Wireless systems

[Locke]

Okay, I'm thinking about switching to wireless but can't dish out big bucks. You guys have any suggestions for affordable and reliable wireless systems?

[karlw]

Well, I'd not suggest getting anything less expensive than about $400 per channel. That being said, you've got a couple of decent options: Shure and Sennheiser. They both make solid stuff in that price range and will back up what they sell. AKG and Telex also make some stuff in that range but I'm not personally familiar with it.

 

-Karl

[THB]

Originally posted by Locke Okay, I'm thinking about switching to wireless but can't dish out big bucks. You guys have any suggestions for affordable and reliable wireless systems?

 

Don't waste your money.

 

[crisis]

I bought a fairly cheap system by JTS (Asian). It sounds no different to the DiMarzo cable I was using as far as I can tell. Personally I would never go back to cable (and I was warned about this). Get a dual diversity system (it constantly scans between two channels for the best signal and have plenty of back up batteries. I have two sets of charged rechargeables and two sets of Energisers as spares. They will mostly last two sets (20 songs).

[Badside]

Shure all the way!

 

I bought a "The Guitarist UHF" a few years ago and never looked back. Cost around 600$CDN. It's been replaced by I don't know which model.

 

I love it. It's not perfect but it's close enough for live use. I move a lot of stage, jump from the drum riser, sing in the bassist's mic (other side of the stage), turn around myself while jumping, etc, so a wireless is very important for me.

 

Last weekend I had the cord (going from the guitar to the transmitter) fail on me and had to finish the gig wireless-less, damn I hated it! Oh yeah, keep a backup of that stupid cord, it's almost a maintenance item (I need a new one once a year usually).

 

Go Shure go!!!

[Guitar Guru]

Hey,

Ignore the wireless naysayers.......wireless is good as long as you get something decent.

That being said, the good units (such as sennheiser) are very costly.

I couldn't afford to put out the cash for one of those units, but I did find a Samson unit that I love. It's the Samson UHF Synth 32 unit.....very reliable.....in all the touring I've done, it's never failed me.

It's middle of the line, but works great.

 

I've seen them used for as little as $200.....usually they sell brand new for around $1000 I think.

 

If you are looking for something even cheaper but still okay, I've heard that the Samson Airline series isn't bad.......

 

I'm still saving up for a Sennheiser unit though....big bucks!

[GreyMartyr]

The Samson UHF Synth 32 unit is a great choice. I've used one for years and nary had a complaint.

 

Sells for under $400.00 new.

[GCDEF]

I have a Samson Airline I bought used for less than $200. No complaints with about 3 years of use.

[THB]

 

Originally posted by Guitar Guru Hey, Ignore the wireless naysayers.......wireless is good as long as you get something decent. That being said, the good units (such as sennheiser) are very costly. I'm still saving up for a Sennheiser unit though....big bucks!

 

 

BINGO!!

 

I've had countless $200-$400 wireless units and no matter what brand they've been they eat batteries like freakin' cotton candy, are quite lo-fi and just don't last.

 

 

If you spend upwards of $1500, your starting to talk good systems. I ain't got that kinda scratch.

[Preacher Will]

Here's my take on wireless:

1) Must have UHF

2) Must be true diversity

3) Should be a leading brand (Senn, Shure, AT, others)

4) Freq agile units are superior to non-agile ones

5) Minimize your transmitter-receiver distance regardless of the specs (i.e. put your receiver on stage and feed the signal to mixworld via the snake--don't put the receiver 50 feet away if you can at all help it)

6) Older systems are 9volt, newer ones use AA. AA systems seem to run longer on a fresh batteries and are cheaper to feed.

7) Rechargeable batteries may not be a good idea (rechargeables tend to run a fraction of a volt light. With two or more batteries in series the voltage drop can be significant and reduce performance.)

 

i use Sennheiser, forget the model, about $500.00 on the net. Clear, clean, dependable. A fresh 9volt alkaline lasts me about 4 hours.

 

i've heard good things about the Shure's and the AT 2000 and up line. Samson Airline is the least expensive system that i've heard about with a consistently good reputation.

[THX1138]

 

Originally posted by Locke Okay, I'm thinking about switching to wireless but can't dish out big bucks. You guys have any suggestions for affordable and reliable wireless systems?

 

 

If you can't dish out big bucks, don't buy one til you can. Like others here have already said, don't waste your money on lower end models, cause its just gonna piss you off. Save your dough and get a real good one.

 

Take a look at this...Shure PGX

 

Reasonably priced, great features, and speaking from someone who works in a Pro Audio environment, Shure is a fantastic company to deal with.

[fastplant]

I'd save your money till you can afford something in the $4-500 range, anything less than that and you'll hate yourself for spending money on something that doesn't work.

[Guitar Guru]

 

Originally posted by THB BINGO!! I've had countless $200-$400 wireless units and no matter what brand they've been they eat batteries like freakin' cotton candy, are quite lo-fi and just don't last. If you spend upwards of $1500, your starting to talk good systems. I ain't got that kinda scratch.

 

 

I hear ya......since my band only does 45 minute to 1 hour sets at any given show, I don't worry much about the battery having to last.

And no matter what, I always put in a fresh battery for each show.......it's worth the cost for the peace of mind.

[Locke]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Seems like I'll be stuck with cords a little while longer but in time I'll switch to a decent wireless.

[crisis]

 

Originally posted by Locke Thanks for the suggestions guys. Seems like I'll be stuck with cords a little while longer but in time I'll switch to a decent wireless.

 

Go and try some if you can. I dont really know what is supposed to be wrong with the "cheap " ones. As I said my JTS setup sounds fine.

