Shure MX393/C Microflex Boundary Condenser Microphone Cardioid

Product Overview

The Shure MX393 is a Microflex surface-mount electret condenser boundary microphone with a detachable cable, designed for conference table, stage floor, and lectern installations requiring a replaceable or field-serviceable cable connection. Like the MX392, the MX393 uses the boundary effect principle to achieve 6 dB higher sensitivity and approximately 3 dB better direct-to-reverberant sound ratio compared to overhead placement at equivalent source distance, improving speech intelligibility in conference rooms, government spaces, and commercial AV installations. A programmable mute button with LED, logic input/output for automatic mixer integration, and interchangeable cardioid (/C), supercardioid (/S), or omnidirectional (/O) cartridges provide professional-grade conferencing functionality. The detachable cable (3-pin audio connector) distinguishes the MX393 from the MX392's attached cable configuration.

Product Description

The MX393 delivers the same active balanced output, 96 dB dynamic range, 50 Hz to 17,000 Hz frequency response, and full logic wiring capability as the MX392, with the practical difference of a detachable cable for easier field replacement or reconfiguration without replacing the entire microphone housing. This makes the MX393 the preferred choice for rental AV companies, facilities with high microphone turnover, and integrators specifying microphones in environments where cable damage is a maintenance concern. All cartridge and DIP switch configurations from the MX392 apply equally: push-to-mute, push-to-talk, and toggle mute modes are configurable, and the logic wiring supports gate control from automatic mixers and DSP platforms such as Biamp, QSC, and Shure SCM820 for unified room audio management.

For installations requiring a fixed-attached cable, see the Shure MX392 Microflex boundary microphone. For bottom-exit cable installations through furniture surfaces, see the Shure MX392BE bottom-exit variant, both at Creation Networks.

Key Features

• Detachable Cable for Field Serviceability — The 3-pin audio connector allows the cable to be replaced in the field without removing or replacing the microphone housing, reducing maintenance costs in high-use commercial installations.
• Boundary Effect Surface-Mount Design — Flat-surface mounting achieves 6 dB higher sensitivity and approximately 3 dB better direct-to-reverberant sound ratio versus overhead placement at equivalent distance, improving speech intelligibility in reverberant commercial spaces.
• Interchangeable Cartridges — Cardioid, supercardioid, and omnidirectional Microflex cartridges are field-swappable for polar pattern reconfiguration without replacing the installed housing or rewiring.
• Programmable Mute Button and LED Indicator — DIP switch-configurable for push-to-mute, push-to-talk, or toggle modes; LED provides active/muted status feedback at the microphone for professional conference room operation.
• Logic Input/Output for Automatic Mixer Integration — Logic wiring supports gate control from automatic mixers (Shure SCM820, Biamp, QSC) and DSP platforms for managed multi-microphone room audio systems.
• Active Balanced Output — 180 Ω active balanced output with RF filtering for reliable operation in facilities with dense wireless and IT infrastructure.
• Flat Vocal Range Frequency Response — 50 Hz to 17,000 Hz electret condenser performance for natural, uncolored speech capture in conferencing and sound reinforcement.
• Paintable Housing — Housing can be surface-painted for color-matched installation in custom conference table finishes or architectural surfaces.

Typical Applications

• Conference room and boardroom table-mounted boundary microphone systems
• Government space and secure conference room audio installations
• Rental AV and temporary event production requiring field-serviceable microphones
• Training room and all-hands room surface-mount boundary microphone deployments
• Lectern and stage floor installations requiring detachable cable access

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the key difference between the MX393 and MX392?
The MX393 has a detachable cable with a 3-pin audio connector, while the MX392 has a fixed attached cable. Both share identical audio specifications, mute button functionality, logic wiring, and cartridge compatibility. The MX393 is preferred in environments where cable replacement or field serviceability is a maintenance priority.

What cartridges are compatible with the MX393?
The MX393 accepts standard Shure Microflex interchangeable cartridges: cardioid (/C), supercardioid (/S), and omnidirectional (/O). These are the same cartridges used across the MX392 and MX392BE product families, so facilities with existing Microflex cartridge inventory can mix MX393 and MX392 housings without additional cartridge sourcing.

How does the MX393 integrate with an automatic mixer?
Set DIP switch 3 to ON to disable the local mute button, allowing the automatic mixer or DSP to control audio gating and the LED indicator via the logic wiring. The LOGIC OUT provides TTL logic (0/5V) for gate status reporting; LED IN illuminates the front LED when shorted to LOGIC GROUND. This supports integration with Shure SCM820, Biamp Tesira, QSC Q-SYS, and other platforms that use logic gating for conference room audio management.

Can the MX393 polar pattern be changed without replacing the microphone?
Yes. The MX393 uses Shure's Microflex interchangeable cartridge system. To swap the polar pattern, remove the existing cartridge and insert a replacement cardioid, supercardioid, or omnidirectional cartridge. No tools or rewiring are required for cartridge changes.

Is the MX393 suitable for rental AV use?
Yes. The detachable cable is the primary advantage of the MX393 in rental and temporary-event contexts: cables can be replaced if damaged without retiring the full microphone housing. The interchangeable cartridge system further extends the useful life of the housing across varied event types and room configurations.