Sony ECM-L1 lavalier microphone review

The Sony ECM-M1 is a clip-on lavalier or ‘lapel’ mic of a type used by interviewers and presenters everywhere. It’s a tiny wearable microphone capsule that connects by wire either directly to the camera or recording device, or to a wireless transmitter carried in a back pocket, maybe. It’s a simple, uncomplicated type of microphone, and the Sony ECM-LV1 Stereo Lavalier Microphone works on the same principle as any other. The main difference is the price, which is at the upper end of the scale for even the best lavalier microphones.

The selling point for the ECM-M1 is its audio quality. It uses an ECM-77 series “industry-lauded” capsule (Sony’s description) that’s widely used in the professional recording world. There are much cheaper lavalier mics than this one, and you'll find several in our guide to the best budget microphones, but the ECM-M1 is designed for quality not cheapness.

It does, however, work just like any other plug-in lavalier microphone. It connects by cable to a regular 3.5mm analog input jack, as used by cameras and a host other recording devices, and draws its power from the recording device. Again, this is standard practice. Unlike Sony’s digital mics, this one is generic – it doesn’t require a camera with the Sony digital interface.

Sony ECM-L1: Specifications

Sony ECM-L1: Price and availability

The Sony ECM-L1 is expected to become available in late October 2024 and to cost around $279 / £259. That’s not a lot of money in the world of high-end audio, but it will be a bit of a shock to the system for anyone used to getting lav mics free with wireless mic kits, or as relatively cheap accessories for occasional use.

Sony ECM-L1: Design and handling

The ECM-L1 is simple to use. The mic clip is uncomplicated, unlike the effective but fiddly cable looping on a RODE clip, for example, and the small metal wind shield is very neat and inconspicuous – you can swap this for a larger ‘furry’ wind shield for outdoor use.

The mic is connected via a 2-core shielded cable that uses OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper) cabling to reduce transmission losses, and the 2.2mm diameter gives the cable a more durable feel than the wires on cheaper lav mics.

At the end of the cable is a regular 3.5mm analog audio jack, but the plug has a locking ring for more secure attachment to devices that are compatible with this mechanism. You don’t need to use this, as the plug just goes straight in anyway.

Sony ECM-L1: Performance

The ECM-M1 has a ceramic back plate which, Sony says, offers rigidity, excellent damping, superior acoustic properties and electrical stability. It also has a machined brass casing to suppress unwanted resonance and ensure clarity.

The audio quality is excellent. I tested it side by side against a RODE Lavalier II, which sell separately for $99 / £89, so it’s a cheaper alternative but still a serious microphone. On its own, the RODE sounded fine, but when I listened to the Sony’s recording it did seem a little cleaner, clearer and richer in the lower frequencies. The RODE mic sounded a little brighter in higher frequencies, which could be bad but could also be a good thing, depending on your speaker’s voice type. I have a fairly thick and muddy voice, so the RODE is actually a good match.

A lot depends on your recording environment, too. In a hard, ‘boomy’ environment, the ECM-M1 will struggle like any other lavalier microphone. It’s an omnidirectional capsule, so it picks up sound from all directions – lavalier mics work on the principle of proximity rather than directionality. Any carelessness or lack of skill in mic placement and audio levels can quickly wipe out any technical advantages of one over another.

Sony ECM-L1: Verdict

If lavalier mics are a key part of your recording setup, then it makes sense to buy a good one. You can’t just assume that one lav mic is just like another, because as with anything else you get what you pay for and, in my tests, I felt the ECM-1 sounded a little better overall than the cheaper RODE Lavalier –  though not enough to make me, personally, pay the extra. The question is how often you need a lav mic, compared to a clip-on wireless transmitter, or a directional cardioid mic or a desktop pod mic. Do you use a lav mic often enough to justify the cost of this one? If you’re a professional filmmaker or creator and you or your clients have a fine ear for audio, then the Sony ECM-L1 could be a great buy. Otherwise, it’s an expensive alternative to much cheaper microphones that might do what you need perfectly well.

Sony ECM-L1: Alternatives

If you want to stay on brand but don’t want to pay ECM-L1 money for a clip-on lavalier mic, take a look at the neat little Sony ECM-LV1 Stereo Lavalier Microphone in our guide to the best budget microphones. You shouldn’t expect the same level of audio quality, but it is dramatically cheaper and it’s still made by Sony.

For a more complete audio solution, check out the RODE Wireless Pro kit. It’s a little more expensive than the Sony ECM-L1, but it’s a complete solution not just a single mic. It comes with two transmitters and a receiver and two RODE Lavalier II mics, which can be used with the transmitters or plugged straight into a camera.