The Maono Wave T5 AI Wireless Lavalier Microphone is the latest offering in the company’s growing selection of lav mic products aimed at content creators looking to eliminate some of the pesky wires and awkward microphone setups that get between them and their audiences. With dual-channel 48kHz 24-bit recording, intelligent noise cancellation, and no fewer than three included receiver types (USB Type-C, Lightning and Camera), the Wave T5 is easily the most advanced and adaptable lav mic kit we’ve seen yet.
Readers should note that the Wave T5 is offered in a variety of configurations—seven, to be exact—depending on individual needs. The kit provided for review was the full “Combo Version,” which includes two transmitters, a Type-C receiver, a Lightning receiver, a camera receiver (built primarily for use with compatible cameras like DSLRs or camcorders), and a charging case for storing and recharging the devices.
But wait—there’s more. Like a Russian nesting doll, a second, slightly larger carrying case not only accommodates the aforementioned charging box, receivers and two included lapel clips with their own individual slots, but also contains a pouch for storing smaller accessories such as a pair of transmitter windscreens and a male-to-male 3.5mm cable for use with the camera receiver. A separate drawstring pouch is also included for carrying the battery case’s charging cable, along with two braided utility necklaces. Each necklace comes with a small, removable magnetic disc (or “sheet”) embedded, and a second pair of these removable discs comes magnetically attached to the transmitters—four in total.
“The Wave T5’s raison d’être is to bring out the best in speakers’ voices, so it won’t eliminate conversations in the background as easily as it suppresses general ambient noise.”
These tiny discs work with the other included accessories to expand users’ wearability options for the transmitters in clever ways. Each transmitter (TX) can attach magnetically to one of the lapel clips for more traditional positioning near the speaker’s mouth. Alternatively, the clip can be removed entirely, allowing the disc to be tucked inside a shirt or jacket and the transmitter attached magnetically from the outside, enabling it to be placed almost anywhere on one’s clothing. A magnetic sheet necklace can also be used to hang a transmitter around the neck in situations where the speaker may not be wearing a typical shirt at all—such as during a fitness workout.
As you’ve probably gathered by now, the Wave T5 combo pack includes a lot of kit, and it can be a challenge to wrap your head around all the components at first. But it quickly begins to make sense once the recording device—whether it’s a smartphone, camera or computer—is established, as that will determine which receiver (RX) you’ll need to use, whether USB-C, Lightning or camera type.
It’s worth noting that the USB-C RX, Lightning RX and both transmitters (TX) feature a physical power/pairing button that also functions as a noise reduction toggle. However, as I’ll explain shortly, that feature’s usability is limited when the Maono app is not active.
Since I don’t own a DSLR camera with a 3.5mm audio or USB-C input, and I’m not an iPhone user, setting up the Wave T5 with my Android phone was straightforward. According to the user manual, I downloaded and installed the Maono app to my smartphone and then, one by one, plugged each TX and RX into the phone to perform the required firmware updates.
Once complete, opening the Maono app on a smartphone with an RX attached—already synced to one or both TX units—grants full access to the Wave T5’s options through a sleek, easy-to-understand interface. The setup process for the Lightning RX on iOS is virtually identical.
Within the Maono app, incoming TX audio signals can be monitored, microphone gain can be adjusted via a digital slider, and both AI Noise Reduction and Sound Coloration modes can be toggled on or off. Sound Coloration can also be switched between four different tonal profiles. The Dual Channel feature allows users to select either mono or stereo sound, which determines whether mic audio is recorded in the left channel, right channel or both. If the goal is to produce balanced audio in both ears, mono should be selected. Users wanting a distinct left-right (LR) channel separation between both microphones should opt for stereo.
“The Maono app could stand to offer more functionality and support for Camera RX and PC use-case scenarios, but the kit’s many advantages far outweigh its shortcomings.”
On top of its sleek packaging and presentation, perhaps the most impressive quality-of-life feature of the Wave T5 is how quickly and reliably its components power on and sync wirelessly. The transmitters and receivers come pre-paired from the factory, so there’s no need for the user to initiate pairing—aside from opening the charging case, of course. Provided that the Maono app is running and the RX you wish to use (Type-C, Lightning or Camera) is plugged into the appropriate recording device, both transmitters will immediately power on and sync within seconds of being removed from the case. The Maono app will recognize them as “Mic 1” and “Mic 2.” To paraphrase Steve Jobs: “They just work.”
In fact, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the Wave T5’s case for a slightly oversized earbud charger, as it essentially performs the same syncing and charging functions, just on a more heavy-duty scale. Each fully charged transmitter promises nine hours of battery life, and up to 30 hours when including the charging case, so the Wave T5 should have plenty of power for even the lengthiest recording sessions. It’s also guaranteed to outlast the most robust smartphone battery, so Maono has wisely included USB-C passthrough on both its Type-C RX and Lightning RX. This allows smartphones to recharge from an external power source while filming, such as a portable power bank or wired AC connection.
