DJI Mic 2 review: A sequel worth spending your money on

When I got my hands on the DJI Mic 2 system ($349), I wondered what DJI could do to outperform its predecessor, the DJI Mic. I’m happy to report that it exceeds its elder sibling and competes nicely with several mic kits on our soon-to-be-revamped buying guide for the best wireless mics. I love the new slightly transparent design, giving users a glimpse of its inner workings. The charging case remains a bonus feature, but one many competitors have copied since the launch of the original DJI Mic. 

I didn’t need to spend a bunch of time fiddling with DJI Mic 2, having used the original for numerous recordings, I just made sure it was fully charged, grabbed my camera, my OnePlus 12, and I went out to start my testing. I quickly realized that the noise canceling was on by default which I was grateful for because as you can imagine, sometimes Brooklyn, NY is very loud.

DJI Mic 2 price and availability

The full DJI Mic 2 bundle, priced at $349, includes everything you need to capture high-quality audio on the go. This comprehensive kit comes with two transmitters, a receiver, a TRS audio cable, a charging case, windscreens, USB-C and Lightning adapters for smartphone connection, a USB-C to USB-A cable, and a carrying case. Notably, the Mic 2 offers versatile connectivity, making it an ideal solution for those seeking superior audio for their smartphones.

The included charging case extends the overall battery life of the system. It is easily charged via USB-C from an adapter, computer, or external battery for all-day power. 

If you’re on a tight budget,  consider the excellent and budget-friendly Saramonic Blink 500 B2+ Wireless Mic kit for $129.

DJI Mic 2 design

The DJI Mic 2 boasts a refined design compared to its predecessor. The receiver (RX) features a sleek black finish replacing the previous ridges. While the bright and colorful OLED touchscreen remains, its small size might be a challenge for users with larger fingers. A new orange scroll wheel simplifies navigation.

The left side of the receiver houses the audio output and headphone monitoring jack, while the bottom provides a USB-C port with a removable cover for connectivity options and charging. On the right side of the RX unit we find the power button.

The transmitters (TX) see a more dramatic shift, moving from an opaque ridged finish to a transparent design showcasing the internals. This looks great but attracts fingerprints. Each transmitter features a secure clip with a magnet for attaching to clothing and dedicated buttons for power, pairing, and recording with accompanying status lights. Settings adjustments are made via the receiver. The transmitters also sport a USB-C port, a record button for onboard recording, a power button, a linking button, and a 3.5mm jack for wired Lavalier microphones.

Overall, the DJI Mic 2's design is well-thought-out, with the charging case offering a true all-in-one solution. Snug-fitting clips allow for easy attachment to camera hot shoes, and a bundled soft case provides additional protection. However, the touchscreen's small size and potential operation difficulties with gloves warrant a slight mention as minor shortcomings.

DJI Mic 2 audio quality

The DJI Mic 2 delivers on its core promise: capturing high-quality audio for content creators. It gives you a respectable 820-foot (250-meter) range in clear line-of-sight conditions, ideal for situations where you need to record your subject from a distance. However, keep in mind that obstacles can disrupt the signal.

The star of the show is the AI noise cancellation. During a windy lakeside shoot in Prospect Park, the Mic 2 effectively filtered out wind noise and dogs barking, leaving my voice crystal clear. This feature comes enabled by default, making the Mic 2 virtually plug-and-play for, content creators, vloggers, and vocal recordings.

While the included windscreens excel at controlling wind noise, the Mic 2's sensitivity requires some fine-tuning. The gain can sometimes be overly sensitive, so pre-recording audio level checks are crucial, and is a good habit to get into anyway. Thankfully, the mic's sensitivity translates to detailed audio capture regardless of background noise, which leads to excellent recording in many environments, just make sure to test and adjust things before you start, to assure optimal recordings. 

Unlike the Rode Wireless Go II, which needs a separate app to access its safety channel, the [receiver name]'s touchscreen offers a handy built-in mode. This records a secondary track at -6db, acting as a safety net in case your main recording suffers from distortion due to unexpected volume spikes. No more scrambling to recover lost audio – this clever feature ensures you always have a clean backup track, giving you peace of mind and saving valuable post-production time.

Real-world testing proved successful. During a park interview, the Mic 2 captured my deeper voice and the subject's higher, more nasal tone. Later, a backyard podcast recording with construction noise in the background showcased the Mic 2's ability to isolate and maintain clean audio quality. I was so impressed I went to record closer to the construction in front of my home and the results were fantastic, with only some of the loud crashing and smashing noises coming through. Which were easily removed in post. Nice work DJI, color me super impressed.

DJI Mic 2 software

DJI is down with the plug-and-play gods of the universe, so there are no downloads needed to work with the system. It works well with all my recording software, across all devices I used it on. DJI does roll out frequent firmware updates to improve the performance of its wireless mic system, so make sure to look out for those.

DJI Mic 2 battery life

The DJI Mic 2's transmitters offer a respectable 6 hours of battery life each, one hour less than the Rode Wireless Go II. The receiver also clocks in at 6 hours when connected to both transmitters. While DJI estimates this translates to half a day of continuous shooting, real-world usage may vary. In fast-paced scenarios like motorcycle filming, fiddling with tiny buttons isn't ideal. Fortunately, standby time proved sufficient, allowing me to keep the system powered until recording commenced. Battery exhaustion wasn't a concern.

The included charging case extends the total recording time to 18 hours for the entire 2TX + RX kit. However, recharging each transmitter and receiver took around 60 mins, which might slow down your workflow during shoots. I noticed that the case itself requires at least  2+ hours to fully recharge, which isn’t great but remains respectable. 

Bottom Line

Content creators, on-the-go journalists, and vloggers pay attention to the DJI Mic 2 wireless microphone system, which offers a portable solution for capturing clean audio. Equipped with AI noise cancellation, the Mic 2 effectively reduces background noise, ensuring clear and intelligible vocals in various recording environments.

The user interface, while user-friendly with a touchscreen, has a slight learning curve however the dial does help make this a quick transition. When dialed in the audio quality rivals the best wireless mics we have tested thus far, but it sometimes demands more precise adjustments. 

Ultimately, the deciding factor boils down to a few key differences and personal preferences. If budget isn't a concern and capturing professional-grade audio on the go is your priority, the DJI Mic 2 ranks among the top two options available, making it a strong recommendation. Also, its noise-cancelling capabilities are truly fantastic making it an excellent choice for creators that are often working in uncontrolled environments.