DPA 4288 Flex Directional Headset and Earset Microphone
Two directional boom lengths are available to accommodate different applications and head sizes: 120 mm (4.7 in) and 100 mm (3.9 in). The boom on this directional mic is 3 cm (1 in) longer than on the omnidirectional version, which matches the need for placement at the corner of the mouth. To avoid "popping", the capsule should not be placed directly in front of the mouth. The 120 mm (4.7 in) is the standard boom length that fits most people.
Legacy or CORE by DPA - The choice is yours
The legacy 4288 Directional Headset has always been, and still is, one of the most clear, consistent and robust miniature microphones you can find on the market. It’s known for working across a wide dynamic range as well as exhibiting low distortion across all SPLs. If you need to squeeze a little more performance out of your mics, choose CORE. The 4288 CORE Directional Headset gets a 14 dB increase Dynamic range as the 1% THD point is higher. What can’t be seen on the specifications is that the CORE delivers an even more open and clear sound.
Total harmonic distortion: < 1% THD up to 137 dB SPL peak
Dynamic range: Typ. 111 dB
IP58 certified
All CORE by DPA technology microphones are IP58 certified. This durability is achieved through a number of defense mechanisms:
• Water-repellant nano-coating of the cover and housing
• Hermetic sealing of the sensitive amplifier at the core of the mic
• Dual gold plating of the diaphragm
A bit about cardioids
Named for its “heart shaped” polar pattern, a cardioid (or directional) microphone has the most sensitivity at the front and is least sensitive from the sides and at the back. They come in many variations – with wider or narrower angles of sensitivity (supercardioid, hypercardioid, wide cardioid etc.). Although cardioids also pick up sound coming in from the sides, this off-axis sound will normally be more or less colored and damped. The unique DPA capsule technique however skips the colorization of the sound coming from the sides or the rear of the mic and just reduces the sensitivity to these angles and thereby offers perfect sound stages. The amount of damping depends on the exact specifications of the mic.
A cardioid microphone is, by definition, damped -6 dB at the 90°side entry of the microphone but for many, the word cardioid generally covers mics with a directional pattern versus omnis, which pick up sound from all directions.
Due to their nature, directional mics are often used on the live stage – both during concerts as well as spoken-word events, to capture the focused sound of an instrument or voice. The narrow angle of sensitivity helps to minimize the bleed from other sounds on a busy stage. One thing to note with cardioid mics is the proximity effect, which causes an increase in bass response the closer the microphone is moved to the sound source. Therefore, when judging mic specs you should always look for a statement stating the distance at which the flat frequency response has been measured. In addition, cardioid mics are far more sensitive to wind, pop and handling noises than omni mics, so be sure to take precautions to guard against this.
Adapter system gives you flexibility
The adapters for wireless systems give you flexible, simple and affordable possibilities. You are no longer bound to one wireless system. As circumstances change, you can just switch your adapter, instead of incurring the cost of a completely new microphone. When you make the switch, you won't hear any loss or change in sound quality.
DPA's miniature microphones work with all leading wireless mic solutions, such as Lectrosonics, Sennheiser, Shure, Sony, Wisycom, Zaxcom and many more. DPA Microphones’ ingenious adapter system is one of a kind in the industry. It protects your investment in fantastic sound for years to come.
- 4288-DC-F-F00-MH4288 CORE Directional Flex Headset Mic, 100 mm Boom, Beige, MicroDot