AA batteries seem cheap until you add them up. For anyone running wireless microphones every week, batteries are a hidden running cost, a reliability risk and a pile of waste. Here's a simple comparison with rechargeable microphones.
Jump to: Assumptions | Yearly cost | Hidden costs | How AIR mics charge | FAQ
The assumptions
These are illustrative figures, so swap in your own:
- A typical AA-powered handheld uses 2 × AA batteries.
- Many organisations fit fresh batteries before every event so a mic never dies mid-way.
- Quality AA batteries cost roughly $1 each when bought in bulk.
Yearly battery cost by user
| User | Mics | Events per year | AAs used | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small church (weekly) | 2 | 52 | 208 | $208 |
| Church with worship team (weekly) | 4 | 52 | 416 | $416 |
| School (assemblies + events, ~80/yr) | 2 | 80 | 320 | $320 |
| Function venue (~150 events) | 4 | 150 | 1,200 | $1,200 |
On those numbers, a church running four mics spends close to the price of a complete AIR-B4 system on batteries in about a year.
What rechargeable costs
- Electricity: a few cents per charge, which is negligible.
- Battery replacement: lithium cells gradually lose capacity after hundreds of charge cycles. TrueWave Pro AIR mics use a removable 18650 cell, so when one eventually fades you replace a single cell, not the microphone.
The costs that aren't on the receipt
Reliability
Half-used AAs get mixed with new ones. Someone forgets to change them. A mic dies during the wedding speech. Rechargeables that live on a charger are simply full every time.
Time
Opening battery doors, testing cells and buying stock are small jobs that add up for a busy volunteer team.
Waste
Hundreds of single-use batteries a year need collecting and recycling. A rechargeable cell replaces them all.
How TrueWave Pro AIR mics charge
- About 10 hours of use per charge
- Magnetic charging cables included with the AIR-B2 and AIR-B4
- Optional AIR-BX charging dock for a handheld and a bodypack. See is the dock worth it?
- Removable cell, so a charged spare can be swapped in mid-event
Are there downsides?
One: you need to charge after use. If your mics sit unused for months, store them at about half charge and top up before the next event.
FAQ
Can I put AA batteries in an AIR mic?
No, they're designed for the rechargeable 18650 lithium cell.
What about rechargeable AAs in my old mics?
That helps with cost, but NiMH AAs run at a lower voltage and many older mics show low-battery early or cut out sooner. A system designed around lithium is more predictable.
Thinking of switching? See 6 signs it's time to replace your wireless system.
