The d:fine is the long-awaited, much anticipated, single-ear headset mic from the Danish company, DPA, makers of the well-respected 4066 and 4088 headset mics. The condenser mic is available in black, brown, beige and lime green (yes, lime green). It can be had in both omni and cardioid versions and lists for $590. A short-boom, omnidirectional version is also available.
While the 4066 and 4088 sound fantastic, they have a few drawbacks. Some don't like the dual ear design; they're a bit pricey; the element is rather large by today's standards; and if the cable goes bad, the repair requires a trip back to the factory.
The d:fine corrects all those shortcomings.
I received my d:fine shortly after it was released, and without really testing it out, I gave it to my pastor to wear the first week. As I was line-checking the wireless mics, I picked up his Shure UR1M body the d:fine attached and started speaking. The first thing I noticed was how natural and clear the sound was. Our producer, who was walking up the aisle of the auditorium, instantly turned around and said, “Wow! That sounds good!”
Perhaps the biggest thing that DPA accomplished with the d:fine is to create a single-ear mic that actually stays put and doesn't hurt. If you haven't seen the demo video on their website of the parkour athlete wearing the mic while performing all manner of acrobatics, you should watch it.
While I personally did not attempt any parkour, I did shake my head around a lot and couldn't get the mic to move. After I got it shaped to our pastor's head, I've noticed that it goes right back in place, week after week, without any fiddling at all. Other mics have to be bent specifically for the ear of each speaker; the d:fine is much more of a one-size-fits-all.
[Editor's Note: For those who prefer a dual-ear design, DPA announced dual-ear versions of the d:fine series of microphones after this review was completed.]
DPA has also worked out some clever design details. For example, the boom of the mic turns, so changing it from a left-side to a right-side is as simple as turning the boom around.
To keep moisture out, there is a very thin cover over the element that easily slips on and off, yet manages to remain in place during normal use and handling. Included in the generous case (more in a moment) is a makeup cover (a bright red cap to protect the element while the talent is in makeup) and four colored clips to color-code the headsets for easy identification. Finally, the cable is field replaceable.
As I mentioned, the case is generous. It is designed in such a way that leaves plenty of room for the mic itself (in the main tray), accessories (in the top), plus the cable and a wireless transmitter (under the tray).
Like the 4066 and 4088, the mic connects with a wide variety of wireless transmitters (or a regular XLR) via a micro-dot adapter. While adapters are great for rental houses, for a church, it is an extra cost. On the other hand, if your pastor regularly speaks in two or three rooms on your campus that might have different wireless systems, you can give him one mic and simply swap adapters.
Of course, clever design and a full feature set will only get you so far. The real question is, how does it sound? In a word: amazing. Actually, that's not entirely accurate. Perhaps a better descriptor would be natural. Our staff has noticed that our pastor really just sounds like our pastor, not a mic'd and amplified version of him. And that's held true of everyone we've tried it on. We've had no issues with feedback and with the fit being so consistent, I don't worry about his gain changing more than 1-2 dB week to week.
DPA is known for its very flat frequency response and exceptionally flat phase response. Clearly the company has carried on that tradition with the d:fine. I've used the 4088 in the past, and while I haven't A/B'd them, I would say the d:fine is every bit as good, if not better.
While I didn't do extensive measurement testing with the mic, I did run a series of swept sine wave comparisons to my Earthworks M-30 measurement mic. I was amazed how closely the traces tracked, indicating that the d:fine is nearly as flat as the M-30. Response was consistent across various orientations of the mic to the source (Yamaha NS-10s), confirming what I hear—the mic is even and flat.
But perhaps the best endorsement comes from my pastor the first weekend he tried it. His comment was, “I think it helped me preach better.” With that comment, the d:fine was added to the list of demo'd mics that didn't get returned to the manufacturer.
