Teacher Voice Amplifier Review: portable headset microphones for classrooms and outdoor settings 

You’re welcome!

You’re welcome! Have a great day!

Thank you! I use this in practice less than I anticipated, but it works great for meetings! (I’ve used it in large spaces too - our high school gym.)

I hope it was helpful! It was honestly fun to try them out.

Aww. Thanks. I think I’m the “okayest” teacher. 😘

Thank you!

Thank you!

You’re absolutely welcome - I felt like it was something that was needed. Over the year I didn’t use it regularly, but I did use it, and now the Bluetooth speaker is really handy!

I hope this helps!

Hope it helps!

Thank you!

Thanks for watching!

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

Oooh. That is an interesting point I hadn’t considered. I wonder if it’s possible to disable that, although that would certainly earn you a detention (or maybe demerits) as use of a phone during class time is not allowed, unless specifically instructed to by the teacher. One year students figured out how to use a phone to take over my projector during lectures. It happened once, and basically interrupted the whole class period. A student tipped me off, and I checked with IT about just turning off the non-corded input options. Then, I made a really long presentation (oh no! We have to catch up today) and that kid nearly fell out of his chair trying the same trick again. Fun day. Lol

Thank you for the thoughtful comment! I recorded all of this video in one shot (widescreen), but did edit out the junk in the recording, and crop some. I did nothing to the sound post-recording, but I agree that the result if the recording quality or viewers’ speakers could result in a sound experience for viewers that may be very different from using any of these in person. I don’t know if they can work as a wireless device, they certainly have to be plugged in to the speaker box unit. I hope that helps!

Thanks for watching!

Thank you!

Thank you! Good luck this year. I wish none of these things were issues. :(

Yea, I’ve really been happy with the Shidu over the year. Last weekend I was at a campground with a Girl Scout troop, and it was used for a little “dance party” of outdoor socially distant line dancing - and the sound quality and volume was excellent.

Thank you!

@@BetterScienceTeaching i have another one, posting it soon!

You’re welcome!

I don’t use it very frequently, but when I do, I’m usually glad I have it.

It can help unless they just keep trying to yell over you. Sometimes I just start giving instructions as a whisper.

I just used my iPhone 11.

I’m not really sure, I haven’t tried that.

Yes. A speaker connected to a headset.

I think it was a touch better, but not enough to justify the higher cost. Plus I don’t think it had all the features of the one that was my top pick (it has a recording feature in the speaker part).

This was tough and something I considered and tested before filming. The trick of it was that the sound coming from the speakers would always be a recording through my phone microphone - and if I turned the volume up high on the speakers while I showed them, there was distortion, and the distortion didn’t sound like the speakers. This is why I maintained the levels I did, and tried to describe their qualities. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for watching and taking the time to offer feedback!

I just repeat the question, usually.

That’s so interesting! I wondered, but wasn’t sure.

Thanks! I thought so when I made the video but I didn’t want to over promise!

I think so, but I’m not sure. Can you give me an example of what you wanted to do and I can test it?

@@BetterScienceTeaching for example I am using audio from my phone like example conversation or a song connected through Bluetooth. Then I talk or comments while the audio still playing. Most other voice amplifier you need to change from Bluetooth mode to wireless UHF mode so you need to push a button on the speaker, talk and then afterward only continue the Bluetooth audio from your phone

If I remember to I’ll check this this week - but I thought that while I had music on the speaker still worked. I’ll try to double check, though!

Thank you!

I think they were about the same. The feedback with the Shidu primarily happened when the microphone was directly in front of the speaker. I would just make sure to only have your system on, whichever you chose, when it was in position. I was being a bit sloppy on purpose, and think the Shidu has a lot of positive extras and is a bargain at less than a third of the price of the Gigaphone.

@@BetterScienceTeaching Thanks for replying so fast! So I'm going to have the unit on for most of the day...back to back classes, and reading books aloud is a big part of our curriculum. If I wear either the Shidu or Gigaphone amplifier on my belt or on the shoulder lanyard at my waist, would that be far enough away to stop the feedback squeals?

