BATTLE OF THE DESKTOP MICROPHONES SpeechWare 6-in-1, SpeechWare 2-in-1, Sennheiser MD 431 II, Buddy Desktop 7G, Olympus ME 31 & Audix
November 2, 2010 Introduction: While preparing to review the new SpeechWare 6-in-1 and SpeechWare 2in-1, it occurred to me that the most effective way to do so would be in the context of the top rated speech microphones. The following review consists of 3 parts: (1) My personal take on the evolution of speech recognition microphones A general consensus of 8 speech recognition experts on the pros and cons of what we believe to be the top 5 desktop microphones My personal assessment of what the numbers mean
If you wish to skip past the brief microphone history, click Pros and Cons. If you wish to skip further ahead to my conclusions, click recommendations. Note that while only one of these microphones could achieve the 1st place overall rating, each is still an excellent choice for speech recognition.
Evolution of Speech Recognition Microphones When we first began using DragonDictate speech recognition software in the 1980s it seemed to be incredibly impressive technology. Never minding the very deliberate pause after each and every word, we waited with baited breath to see another (hopefully correct) word miraculously appear on our somewhat blurry little screens. It was fun! It was frustrating! It was not very
practical. Back then, the couple of wired headset microphone choices available to us were more than adequate. In 1996, NaturallySpeaking continuous speech recognition was released. With the emergence of this new technology, we had a viable tool for professional as well as personal use. That being the case, we needed microphones designed to better utilize this increasingly more sophisticated software. Microphone manufacturers responded. They designed wireless systems. They designed combination headset microphones that could additionally be used with cell phones, landlines and even hydraulic lifters which picked up our handsets for us. While noise canceling and accuracy continued to improve, ultimately many of us still were not happy with our headset microphones, finding them to be rather inconvenient and/or uncomfortable. Physicians and other professionals were often forced to don and then remove their headsets every few minutes, between patients or clients. Other end users, needing to take verbal notes while talking on the phone, put their callers on hold, which was both inefficient and impolite. While handheld microphones such as the Philips SpeechMike Air now allow concurrent use of both a microphone and a telephone, they dont solve all problems for all end users. Some of us simply need to keep both hands free. Fortunately, microphone manufacturers have also been busily designing high quality desktop microphones. A desktop microphone just might be your best option if: You find headset microphones to be uncomfortable You like to listen to music through high fidelity headphones while working You are physically disabled You are self-conscious about wearing a headset in front of others You dont need to be wireless You NEED to keep both hands free You dislike having to continuously don and remove your headset You take the time to arrange your hair just the way you like it and THAT IS HOW YOU WANT TO KEEP IT!
Below is given a general consensus of 8 speech recognition experts on the pros and cons of what we believe to be the top 5 desktop
microphones, followed by our recommendations (rating them from 5th through 1st place).
Pros & Cons Speechware 6-in-1 Pros:
MSRP: $249 Accuracy: 99% Noise Cancellation: 8 out of 10 Overall Rating: 9 out of 10

99% Accuracy. German engineering (think Mercedes) The most accurate single core condenser microphone we have tested to date Recipient of Nuance's highest (5 Dragon Best of Class) rating Detachable microphone boom for easier storage and transport Unusually high noise cancellation for a desktop microphone Able to utilize an optional $99 foot pedal or hand switch to toggle the microphone on and off Includes built-in speakers and headphone jack (includes ear buds) for optional sound playback which is ideally to VoIP apps like Skype Only desktop microphone to feature 2 dedicated volume controls for speaker playback Only desktop USB microphone with a lighted microphone ON/OFF indicator, to tell the status of the mic at a glance With the exception of their 2-in-1, this is the only microphone with a lighted microphone on indicator Only desktop microphone to feature a dedicated mic sensitivity control to reject unwanted background noise Built-in USB soundcard Includes fully functional 30 day commercial license of Transcription Aid for NaturallySpeaking Accurate up to 8 inches away, though works best from within 4 to 6 inches

