The Best Gooseneck Microphones

Find our recommendations of the best gooseneck microphones grouped into three categories.

• wireless gooseneck microphones
• cable gooseneck microphones
• USB gooseneck microphones.

We have also pointed out one microphone among all the rest that we consider the best gooseneck microphone.

You may consider picking one or several boundary microphones or ceiling microphones for small-to-medium meeting rooms. For online and video conferencing with fewer participants choosing a speakerphone might be an even better-suited solution. These microphones are easy-to-install and low-cost solutions compared to the gooseneck microphones.

Gooseneck microphones usually have the highest sound quality, but the necessary budget and installation efforts are higher.

WHAT IS THE BEST GOOSENECK MICROPHONE FOR A CONFERENCE ROOM?

Sennheiser MEG 14-40 boosts with clear sound reproduction – no popping or overloads. The mic has a wide sound frequency, better than the other microphones at a similar price. It has RF protection against interference from other wireless devices.

A max of two speakers can use MEG 14-40 as it uses an approved capsule with a cardioid polar pattern.

MEG 14-40 microphone can be combined with the wireless base Sennheiser SL Tablestand 153-S DW.

SL Tablestand 153-S DW can be charged both wirelessly or via USB. Even for long meetings, it is the right choice as its operating time lasts 10 hours. The desk base has a convenient mute button. The microphone base can also be controlled remotely using the Sennheiser Control Cockpit app.

With its rugged and aesthetic construction, this microphone perfectly complements any audio conference system, be it a boardroom, conference hall, or presentation room.

WIRELESS GOOSENECK MICROPHONES

When installing wireless gooseneck microphones, make sure all components of the audio system are compatible with each other.

For your convenience, the microphones listed below are offered with a compatible desktop base.

Sennheiser  MEG 14-40-L-II B with SL Tablestand 153-S DW is the best all-in-one microphone solution for business meetings – a microphone and a gooseneck microphone stand with a built-in transmitter. The mic boosts with clear sound reproduction. The microphone also has a light status indicator.

The microphone stand is wireless and can be controlled remotely from a mobile phone using the Sennheiser Control Cockpit app.

The Sennheiser MEG 14-40 is compatible with the ADN WD1 delegate unit. The delegate unit is our recommendation for summits, corporate meetings, and business events with the highest requirements for the conference audio system. It has built-in loudspeakers and a push-to-talk option. Its operating time per recharge lasts 20 hours. 

Consider that this is just a component of Sennheiser’s entire audio discussion system called ADN. To use it – you need all its components: the table stands, the batteries, and the central unit. It is quite simple and easy to use. We recommend it if you need to provide an entire conference room with brand-new audio equipment.

MX415 is the wireless solution offered by Shure. The model offers a lot of variations that can be chosen according to the specific conditions and purpose of use.

This gooseneck microphone can be used with different types of  interchangeable microphone capsules according to the microphone’s specific purpose:

• cardioid capsule – when the microphone is used by up to 2 talkers ( 130-degree angle)
• super-cardioid capsule – when used by one talker (the range is shorter due to the smaller angle – 115 degrees).

There are also versions of this microphone with different lengths of the gooseneck:

 – Shure MX415 – 15-inches gooseneck

 – Shure MX410 – 10-inches gooseneck

 – Shure MX405 – 5-inches gooseneck. 

The wireless desktop base Shure MX890 has a useful mute switch and can be up to 98 feet (30 m) from the receiver.

CABLE GOOSENECK MICROPHONES

Cable gooseneck microphones are claimed to be more reliable than wireless microphones, as they do not have issues with RF interference. They also come at a lower price than wireless microphones of the same audio quality.

Audio Technica U859QL is a universal microphone solution offered by Audio Technica. This mic can be plugged into a wireless or cable desk base or a panel with an XLRF-type connector. 

U859QL will keep the excellent quality of the audio system in both cases, as a part of a whole new audio equipment or if just a few microphones are replaced.

