I am in the market for a wireless headset mic system. I found two I like.
1. The Shure PGA31
2. The Sennheiser XSW52

How do you decide on the frequency band A or B?
Has anyone had experience with any of the Sennheiser factory repack products?

Anyone on the forum actually using a wireless system?
Anyone have experience with Altomusic - I think in New York. www.altomusic.com


Deane

I love my Shure GLX 24 handheld wireless Mic system....

Check out the
http://www.shure.com/americas/products/wireless-systems/blx-wireless-systems/blx14r-sm35


give Frank Audioworks a call.

Thanks Donny,
I was hoping for a few more ideas from the forum.

Deane

I switched from Shure to Senneiser years ago when I found there was more than an SM58. I use a Sennheiser 935 plus 3 others for Karaoke.

As far as wireless goes, I have had my trusty Sennheiser E100 headset for years and never a complaint. I also have an E100G3 wireless with an E815 handheld dynamic for roaming around. I know Gary swore by his Countryman, which, I am sure, is very good also.

Thanks Bernie.
Deane

No Gary definitely does not use Countryman. He uses Crown CM311 headset, but I think he uses it wired.

Don is right, I use the Crown CM-311A wired.

Gary

Sennheiser is a premium manufacturer of course.
Here you can find a lot of verified customer reviews about the model you mentioned:
Nearly all of them gave 5 out of 5 stars.

http://www.thomann.de/de/sennheiser_xsw_52_headset_eband_reviews.htm?rating=5

Thanks folks - really helps. I looked up the Crown 311 wireless system and it is the same price as the Sennheiser systme I am looking at.

Deane

Deane, from my perspective, a headset mic is the best thing since sliced bread with peanut butter and jelly. It allows me the freedom to move about and not worry about where the mic is. However, a headset mic is not for everyone. Some folks just cannot get used to using a headset mic, wired or wireless.

The big difference in using a headset mic for vocals is that you must use voice control to create the dynamics whereas with a handheld mic, you can use the pull-away technique, which many of the singers on this forum do. In my case, it only took me a day to get comfortable with a headset mic, but those that have tried and failed to become comfortable often worked with them for days on end, but could not overcome the difference in singing technique. If you wish, I would be more than happy to send you one of my CM-311A mics to try out before you plop down a large sum of money. If it works for you, I'll give you a great price. I have three of them, two for backups, but have never had a single mic failure in more than 50 years of singing, so I doubt that this would be a problem at this point. Besides, I'm retired. What the Hell do I need spares for?

I'll give you a call,

Gary

Headset mics are great when you are constantly moving around, like a drummer. but you will always sacrifice a little for the benefit of movement.

Allot of singers will use the proximity effect with microphones, basically pulling away or getting real close, to help in control volume, especially if your really need to belt something out without blowing away everyone.

Also of you need to talk to someone, sneeze, cough, suck up some phlegm, you can add a cough switch but that's one more thing.

Also, allot of headset mics tend to be more sensitive and you pick up allot of breathing, since its so close to your mouth.

Crown, Senn, Shure, all are great brands, but also have different levels of each type of mic they make.

As for the frequency, when someone buys a wireless mic from me, I will call for example Shure, and they have frequency charts for the US, I tell them where they will mainly play , and they can give me the best freq with the least amount of interference for that area

Per the instructions with the Crown Cm-311A, to prevent breath sounds, your lips should be touching the mic's windscreen, which eliminates breath sounds completely. The CM-311A also has a cough-on/off switch which can be programmed on the belt pack. It does require phantom power, which can be provided by either a 9-volt battery that is installed in the belt pack, or directly from a mixer or other equipment with that feature.

The Crown CM311A was designed by Garth Brooks for his specific needs.



You can look at the Frequency response and polar response charts as well as all other features and specks HERE

All the best,

Gary

If you want a really good, actually the best headset than get DPA. Nothing else comes even close.

Mirza, from what I've read all the DPA headset mics are omni-directional, which tend to have feedback problems. The only super cardiod mics they advertised were handhelds. If you have some specific information, or model number of a non-omni-directional mic made by DPA, please post the link(s).

All the best,

Gary

Hey Gary
4088 is supercardion I think.

