Sony Announces $400 ECM-W5 Wireless Mic Kit With 32-Bit Float Recording

Sony has announced the ECM-W5, a $400 wireless microphone kit aimed at video creators and designed to compete against compact microphone systems from manufacturers like DJI, as reported by Engadget (https://www.engadget.com/2286975/sony-is-taking-on-dji-with-its-new-ecm-w5-wireless-microphone-kit/).

The standard kit comes with one receiver and two transmitters, capturing 96kHz audio at distances up to 500 meters in line-of-sight conditions. Pre-orders are open now at $400, with shipments scheduled to begin in November.

A central feature of the ECM-W5 is its integration with Sony Alpha cameras through the Multi Interface Shoe. When mounted to the proprietary shoe, the receiver draws power directly from the camera body and transfers digital audio data without requiring external patch cables. For creators using smartphones or PCs, the receiver also includes a USB-C adapter.

Each transmitter unit includes 64GB of internal memory for standalone backup recording and supports 32-bit float capture, which preserves dynamic range across extreme volume changes without manual gain calibration. The transmitters offer up to 11 hours of battery life, attach via magnetic backplates, and support connections to external microphones.

The receiver features a touchscreen for configuration adjustments, and creators can monitor playback wirelessly using Bluetooth Low Energy paired with compatible Sony headphones. While the base bundle supports two transmitters, users can expand the setup to record up to four simultaneous tracks by purchasing additional transmitters.

Sony is positioning the ECM-W5 at a premium compared to rivals such as the $259 DJI Mic 3 and the $99 DJI Mic Mini. Alongside the full package, Sony will sell standalone ECM-W5R receivers for $190 and ECM-W5T transmitters for $120.