DJI Mic Mini vs DJI Mic 2 vs Hollyland Lark M2 A Detailed Comparison

Introduction to Wireless Microphone Systems

If you’ve been wondering whether to buy the DJI Mic 2, the DJI Mic Mini, or the Hollyland M2, this is the video for you. Let’s test and compare these wireless systems to see which one might be right for you. There are links to everything in the description below. I purchased all these units myself—no one sent them to me—so take that for what it’s worth. If you’d like to support the channel, there are affiliate links in the description that help me create more content like this.

Testing the DJI Mic Mini

To start, this is the sound of the DJI Mic Mini. You can see it clipped right here. There’s a little wind, so I’ve put the fuzzy windscreen on. I’ll do the same with the Hollyland and the DJI Mic 2. How does it sound? From what I’ve heard, the DJI Mic Mini sounds really good. I like it—it’s clear, clean, and has a nice sound to complement your voice. It also has noise reduction, which we’ll test in a bit.

Testing the Hollyland M2 System

This is the sound of the Hollyland M2 system, which actually surprised me. It sounds clean, clear, and crisp—pretty natural. Maybe it doesn’t have quite as much low end as the DJI systems, but it sounds great overall. I was shocked. I resisted getting these for a long time, and now I regret that because they’re really fantastic. We’ll test how they sound inside clothing soon and share tips to improve the audio in that setup.

Testing the DJI Mic 2

Next, we have the DJI Mic 2, which also sounds great but isn’t as clear. It doesn’t have as much high frequency as the Mic Mini or the Hollyland, which surprised me since it’s a larger system. But how far do these systems reach, especially the Mic Mini and Hollyland? The DJI Mic 2 has internal recording, a huge advantage for professional work in certain situations.

Range and Signal Testing: DJI Mic Mini

This is the Mic Mini now. Obviously, these are the best conditions you’ll find—there’s almost no interference around me. A big factor is what happens when you turn your body and place it between the microphone and the camera. In my experience, you can go far as long as there’s nothing between you and the camera—you’ll get a great signal. The issue arises when you put your body or other objects between the camera and the microphone. Right now, I’m about six or seven feet from the camera. Let’s turn around, start walking away, and see how far we get.

Usually, I notice drops pretty quickly when the body is between the microphone and the camera. The body attenuates RF signals well and fast. But how quickly does it reacquire the signal when you turn back? In my experience, the DJI system links back up super fast.

Range and Signal Testing: Hollyland M2

Now, let’s switch to the Hollyland M2 system. Like most of these small systems, it performs great at a distance. I’m about 200 or 300 feet away, and all these systems do well with no interference. The big difference is what happens when you put a body or something between the transmitter and receiver. I’m six or seven feet away now—let’s start walking and see how it does. You usually get drops early; it’s just part of how these work.

I’m really impressed with these mini systems. They’re small, easy to hide, and sound way better than you’d expect.

Range and Signal Testing: DJI Mic 2

Now, the DJI Mic 2. Just like the others, the big question is what happens when you put a body or something between the receiver and transmitter. Let’s find out. I’m at 10 feet—now I’ll start walking away. The Mic 2’s big advantage is its 32-bit internal recording. This means you can adjust volume after the fact and won’t lose audio. For professional work with clients, this can save the day—it has for me. Were there drops? I have backups since everything was recorded internally, so I always have the audio. But how did the transmission do?

Like the other systems, distance isn’t a big issue. I’ve gone well over a thousand feet with this system, and as long as there’s a direct line of sight to the camera, it works fine. Without a lapel, it’s larger and harder to hide. It looks nice in the sun, though it’s still cold out here.

DJI Ecosystem Advantage

A huge advantage of the DJI Mic Mini and Mic 2 over others is their direct connection to the Pocket 3, Action 5, or Action 4. Right now, you’re hearing the DJI Mic 2 through a lapel mic straight into the Pocket 3. It’s a super easy, fantastic way to get audio into a camera without an extra receiver. The Hollyland does USB-C out directly to audio too, but it’s seamless with DJI cameras.

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Testing Inside Clothing: DJI Mic 2

A big question is how these sound when mounted out of sight, like under clothing. The DJI Mic 2 is under my shirt and jacket now. If I move, it’s pretty good—surprising, actually. It’s mounted where it can’t move, which is key. If it’s on a shirt with a jacket over it, two moving pieces of clothing can cause issues. Now it’s on my shirt outside, with the jacket over it. Movement creates noise because the shirt and jacket shift against each other.

