Sony’s New ECM-W5 Wireless Mic System Wants To Make Audio Easier

Sony has announced the ECM-W5 wireless audio solution, which includes the ECM-W5T Wireless Microphone Transmitter, the ECM-W5R Wireless Audio Receiver, and a kit with the receiver, two transmitters, and a charging case.

Sony says its new ECM-W5 wireless audio system has been in the works for years, and the company performed significant research into what modern creators and small production teams actually need and want from a new microphone. Sony admits there are already many good, high-quality audio systems on the market. Plenty of mics sound good and work well.

As a result, while the ECM-W5 system promises professional-grade performance, the focus here is on the broader audio workflow and on addressing common user pain points. For Sony camera owners specifically, it offers some interesting features. Digital audio transmits wirelessly to compatible Sony cameras and saves via the MI Shoe as a single file alongside in-camera video. Compatible cameras can record up to four-channel audio with two optional TX microphones.

Each microphone also has 64GB of internal recording storage. Plus, compatible cameras support in-camera WAV file recording for backup, up to 32-bit float.

Although Sony notes that many mics record good audio these days, the specs still matter. The high-resolution mics support sampling rates up to 96 kHz/24-bit with 48 kHz/32-bit float recording for security across a wide range of environments. The mics include Auto Gain to prevent clipping, and manual gain adjustment goes from -12 to +12 dB. Noise cut and low cut settings are accessible via the mic menus, and both the receiver and microphones support external 3.5mm mics.

It also offers timecode output, including sync over USB. Users can export internally recorded audio files directly from the receiver or over USB-C through the charging case.

The Sony ECM-W5T transmitters have a built-in rechargeable battery that promises up to 11 hours of use per full charge. The ECM-W5R Receiver includes an AMOLED touchscreen interface and a physical control wheel for adjusting settings. Sony says the wireless transmission range is up to 500 meters (1,640 feet) in line-of-sight conditions.

A big part of the promised appeal here is that Sony’s new wireless audio system is truly wireless. With Bluetooth LE audio, users with compatible Sony wireless headphones can monitor audio within range without any wires, enabling more freedom of movement during recording, especially in the field, where an audio solution like this is most likely to be used.

As Sony explains, real-world users want more freedom to monitor audio without wires, want to use more than two microphones easily, and want backup recordings and audio ready directly inside their camera. 32-bit float is quickly becoming an expected standard as well. The Sony ECM-W5 wireless audio system includes all of these features.

While some of the functionality is unique to compatible Sony cameras, the ECM-W5 system also works with other camera brands, smartphones, gimbal cameras, and computers.

“Video creators are working in increasingly dynamic environments, often with smaller teams and less room for error,” says Yang Cheng, Senior Vice President of Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics. “With the ECM-W5, we focused on the real workflow challenges creators face: moving freely, managing multiple voices, staying in sync, and protecting every take, so they can spend more time focused on the story and less time managing audio.”

Pricing and Availability

The Sony ECM-W5 Wireless Microphone Kit will begin shipping in mid-November for $399.99 in the United States and $569.99 in Canada. It includes the receiver, two transmitters, and a charging case.

The Sony ECM-W5R Wireless Audio Receiver and Sony ECM-W5T Wireless Microphone Transmitter will be available separately in mid-November for $189.99 and $119.99, respectively. They will be $269.99 and $169.99 in Canada.

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Image creditsSony