Need new wireless systems

[tadrian]

We have one lavalier and headset wireless systems that are out of compliance and need to be replaced. The lavalier is for the pastor and is used every week. The headsets are used only occasionally when a drummer or keyboardest is adding vocals. The current units are Shure units that are over 10 years old but have worked fantastic. We are a church of about 200 so I would like to replace these units for under $1,000, but may be able to push the budget to get the right product - especially for the lavalier.

Please provide me with guidance on what company and products I should be looking at. Thanks.

[Tim Padrick]

I'm fond of the Sennheiser 100G3 that we have. The only trouble we've had was a bodypack that was sweated into (it was inside several layers of heavy clothing, next to the actress's skin).

The Countryman E6 is one of the top couple of headsets. Ours have been 100%, but the standard cables have not been too good - we are replacing them with the heavy duty ones as they fail.

I'm not a fan of lavs - or at least the Sennheiser MKE when placed in the usual spots (omni had terrible gain-before-feedback, directional sounded lousy). The Shure 93 works well when taped to the cheek, or reasonably well when hidden in the hairline.

We have only 8 rehearsals/shows on a couple of our microphonemadness MM-PSM, and so far I have nothing bad to say (especially at $100 shipped). (We had one of nine E6 cables fail after only 5 uses, and several others have failed since.)

[[Director] drew ryan]

Depending on the model of your wireless equipment you might be able to purchase just the receiver and transmitter with out the mic. That could save you some dollars. What is the gear that you currently own?

I to am a fan of the Sennheiser Evolution mics. If you only have a couple of systems then the 100 series stuff is good for the money.

[buggyboy]

I was going to add the same thought as Drew. you might well be able to keep the mics and just replace the wireless part.

Or are you trading them in?

I've been toying around with the idea of creating a wired headset. I love wired anytime I can rig it.
Now I just have to find one that is getting pitched.

[tadrian]

Our headset system is so old that it isn't compatible with newer systems, while the lavalier mic I need to use to replace the mic on one of our other Shure systems we have (that is in the compliante mhz range).

I'm really looking for whole new systems and want to make sure I get a good quality lavalier. While Sennhieser is at the top of the price range for me, I am also considering Shure or Audio-Tech. What are the levels of products with these manufactures that I should stay away from - or to ask another way, what series of products with them should I focus on?

[buggyboy]

not compatible...do you mean the plugs aren't the same? If that's the only problem many folks handy with a soldering iron could help you out by changing the connector (provided the mic is compatible in impedance and other specs).

what model is it?

as far as lavs go, have a look at http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/lavs_brockett.html

the more senior members of this forum can give you their take on various mics. I myself can't tell you much first hand (old and limited budget are laughably understated when describing my church's sound gear).

Hope that helps.

[stevelam]

My recommendation is simple. Electrovoice. I love their stuff, their RE-2 systems are a great value for the money. You would be looking at about $1199.00 for a complete headset system and a complete lapel system. With Countryman being the best headset mic I have used (I have never used a lectrosonics or mipro but a lot of people recommend them) the EV 972TX comes in at a close second for about $100.00 cheaper.

[tadrian]

Thanks for the input and help. I'm going with a Shur SLX system.

[pdc]

Originally Posted by drew ryan

Depending on the model of your wireless equipment you might be able to purchase just the receiver and transmitter with out the mic. That could save you some dollars. What is the gear that you currently own?

I to am a fan of the Sennheiser Evolution mics. If you only have a couple of systems then the 100 series stuff is good for the money.

Nope. Not if they are in the 700 band and possibly not if the units are 10 years old. There might be some sonic trade offs. Old compander circuits sound...ewww.

If you are going to be on a budget and your church can make things last (and it sounds like they can since they have 10 year old wireless systems), just go with MiPros. Those guys make systems, electronics and solve engineering issues for Sennheiser, AKG, Beyer (both of the last two rebrand some of the MiPro boxes), Audio Technica, etc. Sennheiser is good stuff, no doubt. We sell a ton of it. But, if you are on a budget, and you can be easy on your gear, the MiPros are ok.

[pdc]

Originally Posted by stevelam

My recommendation is simple. Electrovoice. I love their stuff, their RE-2 systems are a great value for the money. You would be looking at about $1199.00 for a complete headset system and a complete lapel system. With Countryman being the best headset mic I have used (I have never used a lectrosonics or mipro but a lot of people recommend them) the EV 972TX comes in at a close second for about $100.00 cheaper.

We recently did a large install with 12 EV dual wireless systems. The LCD screens were inconsistent. One of them on the dual receiver was bad out of the box. Chinese manufacturing needs to be checked. BOSCH is gonna shoot themselves in the foot if they are not careful with little stuff like this.

The other thing I don't like about EV is their decision to use TNC connectors instead of BNC. PITR on many levels.

The upside is that EV has some cool solutions for wireless table top mics for telecommunications applications. Somebody WAS thinking there.

Audio performance on EV RF is comparable to mid-level AT or Shure.

[pdc]

Originally Posted by buggyboy

not compatible...do you mean the plugs aren't the same? If that's the only problem many folks handy with a soldering iron could help you out by changing the connector (provided the mic is compatible in impedance and other specs).

what model is it?

as far as lavs go, have a look at http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/lavs_brockett.html

the more senior members of this forum can give you their take on various mics. I myself can't tell you much first hand (old and limited budget are laughably understated when describing my church's sound gear).

Hope that helps.

Well, maybe. You may also need a magnifier, if you are an old fart like me. Some of the mics out there use 5 pins, 4 pins with two shorted, some 3. Mic impedance is irrelevant. The pin configuration is. All of the manufactures have lists of pin outs for their devices and often times others. So, take Shure for example. If you get their docs, they tell you what the pin out for their mic is on AT body packs, etc. Sometimes the pin outs and colors change per mic. That said, there is something to be said for synergy among components. If you are using a body pack like a newer G3 Sennheiser, you can use pretty much whatever you want, because of the selectable output options. If you are using an older body pack with a high output element, then you may clip the preamp and output stage easier. It is important to read the specs there.

[stevelam]

Was that the REV system pdc? I have been dying to hear some real-world feedback on it from a trusted source Marketing reps can only be trusted so far, lol.