even fit it in our pockets.
Compared to the wireless transmitters with onboard mics, the included lav mics worked better for recording audio outdoors, and the closer they were to the speaker’s mouth, the better. The wireless mic struggled to cancel out ambient noise, picking up noise from a nearby pool party and from the freeway, and it struggled to keep our voice at a reasonable volume. Recording in a quiet indoor environment was much more effective than in a noisy outdoor environment.
Boya BY-XM6-S2 Mic price and where to buy
You can purchase the Boya BY-XM6-S2 wireless microphone system for $170 on Amazon.
Boya Mic setup and ease of use
The packaging is straightforward and nothing special, however, it comes with an attractive pouch to carry everything in. It’s a plug-and-play mic, with no companion app or complex setup process. We had no issue getting it going very quickly and didn’t often have to consult the user manual. We found the display screen to be extremely user-friendly and a wonderful added feature for a mic at this price range. It comes with cables to connect to your cameras or phones, but not to an iPad.
Transmitter and receiver
The two transmitters and single receiver work well and are durable, though they are a bit clunkier than others on the market. Even though the design itself is a simple rectangle, the OLED screen makes it feel sleek and modern. The different colors they come in are fun and give extra personality to this product. The signal-to-noise ratio is 84 decibels, and it has a GFSK modulation, which is all quite good for the price. There were audio quality issues in noisy environments, however, especially the farther away we were from the receiver. It has six gain levels, but we didn’t find any significant difference in the middle ranges.
Sound quality
When using the lav mic up close, the audio quality was very good. The true issue came when we used the onboard mic at a distance. It picked up background sounds, and adjusting the gain levels wasn’t as successful as we expected. Its audio quality is superior to the Saramonic Blink500T2 lav mic, which is actually a more expensive product. However, the audio quality of the Boya mic is worse than the Hollyland Lark M1, which is a cheaper mic.
Even though the Boya mic can be omnidirectional, the best audio quality is achieved by directly facing the camera you are speaking to, especially at a close range. If you are creating content indoors and sitting at a desk, this will not be a problem for you. But if you are outside and intend to walk around, this can become an issue.
Settings and features
The Boya mic comes with everything you expect. There are volume controls, gain settings and mono/stereo mode. What makes this mic stand out is the OLED display to keep track of your settings. This is rarely seen on microphones of this price range. All the settings are easy to adjust quickly. In fact, most adjustments can be made with only one or two button presses. If you need to quickly set up your mic and get a recording, the Boya mic is ideal. That being said, more expensive microphones will have more robust settings with greater customization options.
BOYA BY-XM6-S2 benefits
One of the main benefits of the Boya BY-XMG-S2 mic over other similarly priced models is the OLED display. This is a standout feature that isn’t seen on the more expensive Saramonic Blink500T2 or the cheaper Hollyland Lark M1. Those mics simply have a system of LED lights that correspond to various settings, which can be challenging and confusing until you get the hang of it.
The carrying case is excellent, too. Not only does everything fit within it without being overstuffed, but it is also small enough to carry in a large jacket pocket. The ease of transportability makes the Boya mic great to take on the road, to hotels, or to your favorite workspace. By comparison, the Saramonic’s case feels very heavy and stuffed when all the equipment is loaded. These benefits, coupled with how easy the Boya mic is to use, definitely mark it as a solid product.
BOYA BY-XM6-S2 drawbacks
Despite all the great benefits, this product’s biggest weakness is issues with versatility when recording. The more creative you try to get, the more the audio quality suffers. The lav mic performs significantly better than the wireless mic, which limits your flexibility in recording. Directly facing the camera at a reasonable distance provided the best audio quality, though perhaps this is by design, as this mic is meant to be paired with a camera. Its noise-cancellation features are not the best, allowing in too much ambient noise when outdoors.
Should you get the BOYA BY-XM6-S2 Microphone?
The Boya mic is an all-around solid product for its price range, with no complicated settings to fuss with. It’s easy to use, offers a decent battery life and is simple to transport. But some of the challenges with the audio quality, especially when recording outdoors, make it less impressive than competitors. However, it does offer some nice-to-have features that are unique for its price range, and it records very well in controlled environments. Overall, you can’t go wrong with this mic as long as your needs are fairly simple.