BOYA Magic Microphone Review: Four Configurations with Excellent Sound and Amazing AI Noise Cancellation

Formed in 2012, BOYA offers a range of audio products, including wired and wireless microphones, headphones, mixers, and accessories. In this review, we test the BOYA Magic-01, an AI-powered transformable microphone. The BOYA Magic Microphone can be viewed either as a single microphone that can take four different forms or as a group of products that work together as a system. At its core, the BOYA Magic is two wireless lavalier microphones and three different receivers with accessories that allow it to function differently depending on your needs.

The four configurations in which the BOYA Magic Microphone can be used are Clip-On, Handheld, Desktop, and On-Camera. In other words, users can employ it as one or two wireless lavalier mics clipped to clothes or insert the two lavaliers into the handheld mic shell, which doubles as a charging case. This combination unit can then be used as a handheld microphone, attached to the desktop tripod, or to a camera.

Depending on the desired configuration, the user selects the appropriate receiver and connects with the matching cables. The system that I received for this review ships with receivers for both USB Type-C and Lightning as well as a 3.5 mm TRS receiver. This makes the system work with all iPhone and Android phones, as well as still and video cameras that can accept 3.5mm mic inputs.

At this point, I should mention that there are at least three different combinations of the BOYA Magic available. These include the BOYA Magic | (USB-C) RX + 2 TX + CC for $89.99, the BOYA Magic | (USB-C + 3.5mm TRS) RX + 2 TX + CC for $119.99, and the BOYA Magic | (USB-C + Lightning + 3.5mm TRS) RX + 2 TX + CC for $129.99. None of the combinations on the BOYA website include the Mini Tripod at $19.99 (reduced from $30), but my combination, labeled as the BOYA Magic-01, includes the tripod and shows it as included in the package.

What’s in the box:

• Charging Case
• Transmitter (x2)
• USB-C Receiver
• Lightning Receiver
• 5mm TRS Receiver
• Desktop Stand
• Foam Microphone Windscreen (Handheld Mic)
• Furry Microphone Windscreen (Handheld Mic)
• Snap-on Furry Windscreen (Lavalier Mics) (x2)
• Hot Shoe/Desktop Tripod Adaptor
• 5mm Audio Cable
• USB Type-C to Type-C Cable
• USB Type-C to Type-A Cable
• Carrying Case
• Quick Start Guide
• Safety Guidelines
• Warranty Card

Set Up

As mentioned earlier, depending on the desired configuration, users select the appropriate receiver (and cable if required) and attach it to the recording device. For instance, if you wish to use your iPhone 16pro as I have, you plug the USB Type-C receiver into the phone and open the BOYA Central app, select the product from the list, and you are ready to go.

If you wish to use the BOYA Magic Microphone attached to your DSLR or mirrorless camera, for instance, the same handheld shell with inserted lavs could be attached via the included hot-shoe/tripod adaptor and combined with the 3.5mm TRS Receiver. This receiver clips to the adaptor and connects to your camera’s microphone input via the included 3.5 mm cable.

Design and Build Quality

Every part of the BOYA Magic Microphone system is clever and feels solid. The lavalier microphones —the heart of the system —are tiny and weigh only 7 grams. They are some of the smallest lavs that I have ever seen. They are the size of a very large pill, with a plastic body. On the front of the microphones, there is a fabric-covered element, the BOYA name, and a single button that toggles AI noise cancellation on and off.

On their back, they have a metal clip and a magnet that is used to connect to the charging case and is removable to use with clothes when the clip is not ideal. On top, the lavs have an LED that indicates whether AI noise cancellation is on (green) or off (blue).

The handheld microphone shell is 6″ long and features a smoked plastic cover that flips out to reveal the two lavalier microphones. When inserted, these lavs clip into place with magnets and immediately start charging if necessary. The indicator LED on the lavs shows red until fully charged and then shuts off. The lavaliers have a battery life of 6 hours; this jumps to 30 hours when used with the charging case.

The top of the handheld microphone also features a single button to toggle AI noise cancellation on and off. The top of the handheld microphone, as well as the flip-out cover, has perforations to allow sound to reach the lavalier capsule inside. The back side of the handheld microphone shell has a standard ¼” 20 threaded mount and a USB Type-C charging port with an adjacent four LED battery charging level indicator.

