Korena by Guitar Center
Product detailSKU #1274034494273

ShureMX185 Microflex Lavalier Microphone

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Shure MX185 Microflex Lavalier Microphone
1/8

Independent shopping perspective

The Korena take

Miniature cardioid lavalier for speech capture — presenters, panels, houses of worship. Needs a Shure preamp or bodypack, not a plain XLR input.

Shure MX185 Microflex Lavalier Microphone product detail
Product studyShure MX185 Microflex Lavalier Microphone
Shure MX185 Microflex Lavalier Microphone alternate view
Alternate view

Strong match

Who this is for

  • Podium and lectern talks where a headset would be visually intrusive
  • Panel discussions needing one mic per speaker on separate channels
  • Wireless bodypack use on Shure TA4F-input transmitters

Consider the trade-offs

When to look elsewhere

  • Anyone expecting XLR plug-and-play — the connector is TA4F
  • Recording instruments or room ambience
  • Loud stage positions where a lav sits far from the source

What matters in use

The specifications, translated

Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.

Shure MX185 Microflex Lavalier Microphone construction detail

Detail 01

Cardioid, 130-degree pickup angle

Favors the wearer and rejects sound from behind, so wedges and audience noise stay lower.

Detail 02

TA4F 4-pin mini connector on a 4 ft cable

Plugs into a Shure bodypack or MX preamp, not into a mixer's XLR input directly.

Detail 03

Frequency response 50 Hz to 17 kHz

Rolls off the deepest rumble and the top air — tuned for intelligible speech, not full-range music.

Detail 04

11 to 52 V phantom, 2.0 mA

Runs off a wide phantom range, so older consoles at 12 V or 24 V still power it.

Detail 05

124 dB max SPL

Handles far more level than a talking voice, so it won't distort even at close mouth placement.

Detail 06

0.79 inch diameter, 3.89 inch length

Small enough to clip on a lapel or tie without pulling the fabric or drawing the eye.

Final check

Know before you order

  1. 01No transmitter or preamp included — you supply the Shure host device
  2. 02Confirm your bodypack takes TA4F before ordering
  3. 03Cable is 4 ft; plan clip position and pack placement around that
Shure MX185 Microflex Lavalier Microphone close-up

Product questions

Before you decide

Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.

01Can I plug this into an XLR input?

Not directly. The cable ends in a TA4F 4-pin mini connector, which goes into a Shure bodypack transmitter or an MX-series in-line preamp that provides the XLR out.

02Does it need phantom power?

Yes. It runs on 11 to 52 volts DC phantom, drawing 2.0 mA. A wireless bodypack supplies this internally; a wired preamp passes it through from the console.

03Is this good for singing or instruments?

It's built for speech. The response tops out at 17 kHz and starts at 50 Hz, so it lacks the low end and air you'd want for vocals or instrument capture.

04How long is the cable?

1.2 meters, about 4 feet, from the capsule to the TA4F connector.

Reference

Full specifications

The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.

2 detailsSize & weight
Dimensions (length x diameter)
3.89 " x .79" (99 x 20 mm)
Equivalent Output Noise (A-weighted)
28.0 dB
19 detailsOther
Cable
Shielded 1.2 meter (4 ft.) cable terminated with a 4-Pin Female Mini Connector (TA4F)
Category Source
detail
Max SPL
(1kHz at 1%THD, 1 k ohm load): 124.2 dB All settings +6 dB at 0 gain
Common Mode Rejection
45.0 dB minimum
Korena Special
false
Type
Condenser (electret bias)
Pickup angle
130 degrees
Power Requirements
11 to 52 Vdc phantom, 2.0 mA
Tier
new
Polar Pattern
Cardioid
Output Impedance
EIA rated at 150 ohms (180 ohms actual)
Polarity
Positive sound pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 relative to pin 3 of output XLR connector
Open Circuit Sensitivity (at 1 kHz, ref. 1V/Pascal*)
-35.0 dB (17.0 mV) All settings -12 dB at 0 gain *1 Pascal = 94 dB SPL
Source Id
site51274034494273
Prop65
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Frequency Response
50 to 17,000 Hz
Environmental Conditions
Operating Temperature Range: -18 to 57 degrees C (0 to 135 degrees F); Storage Temperature Range: -29 to 74 degrees C (-20 to 165 degrees F)
Signal to Noise Ratio (referenced at 94 dB SPL)
66.0 dB
Dynamic Range at 1 k ohm load
96.2 dB, 100 dB at 0 gain

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