Sony ECM-L1 lavalier microphone review

The Sony ECM-L1 lavalier mic looks like a logical and useful addition to the Sony audio range, but why does it cost so much?

Sony ECM-L1
(Image: © Rod Lawton)

Digital Camera World Verdict

There is no problem with the Sony ECM-L1’s performance. It really is very good indeed. The problem, for the general vlogging/creator market is surely going to be the price. Lavalier microphones are typically seen as inexpensive add-ons, cheap and easy solutions for voice recording and a sometimes useful add-on for wireless mic systems. But the Sony ECM-L1 on its own costs more than many complete wireless setups which have a pair of lav mics included. You’ve got to place a high value on lav mics as a type and audio quality specifically for the ECM-L1 to make sense.

Pros

  • +

    Excellent audio quality

  • +

    Neat, fuss-free design

  • +

    Simple plug-in usability (like any lav mic)

  • +

    Two wind screens and a pouch included

Cons

  • -

    A high-end mic with a high-end price

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The Sony ECM-M1 is a clip-on lavalier or ‘lapel’ mic of a type used by interviewers and presenters everywhere. It’s a tiny wearable microphone capsule that connects by wire either directly to the camera or recording device, or to a wireless transmitter carried in a back pocket, maybe. It’s a simple, uncomplicated type of microphone, and the Sony ECM-LV1 Stereo Lavalier Microphone works on the same principle as any other. The main difference is the price, which is at the upper end of the scale for even the best lavalier microphones.

The selling point for the ECM-M1 is its audio quality. It uses an ECM-77 series “industry-lauded” capsule (Sony’s description) that’s widely used in the professional recording world. There are much cheaper lavalier mics than this one, and you'll find several in our guide to the best budget microphones, but the ECM-M1 is designed for quality not cheapness.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Typewired lavalier (lapel) mic
Connection3.5mm analog, plug-in power
Pickup patternomnidirectional
Frequency response20 Hz to 20 000 Hz
Dimensions5.6 x 11.8mm (mic only)
Weight17.7g (inc cable and plug)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
FeaturesEverything you would expect from a lavalier mic, though no direct compatibility with Sony's digital audio interface★★★★
DesignHard to fault. Everything works as it should, the ECM-L1 is easy to set up and nicely made too★★★★★
PerformanceExcellent all-round performance – perhaps a little more high-frequency detail would be nice, but that's a matter of preference★★★★★
ValueIt's a very good microphone, but you're certainly paying for that quality when you might find a much cheaper mic is good enough★★
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If you want to stay on brand but don’t want to pay ECM-L1 money for a clip-on lavalier mic, take a look at the neat little Sony ECM-LV1 Stereo Lavalier Microphone in our guide to the best budget microphones. You shouldn’t expect the same level of audio quality, but it is dramatically cheaper and it’s still made by Sony.

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For a more complete audio solution, check out the RODE Wireless Pro kit. It’s a little more expensive than the Sony ECM-L1, but it’s a complete solution not just a single mic. It comes with two transmitters and a receiver and two RODE Lavalier II mics, which can be used with the transmitters or plugged straight into a camera.

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Rod Lawton
Contributor

Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com