Countryman B3 Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone - Cocoa

The B3 is the lavalier most kits keep two of. The element measures 0.23 by 0.18 in and weighs 0.012 oz, so it clips to a tie, hides in hair, disappears into a prop, or tapes to skin without announcing itself, and five colors plus markable white caps let it match whatever it is sitting against. Handling noise is the number that matters on a body mic, and the combination of an ultra-thin diaphragm and an aramid-reinforced cable is why this one has spent years on reality television, in aerial theater rigs, and in storm coverage.

Water resistance here is not a rating on a page: with the protective caps fitted the B3 tolerates makeup, sweat, and repeated submersion in pools and showers. Those same caps set the response, with +0, +4, and +8 dB options at the top end. Two sensitivities are offered, W4 for chest and lapel placement and W5 for instruments or hair-mic work in theater, and it runs from wireless bodypack voltage or 48 V phantom, where it reaches 150 dB SPL, wired for a specific transmitter or as a bare XLR lead.