I think that would be fine! The other cool thing the Shidu could do for you is record the audio of you reading. You may run into copyright issues if you posted them publicly, but it would give you a huge collection of “books on tape” read by you!

@@BetterScienceTeaching You're correct that doing so violates copyright and intellectual property laws, and I'm not really interested in the ability to record my voice during lessons. I think I'll spring for the pricey one since it's a *little* lighter to carry around, and I can experiment with the different mics. I appreciate that you took the time to review all 3 so thoroughly, and if it's alright with you, I'd like to link to your video (not embed it) and your website in a blog post I'm writing about teaching library classes on a cart.

The Gigaphone really is very noticeably lighter (why didn’t I weigh them!!!), and definitely had my favorite microphone. I would be delighted if you included me in your recommendations! Thank you!

My guess is yes! Might depend on the size of your group, though.

@@BetterScienceTeaching ok I'm convinced, i just want to preach on the streets, don't know on the size of group yet, hehe.. Thanks a lot for answering quickly 🙂

No problem! I actually bought these from Amazon, kept the Shidu and returned the rest. It’s pretty easy to try and return what doesn’t work for you.

I don’t really know, did you try reaching out to Shidu or Amazon?

Not yet madam. I bought it from shopee. Perhaps i could buy another one of this model. Shidu is the only one clear and not have distraction even though i was outside my class.

I’m not sure, I haven’t tried (and I don’t have one). It might be possible with blue tooth, though.

I did not do that because I was focused on finding one effective for a classroom space. All met that standard.

The Shidu!

The wireless appeals to me, but I’m concerned that there is the potential for nearby people with a similar system to interfere with what comes through the speaker. I actually looked at more complicated systems (as those used for stage performances), but ultimately decided I didn’t want to make the investment.

I ordered mine from Amazon.

I agree, actually, but I think that considering the cost and features of the Shidu, the Gigaphone wasn’t the best value.

@@BetterScienceTeaching Yes, thank you. I understood that from your great video. I am a singer, so the sound quality difference might be worth the extra money. Do you know any vocal teachers and whether they are using anything like this?

Yes, it does have a clearer sound

Sorry, Kathleen. I’m not really sure.

@@latonyaparker6647 Hi Latonya, I did end up purchasing the Junsungtech Gigaphone and have used it singing with people last weekend out in a field at 20-40 feet away from them. They could hear me really well, and I liked the sound, very clear as you say. For anyone wanting to sing through this type of device, I recommend spending the extra money...which is a lot. The 40 watt one I got cost $200. It has a rechargeable battery, and I don't know whether that battery is replaceable, as there is no mention of the battery in the instructions. But it's still worth it for the good sound quality. The people were around me in a big circle, so I actually wore it around my waist, facing backwards (i.e. on my butt!) That way I could play my guitar in front and sing facing one direction, and the people behind me could hear my voice. And I kept turning so people on all sides could hear both the amp and me live with my guitar. For leading singing outdoors or at a rally walking it's perfect.

Yep! Works great!

@@BetterScienceTeaching That's what I was looking to see in action. Otherwise, excellent review!

I figured the acoustics would be weird in my house and not comparable to a classroom. :( I just tried to compare them to each other.

Hi Kimberly I used the GIgaphone mostly without a mask, but I did try it with a mask both on the outside of the mask and the inside. It worked fine on the outside, although it did soften the crispness of the sound a little But people said they could still hear me fine. When I put the mic inside the mask the sound was very clear, however my in breaths were heard, whereas when I wore it without a mask it didn't pick up the sound of my breathing. Since I'm singing with it on, I don't think I'll use it with the mic in side the mask, but for a quiet person taking smaller breaths it might work in side.

What lamp?

Ooh. That’s cool! I looked at a wireless system too, but that could have been tricky due to expense and the possibility that I’d pick up signals from other teachers nearby.