Cardioid microphones capture sound from the front while reducing pickup from the sides and rear, making them well suited for speech, theater, choir, and general sound reinforcement. Line-cardioid patterns use a narrower, approximately 90-degree acceptance angle for more focused pickup, while half-space unidirectional patterns work with boundary microphones on tables, podiums, and lecterns to capture nearby speakers with a low-profile setup.

Unidirectional microphones are available as suspended hanging microphones for theaters and choirs, adjustable gooseneck microphones that mount to a desk or panel, and low-profile boundary microphones for conference tables, podiums, and lecterns. These wired options support installed sound applications where focused pickup and reduced off-axis sound can help improve speech reinforcement and recording.

Most unidirectional microphones in this assortment use wired connectivity and connect through XLR, with condenser models requiring phantom power from the mixer or other connected audio equipment. A boundary microphone with self-contained electronics may not need an external power module, so check the microphone’s power design and connector type when planning the installation.

Compare the polar pattern, off-axis rejection, frequency response, and low-frequency filtering to understand how each microphone captures speech while reducing unwanted sound and feedback. Also consider the form factor, such as hanging, gooseneck, or boundary, along with wired connectivity and power requirements for the intended sound-reinforcement, conference, or recording setup.