Countryman B3 Omnidirectional Lavalier

Please Note: Not all variations may be available to ship immediately. If you have an urgent need, please contact sales at 1-888-686-0551 or email sales@focusedtechnology.com with the model(s) and quantity you need.

Countryman Associates B3 Omnidirectional Lavalier

Our B3 is essential to any well-stocked pro audio toolkit. For starters, the B3 captures the highest-quality audio available in a lavalier mic, with field-selectable HF response caps and extremely low handling noise.

Whether you need a tie-clip lav for an interview, a hair-hidden mic for drama, a water-resistant mic for water sports or hurricane reporting, or simply a small mic to hide in a prop flower vase, you'll never run out of applications for Countryman's B3 lavalier.

And that's exactly why we made the B3 so rugged. Kevlar protects its cable from excessive weight and stretching, and the mic's protective caps are extremely resistant to water, sweat, and makeup.

You'd never expect such a mic to be so affordable, making the B3 one of the highest-value audio investments in your kit!

Supplied with set of two tie clips (black and white), wind screen, three HF response control protective caps, and carrying case.

Applications:

• All-purpose, rugged, affordable lavalier that’s easy to hide in clothing, hair or props
• Ideal for theater, news anchors, interviews, lecturers, churches, schools, and general lavalier applications

Performance:

• Low distortion at SPL up to 150dB on 48V Phantom Power
• Field-selectable HF response caps
• Kevlar cable and ultra-thin diaphragm combine to set a new standard for low handling noise
• Highest-quality audio available in a lavalier mic
• Excellent rejection of surrounding noise

Style & Comfort:

• Available in 6 colors to blend with clothing or skin tones
• Looks great when you want to see it, and hides easily when you don't

Durability:

• Highly resistant to moisture and perspiration for use in hair, on the body, or in bad weather li> Protective cap is easily removed for cleaning or replacement when clogged with makeup li> Kevlar-reinforced cable withstands punishment

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I choose the right color for my skin tone?

Tan is the most popular color choice, because it works perfectly for average Caucasian skin tones, as well as olive complexions. Light beige works well in theatrical applications due to its slightly pink undertone, and is also appropriate for extremely fair skin. Cocoa is the ideal choice for African American skin tones ranging from very light to chocolate, and black is appropriate for extremely dark skin, or for situations where you want the mic to be visible. When in doubt, choose the darker option. That’s because a mic that’s too light can resemble a scar or blemish, while a mic that’s slightly darker than the background resembles a shadow and draws less attention.

Which cap should I use?

The B3 lavalier should always be used with a protective cap in place to keep sweat, makeup and other foreign material out of the microphone. The three omni caps each have a different high frequency response characteristic that controls the amount of “crispness” or “sibilance” (response at 15 kHz).

The B3 ships with the +0 dB (flat) protective cap fitted to the mic. Switch to the +4 dB or +8 dB cap to boost the perceived amount of presence in your sound, while leaving the lower frequencies unchanged. If you experience problems with high-frequency feedback, you should switch to the +0 dB cap.

Which sensitivity should I choose?

Making a microphone more sensitive to catch soft sounds means it will overload sooner for loud sounds. Because sound pressure levels vary between individuals and applications, we provide two sensitivities with two different overload or clipping characteristics.

• The most sensitive (W4, no band) is appropriate for positioning on the chest or lapel and is a good choice for most lavalier uses
• The less sensitive version (W5, red band) is ideal for use as a hair mic in theater

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 3 dB
Equivalent Acoustic Noise: 24 dBA
Dimensions: .23” x .18” (5.8 mm x 4.6 mm)
Weight: .012 oz (.34 g)

Hardwired

Sensitivity:
12 mV/Pa for B3P4FF05xxx (no band, most uses)
4 mV/Pa for B3P5FF05xxx (red band, head mic)
Maximum Sound Pressure:
150 dB (48 V, red band mic)
Power Requirements:
9 V to 48 V Phantom (4 mA @ 48 V)
Output Connector: XLR-3 Male (contains preamp)

Wireless

Sensitivity:
12 mV/Pa for B3W4FF05xxx (no band, most uses)
4 mV/Pa for B3W5FF05xxx (red band, head mic)
Maximum Sound Pressure:
140 dB (5 V, red band mic)
Power Requirements: 3 to 12 V @ 200 μA
Output Connector: pigtails or as specified

