4 Channel Wireless Mic Sytem

[Windows 95]

For a tiny church, so naturally a lot of emphasis on cheapest price.
Currently they are using a Shure PGX24/SM58 which a search of GC shows is about a $400 system.
There aren't any open inputs on their mixer, so four single systems would require adding another small mixer in the chain.
It doesn't appear to me that Shure or Sennheiser has an affordable four channel system. (If they do please point it out for me.)

They want three handheld mics & one headset.

I'm thinking:
$400 - Nady U-41 Quad Handheld Wireless System
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Nady-U-41-Quad-Handheld-Wireless-System--14-16-10-12--585779-i1540772.gc

$95 - Shure PG1 Wireless Bodypack Transmitter K7
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Shure-PG1-Wireless-Bodypack-Transmitter-270726-i1391374.gc

$39 - Shure PG30TQG Cardioid Condenser Headset Mic
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Shure-PG30TQG-Cardioid-Condenser-Headset-Mic-104013040-i1391373.gc

total = $534

[Sween]

I would stay away from Nady...

Also don't you need another receiver to pick up the PG1? Can the Nady unit even learn that frequency?

[Nicadraus]

If you can get this quad system, I would recommend them.
http://www.mipro.com.tw/link/products/ACT-8ha_b.jpg
http://www.mipro.com.tw/link/2_1_1_1_act8ha.htm (http://www.mipro.com.tw/link/2_1_1_1_act8ha.htm)
http://www.mipro.com.tw/link/products/ACT-747_b.jpg
http://www.mipro.com.tw/link/2_1_1_2_2_act747a.htm (http://www.mipro.com.tw/link/2_1_1_2_2_act747a.htm)
http://www.gzsxy.com/IMG/MIPRO/mipro%20act747h.jpg
They are cheap but works and sounds good. :tup:

[Windows 95]

They are cheap but works and sounds good. :tup:ACT-747a $1,290
http://mipro.starin.biz/pricing.php?item=ACT747A

ACT-8Ha $1,620
http://mipro.starin.biz/pricing.php?item=ACT8HA

$7,770
Granted that's list price, but even at 50% below list, that's still $3,885. That's way beyond their reach.

[Windows 95]

Also don't you need another receiver to pick up the PG1? Can the Nady unit even learn that frequency?My bad, I didn't know that wireless components were not compatible between brands.




$400 - VocoPro UHF-5800 Plus 4-Mic Wireless System
http://www.guitarcenter.com/VocoPro-UHF-5800-Plus-4-Mic-Wireless-System-with-Mic-Bag-H74921-i1935299.gc

$60 - VocoPro UHF-BP1 Wireless UHF Headset
http://www.guitarcenter.com/VocoPro-UHF-BP1-Wireless-UHF-Headset-476324-i1449198.gc

total = $460

[Windows 95]

I know it's an off brand but if you search this and other DJ forums many have bought GTD mic systems and had great success. This (http://www.amazon.com/GTD-Audio-G-788L-Diversity-Microphone/dp/B005LA2WUA/ref=sr_1_17?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1338573876&sr=1-17) is the one I recommend. I actually have this system but I bought the lavs as an add on so I can combine lavs and handhelds.

$330 - GTD Audio G-787HL UHF Diversity Wireless Microphone Lapel Lavaliere Mic
http://www.amazon.com/GTD-Audio-G-787HL-Diversity-Microphone/dp/B0088TDULQ/

$36 - GTD Audio Hand held Microphone Mic For GTD Audio G-787, G-733 Receiver
http://www.amazon.com/GTD-Audio-Microphone-G-787-Receiver/dp/B007GGHDJC/

total = $366

[Sween]

My bad, I didn't know that wireless components were not compatible between brands.

Not so much the "brand", but you need to make sure the receiver can be dialed in to the correct frequency... but, in most cases I would recommend using the transmitter and receiver from the same brand because they could use different companding algorithims.

[jayhwk]

A couple points:

1 ) 4 channel systems will not mix down the four channels - each will require it's own channel on the mixer. That means you will either need to upgrade the mixer or sub-mix as you suggested

2) Wireless systems are not compatible between brands.

