An audio recorder is a centerpiece device for every video creator. Whether you’re starting a vlog, a podcast, or a YouTube channel, one of the first things you’ll need is a mic system to make you sound professional . And if you’re planning to record outside your YouTube studio, you’ll need your recording device to be portable and offer excellent audio quality while being cable-free.
In this review, we will test the dual wireless mic system WM821 by Maono , which is all those things on paper, to see if it delivers on the promise.
Maono WM821 Dual Wireless Mic System: First Impressions & Specs
A wireless mic system is a new technology trend. It comes with a transmitter that obtains the audio and then sends it to the receiver via a specific wireless frequency band (2.4HZ in the case of Maono WM821) and syncs it to the camera recording your video. The WM821 does just that, with one receiver and two transmitters — allowing you to record two people simultaneously.
When you first get your hands on the Maono WM821, you’ll notice how stylish all parts (including the charging case) look. Inside the case, you’ll find two transmitters and a receiver. Each of them feels lightweight and has a clamp on the back that you can use to attach to your clothes.
This design is complemented by the WM821, a wireless system you can use without a cable. With this in mind, moving around during recording shouldn’t be a problem, making the WM821 perfect for conducting interviews and recording outdoors.
Before we get into details, let’s look at the full list of tech specifications of the Maono WM821 dual mic system:
- Transmission type : 2.4 GHz Wireless
- Polar pattern (built-in mic) : Omnidirectional
- Built-in mic frequency response : 80Hz – 16kHz
- External mic frequency response : 50Hz – 18kHz
- Maximum output level : Line output – 10dBu, headphone output – 3.2dBu
- Maximum SPL : 105dB SPL (1kHz @1m)
- Audio input : 3.5mm TRS lavalier microphone input (transmitter)
- Audio output : 3.5mm TRS (receiver)
- Range : 328ft (100m) line of sight
- Battery : 350mAh/3.7V, 2500mAh/3.7V, 20 hours of battery life
- Charging port : type-C, DC 5V
- Price : from $189 on Amazon
Straight out of the box, you’ll be surprised how Maono seemed to have thought of everything when making the WM821.
It’s a simple audio recording system with two transmitters and one receiver that one or two people can use. It has an outstanding battery life for both transmitters and receivers, plus a charging case that can prolong it. The lav mics and windscreen protectors are nice add-ons that allow you to be more flexible with your recordings.
Design and Unpacking
The build quality of the Maono wireless mic system feels premium as soon as you first open the box. Various parts of the kit are packed separately in their little boxes with clear labels. The transmitters with the receiver are easy to carry in the Maono charging case, and you can use a special carrying pouch included in the package to store and carry all of the accessories.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find in the box while unpacking:
- Maono WM821 receiver
- Two Maono WM821 transmitters
- Charging case
- Audio cable for a camera
- Audio cable for a smartphone
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Two lavalier microphones
- Two fur windshields
- Maono storage bag
You’ll find two pocket-sized transmitters and a receiver inside a durable charging case. All these are super lightweight, with each wearable weighing only 35g, and you won’t notice it while wearing it on your clothes.
Each transmitter has a built-in microphone (omnidirectional), so you don’t have to attach a lav mic for recording. However, if you prefer using an external microphone, two lavalier mics are included in the Maono kit.
On the transmitter, you’ll find the power button, mute button, pairing button, low cut button that removes low frequencies and eliminates unwanted rumblings, and an indicator that shows when your transmitter is on or off.
The receiver has a power button that also works as a switch from mono to stereo mode and volume control buttons. On the side of the receiver, you’ll see a headphone jack for plugging in your headset and an output jack.
The receiver also has an LED screen with helpful visuals, such as mono/stereo mode, battery level, pairing status, and transmitter level meters.
You’ll also find two furry windshields that you can attach to the transmitters to help diffuse the audio and improve the quality of your audio. However, the twist-and-lock mechanism seems underdeveloped, and the windshields don’t always stay attached to the transmitters when you’re moving.
Audio Quality & Features
Usually, when people shop for their first audio recording setup, they go for condenser and dynamic mic models. If you’re planning to record static videos in one room, that’s a fair choice. But if you need a recorder that you can use on the go to film something dynamic, or if you often need to move your recording setup to different locations, then a wireless mic system like the WM821 is a better choice.
Of course, you don’t want to sacrifice the sound quality when switching from a standard condenser to a wireless mic. With the WM821, you won’t have to. The audio recorded with the built-in mics sounds natural and clear.
When filming indoors, you don’t have to do much in terms of setup. First, turn on the power of the transmitter and the receiver. Next, place the transmitter near you or use the clip to fix it onto your clothes. Then connect the receiver to your filming camera using a TRS or TRRS audio cable. Once the LED indicator on both units stops blinking and starts shining solid, the devices are paired and ready to start recording.
