Find the perfect hidden microphone for your needs with our awesome guide to the best available right now.
From the smallest listening devices to the most unique and discreet microphones, we’ve found them all. We feature 5 of what we believe are the top spy microphones on the market right now, so you can make an informed decision. We’ve covered all bases too. There are the disguised microphones that nobody expects and also the more traditional mics that are small in size but big on quality.
In this article we are going to review in detail the 5 best spy microphones currently available and also give you some important tips on buying the one that suits you the best.
But first let’s compare the best ones:
Table could not be displayed.Hidden microphones are no longer just for those secret detectives we see on films straight from the Hollywood Hills. They’re for the everyday person who needs a secretive device to capture lengthy pieces of clear audio. In fact, they’re coming in useful for many different reasons to people from all walks of life.
This has made them significantly increase in popularity. Whether you’re an intern who’s struggling to follow the company’s weekly briefing, a student who enjoys playing Tetris rather than listening to your professor or just someone trying to get to the bottom of an unsolved mystery, a spy recorder could be for you.
Their uses go beyond what we can come up with ourselves as people are choosing to equip themselves with them for all sorts of weird and wonderful reasons.As the demand grows for these discreet products a lot more of them are appearing on the market.
This isn’t always good news because the increase in choice usually means an increase in companies trying to get a piece of the pie with rubbish designs that falter easily. It also means there’s more junk to sift through before you find exactly what you’re looking for.
This can take a lot of time and put you off getting something that could be really helpful.To help you find the perfect hidden voice recorder for your requirements, we’ve sourced what we believe are the 5 best spy microphones currently available for you to buy right now.
We’ve chosen ones that cater for different needs so all young professionals, worried students and even more worried partners can find a spy listening device perfect for them. So, let’s dive straight into it shall we?
Best Spy Microphone: iZYREC Voice Recorder
The iZYREC voice recorder combines eveyrthing that a good microphone needs nowaday. It is small enough to fit into your pocket. It has long battery life and can store up to 2000 hours of audio. It has a great Iphone and Android app where you can instantly play back your recordings. Outstanding customer reviews too.
Although it was a fierce competition, but the best spy microphone in our opinion is the iZYREC for a number of reasons.
Frist of all, it can record up to 2000 hours of audio, which is by far the most compared to the other models in the list. That is 83 days of continuous recordings. How crazy. So if you need to record large amount of conversations, lectures or others, this is a great option.
It has also a very slim design with only a quarter of an inch thick so it will fit into your pocket or purse easily.
What I like is that it comes with magnetic clips and Velcro strips and this makes it easy to place it to a number of surfaces.
Regarding the battery time its better than the standard I think. It can record continuously for 30 hours and for 40 hours with the voice activated feature. If you need a longer recording time I suggest you go with the Knight KT1000 (our next model), which can go for 70 hours straight.
As you could have guessed by now it has a voice activated feature as well but it is pretty standard nowadays with voice recorders.
What is not pretty standard though is their state of the art AI noise cancelling technology. This ensures that the recordings are crystal clear. Customers seem to be pretty fond with this feature. Their recording quality is further ensured by the dual high-end Knowles SiSonic microphones.
What is worth noting also that, since it records in WAV it has an audio quality up to 1536 Kbps, which is great. This can come handy if you record something from a hidden place (like a pocket) or the audio source is far away.
Also a great selling point that the other models don’t have is their App that is available for Iphone and Android. Once you are finished recording you can instantly play it back on your phone. The 2 devices are fully integrated with each other.
The model also comes with file protection so only you can hear back your recordings. Not all spy microphones have this feature.
Finall verdict: Overall, the iZYREC voice recorder is an exceptional device that combines ease of use, advanced features, and superior audio quality to deliver the ultimate recording experience. Whether you’re a student, journalist, business professional, or anyone else who needs to record audio on the go, the iZYREC is the perfect tool for the job.
the Runner-up: KNIGHT 64GB (800 hour) Magnetic Voice Activated Recorder
KNIGHT 64GB (800 hour) Magnetic Voice Activated Recorder
Our second favorite on the list is a great voice recorder with similar qualities. Although this one doesn’t have an application but it delivers perfect audio quality too (as per customer reviews) and has a friendlier price tag. The best part: It has a lifetime warranty so you can be sure of the quality
One of the best all-purpose spy microphones available is the KNIGHT KT1000. It virtually matches the iZYREC in quality. It only differs slightly from it, so if you choose the KT1000, you won’t be dissatisfied.
