There's doesn't seem to be many reviews of these on the web, so I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations?

I already Have an AKG WMS45 which is fine, but I'd like another.

Reliability is far more important than sound quality and something quite durable. I mainly work in Schools, so there shouldn't be issues with others using wireless gear. Budget-wise, up to £500, but any bargains duly considered.

I've been recommended to look at the Line 6 range, which comes in quite a bit cheaper.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Bazza

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This time next week, who'll give a sh*t
http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk

The new Sennheiser XS series was launched last week.

Available on the (version E) licence-free frequencies and on the (version GB) mobile licensed frequencies - take your choice.

High quality FM analogue - so there is no latency like there is with digital systems.

Retails at £305 +VAT in the UK.

Looks good too and the habndheld looks like the more expensive transmitters.



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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

Thank you for taking the time to reply John. Looks reasonably durable and sennheiser certainly have a decent rep for this kind of mic. I'll check the website to see if it has a battery level meter and then maybe credit card time!

Regards

Bazza

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This time next week, who'll give a sh*t
http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk

Quote John Willett:

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so there is no latency like there is with digital systems.

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I have the Line6 digital systems, guitar and vocal, and there's no latency whatsoever.

Quote TheChorltonWheelie:

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Quote John Willett:

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so there is no latency like there is with digital systems.

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I have the Line6 digital systems, guitar and vocal, and there's no latency whatsoever.

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If you don't want to take my word or John's word for it, please feel free to read Line 6's response...

http://line6.com/xd-v/faq.html

Quote:

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What about latency?
What about it? XD-V digital wireless systems have extremely low latency (about <4 ms), which is about the time it takes for sound to travel 4 feet.

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Any system that uses digital transmission, or digital audio, will have latency. Digital transmission will have more than those that use analog FM transmission with digital audio, but both have latency by their nature. Now 4 mS of latency isn't much on it's own, however it is more than the total amount of latency provided by most commonly used digital mixers for example, and when that is stacked on top of a typical setup...

Digital Mic > Digital Mixer > Speaker DSP

The digital mic still provides the most latency, but each of those steps induces it's own latency. How much depends on the equipment, but for most live equipment manufacturers try to stay under 3mS with under 1.5 not uncommon and even under 1mS of latency becoming popular. But when you start adding the Line6 onto other forms of DSP, say vocal processors, external effects and/or dynamics units, etc. you start having latency becoming more of an issue for phasing depending on your setup. So the less you have overall the better, as the more control you have.

That being said, from what I have heard the Line6 units do well for small setups. I personally wouldn't trust them for many channels, especially in areas where the 2.4GHz range might be crowded and cause interference and degrade performance(You won't hear it in the same way in these setups most likely but that doesn't mean it isn't there). Also for most people, that 4mS latency probably won't be noticeable and likely you would be able to use it perfectly well despite the latency, it will only make a difference in some setups in all likelihood.

Seablade

Quote TheChorltonWheelie:

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Quote John Willett:

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so there is no latency like there is with digital systems.

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I have the Line6 digital systems, guitar and vocal, and there's no latency whatsoever.

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Oh yes there is - Line6 definitely *does* have latency. I think they have kept it quite short, but it's definitely there.

*All* digital systems have latency of some sort - the more you compress and the wider the frequency response, the longer the latency.

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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

I suspect Mr Wheelie meant to say that there's no *noticable* latency.

I've used a few Line6 beltpack systems alongside some Sennheiser SK50 and G2 systems for musical theatre and certainly didn't notice any issues with latency with the combination of digital and analogue systems. I'm aware that's it's there but the effect hasn't been audible.

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There's nothing we can't face... Except for bunnies

Quote Sheriton:

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I suspect Mr Wheelie meant to say that there's no *noticable* latency.

I've used a few Line6 beltpack systems alongside some Sennheiser SK50 and G2 systems for musical theatre and certainly didn't notice any issues with latency with the combination of digital and analogue systems. I'm aware that's it's there but the effect hasn't been audible.

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It tends to become more noticeable when you use IEMs with your own voice.

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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

If the latency's equivalent to 4 foot distance (see Seablade's post above) then that's a little less than standing in front of a wedge and listening to your own voice. Not a situation where I've ever noticed latency, so I wondered why you noticed it with IEMs.

