Lark M2S (affiliate): geni.us/LarkM2S Hollyland Lark M2 (affiliate): geni.us/HlyLarkM2 DJI Mic Mini (affiliate): geni.us/DJIMicMini DJI Mic + Receiver (affiliate): amzn.to/4g5EQLj DJI Mic Only (affiliate): amzn.to/416kb5A
Nice option and implementation, BUT the mic on the m2 pointed straight to the mouth wins on the sound quality. The 2s will pick a lot of random stuff pointing forward. I have the m2 and the dji mic that comes with the osmo pocket 3, and even compared to my sennheiser, you can't beat the m2 overall, It's to easy, all black (with the sticker) and the sound quality is great for the size. I think DJI could nail the design if it was just a square without any logos, and loose the clip behind, the thinness of the m2 is great to put on a shirt and also from inside as you showed.
I just bought the M2 back in Black Friday and love it, so the M2S is already in my cart waiting for a sale. Great tests Mark, thanks... keep the good work!
The Hollyland Lark M2 quickly won me over - it only took one session in post to appreciate the quality of the audio. And my editor claims he can't tell the difference between my Rode vs Lark M2 audio captures. I'll have to take a closer look at the M2S... it sounds really good, and I definitely prefer a discreet look. As a side note, I find the branding on most wireless mics to be distracting - so I tossed the black sticker that came with the Lark M2 and used an airbrush with matte black paint and blended out the logo. Looks like the M2S solves that issue as well! You've got me sold, Mark!
I love that the new Hollyland is more of a clip. My big problem with the original Hollyland Lark M2 magnet version was it kept getting knocked off and lost during filming on my trip to Japan. We never lost the magnetic base mount, just the Magnetic Microphone itself. Luckily, whenever we lost it, we could use the receiver's blue "connected" light to retrace our steps and see when it was nearby. A clip mount is a better route. I wish they'd put out a friction clip mount for the M2 where the microphone slid in with some friction walls + the magnets so it couldn't be accidentally knocked off when zipping up a jacket.
Hi Mark, great comparison, thanks ! M2 sounds slightly better than the M2S, but mostly we hear the FX30 preamp. DJI Mic2 with the hot shoe adapter for Sony blows everything away because it bypasses the (not totally terrible) Sony preamp. Hollyland should definitely consider providing an adapter like that.
Is the holy landmark m2s interchangeable with the holyland Lark M2 receiver or vice versa? I would recommend that holyland puts in microSD card in the other side of that thing so they could have internal recording. That'd be easily transferred to your phone or other device so that you could link up your audio should you get out of range or have bad reception. I don't understand why all these microphone companies only have each unit in a separate category and they're not interconnectable DJI mic mini needs to do that with her DJI mic 2 with a firmware update so that they can have a true audio ecosystem
Hollyland audio is better, DJI seem to remove a certain range of frequency causing it sound like something covering it a bit, while both hollyland sounds more fuller in sound. Personally I prefer original M2 as you can position it better area on your chest for best audio instead of clipping it too close to your neck.
i love the lark i dont use it much but it has great quality and love how much it comes with it and love the necklace . I got the m2s for client work I like the simplicity and discreetnes of it. I have been using the pico mic though
Thanks Mark. (1) Can your M2 transmitter pair with the M2s receiver and vice versa? (2) Can you put M2 and M2s together to have a four channel? Or (3) can you put 2 x M2s on a four channel without interference? Thanks!
Great comparison! The original M2 still sounds best in my opinion, and I also have the Mic Mini. The DJI sounds clean, but quite sterile without EQing.
I like that the M2S looks like a clip on lapel mic. But the audio, at least in this comparison, is worse than the M2. Sounds like it's slightly overdriven, which may be either something in your setup (did you have to gain up the FX30 between the two models?) or otherwise hopefully they can fix it in firmware.
Hollyland should have the option to just buy one M2S and been able to pair it with the M2..... so regular people, who already bought the M2 and are not going to spent on another fulll kit, could get one piece and use more of their products. And you can select in the app which 2 microohones to use...
I was really pissed because I just ordered the lark m2 10 hours ago, only to find out they released a new model with the same price, 4 hours after my purchase. But thanks to you I was able to decide not to cancel my order. Much appreciated.
