PHILIPSLFH9172/00 Boundary-Layer Conference Microphone for Digital Conference Recording System

My organisation uses VoIP applications (Nefsis, Skype, and now Lync) quite a bit to cut down on tel-co phone costs, but getting a proper microphone for the participants has always been problematic. Near the end of last year we started using a simple USB speaker/microphone, but in a meeting of only six persons, individual speakers sometimes had to move closer to, or in some cases actually hold the mic in order to be heard. We even tried a couple Shure microphones via an amp with slightly disastrous results and poor recording range.To be honest i was desperate for results, so when i saw this Phillips mic and its simple hype i certainly hemmed and hawed at the price tag, but bit the bullet and bought it (it was not reviewed at the time). My initial tests when i received it were fairly disappointing (in hindsight i must have had some advanced volume setting off or lowered), but i tried again later on and was pleasantly surprised with it's range and quality. In one of our standard meetings (recently had one with 11 people in the room) the furthest person from the mic would be about 10-feet away, but our remote participants always had a "loud and clear" response for audio checks. The mic itself was no larger than 5-inches in diameter, and its black and silver design was simple and to the point; on a tabletop it was unobtrusive but for its thin black cable (which is easily stored on its underside spool). The usual background noise was also lightly picked up (AC unit, papers rustling, etc.), but i'm not expecting perfection.The main disadvantage with this mic to me is its price. Currently, i will say that it was worth the price because it now services my VoIP conferences of about 6 - 18 people in a room easily. One should also consider that the device can be daisy-chained with more of the same device to allow for up to 6 mics total (which in my view should easily cover our largest meeting room of 40 participants, and then some). And considering the price-point of some professional conference mic systems, perhaps $150 is laughably cheap.In anycase, i hope to buy another one or two soon to help make the overall PC-VoIP experiences here more seamless and hassle-free. FYI the computers i tested ran Windows XP/7, and the latest versions (as of October 22nd, 2011) of Skype, Nefsis and Lync. The systems varied from Dell Latitude E4300s to an older Inspiron 1520, with no noticeable change in quality.

These microphones have dramatically improved the quality of my live programs that are shot in a static setting.

The MICs on the hand-held recorded work better than this device for conferencing. After doing some troubleshooting, found that the position of the MIC on the top is pointing up toward the ceiling - well, this does not do well unless an individual or individuals are pretty much right on top the device. Hardly a "conference" MIC for a group setting. I guess the joke is that one individual could use it for an online conference. Not recommended - not even a good paperweight.

Based on the name of the product, this microphone seems to be specifically designed for the Philips Digital Conference Recording Systems. But, I thought I would try it anyway. I was (and still am) looking for a good omnidirectional microphone to use with a Cisco 9951 phone. Unfortunately, the mic didn't pick up very well. I also tried pluggin it into a laptop, but the sound quality was poor there, too. I sent it back.

For anyone who complains about this mic sounding poorly when connected to a laptop, that's because it's a condenser microphone, and requires5V phantom power to operate properly. When combined with a Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 mixer and a Rode Phantom Power Supply ***VXLR+*** (which steps the standard 48V phantom power down to 5V), the mic has surprisingly good pickup. Only giving 4 stars since, as far as I can tell, Philips doesn't offer a standalone phantom power supply for this mic, which would eliminate $55 of extra equipment to get it to function.Here are listings for the two products I mentioned above. If they aren't available, you can use any 2x2 USB audio interface with XLR input and 48V phantom power, and the XLR connector MUST step down the voltage from 48V to 5V (or you'll fry the mic.)Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 mixer:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FFIGYOIRode Phantom Power Supply (VXLR+)https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071LNDKBJ

Greatly increased the sensitivity of the Phillips digital recorder I purchased separately and enables recording of even soft voices. Highly recommended even though the price seems a bit steep.

Needing no external power source, connected to a Phillps voice tracer, this microphone captured even soft voices around a very large seminar table.

nice matrial