Because of the omni built-in mics, it’s best to add windscreen protectors when it’s windy where you’re filming. They’ll reduce the rustling background noises without affecting the clarity of the recording.
If you don’t like how the transmitter looks on camera (especially with the fluffy protector on), you can use the external lapel mics (or lavalier mics) when recording. The lav mics included in the kit are pretty basic, but they get the job done. They’re on the shorter side, but they should be enough to connect to a transmitter and put it in your pocket.
The WM821 model is packed with features to improve your audio quality while filming outdoors or when you need to move while recording. One of these features is the low-cut filter. It works as a digital windshield, removing unwanted background noises from your recording.
The dual transmitters are great to use in many situations. For example, when you need to record two people at once. If one person is soft-spoken and the other is louder, you can set the transmitters to two separate channels and different gains for each. Or when you only have only one chance at recording something, you can use the other transmitter to record a backup copy of the same audio.
The Range
The most impressive feature of the Maono WM821 mic system is the range. Maono promises an extended transmission range of up to 328ft (100m) under normal conditions and 400 ft in an open environment when no obstacle is blocking the transmission signal.
During testing, we were impressed to confirm the 100-meter distance coverage. The recording quality doesn’t drop, no matter how far you move away from the receiver. The only condition is that you should stay in line of sight, i.e., don’t have anything (like a wall) between you and the receiver.
Compatibility
The Maono WM821 is compatible with all devices with a 3.5mm port. The mic kit has two connector cables labeled Phone and Camera , so you can’t mix them up.
Using these cables, you can connect the WM821 to a video camera, a DSLR camera, or your smartphone. The only exception is the iPhone – you’ll need a lightning adapter cable to connect it to the Maono WM821, which isn’t supplied in the box.
Battery Life
We already mentioned the excellent battery life of the WM821 of up to 10 hours of work. According to Maono, the transmitters can last even longer – up to 12 hours on a single charge. Thanks to the charging case, you can double those numbers before using an actual charger.
A little battery-related life hack: if you’re only using one transmitter, you can swap it with another from the charging case and continue recording.
Should You Buy the Maono WM821 Dual Wireless Microphone System?
Maono WM821 is a great multi-purpose mic kit that any content creator on a budget will appreciate. This mic is great for both a vlogger filming dynamic shorts and a gamer looking to record their live streaming sessions .
If the Maono WM820 A2 was more of a beginner-oriented option, the WM821 provides more features to play with, better audio, range, and better battery life for advanced users, and more complex video & audio projects.
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If you don’t have a full-sized printing machine at home and often need to print a document on the go, check out the Newyes portable printer . This wireless printer is lightweight and small enough to fit in your bag. Not to mention it’s environmentally friendly, since it uses thermal paper instead of ink.
Follow our review of the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer to see if it suits your printing needs.
Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal A4 Printer: First Impressions & Specs
When I was a student, I remember my university always required hard copies of documents. Luckily, there was a print shop on campus where I could always pop in to print something.
Then I became a professional, and to my surprise many life spheres still required me to have printed versions of documents with me. Of course you can get your own full-sized machine to print things at home, but if like me you live in a small apartment, you value every extra bit of space and don’t want a massive printer to take it up.
One day, when I was looking for a neighbor with a printer to help me with my event tickets, they introduced me to the concept of a portable printer. Seeing how easy it is to use, I immediately wanted to get my hands on one of those. So here I am, reviewing one of the most useful gadgets I received recently – the Newyes portable thermal printer.
Before we continue with this review, here is the full list of specs of this printer.
- Model: Newyes LD0801
- Dimensions: 10.4 x 1.2 x 2.28 in (265 x 58 x 30.5 mm)
- Weight: 16.8oz (475g)
- Paper format: A4
- Paper width: 210mm or 218mm
- Printing Type: thermal paper
- Resolution: 203DPI
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Charging port: USB type-C port
- Input Voltage: DC 5V / 2A
- Battery: 1200mAh lithium battery
- Charging time: 75 min
- Automatic shut down: after 30 minutes
- Stand-by: about 30 days
- Extra features: LED light, reset, on / off switch button
- Color: white, black
- Warranty: limited one year warranty
- Price: $199 on the Newyes website
If you find yourself in need of hard copies of important documents while on the move, the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer will become your go-to gadget. Newyes calls it “the world’s smallest printer”, and with the weight of under 500g this seems plausible. This mini printer offers a handy solution for those moments when you need to quickly print an important document but don’t have access to an office setup.