M2 for the win with sound quality. Too bad they don't have a good wind cover solution. Love the idea of the M2S but the sound is not as good. I have wondered why no one has as added a similar type of extension. Built-in sound cancelling is always terrible.
I'm wondering if the mic or your post processing is over compressing it a little? The sound of your breath is more noticeable than with other mics and other post processing types. I have to guess it's a too-high of compression ratio/too low threshold on the compressor, but if it's the Mic, that would be extremely important to know. Thanks! Great video!
Question!!! One of the main reasons I CHOSE the lark m2 is when you have the iphone reciever in it, you can play back a video recording without having to take the adaptor out like some mics.. can you do that with the DJI 2? If this question is confusing this video will explain - > ua-cam.com/video/C06J4e8morQ/v-deo.html
What mic do you think sounds the best outside when combatting wind noise? How does the M2 perform hidden under your shirt (magnet outside) vs DJI hidden under your shirt (magnet outside) vs the M2S with wind muff on vs DJI with wind muff? Is there a clear winner? Basically when used in their most discreet modes which do you like the best?
If it’s a really windy day, the DJI mic can be reversed under your shirt WITH the windmuff pretty easily. So that’s the ultimate protection. If you’re just reversing the mics under your shirt without any windmuff the m2 sounds the best in my opinion. And usually that’s enough protection from regular wind
@ thank you for the quick and detailed reply! You do the best comparisons. There are so many good mics now it's hard to decide which to invest in. I received the DJI mic 2 with the Pocket 3 creator combo. I thought about adding the full set of those for perhaps the best fullest audio quality and DJI compatibility without the transmitter. But the Hollyland offerings are super appealing too. It's a good problem to have. I REALLY wish someone would make a Canon RF hotshoe adapter like DJI has for Sony. I shoot with an R5II so that alone could sway my decision. It may be Canon preventing that development though.
The m2 sounds better in the test ta me, but they all sound good. And I’m so glad there’s a new mic to buy each week. At least it’s endless content for you, Mark lol😂
I received the Mic Mini as a gift and liked it . The audio quality via bt sounded the same until I noticed ever 30 seconds there a pop and audio gets garbled. I need to get the adapter to work with my older iPhone. Don't care for the larger receiver when paired with a phone. But overall surprised at the audio quality. This new Lark M2s seem fine for the reason you said but there are so many wireless mic options its getting so insane I'm have an Audio Crisis 😛
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis I think about it but I don't like filming myself and talking in front of the camera. I give you all the credit in the world producing all these videos you do. I salute you sir.
DJI wins again, love the discreetness of the m26 though, the no logos is huge, been practically begging these companies to make a mic like this for a while now.
A more realistic noise cancelling test is outside where there is more realistic noise. Can you use noise cancelling when the DJI Mic Mini is connected via Bluetooth? I understand Lark has no NT capability.
They all sound pretty much the same. I got the DJI mini to use with the Pocket 3/Pro 5 because I don’t need the receiver. I will almost never use it with a phone but might use it with the a6700. So in my case if I had to pick one it would be the Mic Mini as the best all a rounder in my workflow.
The real name for the (wind muffs) real name is dead cat. The first test of the mic’s the first 2 sounded like you were talking into tin cans. But I bought the Dji mic mini to use with my Dji osmo 5 pro and osmo pocket 3
The M2 ends up being a better choice because it is much more versatile with the magnet. The new mic forces people to use it on edges. Another obvious reason to keep the M2 is the lack of internal recording of the new version
Hollyland is very weak at designer department. They did it again with the deadcat. The winner is DJI again. Charging box with the windmuffs fit in? Who else could do that?
I think the M2 is legendary and sounds better and louder tho it only does mono. Tho the m2s has has mono and stereo but i dont know what difference that makes. Can someone explain?
the m2 can only do mono on the phones - which means if you have two different people using the mics, they will both be on one track. using a mirrorless or dslr camera, all of the mics including the m2 can do stereo mode as well as mono. so the audio of one person would be on the right track and the audio of the other person would be on the left track.
Someone needs to come out with one that is 32bit float with some ai in the receiver that will set the levels automatically for you. You’d think that would be possible now.
Well, this is what I've been looking for since the first time this mic trend. I don't like the Saramonic style that UA-camrs use, which hangs down really big.
