Saramonic Ultra review

The Saramonic Ultra is a set of wireless microphones aimed at enthusiasts and professionals, offering a dual-channel wireless microphone system. Unlike many other systems of this type and size, the Ultra packs in features that will appeal to professionals, such as timecode synchronization, 32-bit float onboard recording, and IPX5-rated water-resistant transmitters. This makes it suitable for recording both indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions including a bit of rain.

The advanced features and higher price tag, although still very reasonable, mean that the Saramonic Ultra is primarily targeted at enthusiasts and professional users, including filmmakers, broadcasters, and content creators who need a reliable and high-quality wireless microphone option.

In use, the dual-channel design enables you to choose between mono and stereo, offering greater flexibility during editing compared with many cheaper models. Combined this flexibility with the extensive wireless range and you can see how this system will provide plenty of versatility for different types of content.

The obvious uses include documentaries and interviews, where ensuring your subjects are mic’d up in, say, a busy environment is essential. The design of these units focuses on better isolating vocals from background noise, which in use you notice enhances the audio quality significantly compared with many other mics that I’ve tested.

The compact design also means that the mics can be attached directly to the subject using either the clip or the magnet that attaches to the small clip through clothing. Additionally, the IPX5-rated transmitters ensure that they can both withstand a bit of drizzle or light rain, making them suitable for use in any types of weather.

If you’re new to wireless mics then the Saramonic Ultra might not be the best fit, as some of the advanced features require a steep learning curve. Timecode synchronization and dual-channel recording for instance are aimed at professional users. However, you can ignore these features and still benefit from the excellent audio quality, though there are cheaper options available.

Key features that set the Saramonic Ultra apart from entry-level models include timecode synchronization for precise audio-video alignment across multiple devices, 32-bit float onboard recording for high dynamic range, high SPL handling for clear audio capture in loud environments, IPX5-rated water-resistant transmitters for reliable performance in adverse weather, and an external antenna for long-distance filming.

The design of the Saramonic Ultras stands out and as you remove the two transmitter mics from the charging case, you immediately notice the hard metal outer casing, which gives the impression of high quality from the outset. When the mics arrive, they come with a small drawstring pouch that contains the charging case, all the necessary cables, and windjammers for various situations. Also included is a small antenna that can be attached to the receiver to extend the wireless transmission range—another feature that highlights the professional level of these wireless mics.

The initial setup is simple, with the mics clipping onto subjects or attaching via the small magnets included in the charging case, which can be connected through fabric to hold the mic securely in place. As you’d expect from microphones in this price range, there’s ample adjustment available directly on the units themselves. For a more discreet setup, a 3.5mm port on the top allows you to attach a wired lavalier mic. Unlike many other mic systems that offer this feature a nice touch from Saramonic is that the two lavalier mics are included in the package, so when you purchase the Saramonic Ultra, you’re getting a complete package with everything you need.

The charging case is of high quality, and despite its faux leather exterior texture, it feels nice and robust. Opening the case reveals the standard hot shoe mount receiver, which can be slotted into your camera’s hot shoe and connected via the 3.5mm jack. Along with the transmitters and reciever are the inclusion of two adapters that enable you to plug the receiver directly into a USB Type-C or Lightning port, enabling these units to be used with mobile phones and tablets. The receiver also features an antenna port for attaching the small included antenna, helping to extend the unit’s range.

The receiver is equipped with a small LCD display that keeps you updated on the audio levels coming in from each of the mics. It also allows you to quickly adjust all settings for the mic’s audio quality, including the built-in recording options. The small screen enables you to see feedback from the mics and settings and adjustments can be made directly with the screen being touch-sensitive. This enables you to swipe through different recording settings and options. For mics that are so small and compact, the feature set is impressively extensive, offering professional-level control in a portable design.

The Saramonic Ultra is a feature-packed wireless microphone system designed for enthusiast and professional videographers, photographers, and content creators. Out of all its features, it is the 32-bit float onboard recording that enables you to capture audio with a wide dynamic range, eliminating the risk of clipping or excessive noise, is something that will find appeal with many professionals. This high quality recording option offers flexibility in post-production, enabling adjustments to audio levels while minimising degrading the quality.

Another feature that also helps confirm the higher-end focus for these units is the inclusion of timecode synchronization. This is a professional-grade feature that ensures perfect alignment of audio and video across devices and is something that makes this an ideal partner to the likes of the Canon EOS C80. Where this will really come in useful is with multi-camera setups or during complex shoots, where audio and visuals can quickly be synced, significantly saving time during editing. The system also boasts the ability to handle sound pressure levels up to 130 dB SPL, making it suitable for loud environments like concerts or motorsports without distortion.

When it comes to the wireless performance, the Ultra offers a range of up to 300 metres, aided by its dual internal antennas and external antenna for stability. ClearVoice technology enhances recordings further by intelligently reducing noise, while Vocal Boost and Low-Cut modes provide a more tailored audio capture. The units all feature Automatic Gain Control that helps to ensure real-time level adjustments, and further aids the delivery of clear, balanced sound across different recording scenarios and environments.