Testing Inside Clothing: DJI Mic Mini

Let’s try the DJI Mic Mini inside my shirt pocket with the jacket over it. If I move a lot, how’s that sound? Now, the Hollyland M2 is outside my shirt but inside my jacket. Movement causes rustling because the fabrics move independently. If you tape them together or fix the Hollyland to both, it reduces the issue. Now it’s in my shirt pocket—how does that sound? There’s some rustle, maybe a bit more, but taping it with double-sided tape on both sides eliminates a lot of that.

Using a Lapel with DJI Mic 2

Another advantage of the DJI Mic 2 is its 1/8-inch jack for a lapel. You’re hearing it now without one, and now with a lapel hidden in my hat. It sounds different—better. The mic stays in place even if you turn, keeping the sound consistent. This is a high-end Sanken COS-11D, a few hundred dollars, and I use it a lot professionally.

Noise Reduction Testing

I don’t often advocate for built-in noise reduction, but all three units have it, so let’s hear it. You’ll get better results in post with more powerful tools, but if you just shoot and post without editing, here’s how they sound.

DJI Mic 2 Noise Reduction

This is the DJI Mic 2 with no noise reduction, driving at 60 mph. Now with noise reduction on—not my favorite, but it works in a pinch.

DJI Mic Mini Noise Reduction

This is the DJI Mic Mini with no noise reduction at 60 mph. Now with strong mode noise reduction—basic does little. How’s that sound with the same noise?

Hollyland M2 Noise Reduction

This is the Hollyland M2 with no noise reduction, same conditions. Now with noise reduction on—it’s impressive for built-in, but post-production is still best.

For fun, here’s no noise reduction again, then post-processed with iZotope RX9. It’s better, though I didn’t fine-tune it. Good audio engineers can do wonders, but it costs money and time. Do you want to spend on software or just post quickly?

Specific Features and Considerations

Now that you’ve heard the differences in sound, range, and interference, let’s cover specifics. The DJI Mic 2 lets you plug in a lapel—I use a COS-11D with it into a Pocket 3 for most YouTube videos. Battery life is about 6 hours, with 18 hours total via the case. It’s $350, with 32-bit internal recording as a backup. For Sony shooters, the multifunction hot shoe interface goes digitally into the camera—no wires. The touchscreen transmitter is quick and easy, with a knob for adjustments.

DJI Mic Mini Features

The DJI Mic Mini is tiny—one of the newest systems. It’s easy to hide and links wirelessly to Action 4, Action 5, or Pocket 3. It’s $170 for the set, or $50 for a transmitter (white or black). It has the longest battery life: 11.5 hours for transmitters, 10.5 hours for the receiver, with a 5-minute charge for another hour and 48 hours total via the case. A disadvantage is it doesn’t work with the multifunction hot shoe yet, though a firmware update hints at future support. DJI, please make one for Canon too! Controls are limited—volume only—other settings need the DJI Mimo app.

Both DJI systems pair via Bluetooth to phones or GoPros, but bandwidth limits quality, making it sound crunchy—not the mics’ fault.

Hollyland M2 Features

The Hollyland Lark M2 surprised me at $120. It has a charging case and 10 hours of transmission time. The transmitters are tiny and lightweight, great for hiding. It comes with accessories like magnetic clips and necklaces, though the wind muff is huge. There’s an 8-inch cable for cameras and a USB-C adapter for phones or Action 5 Pro. The receiver is the smallest camera-mounted one. It pairs automatically and works well.

Recommendations

I bought all these myself—they’re fantastic. It depends on your needs. For professional work, the DJI Mic 2 is ideal with its lapel option and backup recording—it’s saved me on big shoots. If you use DJI Pocket 3, Action 4, or Action 5, the Mic Mini is my favorite—small, lightweight, with 1,300-foot range (Mic 2 has 800 feet, Hollyland 1,000 feet). It’s great for YouTube on a budget. For smartphones or USB-C cameras like Insta360, the Mic Mini or Hollyland works. On a tight budget, the Hollyland M2 is fantastic.

Watch the next video linked here. Ask questions in the comments or join my livestream most Wednesday nights at 4:00 p.m. Alaska time (8:00 p.m. Eastern) for more discussion. See you in the next one—cheers!