So how well does the Maono Wave T5 actually perform? Quite simply, the audio quality is superb, even when the noise reduction setting is at its strongest. My recordings were clear and crisp without lacking depth. During my tests, it was a welcome change not having to press my face within an inch of a bulky, wired microphone just to get a usable audio signal. Be warned, however—the Wave T5’s raison d’être is to bring out the best in speakers’ voices, so it won’t eliminate conversations in the background as easily as it suppresses general ambient noise. Podcasters and content creators will still want a relatively quiet environment for the Wave T5 to perform at its best.
Intrigued to learn more about Maono’s “AI” noise reduction claims, I ran a series of test recordings both inside my apartment and out on the balcony during a windy day. I was surprised by how effective the AI noise reduction worked, particularly in the latter scenario. Technically, there are three NC modes: Slight, Moderate and Strong, plus a fourth “Custom” setting with 14 steps of NC strength. During my tests, there was a marked difference between the three default settings alone in how much distant traffic and wind noise was removed from the signal.
For instance, the “Slight” mode retained many of the naturally occurring balcony sounds but softened them to bring my voice to the forefront. “Moderate” eliminated most of the higher-frequency background noise and much of the lower range in addition. “Strong” almost made it seem as though I were recording in a soundproofed room, with the remaining audible wind and traffic muffled as if they were coming from behind a firmly shut, nearby window. Meanwhile, the indoor tests were entirely devoid of background noise (e.g., refrigerator hum, ventilation fan, etc.).
Next, I tested the Sound Coloration feature, which is essentially a voice enhancement tool that can be toggled on or off. When enabled, users can choose from four voice filters: Voice Enhancer, Warmth, Brightness and what is undoubtedly the most humourously named setting of them all—Huskiness.
I sampled all four modes and, while I could detect a different tone from each filter, I wouldn’t say they are equally necessary. Voice Enhancer prioritizes the depth and clarity of one’s voice and is likely the default that most users will stick with. Warmth removes some sharpness and softens the tone for more intimate conversations. Huskiness adds a rougher, DJ-like edge, while Brightness appears designed for lighter, more exuberant speakers.
“At just under $110 USD for the entire package, the Wave T5 is a supplementary audio kit that no podcaster or content creator should be without.”
Finally, I absolutely had to test the Maono Wave T5’s on-the-box claim of up to 300 metres of wireless transmission, even though at the time I couldn’t foresee a situation where I would ever need to remotely record an interview or scene from that far away. I was unable to find an open public area that was both adequately long but also secure enough for me to leave my smartphone, receiver and tripod filming unattended while I performed the test walk, so I settled for capturing the walk once again from my 4th floor balcony, cutting across the residential complex until on foot I reached the closest main street, which was about 250 feet away.
The walk out to the street was plagued by distortion and occasional loss of signal, but this was apparently because my body was blocking the transmitter’s line of sight to the receiver on the balcony. When I stopped and turned to talk and wave to the camera, or walked back across the courtyard, the signal cleared up completely. So while I can’t recommend the Wave T5 for recording dialogue for a foot chase or action scene taking place far in the distance, filming a stationary conversation between two people seated on a park bench while facing the direction of the camera (and therefore the receiver) would likely be well suited for it.
If any, my biggest gripe against the Wave is that for all its versatility it only offers barebones lavalier functionality for PC users. There currently isn’t a Windows or Mac equivalent to the Maono Link App, so when using a computer there’s no option to adjust any of the T5’s software-bespoke features, like the previously discussed Sound Colouration filters or AI Noise Cancellation modes. In this scenario, AI NC can be toggled on or off via the click of a button found on the TX and RX units, but it’s a preset NC setting that can’t be adjusted.
This doesn’t mean that the Wave T5 is entirely useless for PC or Mac; inserting a Type-C RX, Lightning RX or Camera RX into an available USB-C port when synched with a transmitter will result in the receiver being instantly recognized as a plug-and-play “AI Wireless Lavalier Microphone” in OBS. The signal can’t be enhanced on the T5’s side, but if using the Camera RX, users can at least adjust the signal gain via the module’s built-in volume knob and LED indicator.
This is great news for content creators, as it provides an option to import a clear audio signal into OBS and other programs on PC directly, rather than being relegated to working only with smartphones or advanced DSLR cameras and camcorders with compatible inputs.
And the ability for such a compact kit to do so while being free of the tangle of wires makes the Wave T5 even more compelling for creators who work in a small space, prefer a live-interview set-up and/or can’t stand having to constantly reposition microphones within their scene. Nevertheless, the lack of any dedicated software support for PC or Mac within the Maono App, not to mention any visibility for the Camera RX in the app made me feel like I was flying blind at times.
Putting the above limitations aside, I’m quite taken with the Maono Wave T5. It offers excellent, professional grade sound quality that far exceeds what one could ever hope to get out of the built-in mic on a smartphone, camcorder or DSLR, and delivers levels of noise cancellation that can reduce or even erase unwanted background noise from a live recording as if by magic. Perhaps more importantly, the Wave T5 does all the above without the clutter of a wired setup, and can accommodate a second speaker or audio source with little to no hassle at all.
The T5 isn’t perfect; the Moano App could stand to offer more functionality and support for Camera RX and PC use-case scenarios, but the kit’s many advantages far outweigh its shortcomings regardless. And honestly, with an MSRP of just under $110 USD for the entire package, the Wave T5 is a supplementary audio kit that no podcaster or content creator should be without.
