Handheld, Lapel or Headset? Choosing the Right Event Mic

The right microphone makes a speaker sound clear and confident. Each type suits a different situation — here's how to choose.

Handheld

The most versatile choice. Great for MCs, speeches, toasts, singers and passing around for audience questions. Wireless handhelds give freedom to move. The only downside: it occupies one hand.

Lapel (lavalier)

A small clip-on mic that leaves both hands free — ideal for presenters, panellists and preachers who move around or gesture. It sits discreetly on clothing and is barely visible on camera.

Headset

Stays a fixed distance from the mouth, so the volume is consistent even when the speaker turns their head. Perfect for energetic presenters, worship leaders, fitness and anyone very active on stage.

Often you want a mix

Most events use a combination — a lectern or handheld for speeches, lapels for panellists, roving handhelds for Q&A. Tell JMG Audio your running order and we'll bring the right mics.

Wireless versus wired

Wired microphones are more reliable and cheaper, and for a fixed lectern there is often no reason to go wireless. Wireless buys freedom of movement, at the cost of batteries, frequency coordination and more that can go wrong. The practical rule is simple: wireless where people move, wired where they do not. Mixing both in one event is entirely normal.

Why multiple wireless mics interfere

Every wireless microphone occupies a radio frequency, and channels that sit too close together interfere, producing dropouts and bursts of noise. Running several wireless mics needs the frequencies planned in advance rather than each unit simply switched on. This is the single most common failure in DIY setups, and it is entirely preventable with coordination.

Batteries and spares

Wireless microphones eat batteries, and a mic dying mid-speech is both avoidable and memorable. Fresh batteries at the start of every event, spares physically present at the desk, and a technician watching battery indicators through the programme. For long events, plan a changeover point rather than hoping. Have at least one spare microphone ready to hand over instantly.

Technique makes more difference than the microphone

The best microphone in the world fails if it is held at chest height and pointed away from the mouth, which is what nervous speakers instinctively do. A brief word with your speakers beforehand — hold it closer than feels natural, keep it pointed at your mouth, do not turn away from it — improves the sound more than upgrading equipment. Lapel and headset mics remove the problem entirely, which is part of their appeal.