The Blink500B2+ is the latest wireless microphone system from developer Saramonic. Designed from the ground up for 2 person content creation, the Blink500B2+ aims to offer an all-in-one solution for content creators, Journalists and vloggers. Much like the excellent BlinkB2 that we reviewed back in January, the Blink500B2+ comes with everything needed for a smooth and simple-to-use solution.
Sporting two transmitters with individual channel recording support, one receiver and connections for USB-C, lightning and 3.5mm output, the Blink500B2+ provides a plethora of options for recording. An included hard shell carrying case that doubles as a charge station offers another layer of both protection and ease of use for content creators on the go.
With so many options to choose from in the competitive wireless microphone market, Saramonic is pushing to provide a powerful solution at an affordable price point. Is it enough to sway content creators to consider a new piece for their kit? Grab that coffee, kick back and find out in our review of the Blink500B2+ from Saramonic.
Specifications
- Current Price: USD 129.99 (Amazon)
RX Receiver
- Display: OLED
- Reception Type: 2.4GHz Digital Frequency
- Operating Range: 150m (492’)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20KHz
- Analog Output: 3.5mmTRS
- Digital Output: USB-C, Lightning
- Output Modes: Mono, Stereo, Safety(Mono)
- Battery Life: 16 Hours Approx
- Weight: 30g
TX Transmitter
- Transmission Type: 2.4 GHz Digital Frequency
- Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20KHz
- Microphone Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
- Microphone Max SPL: 120dB
- Noise Reduction: Two Stage
- Battery Life: 20 Hours Approx
- Weight: 23g
Charging Case
- Power Requirements: USB-C Charging Port (DC 5V
- Power Capacity: 1250mAh
- Case Charge Time: 2.5 Hours
- Charge Cycles for TX and RX: 1 ½ charges
- Weight: 141g
Smart, Simple Design
The Blink500B2+ is a simple and smart wireless system. Featuring two TX transmitters and a single RX receiver, the 500B2+ provides an easy-to-use solution to content creators. The transmitters weigh in at only 23g, making them significantly lighter than the B2’s reviewed earlier this year. While they lack the LED screen that was a defining feature of the B2, they make up with their compact and lightweight form factor. each features a USB-C port for external charging, a single indicator light, and power and NR (noise reduction) buttons making it simple to set up and use.
The back features a belt clip with a detachable magnet making it adaptable to various situations. While there is no mic-in port on the 500B2+ the included omnidirectional microphone works exceptionally well and features an optional windscreen attachment. The lack of a mic-in port is my only critique of the design. It would have been a next-level feature that would have set the Blink500B2+ miles above the competition at the price point.
As for charging, along with the aforementioned USB-C port the transmitter also comes with a connection point that syncs the transmitter to the case when inserted into its slot in the case. It is magnetically slotted and sits firmly in the case when not in use assuring a solid connection for charging.
As for the receiver, it likewise, carries the same simple and smart design as the transmitter. Along with the aforementioned USB-C port, belt clip and power button, the receiver also features a small OLED display and two indicator lights that notify of when the transmitters are connected. The display features an array of useful information that is easy to read and understand. Even without a manual, navigating the menus and reading the onscreen information was easy to pick up and master.
This simple, smart design philosophy is by far the best aspect of the Blink500B2+. While I loved the design and feature set of the B2, it was a much more complex system to master making setup a bit more of a process than the 500B2+. Like the B2 though, the Blink500B2+ features both a monitoring and output port via two 3.5mm jacks. With full TRS(tip ring sleeve) support, recordings can be captured in mono-balanced and stereo-unbalanced analog audio. This works well for direct camera connections.
For those leveraging their phones for content creation or audio recording, the Blink500B2+ also comes with both USB-C and Lightning quick adaptors that easily attach to the receiver and slide into your phone's respective port. Thanks to a slide lock port on the back of the receiver swapping the adaptors is simple and takes mere seconds. It once again speaks to the simple, smart design of the Blink500B2+.
Clear Capture, Fantastically Functional
As for functional usage, the Blink500B2+ doesn’t disappoint. Setup is as easy as taking the transmitter and receiver out of their case, clipping the transmitter to the talent and connecting the receiver to your desired capture device. On Android, Mac and iPhone, the 500B2+ was immediately recognized and worked without issue. In the case of the Mac, Reaper was able to recognize and separate the channels in the recording making it simple to EQ each subject with ease.
With the phone recordings, the Blink500B2+ was recognized across a multitude of capture software ranging from the Pixel’s default camera and recorder app to more robust capture apps like Filmic Pro. In each case, the Blink500B2+ performed exceptionally well. In testing, even when hot-swapping between connection types, the software immediately recognized the 500B2+ and was ready to record.
Saramonic also provides its own app for further control over the Blink500B2+. Like the device itself, the app is easy to set up and use. Once connected the 500B2+ is immediately recognized and ready to use. The app includes a built-in audio and video recorder creating an all-in-one solution for capture.
The transmitters and receivers do offer a few key settings that can be adjusted from the receiver. Noise Reduction comes in two flavours, weak and strong, with the option to turn it off completely and individually on each transmitter. They did a surprisingly solid job at isolating vocals from the background without any noticeable artifacting of the subject's voice.
The Receiver can also adjust mic gain on the fly with 17 steps of gain available. It works quite well and when coupled with the aforementioned NR allows for some great pickup without too much background noise. As for the microphone itself, this is another solid offering from Saramonic. Like the B2, the 500B2+ features an omnidirectional capsule that offers solid balanced capture. In the samples below, the audio comes through clearly without any major distortions.
In testing, I did note that the higher frequencies came in a bit brighter than I like in my vocal capture but this has more to do with my voice and preference than the capture. For a wireless microphone transmitting in real-time, the Blink500B2+ does a solid job at capturing all of the audio and thanks to the NR and gain, does so without much background noise. It provides a true-to-life capture without a complex setup.
The battery life on the Blink500B2+ is another impressive feature. On paper the receiver is rated for about 16 hours while the transmitters can capture for up to 20 hours before changing. After testing for 8 hours of continuous recording, both the transmitter and receiver were only just creeping up on the halfway mark for battery so I’m confident that they would have no problem keeping up to a full day of work. Thanks to the included charging case, when not in use they quickly charge and are ready for use again. It's a simple and easy-to-use system that reduces downtime when creating content.
Final Thoughts
The Blink500B2+ from Saramonic is another impressive wireless microphone system. While I do wish it had a mic-out option on the transmitter, its lightweight design and ease of use more than make up for this small critique. With excellent audio capture and smart design, the Blink500B2+ is an excellent solution for content creators who want quality and a competitive price. Priced at USD 129.99 on Amazon, the Saramonic Blink500B2+ is worth considering.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Products purchased through our links will result in a small commission for the site. Authors are not compensated based upon clicks or commission.
