Handheld vs. Headset for Pastors: Which One Actually Works Best?

Renato Licioni

9d • 🔊 FOH

Why Your Pastor’s Mic Keeps Feeding Back (and It’s Not the Volume)

Every sound tech has been there—service is flowing, the pastor starts preaching, and suddenly the mic starts squealing.

Feedback.

Most people think, “Just turn it down.” But the issue usually isn’t the fader—it’s mic placement and mic choice.

👉 Lavalier clipped too low = picks up more room than voice.

👉 Handheld held down by the stomach = muddy + low gain.

👉 Headset too far off the mouth = thin and weak.

The result? You crank the gain to compensate, and boom—feedback city.

Here’s the fix:

1️⃣ Choose the right mic for the situation (handheld > lav for most pastors).

2️⃣ Train speakers on basic mic technique. A handheld should live 1–2 inches from the mouth, not by the chest.

3️⃣ Use proper EQ—cut the low-mids (200–400 Hz) for clarity, and notch problem frequencies instead of killing the highs.

⚡ Pro tip: A pastor’s mic is the most important channel in the whole mix. If the Word isn’t clear, nothing else matters.

💬 Question for you: What mic type does your church use for preaching—handheld, lav, or headset? And does it actually work for you?

— Nate

Handheld

Lav

Headset

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