Have you considered putting all three mics on at the same time and recording the audio in one go? Would eliminate veriability between takes. But I might be missing something (other than looks) that would discourage this
both Hollylands just fail once you want the deadcat, one of the reasons I went for the DJI Mic Mini. I mostly use wireless mics outside and the deadcat is a must. That and the direct connection to the DJI Pocket are what sold me on it. The M2S sounds noticeably worse than the M2 and DJI, it's generally a step back in almost any way btw, it's a phyiscal dial not an analog dial, since it doesn't react analog but just clicks in a few steps, that's not analog by definition
Man...people need to listen on good speakers and not just phones etc. The new M2s sound awful. So much sibilence when you talk Mark. There's a slight hiss behind your voice in almost everything you're saying which is surprising being the newest one...i would gave expected improvement since the M2 itself has a flat, tinny sound to them. I have the Hohem Mic 01 and theyre just fine. I also have DJI Mic 1 and they're decent enough. None of these new ones are warranted a purchase at all yet...
just to be clear - the only part recorded the M2S was the test portion. I had a boom mic for the talking head (I was wearing the M2S the whole time for a size demo - but it wasn't the audio in the main video. I probably should have been cleared about that)
@MarkBennettCameraCrisis for sure I'm only talking about the actual audio when you were talking on them..not your studio sound! You're not the only one i heard it on. Aldren at #Flytpath also had a lot of sibilence in his trials. These aren't good audio unfortunately
Lark M2S (affiliate): geni.us/LarkM2S
Hollyland Lark M2 (affiliate): geni.us/HlyLarkM2
DJI Mic Mini (affiliate): geni.us/DJIMicMini
DJI Mic + Receiver (affiliate): amzn.to/4g5EQLj
DJI Mic Only (affiliate): amzn.to/416kb5A
I really like the M2 but I wish Hollyland would come out with a Sony hot shoe specific model.
Yeah me toooo 😢
...even dji models aren't good enough. Automatic turn off isn't working, cannot do 4 channel with another mic using free the 3.5mm
Nice option and implementation, BUT the mic on the m2 pointed straight to the mouth wins on the sound quality. The 2s will pick a lot of random stuff pointing forward.
I have the m2 and the dji mic that comes with the osmo pocket 3, and even compared to my sennheiser, you can't beat the m2 overall, It's to easy, all black (with the sticker) and the sound quality is great for the size.
I think DJI could nail the design if it was just a square without any logos, and loose the clip behind, the thinness of the m2 is great to put on a shirt and also from inside as you showed.
I just bought the M2 back in Black Friday and love it, so the M2S is already in my cart waiting for a sale. Great tests Mark, thanks... keep the good work!
Love that you already have a video of the m2s vs m2 !
I just bought the DJI Mic 1 at like $50 price above the mic mini and I couldn't be happier!
Great review as always Mark! Thanks :))
You not yet being at 100k subscribers is as big a mystery as that of dark matter. You deserve much more recognition!
Thanks!! Chugging along slowly over here - hopefully it will pick up in 2025 😀
The Hollyland Lark M2 quickly won me over - it only took one session in post to appreciate the quality of the audio. And my editor claims he can't tell the difference between my Rode vs Lark M2 audio captures. I'll have to take a closer look at the M2S... it sounds really good, and I definitely prefer a discreet look. As a side note, I find the branding on most wireless mics to be distracting - so I tossed the black sticker that came with the Lark M2 and used an airbrush with matte black paint and blended out the logo. Looks like the M2S solves that issue as well! You've got me sold, Mark!
I love that the new Hollyland is more of a clip. My big problem with the original Hollyland Lark M2 magnet version was it kept getting knocked off and lost during filming on my trip to Japan. We never lost the magnetic base mount, just the Magnetic Microphone itself. Luckily, whenever we lost it, we could use the receiver's blue "connected" light to retrace our steps and see when it was nearby. A clip mount is a better route. I wish they'd put out a friction clip mount for the M2 where the microphone slid in with some friction walls + the magnets so it couldn't be accidentally knocked off when zipping up a jacket.
I have Lark M2, hopefully they will add stereo recording on the phone & via USB-C on the receiver in a software update.
Thank you Mark for this review!
Another great review! I dig that M2S design.