The Ultras have been designed for outdoor use, and as such, the rugged design is IPX5-rated for water resistance, ensuring they can be used in a good variety of weather conditions. Both the transmitters and the receiver deliver up to six hours of battery life.

Connectivity options offer good flexibility with 3.5mm jacks, USB-C, Lightning, and compatibility with Sony multi-interface hot shoes.

The Saramonic Ultra wireless microphone system is positioned slightly above the mainstream offerings, delivering features and performance that cater to professionals while remaining accessible at a relatively reasonable price point. How long this pricing will last before returning to the elevated £500/$500 range is unclear. After testing these units extensively for two weeks, I can confidently say they are among the best in the market. The audio quality is superb, and the flexibility provided by the variety of recording options and quality settings rivals high-end systems typically reserved for purely professional use.

Despite being aimed at high-end enthusiasts and professionals, these microphones remain incredibly easy to use. Like many other wireless microphone systems, they come in a compact case that includes a charging dock to keep the units powered between uses. Inside, you’ll find two relatively large wireless lavalier microphones that you cancclip onto clothing or attached via magnets for a more discreet setup. This versatility makes attaching the mics simple, regardless of the situation.

The system includes two wireless microphones, enabling you to mic up two subjects with ease. On the transmitter mics there’s a 3.5 mm jack which is a common feature for mics at this level and will enable you to plugin wired lavalier microphones. Impressively, Saramonic has included two high-quality wired lavalier mics in the package, enhancing the overall value and flexibility of the system.

Setting up the microphones is straightforward. Once the mics are attached, you can begin recording immediately. Each mic has a small button that allows you to mute or activate the microphone. A red light flashes to indicate the mic is muted, while a blue light shows when the mic is in pairing mode. When the receiver and transmitters are removed from the charging case, the pairing process is automatic. If pairing doesn’t occur, simply return the units to the case and try again.

The transmitter mics feature a noise reduction control that allows you to adjust the level of background noise filtering. Additionally, the mics have a built-in recorder, enabling standalone recording directly to the internal storage. This makes these mics a great option when it’s not possible to wirelessly connect to the camera, essentially functioning as mini dictaphones.

One issue when filming is always that the mics will get knocked and settings changed, here however a lock button features on top of each of the mic units that helps to prevent accidental changes during filming. The receiver’s small LCD screen displays information for both mics, allowing you to monitor and adjust input volumes individually using the rotary control dial on the back. Navigating the settings is easy enough although the touchscreen can be slightly temperamental when exiting menus with the swipe up guesture.

The receiver also enables you to switch between stereo and mono modes, adjust mic gain and bit rate, as well as activate the timecode synchronization. Timecode is particularly valuable for professional workflows, allowing seamless synchronization of audio and video across devices, such as with the Canon C80. Additional features include pairing options, display adjustments, and a built-in speaker for quick playback.

In use, the system performs exceptionally well, being able to record audio on the wireless mics as well as the camera via the receiver does offer you plenty of flexibility for different situations.

The wireless mics audio quality is superb and when listening back you can hear a noticeable improvement in clarity and richness compared to in-camera audio, such as that recorded directly on a Sony A7 Mark IV, which to be honest you would expect, but even against many other mic systems that depth of clarity is apparent. Even in challenging environments with echoes or background noise, the system excels in isolating vocals and producing a deeper, cleaner sound. The included antenna is designed to improve transmission robustness, but during testing, the connection quality was consistently excellent, with or without the antenna.

Overall, the Saramonic Ultra wireless microphone system represents a considerable step up from most other systems in its category. It competes directly with the DJI Mic 2 which retails for a similar price. While the DJI Mic 2 includes internal recording storage, it lacks the timecode synchronization which is a feature offered by the Saramonic Ultra, and one that will be an essential for professionals who need precision in their audio-video workflows.

The Saramonic Ultra is a superb wireless microphone system that bridges the gap between enthusiast and professional audio kit. It offers a comprehensive feature set that includes 32-bit float onboard recording, timecode synchronization, and a 300-metre wireless range. These features make it a great choice for enthusiasts and professionals.

What marks the Saramonic Ultra apart from many of the other wireless mic systems I’ve looked at recently is the pure flexibility of the design. The inclusion of wired lavalier microphones is more than just a nice touch and adds to the completeness of what’s on offer. Them there’s the durable charging case, and adapters for USB-C and Lightning devices, so you can hook it up to your cameras or smartphones. One of the other big fetaures is the IPX5 water resistance along with that rugged build that means it can handle outdoor use including the British winter.

The onboard recording and noise reduction are excellent enabling you to record directly to the mics when a connection to the receiver isn’t possible. The small but intuative, once you figuer out the swipung, LCD interface on the receiver, while slightly temperamental on the swipe up, offers decent control over audio settings.

However, the advanced features and professional-grade performance do come with a learning curve. But, for those just starting out in audio recording, while the Saramonic Ultra has all these features that may feel overwhelming, the interface and design of the units means you can get straight into the use of the mics and slowely bring in those additional features as and when you need. The mics also come with a higher price tag than most, so for beginners it’s hard to justify that initial investment, however, for enthusiasts and pros it makes sense.