So, a bit of a search and I found this document (which I've I've only looked at quickly so far) which seems to suggest, amongst other things, that IEMs make the same amount of latency more noticeable or less pleasant.

Interesting stuff

Just inquired about the Sennheiser - apparently channel 38 only and therefore £75 a year!

Just to use a mic! Robbing bar stewards! I wonder if the same company runs the toll road on the Dartford Crossing!

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This time next week, who'll give a sh*t
http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk

Honestly, we both felt that the Line6 capsule compared favorably, and the additional cost of a Shure capsule wouldst be necessary. (That is, if he was in the market to buy a new wireless system.)

Quote Bazza:

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Just inquired about the Sennheiser - apparently channel 38 only and therefore £75 a year!

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Sorry - NOT TRUE - who did you speak to?

If you want the XSw 35 handheld:-

XSw 35 GB on channel 38 is article number - 504933
XSw 35 E on channel 70 licence-free is article number - 504937

Sennheiser have both on the price list.



Oh - and it's the Government who set the licence fee and, actually, £75 is pretty cheap for the use of a professional radiomic over the whole of the UK for a whole year - and the fee is per licence - you can have lots of radiomics and still only need one licence.

The new 2012 price list has both GB (Ch.38) and E (Ch.70 licence-free) versions listed for all XS kits.

You obviously spoke to someone who did not know what they were talking about.

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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

Andertons. Normally pretty good. They said that the (I can't remember which) manufacturers or distributers had said they'd taken the decision to just sell the licensed one as that's what they thought people would want.

Just to be clear, I'm not doubting what you've said John (will take another look at the sennheiser in fact), that's just what they told me. Was pretty gutted as it happens.

Still think it's a bit rich charging folks to use something tey've just bought mind

Thanks for the info.

--------------------
This time next week, who'll give a sh*t
http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk

Quote Bazza:

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Still think it's a bit rich charging folks to use something tey've just bought mind

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As an engineer from the US, you don't want to get into this discussion. Be thankful that this is handled well in the EU is all I will say.

Seablade

It's really questionable how this channel 70 is going to pan out. The whole thing has been handled like a p up in a brewery. I have heard from some very well respected people that are part of berg commity that it really is going to be a hit or miss situation when the time comes. I not surprised channel 38 is being recommended, that what we were being told when at Studiospares. You pays for what's you get.

Quote Bazza:

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Still think it's a bit rich charging folks to use something tey've just bought mind

Thanks for the info.

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Hey Bazza, think about what your saying. You get charged for tv, mobile phone, mobile Internet, cb radio, satellite tv. But you want to use a wireless microphone for free. Bandwidth is worth billions in some fields yet the pro audio industry want to use it for free??? Its part of the reason were being kicked to channel 38 / 70 in the first place. Because 95% of the industry decided not to pay a fee.

I did think about what I was saying - hence the

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This time next week, who'll give a sh*t
http://www.podcastrevision.co.uk

Quote seablade:

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Quote Bazza:

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Still think it's a bit rich charging folks to use something tey've just bought mind

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As an engineer from the US, you don't want to get into this discussion. Be thankful that this is handled well in the EU is all I will say.

Seablade

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Agreed - because of the licenses we have in the UK, radiomic. usage is normally pretty good and trouble-free.

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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

Sennheiser *do* actually have a new system working in the 1800MHz band.

This was originally set aside for digital radiomics only, but stayed empty for years because no one made digital radiomics.

Now it's been opened to analogue radiomics as well - and safety is good, I understand, as it's for radiomics only.

Details are HERE.

Unfortunately it's a licensed band in the UK - but safe as it's well away from everything else.




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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

Quote John Willett:

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but safe as it's well away from everything else.

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Not quite - GSM (mobiles) that do not operate on 3G still use the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands. Initially it was just Orange and T-Mobile that used this part of the spectrum (1800MHz). I believe the other two (O2 and Vodafone) also have a share of that band too.

Once the whole of the UK has switched over to digital TV, this will free-up the 800MHz band. This will be used to roll out 4G services. 3G services and possibly 4G services will probably use the 900MHz band. I believe the 1800MHz band will gradually be phased out for mobile communications.

This is a long time off though as many people still have legacy handsets and the base station equipment will need to be upgraded.