DPA Microphones d:fine Legacy 4288 Round Directional Flex One-Ear Earset Microphone with TA4F Mini-XLR Connector, 120mm Boom, Black

Combining the legendary sound of the 4088 Directional Capsule with the lightweight and flexible d:fine Earset system, the d:fine 4288 Directional Earset Microphone is ideal for both spoken word and vocal performance applications. It offers accurate and natural voice intelligibility and very high-SPL capabilities - users can both speak and sing into the mic with no hint of distortion. This mic provides excellent off-axis rejection in high-SPL situations. It efficiently suppresses distant sound sources making it perfect for demanding live performance environments where background noise and feedback are concerns.

• Pristine audio quality
• Lightweight and flexible
• Easy mounting to the left or right
• Minimal visual impact
• Resistant to humidity
• Flexible adapter system fits most professional wireless systems

In high-SPL events or when feedback is a concern, the 4088 Directional Capsule will tackle these challenges with ease. The bass response is designed for optimal linearity at 2-3 cm (1") from the sound source. This means that the bass roll-off will be relatively prominent at a greater distance - a paramount factor when it comes to rejection of background noise and in the fight to avoid feedback. The microphone capsule is also optimized for low distortion as well as humidity resistance.

The d:fine 4288 is available as an earset or headset. Earset variants are the quickest to put on and often the best choice when miking needs to be fast and easy for example for conference use. Headset variants sit more securely around the head and are ideal for active performance situations. Both types are ergonomically designed to fit comfortably and easily. This mic adjusts to fit any ear size and head shape while at the same time it mounts securely and is hardly visible. By rotating the boom and the ear hook, the microphone can be easily used on either the left or the right ear.

The connector splits the cable from the microphone boom allowing you to swap broken cables and / or wireless connectors quickly. Two directional boom lengths are available to accommodate different applications and head sizes: 120 mm (4.7") and 100 mm (3.9"). The boom on this directional mic is 3 cm (1") 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") is the standard boom length that fits most people.

Legacy
The legacy d:fine 4288 Directional Earset 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.

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 deg. 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.

The d:fine, d:screet and d:vote series of 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.