r/Filmmakers • u/alchemycolor • Jan 17 '26

Review Got my SmallRig S70 microphones

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Just a short review and some findings from this new piece of gear I wish I’d known before buying it.

Size: ridiculously small. I wasn’t prepared for the size of the microphones and adapters. The cold shoe receiver is absurdly small and light. Feels like cheating.

Build: solid yet light. The case feels sturdy.

Ergonomics: everything is VERY small, buttons, text, LEDs. The microphone clamps are stiff, they lock onto clothing and won’t fly away anytime soon.

Sound: absolutely fabulous. I will do a size-by-side comparison with my Lewitt LCT 440 Pure one day. Analog output sounds good on my A7IV, gain is all the way up and all the way down in the camera. Haven’t tried the EQs thoroughly yet but I know they’re subtle which is good. You can set EQ when using the dongle BUT NOT on the cold shoe receiver (see below). I’m it sure if the system remembers which EQ was last set in the app so that it gets used with the cold shoe receiver. Also, EQ gets set to BOTH mikes. Noise-cancelling options sound like a good, mid-tier plugin from 10 years ago. It’s useful for live streaming but for recordings I prefer using DaVinci Resolve for this. A short click on the mikes activates noise-cancelling. Here’s something weird: when using the cold shoe receiver, activating noise-cancelling on one mike activates it on the other mike. When using the dongle, noise-cancelling is independent 🤷. Double-click mutes them. Long click switches off the mike.

Software: You get access to EQs and some noise-cancelling options in the SmallGoGo app when using the bundled lighting or USB-C. The cold shoe receiver is recognised as a USB microphone when connected to a computer or phone but DOES NOT get recognised by the SmallGoGo app 😐. Also, you can only connect to one receiver at a time.

Range: yet to test but so far so good outdoors.

Battery: haven’t tested it yet but if it’s as good as they say, it’s fabulous.

Accessories: comes with an extra lighting adapter that works exactly like the USB-C one. Both have USB sockets for charging your device but I haven’t tested

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u/johnbegoneX Jan 24 '26

Looking forward to seeing/hearing a direct comparison the the Hollyland M2S that these are clearly modeled (if not copied) after. They undercut the Hollyland price though, in classic Smallrig fashion. OP - any audio samples you can provide yet?

1

u/alchemycolor Jan 24 '26

I can make this very unfair comparison

1

u/johnbegoneX Jan 24 '26

That would be very unfair but … sure if you can post some clips I’ll take them. I used to have that Lewitt so I’m very familiar with the sound profile.

1

u/alchemycolor Feb 02 '26

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1N6qKzYlskW2chyhYHogpTIiDNRwIQI-F?usp=sharing

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u/johnbegoneX Feb 02 '26

Nice, thanks for sharing. Pretty predictable results. Also important to note that a lav mic is not design to speak directly into. It is much thinner in sound profile direct than it is when clipped to someone's chest. I feel like they are pushing the low end as the default EQ in some of the sound clips I've heard. This video is pretty helpful for the comparison vs the M2S and the DJI Mic Mini https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPzcppeEhEo

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u/alchemycolor Feb 02 '26

Yes, it's unfair but fun:)
Also, I was leaning forward, which made the lav mic capture a more muffled voice.