Audio-Technica has announced several new variations of the ES945 omnidirectional condenser boundary microphone and ES947 cardioid condenser boundary microphone, developed as a direct response to market feedback.
All models are intended for surface flush-mount applications such as conferencing, recording, monitoring and other demanding sound pickup applications, and they include Audio-Technica’s UniGuard RFI-shielding that’s designed to help provide immunity from radio frequency interference.
The existing standard ES945 and ES947 models are being replaced by the new ES945O/XLR (omnidirectional) and ES947C/XLR (cardioid), which offer upgraded functionality that includes IPX4 water resistance. Both come standard in black and are also available in white variations (ES945WO/XLR and ES947WC/XLR).
There are also mew miniature variations known as ES945O/TB3 and ES947C/TB3. They’re suitable for the same applications as the ES945O/XLR and ES947C/XLR, with the compact design intended to enable inconspicuous tabletop, ceiling and wall mounting. They too come standard in black and are also available in white (ES945WO/TB3 and ES947WC/TB3).
Further, the existing ES945/LED and ES947/LED (intended specifically for conferencing) are upgraded/replaced by the new ES945O/FM3 and ES947C/FM3. They offer a visible two-state RGB LED ring (seven selectable colors + OFF) to indicate mute status as well as a touch-sensitive capacitive user switch that enables local muting, making them particularly well-suited for conferencing applications. The “FM3” models have a 3-pin XLR output connector.
Additionally, the new ES945O/FM5 and ES947C/FM5 are similar to the “FM3” models but carry a 5-pin XLR output connector. With the “FM5” models, not only can the switch be configured to toggle between mute and live audio, but, with the microphone’s external contact closure, it can also be set up to trigger an external device such as a camera or the room’s lighting.
All of the new ES945 and ES947 variations are available now with U.S. MSRP pricing as follows:
Water-resistant “XLR” versions:
ES945O/XLR (black) and ES945WO/XLR (white): $249
ES947C/XLR (black) and ES947WC/XLR (white): $249
Miniature “TB3” versions:
ES945O/TB3 (black) and ES945WO/TB3 (white): $249
ES947C/TB3 (black) and ES947WC/TB3 (white): $249
Conferencing “FM3” and “FM5” versions:
ES945O/FM3: $329
ES947C/FM3: $329
ES945O/FM5: $349
ES947C/FM5: $349
