by: Brad Herring



This month I have had more requests for a good headworn microphone solution. There are a couple that I favor, but for the average church the Beta53 is worth looking into.

The Beta54 has a lot going for it. It has a good sound and seems to be stable on the head. Despite all of my jumping around and various antics it seems to stay put. The head gives good vocal reproduction, and as with all headworn microphones it frees up the hands.

It does have a low profile, but the overall packaging is a bit bulky on the back. The microphone still manages to disappear after the first three rows. By being closer to the mouth it requires less overall gain, thus increasing your gain before feedback (or in layman terms, the more volume before loud squeal). It removes the problem of “losing” the voice as the speaker turns their head. It’s a great choice for anyone who plays an instrument and is expected to sing. It’s also good for pastors and teachers.

As with all headworn microphones it does limit the performers ability to “work the microphone”. This is an impasse for some performers, others simply don’t care.

The other positive thing about this microphone is that it costs less than $300. Typically you can find this microphone for $230 - $260. There is definitely good bang for the buck here. If you are looking for a headworn solution I’d suggest you take a look at this model.