Literally trashes the competition with included amenities; this microphone is, without question, the most innovative of desktop microphones. 1 year manufacturer warranty
SpeechWare 6-in-1 Cons: Currently requires sending the unit to Europe for service and warranty repairs (Hopefully, they will soon have US distributers.) Slightly more expensive than competitive units Muting the microphone isn't a problem but turning the microphone on, via the base mute switch, creates just enough noise to force NaturallySpeaking to pause for up to 4 seconds before processing your dictation. The noise isn't enough to produce unwanted words in your document, but the delay is enough that we have chosen to bypass the mute button by substituting a keyboard hotkey or voice command to wake up the microphone.

Speechware 2-in-1 Pros:

MSRP: $179 Accuracy: 100% Noise Cancellation: 8 out of 10 Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
100% Accuracy German engineering (think Mercedes) Reasonably priced Includes single microphone mute button Includes one single LED indicator light with 2 separate microphone ON/OFF indicators making it easy to tell the status of the microphone at a glance. The only desktop microphone to feature 2 separate condenser microphone elements within the same capsule making this the most unique desktop microphone we have ever tested The most accurate condenser microphone we have tested to date Recipient of Nuance's highest (5 Dragon Best of Class) rating Detachable microphone boom for easier storage and transport
Unusually high noise cancellation for a desktop microphone Extremely accurate within 12 inches but can produce reasonable accuracy from as far away as 18 inches Literally trashes the competition with range and accuracy 1 year manufacturer warranty
SpeechWare 2-in-1 Cons: Currently requires sending the unit to Europe for service and warranty repairs (Hopefully, they will soon have US distributers.) Does not include a built-in USB soundcard like most other desktop microphones which we recommend remedying with an inexpensive external USB external soundcard. Requires a pair of AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries (not included) which last about 30 days under intensive use Muting the microphone isn't a problem but turning the microphone on, via the base mute switch, creates just enough noise to force NaturallySpeaking to pause for up to 4 seconds before processing your dictation. The noise isn't enough to produce unwanted words in your document, but the delay is enough that we have chosen to bypass the mute button by substituting a keyboard hotkey or voice command to wake up the microphone.

Buddy Desktop Pros:

MSRP: $170 Accuracy: 98% Noise Cancellation: 7 out of 10 Overall Rating: 8 out of 10 Note that we did not include other types of Buddy microphones, such as the Buddy Gooseneck and Buddy Flamingo, in our testing because they incorporate the same microphone element (without a base).

98% Accuracy with new integrated 7G USB soundcard Good noise cancellation for a desktop microphone Built-in USB soundcard Includes microphone mute button
Accurate up to 4 inches away, though works best from within 2 inches Excellent price value 1 year manufacturer warranty
Buddy Desktop Cons: Currently requires sending the unit to Canada for service and warranty repairs Limited (2 to 4 inch) microphone range

Audix USB 12 Pros:

MSRP: $179 Accuracy: 97% Noise Cancellation: 6 out of 10 Overall Rating: 6 out of 10
Lowest priced USB desktop microphone Headphone jack for optional sound out Similar accuracy to the higher-priced discontinued Buddy Desktop 6G Button can be programmed to work as an on-off switch or push to talk Smallest footprint of any desktop microphone, requiring the least amount of table space 1 year manufacturer warranty
Audix USB 12 Cons: Not quite as accurate as the new Buddy 7G which has replaced the 6G We experienced some unwanted pops and plosives when dictating within the limited 2 inch range. We were able to remedy this by speaking off to the side of the microphone. This microphone had a limited 2 inch range, but was actually slightly more accurate from within 1 inch. This concerned us. We found the 12 inch boom to be a little shorter than we would like in some situations. We do not like membrane buttons at all. We prefer a true hardware button with more of a click feel like the other desktop microphones.