I wish it came w a necklace because many a time, I have to film ladies in dresses and a necklace does the trick.
I actually didn't notice you had a microphone on until you mentioned it, wow.
Hi Mark, great comparison, thanks ! M2 sounds slightly better than the M2S, but mostly we hear the FX30 preamp. DJI Mic2 with the hot shoe adapter for Sony blows everything away because it bypasses the (not totally terrible) Sony preamp. Hollyland should definitely consider providing an adapter like that.
it's such a little difference in my experience. listening on iLoud MTM with Schitt DAC
@@saschageier Yes I'm listening on studio monitors too. Mackie XR824 and SSL12 interface.
Is the holy landmark m2s interchangeable with the holyland Lark M2 receiver or vice versa? I would recommend that holyland puts in microSD card in the other side of that thing so they could have internal recording. That'd be easily transferred to your phone or other device so that you could link up your audio should you get out of range or have bad reception. I don't understand why all these microphone companies only have each unit in a separate category and they're not interconnectable DJI mic mini needs to do that with her DJI mic 2 with a firmware update so that they can have a true audio ecosystem
Hollyland audio is better, DJI seem to remove a certain range of frequency causing it sound like something covering it a bit, while both hollyland sounds more fuller in sound. Personally I prefer original M2 as you can position it better area on your chest for best audio instead of clipping it too close to your neck.
DJI because I like sound. And also such easy way to connect to all DJI products
i love the lark i dont use it much but it has great quality and love how much it comes with it and love the necklace . I got the m2s for client work I like the simplicity and discreetnes of it. I have been using the pico mic though
Thanks Mark. (1) Can your M2 transmitter pair with the M2s receiver and vice versa? (2) Can you put M2 and M2s together to have a four channel? Or (3) can you put 2 x M2s on a four channel without interference? Thanks!
Great comparison! The original M2 still sounds best in my opinion, and I also have the Mic Mini. The DJI sounds clean, but quite sterile without EQing.
I like that the M2S looks like a clip on lapel mic. But the audio, at least in this comparison, is worse than the M2. Sounds like it's slightly overdriven, which may be either something in your setup (did you have to gain up the FX30 between the two models?) or otherwise hopefully they can fix it in firmware.
Hollyland should have the option to just buy one M2S and been able to pair it with the M2..... so regular people, who already bought the M2 and are not going to spent on another fulll kit, could get one piece and use more of their products. And you can select in the app which 2 microohones to use...
Excellent review! If I’m using my iPhone to record/film an interview using any of the 3 mic options, am I able to monitor the audio?
Judging from the shape, can the M2S be worn like the bone conductor earbuds?
I was really pissed because I just ordered the lark m2 10 hours ago, only to find out they released a new model with the same price, 4 hours after my purchase. But thanks to you I was able to decide not to cancel my order. Much appreciated.
Yes - definitely not a replacement for the amazing m2
Where’d you see it for the same price? The m2 is $92 on the site and the m2s is $139!
M2 for the win with sound quality. Too bad they don't have a good wind cover solution. Love the idea of the M2S but the sound is not as good. I have wondered why no one has as added a similar type of extension. Built-in sound cancelling is always terrible.
Can you pair the new transmitter to the old receiver?
I'm wondering if the mic or your post processing is over compressing it a little? The sound of your breath is more noticeable than with other mics and other post processing types. I have to guess it's a too-high of compression ratio/too low threshold on the compressor, but if it's the Mic, that would be extremely important to know. Thanks! Great video!
I didn't do any processing during the audio test. Straight out of camera.
@MarkBennettCameraCrisis Ok! Thank you for replying!
Elegant solution.
Love it.
Question!!! One of the main reasons I CHOSE the lark m2 is when you have the iphone reciever in it, you can play back a video recording without having to take the adaptor out like some mics.. can you do that with the DJI 2? If this question is confusing this video will explain - > ua-cam.com/video/C06J4e8morQ/v-deo.html
I'm not sold by any company, but the day any of them will make a 32 bit of this I'll definitely buy 4 of them.
You need internal recording on the transmitters for 32 bit. So it would be tough to make them this small
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis it will happen before you know it.
If they realese this in white it would be perfect for weddings.
Great video! I know this isn’t the topic at hand, but what’s your mic setup for this video? Sounds clean and full.
