Quick Wireless Mic Buying Choice

Chad Sweet

Member
My venue is purchasing a wireless mic system ASAP for a musical opening very soon. I've gotten a line on a very lightly used AT 3000 system with more mics/channels than we need or an AKG DMS700 more used system with exactly the number of channels we need for this production. The AKG is well within my price range which would allow me to purchase another channel or two used if I can find them for backups and/or new mic heads depending on the state of these. The AT is right at the boundary of my budget but has extra everything and is essentially brand new.

I need to make this decision before the end of the week and I'm running in circles trying to make it! Help!!!
 
Both used. Go with the more mics. Stop overthinking it and do it before they sell it to someone else.
 
The choice isn't that simple. First off, look at the frequency range of both systems. If a system is capable of transmitting between 617 and 698 MHz, it will be illegal to use after July 2020. You don't want to operate within that range today because the spectrum is already used in many places.

If you clear that hurdle, then use frequency management software to find out if the whole system will work simultaneously on TV channels that will remain unoccupied after the stations finish moving for the spectrum repack.

If both systems manage to clear both hurdles, then you can weigh more mics against theoretically better sounding digital modulation. If the AKG's are the original model DMS700, they are fairly old because the DMS700 v2 came out in 2011. V2 is already discontinued. The DMS700 was a premium quality model in its day where the AT 3000 is a middle of the pack product.

There are a lot of used wireless systems for sale today that are unusable now or will be in a few months. Buyer beware.
 
How many channels do you need and what is the budget? If you go the AT route just be aware that the current 3000 series uses fifferent mic connectors than anything sold prior to June 1 this year. Als the reliable life of most audio electronics is 7 to 10 years - as electronics ages the components degrade and performance is not "like new". It may work, but it may not sound as good as it could. If I can help let me know
 
A quick analysis for Reno shows that using legal systems have the follow channel limitations - Shure BLX 16-18, Shure SLX 21-32, Shure ULX 21-41, Shure QLXD/ulxd - well over 100, AT3000 Pre2018 - C & I band - 28-39, Sennheiser ew100/ew300/ew500 - 20-49.
What you buy today could lock you intoa system that has little expansion capabilities. As a wireless rental house to theatre we have sceen our average number of channels increase by at least 4 channels each year - last fall season our average rental was 16 channels and we had a lot of 8ch ones and enough in the 20's and even 30s to drive the average up to 16. Whatecer your needs are this year will be insufficient in the near future.
 
How many channels do you need and what is the budget? If you go the AT route just be aware that the current 3000 series uses fifferent mic connectors than anything sold prior to June 1 this year. Als the reliable life of most audio electronics is 7 to 10 years - as electronics ages the components degrade and performance is not "like new". It may work, but it may not sound as good as it could. If I can help let me know

Thanks, Rod. Need 8 channels and the budget is $6k.
 
8 channels of new Sennheiser EW172-G4 (no mic elements) comes to ~$4,500 MSRP. Throw in ASA1 and antennas for RF distribution and you've still got enough left over for Countryman B3's.. I'd take Sennheiser over AKG or AT's offerings for theatrical use.

This. 100% this. If that is your budget, and your needs, this is the best solution. Modern tech in frequencies (A1 or A band) that are sure to remain clean for foreseeable future. stepping to Microphone Madness or Bodymic.com elements probably saves enough to allow for incidentals like your XLR, power strip/Rack Power, maybe a Case if they need to be portable.
 
bod
This. 100% this. If that is your budget, and your needs, this is the best solution. Modern tech in frequencies (A1 or A band) that are sure to remain clean for foreseeable future. stepping to Microphone Madness or Bodymic.com elements probably saves enough to allow for incidentals like your XLR, power strip/Rack Power, maybe a Case if they need to be portable.
bodymic.com is a dead link . Domain is for sale.
 
I love AT as a value for money option - used to be my goto recommendation - but the new 3000 is about the same prices as the Shure SLX and the Senn ew100 and it is using a new proprietary connector that at this stage locks you into there microphones - I guess they will eventually make the connectors available to us , but at his stage they appear to only be available as a retail spare part.

I also think that not looking at digital over UHF is a poor choice if there is any chance of needing more than 16 channels in the foreseeable future
 
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@Rod Reilly I'm in the process of ordering some new mic elements, and am trying to figure out the difference between the various model lines - besides a smaller element what else is different in the Drury Lane line? I'm looking at a mix of earset and lavs as we begin to build out our wireless setup...

Thanks!
Chris
 
Hi The Drury Lane series uses a "Grain of Rice" that is tiny, and sounds great - I have clients who dropped using Countryman B6 lavs because they could tell the difference in sound. Other than that most of the hardware is the same.
 

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