Olympus ME31 Pros:

MSRP: $200 Accuracy: 98% Noise Cancellation: 7 out of 10 Overall Rating: 8 out of 10
Perfect for digital recorders when recording seminars Accurate to within 3 feet and can be used from as far away as 4 Gun style long-distance directional pickup pattern Very small footprint; similar to the Audix 1 year manufacturer warranty
Olympus ME31 Cons: No built-in USB soundcard Slightly high priced for a microphone with no built-in USB soundcard No actual noise cancellation but because this microphone is highly directional, it marginally rejects sound from the sides and back This microphone should only be used in a quiet environment and may occasionally pick up keyboard key clicks

Sennheiser MD 431 II Pros:
MSRP: $675 Accuracy: 100% Noise Cancellation: 10 out of 10 Overall Rating: 10 out of 10 Note: The Sennheiser MD 431 II is not really a desktop microphone but we included it in this comparison because of its popularity and the fact that is commonly used as a desktop speech recognition microphone.
100% Accuracy Stunning noise cancellation (Super cardioid microphone element works great for rejecting unwanted sound) Includes on/off slider switch 1 year manufacturer warranty
Sennheiser MD 431 II Cons: Roughly triple the price of the competition Limited 2 to 3 inch range This microphones unwieldy length makes it difficult to utilize as a desktop microphone because it was primarily designed for vocalists/musicians
Conclusions: 6th Place ~ Audix USB 12 (Nothing to See) Although this is a reasonable speech recognition microphone, it is only included in the top 6 because of the lower price. We personally didn't feel the slightly lower price justified offering it on our website, considering how much better the other units scored. Additional manufacturer information available at www.audixusa.com 5th Place ~ Olympus ME31 (Click to See) This is a great microphone with good accuracy for long distance dictation of up to 4 feet and quite accurate within 3 feet. If you need long-distance, this is your best choice but the noise canceling aspects and price lower this microphone to 5th place. Additional manufacturer information available at www.olympusamerica.com 4th Place ~ Buddy Desktop 7G (Click to See) What can we say other than this is the classic desktop microphone that all other manufacturers mimic, and it has recently been improved with the 7G USB soundcard. We felt this was a great microphone and continue to carry it on our website because of the price (only slightly higher than the Audix USB 12) and quality. One of the reasons why this microphone didn't place higher is because of the slightly dated technology. However, the manufacturer has informed us that future versions of this microphone will include additional programmable buttons that can be programmed to deploy macros and NaturallySpeaking commands, which would definitely raise the ante. Additional manufacturer information available at www.insyncspeech.com 3rd Place ~ Sennheiser MD 431 II (Click to See) This microphone is the measuring stick used against all other microphones. From within 2 inches, no microphone we have ever tested is more accurate

