Countryman B3W4FF05-AX Datasheet

COUNTRYMAN ASSOCIATES INC

B3 OMNIDIRECTIONAL

LAVALIER MICROPHONE

Our B3 is essential to any well-stocked pro audio toolkit: it captures the highest­quality audio available in a lavalier mic, with field-selectable high-frequency
response caps and extremely low handling noise.

Whether you need a tie-clip lavalier for an interview, a hidden hair mic for drama,
a water-resistant mic for reality TV, 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. The cable is protected from
stretching by a rugged aramid core, 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.

Unobtrusive
Looks great when you want to see it,

virtually disappears when you don’t.
The B3 is easily hidden in hair or on
costumes, with five colors to match
clothing, hair, and skin tones. Use a
felt tip marker to color the white caps
for near-perfect concealability. Never
suffer the hassle and degraded sound
quality of under-clothing miking again.

Rugged and Reliable

The B3 is exceptionally resistant to
makeup, sweat, and moisture when
used with the supplied protective
caps, and works well in hair or on the
body. The protective caps are easily
removed for cleaning or replacement,
and the Aramid-reinforced cable gives
it world-class survivability.

Exceptional Sound Quality

The B3 provides the highest-quality
audio available in a lavalier mic, with
low distortion at SPL up to 150 dB
on 48 V Phantom Power. The aramid
cable and ultra-thin diaphragm
combine to set a new standard for low
handling noise. The ultra flat frequency
response accurately captures voice or
instruments, and the small size makes
the B3 easy to position for ambient

noise and feedback rejection.

Versatile

Changeable protective caps let you
shape the frequency response for
different situations or to match other
microphones. Versions are available
for different speaking or singing styles,
with high overload capability for
recording instruments.

Supplied with carrying case, black and white cable
clips, wind screen, and 3 protective caps.

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Equivalent Acoustic Noise: 24 dBA
Dimensions: .23” x .18” (5.8 mm x 4.6 mm)

Hardwired
Sensitivity:

12 mV/Pa for B3P4 (no band, most uses)
4 mV/Pa for B3P5 (red band, instrument / 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 B3W4 (no band, most uses)
4 mV/Pa for B3W5 (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

How Caps Change Frequency Response

dB

+10

0

-10

-20

20 50 100 500

measured at 6 inches

1k

5k 10k 20 kHz200 2k

+8 dB Very Bright

+4 dB Bright

+0 dB Flat

1 kHz Polar Response

0°

-20

dB

180°

330°

0

-5

-10

-15

300°

270°

240°

210°

30°

60°

90°

120°

150°

B3 Lavalier: Frequently Asked Questions

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

Tan works very well for Caucasian skin tones as well as olive complexions. Light beige works
well for light and pink tones. Cocoa is the ideal choice for very light brown to chocolate
tones. Choose black for deep brown skin, or on other tones when 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 caps make the B3 very
water resistant. The three omni caps each have a different high-frequency response

B3 Lavalier in cola.

Very Bright

+8 dB

Bright

+4 dB

Flat

0 dB

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 instruments or as a hair mic in theater.

What are other popular applications for the B3?

Installation Mic Hair Mic Concealed in Clothing

The protective cap of the B3 shields it
from moisture and dust and reduces
vibrations, making it an excellent installation
microphone.

45˚

0.220”

The B3 is a popular choice on
Broadway as a hair microphone. This
placement (extended here for visibility)
provides good gain before feedback
and natural sound that doesn’t
change when the head moves.

BEVELED

TABLE

0.125”

0.250”

105˚

EDGE

STRAIGHT

TABLE

EDGE

Positioned in the knot of a tie or behind
a shirt button, the B3 delivers flawless
audio and hides in plain sight. When
placed completely under clothing use
the +4 dB or +8 dB protective cap to
boost high frequencies.

0.220”

TABLE, WALL,

CEILING,

STAGE

Countryman Associates, Inc. 195 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025 US: [phone] Intl: 650-364-9988 F: [phone]
[e-mail] For more information and warranty registration visit www.countryman.com Made in the United States.