If you’ve ever watched a YouTube video or taken part in a Zoom meeting, you will know that sound quality is usually more important than any other factor. With this in mind, I put the new Maono Wave T5 wireless lavalier mics through their paces.

When I was young, I reveled in the perfect sound produced by my hi-fi. Now I have moderate hearing loss. That disability is not from listening to music too loud, but from a technical engineering job I had throughout my twenties that subjected me to repeated percussive noises that damaged my ears. Consequently, good quality sound is essential for me, or I cannot hear speech. It’s probably more so than for people who have good hearing.

The new Maono Wave T5 wireless lavalier microphones were sent to me to try, and I wanted to know whether they stood up to their promise of high quality. I’ve tested other brands’ models in the past, and they have been pretty good but not perfect; any gear we test rarely is. Would this product prove to hold its own against other models?

First Looks

The package arrived, and I was pleased to see that there was minimal single-use plastic. However, the instruction booklet was held inside an unnecessary plastic sleeve.

The kit I received was the Combo version, and the box comprised 2 x microphone transmitters, 1 x powered receiver, 1 x USB-C receiver for Android devices, 1 x Lightning receiver for iPhone devices, 2 x magnetic lapel clips, 2 x magnetic necklaces for the mics, 2 x “dead cats” (fluffy microphone windshields), 1 coiled 3.5 mm double-ended stereo audio cable, 1 x USB-A to USB-C charging cable, 1 x charging box, 1 x soft storage bag, 1 x hard storage case, and the user manual. There was also a sheet of 18 colorful stickers.

Another version of the kit exists that has just the powered receiver and different cable adapters to attach to different device types.

At first sight, the kit all looks well made. All the components except the USB cable fit inside the hard case. I thought the black faux leather bag was redundant, but I guess it is useful for storing the components you are not using when recording.

There are stickers on the charging ports of the mic transmitters and the receivers, and these need to be removed before you charge the devices in the case. The transmitters can only be charged by the case’s internal battery, but the powered receiver can also be charged via its USB-C port.

The magnets for the lapel clips and necklaces are strong. I had no worries about the mics coming unattached accidentally. Similarly, both the molded interior of the hard case and the charging case hold the various components tightly, so you can invert those without the parts falling out.

The charging case feels solid. It has a strongly sprung hinged lid, and on the front, four white LEDs show the charging status.

Most of these types of microphones on the market rely on the phone’s power source to run the receiver. Pleasingly, this model comes with a powered receiver. That means you can use it directly with a digital recording device or camera using the 3.5 mm audio cable.

Besides the USB port, the powered receiver has a rotary gain knob with three blue level-indicator LEDs, a mono/stereo switch, and a power button. A single red LED shows when the unit is being charged; this turns green when the batteries are full. Blue LEDs indicate that the microphones are paired. Similarly, functioning blue LEDs are found on the phone receivers. These turn green if the noise cancellation is turned on at the mic. The receiver and transmitter were already paired on receipt.

The microphone receivers don’t have level control, but they do have a separate noise reduction button.

The transmitters each have a built-in microphone, a power/noise reduction button, a mute/remote camera button, an indicator LED, and a magnetic sheet for attaching the lapel clips or necklace. The magnets are strong enough to hold the mic in place through a thick coat if you don’t have a lapel to clip it to.

A QR code in the user manual takes you to a download link to install an app for updating the receiver and transmitters. The download happened through my Android phone’s browser and not the Google Play Store, but the app does exist in both the Play Store and the App Store. There were updates available for mine, and they each took about a minute to complete.

In Use

This is a simple device to use. You plug it in, and it’s ready to go. That notwithstanding, I found it more than holds its own against other models I have tested. The switches and buttons are easier to use than some that rely on different numbers of taps to change the functions. The magnets are strong and less prone to fall off than some other mics I have tried. I walked around with both the mics connected for an hour, and they stayed there.

As you will hear in the video, the sound quality is pretty good too.

I plugged the receiver unit into my digital sound recorder, my phone, my camera, and my computer, and it worked.

The noise cancellation was pretty good too and didn’t leave the voice sounding muffled, as happens on some other brands’ models.

What I Liked and What Could Be Improved

What I Liked

• Simple to use.

• Good battery life.

• Good sound quality.

• Good noise cancellation.

• Strong magnets.

• All the components are made well.

• In-case charging.

What Could Be Improved Next Time

• I’m not a fan of front-facing LEDs, as they are a distraction from a video.

• The stickers are unnecessary.

• The instruction book doesn’t require a plastic wrapper.

In Conclusion

I was impressed with these mics. There are two versions. I tested the one made for a camera that doesn’t require an external power source via the USB-C for the receiver, as it has an internal battery. It worked well.

The transmitter units do what you want them to do. They pick up your voice, and the reception is clear without distortion or interference.

All in all, the Maono Wave T5 is a good product.