Have you noticed one of your lavalier or headset microphones beginning to intermittently cut out, or make loud popping or buzzing noises? Or maybe you’re looking to upgrade your wireless microphone systems, only to realize that the new beltpacks utilize a different type of connector from your existing systems. In either case, your first instinct might be to order brand new mics and get rid of the old ones. However, reterminating your microphone (i.e. cutting off the old connector and replacing it with a new one) may be a more affordable and sustainable option.
Due to their exposure to sweat and makeup, and the comparative fragility of the tiny components used to build them, lavalier and headset mics certainly have a more finite lifespan than the average handheld dynamic mic. Even the most expertly built, durable lavalier mic will be “sweated out” over a long enough period of use, rendering the mic capsule itself irreparable, and requiring a replacement. That said, many “broken” mics that are sent to us for evaluation are in much less dire straits; maybe there’s a loose solder joint in the connector itself, or maybe the microphone cable is damaged. In either case, the fix can be as simple as cutting the cable near the connector and replacing it with a new one (unfortunately, if the cable is damaged closer to the mic element, a repair may not be possible, as splicing an additional length of cable in is impractical at best).
At TC Furlong Inc., we have the capability to reterminate lavalier and headset mics to any common connector type including TA4F, LEMO, Sennheiser Evolution, and more. We’re also happy to share that we’ve recently upgraded our repair arsenal with tools to reterminate mics with Microdot connectors. Microdot, a connector most commonly associated with DPA microphones but increasingly adopted by other manufacturers, allows a single mic to essentially be reterminated on the fly by swapping out small adapters for use with different wireless systems. Because it’s such a tiny connector, we previously had to send Microdot-terminated mics elsewhere for repair, but our new specialized tools allow us to complete these reterminations in-house, saving you time and money in the process. Turnaround time for our retermination service is usually just a day or two.
Microphone retermination is just one of the multitude of repair services we offer. If you have gear in need of repair, reach out to our technician Scott Helmke at shelmke@tcfurlong.com.
We also sell lavalier and headset mics, wireless microphone systems, and a variety of other gear from most manufacturers of professional audio equipment. Get in touch with our Sales Team at sales@tcfurlong.com to request a quote.
We also have hundreds of lavalier and headset mics available in our massive rental inventory. For rental quotes, please contact our Project Managers at rentals@tcfurlong.com.