Audio-Technica Introduces BP880R Waterproof Contact Transducer

The phantom-powered BP880R is designed to capture surface vibration and impacts for sports, production and effects work, with European availability scheduled for October 2026.

Audio-Technica has introduced the BP880R, a contact transducer intended to capture vibrations conducted through surfaces and structures rather than sound travelling through the air. The design gives production and broadcast teams another option for placing close-action effects microphones in locations where conventional airborne microphones may be impractical.

According to Audio-Technica, the BP880R uses a high-sensitivity piezoelectric sensor and internal preamplifier, and has very little sensitivity to airborne sound. That approach is intended to isolate vibration and impact details while limiting surrounding venue or environmental noise pickup. The company positions the transducer for sports broadcasts, film and video production, field recording, theatre and Foley work.

Audio-Technica says the BP880R has waterproof performance consistent with IPX7 standards and can be submerged in water or ice, buried underground or installed in flooring. The unit uses a low-profile, dezincification-resistant brass enclosure with a protective coating intended to resist corrosion from chlorinated water. The company also describes it as suitable for freezing and high-impact applications, though detailed temperature, impact and submersion limits were not provided in the accessible coverage.

The transducer is phantom powered and has a fixed 20 m waterproof cable with a low-impedance balanced output. AVNetwork reports that the cable terminates in XLR-M, while SVG Europe reports that the low-impedance output can be extended using balanced cable. Audio-Technica provides four through-holes for mounting with screws, nuts or zip ties, alongside a 1/4-inch threaded mounting point.

For sports applications, Audio-Technica cites potential use on ice, in pools and around playing surfaces to capture details such as skate-blade movement, swimming action, skiing, puck impacts and equipment contact. These applications could make the BP880R a supplementary source for isolated effects and close-action detail rather than a substitute for ambience or dialogue microphones.

The BP880R is scheduled to become available in Europe from October 2026. Pricing, dealer information, availability outside Europe and fuller specifications including frequency response, output level and phantom-power requirements were not stated in the accessible reports.