Choosing between the Yealink VCM36-W Wireless Microphone and the Yealink CM20 Ceiling Microphone? Here's how they differ on room size, platforms, audio and price, and which one fits your room.
Short answer: pick the VCM36-W Wireless Microphone if you want the one that costs $778 less and is sized for smaller rooms, so you don't pay for range you won't use. Pick the CM20 Ceiling Microphone if you want the one that covers bigger rooms (up to boardrooms) and runs on a single PoE cable.
Both are Teams and Zoom certified appliance expansion microphones; the difference is which systems they pair with and audio.
Side by side
| VCM36-W Wireless Microphone | CM20 Ceiling Microphone | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $401 | $1,179 |
| Rooms | Small, Medium, Large | Medium, Large, Boardroom |
| Microphones | 3-microphone array | 16 omnidirectional, 8 beam outputs |
| Pickup range | 6 m (20 ft), 360° | — |
| Talk time | Up to 12 hours | — |
| Power | — | PoE (IEEE 802.3af, Class 3), 9 W rated |
| Dimensions | — | Φ223 x H83 mm (with mesh) |
| Weight | — | 615 g |
| Frequency response | 100 Hz-8 kHz | 120 Hz-16 kHz |
| Security | WPA2, AES128 encryption | — |
| Battery | Built-in 2450 mAh | — |
| Standby | Up to 7 days | — |
| Controls | Touchpad mute | — |
| Audio | Yealink Acoustic Echo Canceling, Noise Proof Technology, full duplex | — |
| Connections | Wireless: Dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi | Network: AES67; 1 x RJ-45 |
Specs are Yealink's published figures. Prices can change.
The key differences
- Microphones: VCM36-W Wireless Microphone: 3-microphone array. CM20 Ceiling Microphone: 16 omnidirectional, 8 beam outputs.
- Pickup: about 20 ft for the VCM36-W Wireless Microphone vs 10 ft for the CM20 Ceiling Microphone.
- Power: the VCM36-W Wireless Microphone runs on battery or USB; the CM20 Ceiling Microphone on PoE (one network cable).
Which should you buy?
- Choose the VCM36-W Wireless Microphone if you want the one that costs $778 less, is sized for smaller rooms, so you don't pay for range you won't use, picks up voices farther away (20 ft vs 10 ft) and runs on battery, so it moves between rooms. It pairs with the MeetingBar A30, MeetingBar A40, SmartVision 40 and others. See the VCM36-W Wireless Microphone
- Choose the CM20 Ceiling Microphone if you want the one that covers bigger rooms (up to boardrooms) and runs on a single PoE cable. It pairs with the MeetingBar A40, SmartVision 40 and MVC S40. See the CM20 Ceiling Microphone
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- Logitech Rally Mic Pod 2 vs Yealink CM20 Ceiling Microphone
- Logitech Rally Mic Pod vs Yealink CM20 Ceiling Microphone
Still deciding? Read the VCM36-W Wireless Microphone guide and the CM20 Ceiling Microphone guide, see VCM36-W Wireless Microphone alternatives and CM20 Ceiling Microphone alternatives, compare them interactively, or send us your room details for a recommendation.
Related guides
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- AVer 20m Expansion Microphone vs Yealink VCM36-W Wireless
- Poly IP Ceiling Microphone vs Yealink CM20: which to buy?
- Poly Studio A2 vs Yealink CM20: which to buy?
- Poly Studio Table Microphone vs Yealink CM20: which to buy?
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