I hope the Samson Concert stuff works well for you. And We'd all love a little of your review of your expereince with it on this forum!
To your sub post about inexpensive and vs premium gear.:
I work full time at a college arts center that operates as rental
venue. I work with lots of groups through out the year, and also freelance on the side. So I have a small sole proprioteryship type bussiness and own a little
bit of my own gear. Enought that I can keep it stashed in a corner of my office at the theater. In addition to a
console and some powered speakers I've picked up a number of wireless systems.
I started by piecing together ebay sales to put together a
system of 4 Sennehesier EW100's(Gen 1/Gen 2 stuff) about 5 years ago. I then increased it with 6 more (gen 3) used
system purchased from a fellow CB board member. Bought 4 more new of the EW100's (gen 3). And just in the last 6 months invested in a JTS R4
system, which I've been very happy with.
I initially got in to owning wireless mics simply for my own sanity and time. I frequently was going to venues where they maybe had 8 but really needed 12. or had 12 but really need 16-20. So I built up over time looking to supplement those places I did work as a freelancer. (it generally made my life easier as we could put people in mics that otherwise wouldn't be and helped me mix a better show or have backups available if there where problems with the (sometimes very poorly maintained in
house systems.)
Having worked with
Shure BLX/SLX, AT 2000-3000 series stuff. I find it frustrating to work with for setting up from scratch or intergrating othering things with them.
For systems that stay put or get used only with them selves, or never need more then 10-12 systems running the
Shure SLX is the cheapest/least expensive systems I'd buy. (sound wise, i don't have i feel they are on
par with the BLX but have more useful features and flexibility.)
IMHO the
Sennheiser EW100 or the JTS R4 series hits the perfect price
point and features set that makes my life easier for using the systems all together or integrating them with insisting installs. I don't think most places need gear priced over about 600-650 per
system. and as a testament to the Gen1/Gen 2 EW100's (Gen 1 receivers, all my transmitters are Gen 2 or gen 3)I have..... They still work flawlessly. Now I don't rent them out on many jobs that I'm not also doing sound for. There are a few exception for light case use or if i know the TD or Sound person that will be overseeing their care. more expensive stuff is belt better. Though the traditional failure points are still there, namely
connector into the pack, and the
element wire into the
element connector. I do prefer the Senneheiser 1/8th locking over the
Shure/JTS R4 mini
xlr. (the mini
xlr on the JTS is my second whiney nitpick i have for it right now.)