Countryman H7 Headset Mic
Countryman miniature headset and earset microphones have been standard-setters for quality in church sound for well over a decade. True, Countryman microphones are hardly the cheapest of their type (though not the most expensive either), but you get what you pay for in terms of sound quality, reliability, features and a discreet profile. The newest in the Countryman lineup is the H7 cardioid headset, which retails in the $500 to $600 range and usually prices out about $50 above the phenomenally popular H6 omnidirectional model.
That raises a question: Why would you pay extra for a microphone with the same features and a slightly larger (and therefore less discreet) capsule? The answer is, of course, Garth Brooks.
Brooks’ microphone is much larger and comes from another maker, but it’s also a cardioid condenser. He started using his iconic mic back before in-ear monitoring was universal, which means he was singing on a stage filled with the sound of guitar amplifiers and drums. You don’t want all that extraneous sound washing into your sensitive vocal mic, so you choose a cardioid instead of an omni.
Such isolation is rarely needed during a sermon, which is why most teaching pastors opt for the Countryman H6. (Full disclosure: our lead pastor is among them.) Also, because they are non-directional, omni capsules are generally more forgiving on placement.
Still, there are times when you want to eliminate as much ambient noise as possible while capturing pristine sound from a nearly invisible headset mic. Think song leader with a retro stage setup, or an Easter drama presentation with surrounding crowd commotion. This is where the H7 checks all the boxes.
... there are times when you want to eliminate as much ambient noise as possible.... Think song leader with a retro stage setup, or an Easter drama presentation with surrounding crowd commotion. This is where the H7 checks all the boxes.
First, you’ll have exceptional vocal clarity and gain before feedback. When we first started using our H6, I was surprised when I looked at the recorded waveforms and compared them with those of our previous headset mic. I noticed the same pastor’s voice was 3dB lower than before – but with the same apparent volume and even better clarity. I would expect the same with the H7, and of course lower input levels reduce the threat of feedback.
The H7 head frame weighs less than 7 grams (1/4 ounce) and fits comfortably, so you hardly know it’s there.
H7 attributes
The H7 head frame weighs less than 7 grams (1/4 ounce) and fits comfortably, so you hardly know it’s there. The mic boom slides independently so you can zero in on the sweet spot. It also flips to accommodate placement on either side of the head. Both the mic and headset frame come in four colors to blend with any skin tone regardless of ethnicity.
And finally we come to the critical component for headset mic reliability: the cable. Here, our church learned a lesson. NEVER buy a headset mic that does not have a removable cable. The H7 has one, and it’s about as tough as you can get and still be nearly invisible, with aramid fiber termination at the connectors for 35 pounds of tensile strength.
The H7 has [a cable], and it’s about as tough as you can get and still be nearly invisible, with aramid fiber termination at the connectors for 35 pounds of tensile strength.
Well, 35 pounds of static weight might equal the effective dynamic force of a hefty, metal-clad wireless transmitter dropping three feet, which our pastor did several times before the hard-wired cable gave out on our prior headset mic. After a frustrating snap-crackle-pop Sunday we decided to upgrade to the Countryman.
There was a second reason for moving up to a swappable cable. Our worship auditorium has German “brand S” wireless systems, but our fellowship hall system has American “brand S” systems. Well, they don’t speak the same language in beltpack connectors, either. We’re a small church and rarely have need for a premium headset in the fellowship hall. We couldn’t justify another $500 purchase, but for less than a fifth of that amount we’re in business with an alternate cable for the same mic.
Finally, if your H7 user works up a copious sweat, have no fear. The redesigned connector on the H7 is fully submersible to a pressure of five atmospheres, so excessive perspiration is no problem. I expect you could even go down to the river for an old-fashioned baptism and, should the pastor slip on the mud and take his own dunking, the H7 should resurface in good working condition. (No promises on the wireless beltpack.)
Learn more here: https://www.countryman.com/h7-headset-microphone/.