Your professional meetings, interviews, and voice enunciation can all be recorded in detail thanks to the powerful 64 GB Memory of this device. Furthermore, you can be confident that your recorder will always be ready to use when you need it thanks to its lengthy 70-hour battery life.
With a voice-activated microphone that begins recording when it hears sound and auto-save technology that makes sure you never lose your recordings, the KT1000 is also highly user-friendly. You may also be sure that your recorder will remain in position wherever you need it thanks to the powerful integrated magnet.
It has a 64GB hard drive that can store up to 800 hours of data (in our case this would be voice recordings). But you can also store your favorite songs or podcasts and use it as an MP3 player like in the good old days. It will serve you with a 192 kbps audio quality, which is pretty standard for an MP3 player. For standard recordings (like a meeting or interview for example) this is adequate, but if you have recordings that need a higher quality you might want to go with another one.
The sleek aluminum shape is another excellent feature that gives this device a quality feel despite its affordable pricing.
Also this is the only spy microphone that has a lifetime warranty. That means if you want to go for quality, I think this is a pretty fair deal.
Final Verdict: In our opinion this recorder is almost as good as the first one with its sleek design, huge memory. The lifetime warranty that Knight offers is for sure a selling point for the quality it offers.
Yvoer Keychain Voice Recorder
Introducing the Ballpoint Pen Audio Recorder, the ultimate covert recording device. This pen looks like an ordinary pen but it actually has a powerful voice-activated audio recorder built-in. It is perfect for recording lectures, meetings, and interviews without anyone suspecting a thing. Its unique design makes it the perfect disguise, as it can blend seamlessly into any setting. With this pen, you’ll never have to worry about missing important information again. Get yours today and experience the convenience and stealth of the Ballpoint Pen Audio Recorder.
Our budget option with an impressive feature list is the Yvoer Key Chain Recorder.
It has an automatic voice activation feature like the other models that records anything above 45 decibels.
You can also change the audio quality to your liking, ranging from 512 Kbps to 3072 Kbps. It is interesting that the budget model can record in the highest audio quality. But if you ask me I don’t think it will make a huge difference. Anyway this model can provide you with a crystal clear recording quality too.
The Yvoer also has a built-in noise reduction system too which they call triple intelligent noise cancellation. They claim to reduce 90% of background noises and will give you back HD stereo recordings.
It has 64GB storage that can capture up to 750 hour of recordings which is pretty decent compared to the others.
It also has a 30 hour continuous recording time.
This recorder is the largest in the list, but its still also rather small with its 2.36 x 0.39 x 0.98 inches size.
In the reviews people love that it can be clipped to anything, so it is important to think through where you will put it. Since this one doesn’t have a magnetic base it can’t be put under a table for example, but thanks to the keychain design it can be hidden in many places (for example your keychain, haha).
Final verdict: Despite it being a budget option I think it still has very good qualities with the high audio output, its 64GB memory and its easy to use features.
Best Spy Microphone for Disguise: Ballpoint Pen Audio Recorder
Introducing the Ballpoint Pen Audio Recorder, the ultimate covert recording device. This pen looks like an ordinary pen but it actually has a powerful voice-activated audio recorder built-in. It is perfect for recording lectures, meetings, and interviews without anyone suspecting a thing. Its unique design makes it the perfect disguise, as it can blend seamlessly into any setting. With this pen, you’ll never have to worry about missing important information again. Get yours today and experience the convenience and stealth of the Ballpoint Pen Audio Recorder.
If Judy Dench hasn’t been keeping you stocked up on spy-like gadgets lately, then don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. Obscure movie references aside, we’re not joking. This lightweight ballpoint pen that leads a secret recording life is just as convenient as it’s awesome.
From the outside you see a normal black ballpoint pen but underneath there’s a really cool voice recorder. This makes it perfect to fool your boss into thinking that you’re actually taking notes and taking in what’s being said. In reality, you’re zoned out thinking about dinner with the knowledge that you can catch up on your workload in your own time.
It’s also a handy little study buddy for students sitting in on complicated lectures.It records to an eyebrow-lifting standard with an audio quality of 192Kbps and includes noise reduction technology so only the focus of your recordings is captured.
Operating this pen/recorder is super-easy as there’s one button to start recording and another to save your audio.
Check this out: Find out how to make your own cool spy microphone in our guide to parabolic mics!
What makes it even more seamless to use and more Bond-like – we just gave our movie reference away if you were left blank faced earlier – is that it has a voice activation function.
