Not all acoustic imaging cameras are created equal — and more microphones don’t always mean better performance. When evaluating ultrasonic cameras for industrial use, it’s easy to get caught up in technical specs, particularly the number of MEMS sensors. But here’s the reality: microphone quality, placement, and signal processing matter far more than sheer quantity.
Acoustic cameras are versatile tools used across many industries for:
Air leak detection in compressed air systems
Locating partial discharges in high-voltage electrical equipment
Identifying gas leaks
Supporting predictive maintenance of rotating machinery, such as bearings and gearboxes
Each of these applications requires sensitive, real-time acoustic detection — something that relies more on advanced firmware and signal processing than on mic count alone.
Whatever you may need to use an acoustic camera for, choosing the right camera has become a minefield! There are lots of products to choose from all promising to be the best, however, what characteristics should you look for when choosing the right camera for your application? One thing to avoid focusing on too much is the number of MEMS sensors (or microphones) that the camera has been built with, this has become a ploy for camera manufacturers to win sales without developing the highest performing cameras on the market.
To understand why, it’s important to know how MEMS microphones work. These miniature sensors detect sound pressure levels — but unless they are paired with optimized firmware, intelligent signal filtering, and thermal management, more sensors just add cost and complexity without improving sensitivity.
When developing the Flir Si2-Pro, our engineers carefully selected 124 microphones based on their performance characteristics. Instead of chasing arbitrary numbers, we optimized the entire system:
Sensor array geometry
Advanced onboard filtering
Real-time noise suppression
High-performance processing algorithms
This holistic approach resulted in a finely tuned system where every microphone contributes to actionable insights. In benchmark tests, doubling the number of sensors would have provided less than 3% improvement in sensitivity — a marginal gain with significant trade-offs in power consumption, heat generation, and cost.
Acoustic camera performance depends on how well the system captures, filters, and interprets sound, not how many microphones are glued onto the casing. In many competitor products, we’ve seen large mic arrays paired with weak onboard processing — resulting in:
Poor minimum detectable leak rate
Inaccurate sound localization
Excess heat from overtaxed processors
High energy draw with minimal benefit
Flir’s advantage lies in the precision of fewer, high-quality sensors combined with decades of imaging and signal processing expertise.
Modern MEMS sensors have improved significantly. With better performance per sensor, you no longer need hundreds of microphones to achieve reliable results. In fact, some new devices are overengineered for specs rather than performance — leading to inefficiencies and inflated pricing.
By collaborating closely with MEMS manufacturers, Flir continues to design smarter acoustic cameras that do more with less — offering end-users better value and higher reliability in real-world conditions.
Before purchasing any acoustic camera, request a demo. Focus on:
Minimum detectable leak rate
Minimum sound pressure level (SPL)
Real-world performance in your application
Signal clarity in noisy environments
Flir proudly offers side-by-side comparisons with other brands. We’re confident in the performance, stability, and efficiency of our acoustic imaging solutions.
When it comes to acoustic imaging cameras, more microphones do not guarantee better performance. In fact, high mic counts without supporting technology can hurt reliability and lead to disappointing results.
Choose smarter design over spec-sheet hype. Choose Flir.
👉 Explore the Flir Si-Series Acoustic Imaging Cameras
👉 Learn more about MEMS sensors in our glossary →
👉 Request a product demo →