The bottom of the handheld accepts either the Lightning or USB Type-C receiver, both of which snap in with a satisfying magnetic click.

When used with the TRS receiver, users can simultaneously record to two devices. For instance, the TRS receiver could be connected to both a smartphone and a still or video camera, allowing users to capture video in both portrait and landscape formats with the same audio.

Features

As shown in the list of included accessories, the -01 combination comes with everything that you could need to accommodate most recording situations. The main (combined) microphone can be used with or without the included foam or furry windscreens as a handheld mic or mounted to the desktop tripod or any camera.

The lavaliers can be used with or without their included furry windscreens. On other lavs, these can be a challenge to attach and remove, but in this case, they feature a plastic body that snaps onto the lavs easily.

The adaptor used to connect the handheld microphone to the tripod and cameras is made of black metal and features a rotating slot for the TRS Receiver to clip on. The threaded connections are solid and secure, and allow for easy adjustment.

The desktop tripod is made of black plastic and features a carbon fiber-like finish with rubber padding for feet, as well as the standard ¼” 20 threaded screw mount. The tripod is therefore usable for lightweight camera support.

Sound

The sound quality of the BOYA Magic Microphone is impressive. Each configuration works as expected. With how easy it is to set up and use, you might think that you have forgotten a step, but simplicity is one of the Magic’s strong suits.

The microphones have impressive specifications and offer the noise-free clarity of 48KHz/24-bit recording, a signal-to-noise ratio of 80 dB, a dynamic range of 20Hz to 20 kHz, and a sound pressure level of 115dB. If these numbers mean nothing to you, don’t worry, just know that these are in the range of studio-quality microphones and can accommodate most situations.

I tested the sound recording in various environments and found that the microphones and receivers are very good. The only time that I ran into any issues was when I tried using my Apple AirPods to monitor the recordings. The wireless signal of the AirPods conflicted with that of the BOYA Magic Microphone, and as a result, the microphone recordings had dropouts. I assume that this is due to both devices operating through Bluetooth on the same iPhone and that other individuals using similar technologies would not affect the recordings, but I have not been able to confirm this.

The strength of the transmitter’s signals is very good, with BOYA claiming a range of 100 meters (328 feet). I have little doubt about this as I tested it to 100 feet, and the signal was solid. I can’t really think of many uses where I would be 328 feet away from the camera, but nevertheless, the system will allow users to record from that distance.

The BOYA Magic also provides peace of mind with two built-in safety features: a safety track that records a backup track at -12dB to prevent clipping, and a smart limiter that prevents distortion from soul noises.

AI Noise Cancellation

The flexibility offered by the BOYA Magic Microphone’s multiple form factors is impressive indeed, but perhaps less so than its AI noise cancellation, which is nothing short of mind-blowing. The AI was trained on more than 70k noise samples and refined with over 20k hours of deep learning. The AI’s cancellation depth is up to -40dB, which, as you can hear in the sound test video below, is akin to shutting undesired background noises off.

BOYA Central App

The BOYA Central App is a free download for iOS and Android devices and facilitates connection to mobile devices, as well as offering control over various functionalities. Except for the AI noise cancellation toggle button on the lavs and charging case, the app offers the only place to control most features.

The app displays which mics are connected, their battery level, and connectivity strength. It also displays their output level and provides access to control features such as the output gain, noise cancellation level, recording mode, and whether to employ the safety track.

The app also provides information about each system component and allows users to update the firmware.

Sound Tests

The BOYA Magic Microphone system is intuitively designed, cleverly engineered, and a joy to use. In all four configurations, it is easy and fun to get great results. The lavalier microphones are tiny and lightweight and deliver great sound. The AI noise cancellation lives up to its name, truly magic.

The BOYA Magic Microphone sells for $129.99, and the Desktop Tripod sells for $19.99 (down from $30); both are available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including B&H Photo and Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample

What I Like: Impressive sound; Amazing AI noise cancellation; Four configurations; Ease of use; Intuitive design

What Needs Improvement: Can conflict with other devices that connect via Bluetooth