Connector Type Reference Chart
Transmitter Brand		Transmitter Model		Connector Type		Code
(Hardwired)		Phantom Power		XLR3 Male		(no code)
(Pigtail leads)		Stripped and tinned		For 2 wire 10k ohm		NC
AKG		PT51, PT300, PT900		B-LOC (locking male)		AG
AKG		PT40, PT60, PT61, PT80, PT81, PT400, PT2000, PT4000		Switchcraft TA3F		AK
Audio Limited		TX2000, RMS-2000-mxl		Lemo 6 pin		AL
Audio Technica		T35, T75, T211, T601, T1000, T1200, T4000, T5000, T7000		Hirose 4 pin		AN
Audio Technica		T27, T31, T51, T200, T210, T300, T310, T1400, T2000, T3000		Hirose 4 pin		AT
Audio Technica		ATW-U101		Switchcraft TA5F		AW
Azden		WM-PRO, WLT-PRO, 32BT, WM22, 31LT		Non locking 3.5 mm		ZP
Beyer		Opus Series TS-100, TS-300, TS-500, TS-800		Screw on TA4F		MI
Electrovoice		300, N\DYM, NBPU, MSB, BPV, BPU, BPU2, CSB-1000, RE-1, RE-2		Switchcraft TA4F		ET
Electrovoice		2000, 2500 series		Switchcraft TA4F		EV
Lectrosonics		M170, 175		Switchcraft 851		L2
Lectrosonics		UM Series, LM Series		Switchcraft TA5F		L4
Lectrosonics		H Series		Switchcraft A3M		LE
Lectrosonics		M Series over 185		Switchcraft TA5F		LS
Lectrosonics		MM400		Water Proof 2.5mm		LW
Lectrosonics		UH Series		Switchcraft A3M		LX
Lectrosonics		SM Series, UMa Series, LMa Series		Switchcraft TA5F		SM
Lightspeed		BP-200		Push lock type 4 pin		LH
Mipro		ACT707TS(TE), ACT801TS(TE), MT103, MT303, MT801, MT808		Screw on TA4F		MI
Mipro		ACT707, MT801		Screw on mini 4 pin		MN
Nady		UB10, UB16, WLT14, WLT15		3.5 mm locking plug		NL
Nady		UB10, UB16, WLT14, WLT15		3.5 mm locking plug		NL
Revolabs		HD		Switchcraft TA4F		RV
Sabine		SW16T, SW30T		Screw on mini 4 pin		SB
Sabine		SW16TX, SW30TX (1600, 3000), ST50T		Screw on TA4F		SS
Sabine		SW70		Switchcraft TA4F		ST
Samson		Airline AL-1		2.5mm stereo		AS
Samson		CT3, VT2L, UT1L, T32		Switchcraft TA3F		SV
Samson		UT5, TX3 (Black), UT6		Hirose 6 pin		SX
Sennheiser		BF1083		Lemo 1 pin		S1
Sennheiser		SK2000		Lemo 3 pin		S2
Sennheiser		SK-50, SK250, SK3063, SK5012		Lemo 3 pin		S3
Sennheiser		SK2012		Microdot		SE
Sennheiser		Evolution Series, EW100, EW300, EW500, G2, G3, SK 1093		3.5 mm locking plug		SR
Shure		Axient AXT-100		Switchcraft TA4F		AX
Shure		All with Lemo 3 pin		Lemo 3 pin		S3
Shure		FP1, PG1, PGX1, PGXD1, SLX1, ULX1, ULXD1, UR1, UR1M, BLX1		Switchcraft TA4F		SL
Sony		DWT-B01		Hirose 4 pin (twist lock)		DS
Sony		WRT-805, 806, UTX-B1, UWP806		3.5 mm locking plug		SN
Sony		WRT-28, 820, 860		Hirose 4 pin (twist lock)		SO
Sony		WRT-822, WRT-420, WRT-8B		Hirose 4 pin (twist lock)		SY
Telex		WT 200, 400, 450		Lemo 4 pin		TL
Telex		All with TA4F connector		Switchcraft TA4F		TS
Toa		WM4300		Switchcraft TA4F		TA
Toa		WM370, WM4310		Toa special 3.5 mm		TO
Vega		T23, T25, T37, T93, PRO-2, BP2020, ST2020		Switchcraft TA4F		VS
Zaxcom		TRX900, TRX900AA		Lemo 3 pin		ZX