Operating this printer is a breeze – a simple Bluetooth connection is all that’s required. Once connected, just fire up the app, choose the file you want to print, and send it over. Efficiency is at the forefront, and you can easily print multiple sheets by inserting new pages back to back.
The only limitation this printer has is that it can only print in black. So even if your original file is in color, the printed document will still come out in black and white. Other than that – you can print a variety of file types including Excel, Word, PDF, JPG, PNG, and web pages – and it only takes seconds.
The Newyes portable wireless printer combines convenience, portability, and efficiency – all the things I appreciate in a modern gadget.
Design and Unpacking
Let’s have a closer look at the design and build of this smart printer, as well as what you get included in the package when you purchase it.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find when unpacking your Newyes portable thermal printer:
- The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer
- Bracket
- USB type-C cable
- Storage/carrying pouch
- 100pcs thermal printing paper
- User manual
You can use the Newyes portable printer right out of the box, as you’re all set with essential accessories. Aside from the printer itself, the package includes a bracket which will make printing more than one page smoother, a convenient storage bag for carrying your printer with you, a USB-C cable for charging, and a supply of 100 pieces of thermal paper to get you started.
One important thing to remember is that this printer only works with thermal paper. While thermal paper is significantly more expensive than normal paper, this printer also uses inkless printing and works without a ribbon and toner. Since you don’t have to spend money on ink, carbon ribbons or toner cartridges, you ultimately end up saving money with thermal paper.
The Newyes LD0801 is a pocket-sized printer that features straightforward design. For the purpose of this review, I had a printer in white color. The printer looks like a small white brick with just two pressable buttons on top – one for switching it on and off, and another for opening the printer’s cover. You’ll also see the paper entry slot on top of the printer.
On the side of the printer, you’ll find a single charging port.
The printer is made of plastic, but the build feels sturdy. I never have to worry about throwing it into my bag or damaging it when traveling. Besides, you can use a nice carrying pouch included in the package for protection.
Performance & Features
According to Newyes, the portable printer has a “handheld size and two times the weight of an iPhone”. This can give you an idea of how portable and convenient this little gadget is. In a month of testing, I used it at home, in a store, and even in a car while on the road.
Using the printer is unbelievably easy. Connect it to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, press the button to turn the printer on and put a sheet of thermal paper into the paper entry slot. Make sure to use thermal paper and not standard paper, and put it with the black marks facing down. Bear in mind that the thermal printer can only print in black and white and only on one (marked) side of the thermal paper sheet.
Then open the iPrint app on your smartphone. If you’re printing an A4 document, you can select one of two options – Photo Printing and Document Printing . Then choose the document from your phone’s files and print it.
The printer is reliable and in the time that I used it the Newyes LD0801 never let me down. The printing quality will surprise you, as it’s sometimes better than what you get from a full-sized printer. The printer supports printing in various formats, and you can use it to print documents from your smartphone (Android and iPhone), iPad, and Android tablet.
When fully charged, the printer can support up to 90 pieces of paper continuously, which is very impressive for a gadget of such a small size.
Software
The Newyes portable printer requires an iPrint app to operate. The app is available for free on iOS and Android. You’ll need to download the app on your device from the App Store or Google Play before you begin printing your documents.
The app has a simple and user-friendly design. You’ll need to pair your device with the printer on the first use via Bluetooth.
Depending on the type of document you want to print, you can choose different options from the app. There’s photo printing, document printing, web printing, and banner printing.
The app also has Materials and Template sections, where you can find various pictures and templates for printing to-do lists, post-its and holiday cards. You can also use the Newyes LD0801 as a label printer using these templates.
Battery Life
The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer is equipped with a decent 1200mAh lithium battery. This high-capacity battery allows you to print on the go without constantly worrying about running out of charge. When I received the printer, I charged it fully once, and it still hasn’t run out of battery after one month of use (I use it to print something almost every other day).
Charging this printer is quick and takes just over an hour to charge the printer from zero to full. The type-C charging cable facilitates a rapid charging experience. And if you run out of battery while on the go, you can quickly charge the printer from a portable power station or a power bank to continue printing.
The printer doesn’t support wireless charging, so I’d recommend always bringing the usb-c cable with you just in case.
Should You Buy the Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal Printer?
The Newyes portable thermal printer ensures high-quality wireless printing while on the go and easy operation. It’s not the most budget-friendly option, but this purchase will save you money and nerves in the long run thanks to its versatility and portable nature.
Personally, I can say that this printer made my life easier. So much that it’s probably my favorite smart gadget of the year. If you’re looking for a portable printer that won’t take any space in your house, I’d certainly recommend considering the Newyes LD0801 model.
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