That’s right – just say one of four commands and you’re operating it handsfree.
You may look a bit crazy talking to a pen but deep down you’ll know you’re secretly really cool!One thing we’re not so sure about just yet is its automatic recording feature. This means that when the device is switched off it’ll react to sound and record that, then save the audio when the sound ceases.
This could be very useful in a lot of scenarios but may be a little inconvenient in others. Although, we should give it a standing ovation for its phenomenal storage capabilities. As you’ll see, most other small recording devices offer between 4-8GB of memory while this recorder offers a colossal 16GB which equates to around 180 hours of recordings.
That’s a full semester for some students and probably a full year for students who struggle to make 9am lectures. It also has a rechargeable battery and functions as an MP3 player so you can transcribe any recordings or just listen back to your audio effortlessly.
This spy audio recorder is the most expensive we have to show you. Is this because it’s a unique design or because it has outstanding features? It’s probably a little from column A and a little from column B. To be specific, the amount of storage you get on this nimble and compact product is just unbeatable.
The fact its masquerading under a pen without becoming gimmicky and still offering quality recordings is what puts it in a higher price bracket. Yet, it’s really unique and we believe it’s worth every cent! Agree?
Final Verdict: Nobody would assume that this little pen has an audio recorder inside that gathers quality recordings. Also it has a great price tag for this quality. Therefore it makes it as one of the best spy microphones in our opinion.
Flash Drive Microphone
This one is another voice recorder that is disguised as an USB Drive. If you don’t want to get caught this is another great option. It is a simple device that has 8GB of storage and 15 hours of recording capacity. If you need something simple that is almost indistinguishable from a simple everyday object than it could be a great option for you.
The third spy audio recorder in our showcase is this simple and sleek USB flash drive model from Atto Digital. It’s rather similar to the first secretive recorder we showed you as it triples as a USB device as well as a keyring.
You can pick these up in a black and silver design that will only go noticed for their cool aesthetics rather than their recording feature.To keep the inner recorder function kept well under wraps, it has been designed so the flashing USB light remains inactive while it’s recording.
This means it won’t grab the attention from your professor, team leader or your interviewer. The operating buttons have been reduced to a simple record and off button to make it easy to use and as another way not to give the secret away- compared to a host of buttons which may give the game away!Once you’ve gotten what you need, all you need to do is insert the USB into a laptop or PC and a list of your audio recordings will appear in WAV files.
Those flashy half-bitten Apple-types will need to do a little more to get things running smoothly but it’s not too much of an inconvenience. Like we mentioned before with the other USB-type spy audio recorder, Mac owners will need to download the free VLC player to access their recordings.
These USB designs make the transfer of files completely stress free. They can record for a period of 15 hours at a time, they come with 8GB of storage and our nod of approval. They’re also convenient when it comes to recharging your gadget.
Unlike other spy microphones that you need to remember to charge in good time, these chargers will automatically start charging as they are plugged into your computer – even while you’re listening back to your files.If you’re sitting on the fence right about now, then you’re somewhat like the price for this spy listening device.
This hidden voice recorder is priced around the mid-market range and we believe this is solid value for money. It has a lot going for it in terms of its discreet design and is easier to hide than the next two cheaper models *spoiler alerts* but we think it falls short of the first product because it doesn’t support as many file types. However, this won’t be too much of an issue to some people.
Final Verdict: Atto Digital should be proud of their product and if you own one you should be too. Overall, these are some really great small listening devices that will be snapped off the digital shelves in quick succession.
Spied One You Like?
Welcome to the annual hidden microphone awards. There’s no red carpet or fancy dinner but we’re your host and there are some prizes we need to hand out. We’ve been listening attentively to what’s been said about each of these secretive and smallest listening devices and decided which one we like the most, and which we believe is the best value for money.
The awards for the best hidden listening devices came down to a shortlist of the first three models. The USB microphones are an amazing option for the convenience aspect and our love for the uniqueness and undercover concept that the pen design brings was just too cool to handle. In the end, we couldn’t decide between the ballpoint pen design and the first USB model.
The ballpoint pen may definitely be much more innovative, but the USB offers a level of convenience that cannot be beaten. If these two designers could get into bed with each other than that would be great, thanks!The other award to be handed out is to the microphone which is the best value for money.
This was a toss-up between the Sony model and the second flash drive model on our list of the best 5 spy microphones currently on the market. Even though the Sony one is exceptionally cheap, we decided that neither are going to break the bank and there’s not much money between them.