Mirza,
You are probably correct in your evaluation of the DPA mics - for that kind of money they better be the best. Way out of my budget.

Deane

Well, if we play the best keyboards why not invest in best mics for our voices. Same goes for mixers and the speakers too. What is the the point otherwise.

Yep, Mirza, you are correct, but for that price I can get a pair of CM-311As. And, if it's good enough for Garth and an enormous number of other pro singers, it's good enough for me. The very first thing I noticed when I switched from the Audio Tachnica Pro8-Hex was the Cm311A had a lot more depth and clarity than any of the other headset mics I had tried earlier, such as the Countryman-6, which I used one day and returned. The other thing I immediately noticed was there was not a hint of feedback, even when I stepped directly in front of the Bose L1 PAS system I was using at the time. The Countryman E6 screamed if you got in the same zip code with the speakers and that was the super cardiod model, which cost extra.

Others I've tried included two Shure models, can't remember the model numbers, though, Samson, Sennheiser. None of them came remotely close to the Crown in overall sound quality and clarity. I've never seen an DPA in the music stores I frequented, both locally and online, so I have no first hand experience with them to make a comparison.

Cheers,

Gary

Gary,nothing wrong with Countryman. It is a great mic.

The Countryman E6 Super Cardiod was a good mic for someone speaking to a group or congregation, and it performed well for female vocals, but it did not work well with my bullfrog voice. And, it's feedback rejection was horrible. The main reason I purchased one was because I really liked the small footprint. The mic was flesh colored and nearly invisible, which was a great feature. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me, and it was nearly $700. The other problem Countryman mics had was the extremely thin wire leading to the boom was extremely fragile and didn't hold up well under gigging conditions. I really wanted that mic to work for me.

All the best,

Gary

i use a corded mic sinn 835 and 945 i like the 945 it allows me to not have the low humm feed back and crystal clear 835 good as well a little muddyer I have sure bata 58 wireless and compaired to sinn is better i would like to check out the new sure mic ksm series mic I look like a winner

When I occasionally have need for a wireless, I have a Samson system that includes a small module that you plug into any mic and it transmit the signal to the receiver. The Senn 945 is a fantastic mic!

Hey Gary, Ive used the Audio Tachnica Pro8-Hex for several years. I have two in case one decides to stop working. My first one did exactly that after about 7 years. The new ones have been going strong for about 8 years. Felt like I was a new man after chucking the boom and going with the headset. All my recordings are made with that mike and I use it all the time when performing. Only place I don't use it is in church. I sing a lot of harmony and have to back of the mike a lot. That is the only negative I've experienced with the headset mike. I love the freedom it allows when I'm on keyboards.

God Bless,
Don

Another question:

What is the advantage( or not) of Digital?

Deane

The big advantage of digital is that it can be used with wireless transmissions to provide faster and cleaner sound transmission, however, the digital signal must be converted back to analog in order to be heard. Most of the time the conversion to analog is fairly clean, but not always.

Gary

If you are on a budget than buy digital. And if you want to spend $3000 and up than it doesn't really matter

....

I've been told that all the Senns are Analog and Shure is Digital. Don't know if that is a fact. One person told me the digital is much easier to setup on a gig. I have no clue about that. Perhaps someone here can jump in and explain the differences.

Deane

Both companies have digital and analog.
If you get GLXD from Shure you will not go wrong. I have one and use it when I have to play accordion wireless. Shure comes with really goos battery that can last 16 hours. And you recharge it. Very easy to use.
I also have Sennheiser D1 that I use for my singing when I have too. I use E965 head it is an excellent mic.

This Sennheiser is more money than Glxd. They are all pretty easy to use and whichever you get you will not go wrong.

Got a Senn E865 wireless and I absolutely love it!
Have a 945 head for it as well for venues where I think i need dynamic more than a condenser.

I like Shure too, but somehow i feel justified paying more for my Senn. Its an excellent mic.

Thanks folks for the input. It really is helpful.

Deane

Today I bought a Shure PGA 31 system. Seem to work great with my Bose L1
Compact. Thanks for all your input.
Deane

Congrats Deane does this mean you'll be singing in your act now..?

Probably so Donny. Been singing all this year.

Deane