Rode NTG3 into a zoom f3 recorder
What mic do you think sounds the best outside when combatting wind noise? How does the M2 perform hidden under your shirt (magnet outside) vs DJI hidden under your shirt (magnet outside) vs the M2S with wind muff on vs DJI with wind muff? Is there a clear winner?
Basically when used in their most discreet modes which do you like the best?
If it’s a really windy day, the DJI mic can be reversed under your shirt WITH the windmuff pretty easily. So that’s the ultimate protection. If you’re just reversing the mics under your shirt without any windmuff the m2 sounds the best in my opinion. And usually that’s enough protection from regular wind
@ thank you for the quick and detailed reply! You do the best comparisons. There are so many good mics now it's hard to decide which to invest in. I received the DJI mic 2 with the Pocket 3 creator combo. I thought about adding the full set of those for perhaps the best fullest audio quality and DJI compatibility without the transmitter. But the Hollyland offerings are super appealing too. It's a good problem to have.
I REALLY wish someone would make a Canon RF hotshoe adapter like DJI has for Sony. I shoot with an R5II so that alone could sway my decision. It may be Canon preventing that development though.
The m2 sounds better in the test ta me, but they all sound good. And I’m so glad there’s a new mic to buy each week. At least it’s endless content for you, Mark lol😂
hard to keep up!!
Where the DJI gets me is it syncing to my pocket 3 and action 4/5 with no extra receivers or wires. It’s just so dang easy
eversince the dji mic2 and mic mini... i feel like their output is muddy. muffled.
i always go back to the m2
I received the Mic Mini as a gift and liked it . The audio quality via bt sounded the same until I noticed ever 30 seconds there a pop and audio gets garbled. I need to get the adapter to work with my older iPhone. Don't care for the larger receiver when paired with a phone. But overall surprised at the audio quality.
This new Lark M2s seem fine for the reason you said but there are so many wireless mic options its getting so insane I'm have an Audio Crisis 😛
You can start a whole channel!!
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis I think about it but I don't like filming myself and talking in front of the camera. I give you all the credit in the world producing all these videos you do. I salute you sir.
Of course I see this right after I got the DJI Mic Mini
No - regrets - a great mic with the best feature set
Genius!Thank You
Just saw the m2s today….and who’s got a video…that’s right…MB⭐️
Got my voice back!!
The Lark M2S does not sound as good, however I'm curious how it performs after treating the sound in post.
I’m sure you could get it to where you want pretty easily
Time to use your affiliate link, Mark 😂😂😂
@@dukecha 🤣
I prefer the m2. I have the dji mic 2, lark m1, lark m2
DJI wins again, love the discreetness of the m26 though, the no logos is huge, been practically begging these companies to make a mic like this for a while now.
A more realistic noise cancelling test is outside where there is more realistic noise.
Can you use noise cancelling when the DJI Mic Mini is connected via Bluetooth? I understand Lark has no NT capability.
I tested the DJI mini vs lark m2 outside for noise in the last comparison I did
I didn’t see the last comparison.
Love the innovations now please add Sony hotshoe to all of them 🤣
The DJi mic mini is the king of mini mics
I prefer M2 .. still my main mic for vlogging
They all sound pretty much the same. I got the DJI mini to use with the Pocket 3/Pro 5 because I don’t need the receiver. I will almost never use it with a phone but might use it with the a6700. So in my case if I had to pick one it would be the Mic Mini as the best all a rounder in my workflow.
The real name for the (wind muffs) real name is dead cat. The first test of the mic’s the first 2 sounded like you were talking into tin cans. But I bought the Dji mic mini to use with my Dji osmo 5 pro and osmo pocket 3
Your studio mic sounds the best -- none of the wireless sound good to me. i think the new Hollyland is the best of show today. Cheers.
Yeah - no beating the big expensive studio mics
Still have my m1. Outside of sound guys and tech nerds all of these mics are good enough quality.
M2 is better in my opinion sounds much better than the other two.
It is great
The M2 ends up being a better choice because it is much more versatile with the magnet. The new mic forces people to use it on edges. Another obvious reason to keep the M2 is the lack of internal recording of the new version
It is more versatile. It will be hard to get internal recording on mics this small. Hopefully one day
got me with the unbutton shirt sentence 🙂 hahaha
😂
Hollyland is very weak at designer department. They did it again with the deadcat. The winner is DJI again. Charging box with the windmuffs fit in? Who else could do that?