For that reason, we chose the more discreet flash drive microphone which is much more likely to go unnoticed as an audio recorder. To be awarded a hidden listening device award, we feel this is very important.
Before Buying
Before you wander the digital aisles and drop these products into your basket, there are a few things you need to get your head around, a few terms to come to, well, terms with, and some questions you need to ask yourself.
Doing this will help you make an informed decision and prevent you regretting your choice. These will be especially useful if you’re a first-time buyer of these types of products and need a little guidance into what you need to look out for.We’ll get the boring stuff out of the way first.
There aren’t many terms you need to be aware of but one term that you should know and one that has cropped up more than once already is “Kbps”. This stands for kilobytes per second and will often be a measurement between just under 100Kbps and just over 300Kbps.
It basically describes the quality of a digital recording like an mp3.To give you a real-world comparison of what this actually means, 128Kbps is a sound quality somewhat equivalent to what you hear when listening to the radio. The times we’ve mentioned kilobytes per second you’ll notice that these measurements were well above this reading and closer to the 200Kbps mark.
This means you can expect these recorders to offer much better sound quality than listening to the radio. Thankfully, these miniature microphones are not so specialized pieces of equipment and unless you just moved here from Mars then the language used to describe their features and capabilities will not go over your head. Now that you understand Kbps we haven’t got any more educating to do. Moving on then…
Key Considerations
The best way to make a smart choice when looking for a tiny microphone is to ask yourself some questions to iron out what you want and need. After all, unless it’s a gift for someone else then this is going to be used by you – and nobody knows what you should buy better than yourself. Unless you’re part of a boyband and need help getting dressed, of course. So, to the questions!
Did you bumble through some maze of Google searches to get here or do you have an actual purpose for your new-found craving for a hidden microphone? There are many uses to these clever tech tools and deciding what their purpose is to you is crucial. This question has been placed first because the answer here will help you answer the following few questions.
Recommended Reading:Need a spy camera to compliment your new microphone? Don’t miss our awesome guide!
Students and professionals make great use of them by keeping up with what they’ve missed in meetings or to analyze their performance in presentations and interviews. They can be great for vlogging gamers to help commentate on their play and also great at catching out cheating husbands and wives.
One thing we would recommend is that you also ask if you’ll give this a secondary use or is it just for that one thing you’re thinking about right now? If it will come in handy in more than one place then try and find one that has features for both, if required. Buying one great spy listening device is much better than buying two average ones.
How Much Storage Do You Need?
The amount of storage you need should be a crucial consideration before plummeting into a purchasing spree at an online retailer. These devices can vary in the number of hours of audio they can hold at one moment. If you’re just using it to tackle a small project then it shouldn’t be too much of a problem but if you’re a PhD student with lots of memos to record then you should look into this – then quickly get back to your books.
What Audio Range Do You Need?
Your intended use for these hidden recorders should answer this question for you straight away. If you’re a student or business-type that attends lectures in great big halls or conferences in large-capacity centers then you’ll need one that captures audio from great distances. Recording from the back of the room while enjoying not taking notes only to find out your recording isn’t loud enough can leave you in trouble. Some models can record from considerable distances and the first spy recorder on our list of 50 feet is simply superb in this regard.
Do You Need A Noise Reduction Feature?
In the instances where you are in big venues and your recorder has to wrestle with background noise, you may also need to ensure that your recorder can take care of that for you. This is also true if you intend to secretly record outdoors or during busy times of the day. If it’s just you at home or alone in your office then this doesn’t necessarily need to be top of your priorities.There are online programs that can help quieten background noise for you, but to use them takes time in watching tutorials and learning how to do it. Just get a noise reducing one; it’s much easier.
How Important Is Discreetness?
Does your boss or professor allow you to record their meetings and seminars? If they do, then you may not need your microphone to be so discreet. However, some people don’t wish to be recorded and recorders can be looked down upon in such situations. In this case you’ll have to get one that nobody would ever know was actually a spy microphone.
Now you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re fully prepped to make an informed and sensible decision that works for you. You’ve organized your thoughts and have a better idea of what you’re looking for. How about skim reading our top 5 spy recorders above one last time and see if one fits your preferences?
We don’t doubt you’ll have a lot of fun and get good use from these secretive gadgets – and you can quote us on it, in one of your future transcripts. But be warned! You may make a smart decision in choosing one but proving your partner does in fact snore is not a smart idea.
Check back soon as there’s a lot more like this coming at Stealthy Ninjas over the near future!
Find out how walkie talkies really work in our next article.