Whatever desktop base or panel you use, ensure it provides enough phantom power for this microphone.

The microphone has a cardioid polar pattern, so one or two presenters can use it. It boosts with unique protection against RF interference thanks to Audio-Technica’s UniGuard® technology. The microphone has a flexible 18.94” long gooseneck. If the room conditions require a shorter gooseneck, use the U859Q version with a 14.47″ long gooseneck.

Shure MX418/C is a flexible solution that adapts quickly to different events with various mounting and form options.

Clear sound quality designed to capture speech and the CommShield technology protecting against RF interference make this mic the perfect mid-range solution for meetings of various types and sizes.

The mic has an interchangeable cardioid capsule that a super-cardioid or omnidirectional capsule can replace. The gooseneck has two flexible sections at the top and the bottom. Or if you need a shorter gooseneck, the 12-inch long MX412/C is the right choice.  

If you want the microphone to be movable, you can pick the MX418/D or the MX412/D version offered with a desktop base. 

Read detailed info about these mics in our Shure MX412 and MX418 review.

Shure CVG18 is the more affordable alternative to Shure MX418. Just like MX418, it is specially designed to capture speech, although not in such a wide frequency response. 

This gooseneck mic has quite a lot of options for its price. It is the only microphone in this price range with RF immunity using Shure’s CommShield technology. The mic also includes a flange with a mute button.

The mic is easy to install – with or without a desktop base. 

The microphone is 18 inches long. There is a shorter 12-inch version – Shure CVG12.

USB GOOSENECK MICROPHONES

A USB microphone is the right choice if you prefer a plug-and-play gooseneck microphone. They are usually used for online and VoIP meetings or even everyday chats. They are also useful in BYOD-type meetings or when a quick setup of the microphones is necessary. Although USB gooseneck mics are affordable and simple, you must still comply with cables.

Speechware TableMike 3-in-1 is a high-sensitive noise-canceling microphone of the Belgian company SpeechWare, recognized with an excellent reputation in the speech-recognition industry.

TableMike 3-in-1 is the base model among the three gooseneck microphones of SpeechWare. All three models have the same excellent audio quality. The difference between them is in the options of the desktop base. 

The microphone gooseneck has two flexible sections. It is easily detached from the base, so keeping it in the same bag as your laptop if you need to travel with it is easy.

The microphone boosts with an impressive 20-inches range. The impressive audio quality is due to a first-industry built-in Digital Sound Processor (DSP), Speech Equaliser (EQ), and Automatic Gain Control (AGC). 

If you need a microphone with a built-in speaker, you can look at TableMike 6-in-1.

MXL AC-400 is designed specifically for web business meetings.

Good audio quality combined with a simple plug-and-play solution that’s what MXL AC-400 is.

The microphone has a permanently attached desktop base and a fully flexible 15-inch long gooseneck. 

MXL AC-400 can be an independent microphone with up to three extension microphones. Together with the extensions, the mic can cover up to 4 participants. The microphone is also suitable for shared spaces as it limits ambient noise.

The mute button on the base gives each attendee individual control of his participation in the meeting.

WHEN CHOOSING A GOOSENECK MICROPHONE, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FOLLOWING NOTES:

• Will the microphone be installed on a desktop base or with a mount preamp flush on the surface?
• The length of the gooseneck can be between 5 and 18 inches. The gooseneck can have one or more flexible parts so that the mic can be better adjusted to the height and position of every speaker.
• Choose the right polar pattern of the microphone – cardioid or super-cardioid. The super-cardioid pattern generally has a shorter range but captures sound more clearly. Supercardioid mics are designed to be used by one presenter. Cardioid microphones are more practical and can be shared among two presenters. 
• There are three ways to connect the microphone (or the desktop base if the microphone has one): an XLR cable to connect to a mixer, a wireless base to connect to a receiver, or a USB cable to connect directly to a laptop or a PC.
• Do you need any specific features of the desktop base? For example, on/off switch, mute switch, and more advanced models have interpretation and voting options.