[fastplant]

 

Originally posted by crisis Go and try some if you can. I dont really know what is supposed to be wrong with the "cheap " ones. As I said my JTS setup sounds fine.

 

 

The cheap ones eat batteries, give a muffled, distorted sound, you can't go far from the reciever, you can get other signals coming in causing interference, they break easy.

 

I've had all of these things happen with cheap wireless units.

[maxnew40]

It seems in my neck of the woods that the only bands using wireless stuff in local clubs are Butt Rock and Metal. Maybe the top 40 bands use them also but I don't go out to see top 40 bands.

 

Max

[crisis]

Originally posted by fastplant The cheap ones eat batteries, give a muffled, distorted sound, you can't go far from the reciever, you can get other signals coming in causing interference, they break easy. I've had all of these things happen with cheap wireless units.

I use rechargeables which last two sets. I change them after one. I also carry spare alkalines. The sound from my unit is no different than that which I hear when using DiMarzo cable. I have played my guitar from a toilet to a room 20 metres away (testing;) ) and from outside a club venue withno problems. I dont particularly need to move much farther than if I had a cable but ther eis less clutter and less chance of pulling the head of your speaker cabinet with it. And you can move around within the stage area freely in you want to.

I will concede my sound is not the most refined I have hear ( I am working on it though!) but I dont put this down to the wireless unit. This is also a fairly new product so may be better than older cheapr ones. My mate bought a second hand AKG of Ebay that was noisey and did eat batteries so you need to be careful. In any case you can still check it out in a store and go for a walk.

[Cortfan]

We have a box with 4 wireless units-Shure, Nady, Sennheiser, and Audio Technica....I don't know any model numbers. I grabbed the Nady (cheapest one, I later found out) and 5 years of live gigs, and rehearsal, I am still using it. I put a fresh 9 volt in for a gig. The other battery lasts at least 4 rehearsals. I understand Nady pioneered wireless, but not many folks like them. We use AKG wireless transmitters on all of our mics, and they work great. They use a AAA battery. ymmv.

[fastplant]

Originally posted by crisis I use rechargeables which last two sets. I change them after one. I also carry spare alkalines. The sound from my unit is no different than that which I hear when using DiMarzo cable. I have played my guitar from a toilet to a room 20 metres away (testing;) ) and from outside a club venue withno problems. I dont particularly need to move much farther than if I had a cable but ther eis less clutter and less chance of pulling the head of your speaker cabinet with it. And you can move around within the stage area freely in you want to. I will concede my sound is not the most refined I have hear ( I am working on it though!) but I dont put this down to the wireless unit. This is also a fairly new product so may be better than older cheapr ones. My mate bought a second hand AKG of Ebay that was noisey and did eat batteries so you need to be careful. In any case you can still check it out in a store and go for a walk.

 

Yeah, sounds like you lucked out. But having extra batteries means nothing when the unit dies halfway through a song. You still have to stop and change the battery or unplug and plug in direct. Very unprofessional.

[Jon Hiller]

As a dealer for several brands, my reccomendation for what you are looking for would be the Samson UHF Synth 32. It has 32 channel you can switch between (you probably think you'd never need this but depending on the area you are playing in you'd be surprised), it's very good sonically, and it has an average battery life of 15 to 17 hours. The transmitter has a 3-LED "meter" that shows how much battery you have left. All this for under 400 bucks. And the battery life isn't just a claim, either. The church I attend has 3 of these, and we have two services a week, a little over an hour each. We change our batteries once a month and they are just getting into the middle range of the battery meter when we do. We've actually gone 2 months without changing them once, but you can start to tell the battery is getting low at this point. Pretty great battery life, for sure.

[Guitar Guru]

Great post.....it reassures me a lot to hear you say all that stuff about the Samson unit. As I already mentioned, I have that unit and it is incredible.

Even though I change my batteries every show, I use the discarded batteries for practice sessions, and yes they do last for quite a while.

[Locke]

Originally posted by Jon Hiller As a dealer for several brands, my reccomendation for what you are looking for would be the Samson UHF Synth 32. It has 32 channel you can switch between (you probably think you'd never need this but depending on the area you are playing in you'd be surprised), it's very good sonically, and it has an average battery life of 15 to 17 hours. The transmitter has a 3-LED "meter" that shows how much battery you have left. All this for under 400 bucks. And the battery life isn't just a claim, either. The church I attend has 3 of these, and we have two services a week, a little over an hour each. We change our batteries once a month and they are just getting into the middle range of the battery meter when we do. We've actually gone 2 months without changing them once, but you can start to tell the battery is getting low at this point. Pretty great battery life, for sure.

 

Thanks a bunch for the recommendation. Appreciate it.

[Joey Joe Joe]

 

Originally posted by Jon Hiller As a dealer for several brands, my reccomendation for what you are looking for would be the Samson UHF Synth 32. It has 32 channel you can switch between (you probably think you'd never need this but depending on the area you are playing in you'd be surprised), it's very good sonically, and it has an average battery life of 15 to 17 hours. The transmitter has a 3-LED "meter" that shows how much battery you have left. All this for under 400 bucks. And the battery life isn't just a claim, either. The church I attend has 3 of these, and we have two services a week, a little over an hour each. We change our batteries once a month and they are just getting into the middle range of the battery meter when we do. We've actually gone 2 months without changing them once, but you can start to tell the battery is getting low at this point. Pretty great battery life, for sure.

 

 

Good review!! What's the frequency range of this unit? How would it sound for bass?

[Jon Hiller]

 

Originally posted by Joey Joe Joe Good review!! What's the frequency range of this unit? How would it sound for bass?

 

 

I would think it would sound fine for bass, I've seen them used for guitar and they sounded good. HERE is a link to the official Samson technical spec sheet on this product in .pdf format.