or more noise canceling. The Sennheiser was significantly more noise canceling than any other desktop microphone. However, negative aspects include a sticker shock price tag of $450 (MAP pricing), unwieldy length for positioning as a desktop microphone and the limited 2 inch range (requiring users to lock their bodies into one position over long periods of time). You can optionally purchase a swing-arm for this microphone, allowing you to change positions, but that increases the price even more. Although this is the most noise canceling and accurate desktop microphone we've ever tested, the 3 negative aspects dropped it down to 3rd place. Additional manufacturer information available at www.sennheiserusa.com 2nd Place ~ SpeechWare 6-in-1 (Click to See) What can we say other than this microphone blew us away. The 6-in-1 is like a Buddy Desktop on steroids and we particularly liked the 6 to 8 inch range (compared to the Buddy Desktop 2 inch range) and the dedicated separate push to talk (momentary) and on-off buttons. This unit additionally included lots of other amenities such as a built-in speaker, microphone volume, separate volume up and down buttons, sound output jack, headphones, transcription software, and even a microphone volume control at a very affordable price which additionally makes this microphone ideally suited to voice applications but from our perspective, none of these additional amenities necessarily play an important role in speech recognition. Additional manufacturer information available at www.TableMike.com 1st Place ~ SpeechWare 2-in-1 (Click to See) We tested the SpeechWare 6-in-1 before testing the 2-in-1 because, quite frankly, it was obviously the Cadillac. What can we say; we are attracted to shiny toys. The 2-in-1 lacks most of the amenities of the 6-in-1, but is very attractively priced. It simply blew the competition away with devastating accuracy from within 12 inches, and was quite usable from as far away as 18 inches! The MD 431 II was unbeatable from 2 to 3 inches but if you spend a significant amount of time dictating, it is all but impossible to comfortably maintain a 2 inch distance from your microphone over any given period of time. Most of us are tracking with larger monitors, taking phone calls, sorting or referring to papers, and dealing with interruptions and distractions of various sorts. We lean back in our chairs. We turn. We fidget. We stretch. Because of the extended range of the 2-in-1 microphone, we have found nothing to match its accuracy when dictating beyond 3 inches. We don't
know what the manufacturer had in mind when they chose to position one condenser microphone 1.75 inches directly in front of another in a ported barrel capsule, but we do know that it worked. Our only criticism is that we would like to see this innovation on the 6-in-1 microphone, which would reverse our 1st and 2nd place microphone choices. Additional manufacturer information available at www.TableMike.com This entire review was dictated with the SpeechWare 2-in-1 microphone. Several weeks ago the people at SpeechWare sent the 6-in-1 and 2-in-1 microphones to us to test. By the time we were done testing them, I had chosen to make the SpeechWare 2-in-1 microphone my personal microphone of choice. I informed the fine folks at SpeechWare that the only way they would get back the 2-in-1 microphone was if they pried it from my cold dead fingers to quote someone, none of us will ever forget. They elected to let me keep it

MD 431 II
MD 431 II Speech and Broadcasting Microphone
By virtue of its design and features, the MD 431 II ranks amongst Sennheisers most exceptional microphones and is suitable for vocal, speech and broadcasting applications. Color: black, sound inlet basket: refined steel. Internal electronics eliminates proximity effect.

FeaturesBenefits

Exceptionally good feedback rejection Shock mounted capsulelow sensitivity to handling noise Hum compensating coilreduces electrical interference Integral pop filter On/off switch (reed switch) can be locked in the on position if required Consistent polar pattern and proximity compensating electronicsexcellent tonal consistency Excellent for voice recognition

Technical Data

Pick-up pattern Frequency response Sensitivity (free field, no load) (1 kHz) Nominal impedance Min. terminating impedance Dimensions in inches Weight super-cardioid 4016,000 Hz 2 mV/Pa 3 dB 250 1k 1.92 x 7.87 approx. 8.8 oz

Optional Accessories

Foam windshield 21' XLR microphone cable Stand adapter (included) MZW 4032 MC21N MZR 4032

Supplied Accessories

1 Quick release stand adapter MZA 4031
Architects Specifications
Super-cardioid stage microphone, hum compensating coil, integral popshield, reed on/off switch, frequency response 4016,000 Hz, sensitivity (free field, no load) 2 mV/Pa 3 dB at 1 kHz, nominal impedance 250 , min. terminating impedance 1 k, dimensions in inches: 1.92 x 7.87, body 1.22 inches, weight approx. 8.8 oz.
Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, 1 Enterprise Drive, Old Lyme, CT 06371 Telephone: 860-434-9190 Fax: 860-434-1759 Web: http://www.sennheiserusa.com
Sennheiser Mexico: Av. Xola 613, PH6, Col. Del Valle 03100, Mexico, DF. Telephone: (525) 639-0956. Fax: (525) 639-9482 Sennheiser Canada: 221 Labrosse Ave, Pte-Claire, PQ H9R 1A3. Telephone: 514-426-3013. Fax: 514-426-3953 Manufacturing Plant: Am Labor 1, 30900 Wedemark, Germany