Page 2 - Physical Look - Hardware
The aLLreLi M5 is a wireless lavalier microphone with most of the core components found in a neat rectangular package. The magnetic charging station houses a 240mAh battery with a small white LED backlit screen to show its charge percentage and if the two lavalier mics are charging as well. It is made mostly of a solid feeling, smoked gray plastic, with the center constructed of an opaque black plastic. The top has a place for the Lightning and USB Type-C receivers that are magnetically attached. They can slide in on either the front or the back. The two sides magnetically hold on to the lavalier microphones. There are two small pogo pins on each side to charge the wireless mics. On the bottom are two Torx T4 screws that hold the charging station together. A USB Type-C port is located on the bottom to plug in the charging station. The lavalier microphones and receivers fit quite snugly, and in most cases, are unlikely to be knocked off unintentionally. However, the microphones do protrude out and have a higher chance of loss.
The Lightning and USB Type-C receivers are essentially identical in function and shape aside from the different male and female connections. They are two slim rectangular black plastic parts with your choice of a Lightning or USB Type-C connector coming out from the middle to plug in to your phone. On the back side of the receiver, there are two blue LED lights that show the pairing status of the microphones. When paired, the lights will glow steadily, while when it is pairing, the lights will flash continuously. On the front side, there are three blue LED indicator lights and a small pill-shaped button to change the microphone volume. Each light shows the microphone volume at 80%, 90%, and 100% volume. When plugging in the receiver, it defaults to 90% microphone volume. On the right side of the receiver, there is a corresponding Lightning or USB Type-C port for passthrough charging of your phone. The USB Type-C passthrough appears to support fast charging on Android, at least according to my Samsung phone.
The two lavalier microphones are identical pieces of black plastic in the shape of squished rigatoni. The top of the microphone is a gray metal grille that protects the capsule underneath. The back of the lavalier is a spring-tensioned clip that can be attached to clothing or a magnetic surface. Below are two gold-colored contacts for charging. The front of the microphone has three indicator lights. The top LED can indicate pairing status, charging, and low battery in blue, green, and red, respectively. The middle one indicates noise reduction status, and the bottom one indicates the reverb status, both in blue LEDs. Below the lights is a circular multi-function button that can turn on and off the microphone by pressing and holding. A single press turns on or off noise reduction, while quick double tapping turns on or off reverb. The microphone appears to remember the previous settings even after disconnecting from the receiver and charging on the dock.
The wireless microphone and receiver transmit and receive on the 2.4GHz frequency with a sound delay of less than 20ms. The transmission distance is up to 20m with some obstructions and 40m in direct line-of-sight. In my testing between two rooms with closed doors about 10m apart, I did not get any drop out. The microphone itself has an omnidirectional pickup pattern, meaning it is designed to pick up sounds from any direction. The frequency response is from 20Hz to 20kHz. This is approximately the range which a human can hear, which makes it very usable on paper. The sensitivity is -35dB with a signal to noise ratio of -65dB. The built-in 80mAh battery has a claim of a 7-hour run time and 15 hours when paired with the charging station.
The two fuzzy finger pom poms, or windshields, are very fluffy and soft. They are a light and dark gray mix of fibers attached to a silicone rubber base. The base slides onto the head of the lavalier microphone with a bigger cutout for the clip, smaller cutout for the top LED, and a hole in the center for sound to pass through. The windshield is held onto the microphone by friction. The windshields must be stored separately from the main unit.
So far, the aLLreLi M5 is a neat little package that is slim and portable. The main charging case is able to hold all the necessary components securely, and provide additional charging. The Lightning and USB Type-C receivers allow compatibility for iPhones, Android devices, and even PCs. The two microphones provide a nice back up to switch to or for miking up a second source.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Recording Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
