Boundary microphones are designed to work close to a flat surface, using the boundary effect to capture speech, instruments or room sound from a desk, stage, floor or wall. They can suit conference tables, theatre and broadcast work, room recording and discreet stage placement. Compare the polar pattern, surface orientation, cable or connector, phantom or plug-in power and the way the microphone is intended to be mounted. Placement still matters: a boundary design can reduce some early reflections, but the room, nearby sources and handling noise remain part of the result.