I still think the M2 sounds the best. I think they are all great mics but the M2 is the clearest..
I think the M2 is legendary and sounds better and louder tho it only does mono. Tho the m2s has has mono and stereo but i dont know what difference that makes. Can someone explain?
the m2 can only do mono on the phones - which means if you have two different people using the mics, they will both be on one track. using a mirrorless or dslr camera, all of the mics including the m2 can do stereo mode as well as mono. so the audio of one person would be on the right track and the audio of the other person would be on the left track.
@MarkBennettCameraCrisis thanks for the break down. The m2s does sound cool tho.
A lot of options . I guess that is good for us customers.
Truth!!
Someone needs to come out with one that is 32bit float with some ai in the receiver that will set the levels automatically for you. You’d think that would be possible now.
Rode pro has 32bit float and auto gain control through its GainAssist technology.
Oh I thought it was buffet because of internal recording.... 😂 Never mind lol
I do not like that the receiver shoe is not adjustable. If the make a pro level, the receiver should be able to record internally.
M2 for me
Was anyone else waiting for the Mark intro music but it never came? 👀
17 minutes of suspense!!
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis Well it worked!
why nobody are making mics like the picomic ffs. shure made one but its helluva expensive and lack features
it's the price of the pico and shure that prevents the masses from caring
@MarkBennettCameraCrisis yeah but their clip looks way cleaner imo
@@iDealMedley I'm gonna get them in for a giant test
Mark youre gonna keep making me spend money
trying to make everyone be like me!!
Well, this is what I've been looking for since the first time this mic trend. I don't like the Saramonic style that UA-camrs use, which hangs down really big.
Thank God they didn't add a stupid logo on the front!
9:20 thank you Android :(
Have you considered putting all three mics on at the same time and recording the audio in one go? Would eliminate veriability between takes. But I might be missing something (other than looks) that would discourage this
I would need three of the same camera. They can only be plugged in one at a time.
Mark sells out! Unbuttoning his shirt for views and likes!
Great review though. I mean of the mic!
starting my OF tomorrow
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis mark does mic
How many more of these damn things need to flood the market lol
yeah, it’s only a matter of time until musk’s invisible mic with neurolink shows up lol :)
There are sooo many - but the silver lining is that most of them are really good.
@@agentromanoff5141 musk is taking over everything ( if he could)
I don't what it is, but I hate the sound of the Lark M2S. Sounds thin and hollow
Hollyland Mark 2 sounds the best by far, the others sound robotic.
both Hollylands just fail once you want the deadcat, one of the reasons I went for the DJI Mic Mini. I mostly use wireless mics outside and the deadcat is a must.
That and the direct connection to the DJI Pocket are what sold me on it.
The M2S sounds noticeably worse than the M2 and DJI, it's generally a step back in almost any way
btw, it's a phyiscal dial not an analog dial, since it doesn't react analog but just clicks in a few steps, that's not analog by definition
Physical dial - noted - haha
I'll check out the links but i'm not a fan of the haircut
well - the links are more important
The original Hollyland still sounds better.
yeah - I think it’s because the capsule faces up instead of out
Man...people need to listen on good speakers and not just phones etc.
The new M2s sound awful. So much sibilence when you talk Mark. There's a slight hiss behind your voice in almost everything you're saying which is surprising being the newest one...i would gave expected improvement since the M2 itself has a flat, tinny sound to them.
I have the Hohem Mic 01 and theyre just fine. I also have DJI Mic 1 and they're decent enough. None of these new ones are warranted a purchase at all yet...
just to be clear - the only part recorded the M2S was the test portion. I had a boom mic for the talking head (I was wearing the M2S the whole time for a size demo - but it wasn't the audio in the main video. I probably should have been cleared about that)
@MarkBennettCameraCrisis for sure I'm only talking about the actual audio when you were talking on them..not your studio sound! You're not the only one i heard it on. Aldren at #Flytpath also had a lot of sibilence in his trials. These aren't good audio unfortunately
@@sibertiger17 fair enough!!
I have to say those Lark M2 stickers look so ugly. They should fire the designer.