All of the options you've will deliver less than desirable results. By less than desirable, I mean that they might not work at all and if they do they'll sound like garbage and/or drop out regularly. Pick up three wired handheld microphones (Shure SM58, EV N/D767 are two good options). Use the current Shure PGX system for the headset. You would be surprised how versatile a wired mic actually is - it can do almost anything a wireless can (think about Roger Daltry swinging around his wired SM58), sound better, and be more reliable than all but the most expensive wireless.

[Windows 95]

A couple points:

1 ) 4 channel systems will not mix down the four channels - each will require it's own channel on the mixer. That means you will either need to upgrade the mixer or sub-mix as you suggestedI know from looking at pictures of the back of the ones I've posted, those models do have a mixed out output jack. (Nady U-41, VocoPro UHF-5800. The GTD Audio I couldn't a picture of the back of that specific model, but pictures of other models had a mixed out.)


(Click on thumbnail to enlarge.)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f110/CheapCharley/Oresto/th_vcp-uhf5800.jpg (http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f110/CheapCharley/Oresto/?action=view&current=vcp-uhf5800.jpg)

[Windows 95]

Pick up three wired handheld microphones (Shure SM58, EV N/D767 are two good options).It's a church, they probably have about a dozen SM57 & SM58 mics.

[Unknown DJ]

Grab 2 of these sets from AKG and a cheap mixer. Should be under $600. Only thing i wounder is if you can run both sets at the same time

http://www.zzounds.com/item--AKGWMS40MDVOCAL

The problem I see with using a 4 channel system with a mixed out section is you would have no control over each mic. If one person is screaming you would have no way of turning it down to match the rest of the people on the mic.

[Windows 95]

The problem I see with using a 4 channel system with a mixed out section is you would have no control over each mic. If one person is screaming you would have no way of turning it down to match the rest of the people on the mic.On the front of the reciever there is a volume knob on each channel.

http://i50.tinypic.com/33k83rp.jpg

[Sween]

It's a church, they probably have about a dozen SM57 & SM58 mics.

Then why do they need to buy a cheap wireless system? Make do with the wired mics until they can buy a half decent system. Shure PGX/SM58 is pretty much entry level and anything cheaper is crap.

[jayhwk]

On the front of the reciever there is a volume knob on each channel.

http://i50.tinypic.com/33k83rp.jpg

You don't want that. I inherited one from an old, broken down sound system and tried unsuccessfully to use it a couple times before I threw it away.

EDIT: Speak of the devil, look what was announced today!

http://www.shure.com/americas/news-events/coming-soon/ulxd-dual-quad-digital-wireless-coming-soon

I would expect the four channel to be in the ~$5000 range.

[Windows 95]

You don't want that. I inherited one from an old, broken down sound system and tried unsuccessfully to use it a couple times before I threw it away.

EDIT: Speak of the devil, look what was announced today!

http://www.shure.com/americas/news-events/coming-soon/ulxd-dual-quad-digital-wireless-coming-soon

I would expect the four channel to be in the ~$5000 range.I just chose that picture because the channel's volume knobs are so obvious. The two channel & four channel receivers in you link also have volume control for each channel. (Buttons with up & down arrows.)

[Windows 95]

Then why do they need to buy a cheap wireless system?Why do they need a headset?

On Sunday they showed me a really cheap no brand system they were thinking of buying. I informed them on that day, that Shure & Sennheiser are good wireless microphone brands. And encouraged them to not buy an off brand. I also pointed out that wired mics last a lot longer. I'm just trying to see what cheap systems people have had the best luck with. So far that seems to be GTD Audio.

Myself personally, I think the money would be better spent upgrading their sound system. They're currently running a pair of JBL JRX115 speakers they bought used several years ago. And their power amps (One amp for the two main speakers. And one amp for the nursery's 8" wall speaker & the basement's ceiling speakers.) look really old. (The have 1/4" outs with no Speakon outs, so I'm guessing 20 years or older.) Plus I think a wireless system will probably cause people to walk in front of the speakers.

For $400 they could buy a QSC GX5 amplifier for their JRX speakers. And that amplifier could be used for a lot of different speaker choices if they ever decided to upgrade their speakers to something that sounds better. (JRX115 already goes louder than they ever push them.)

[jayhwk]

Why do they need a headset?

On Sunday they showed me a really cheap no brand system they were thinking of buying. I informed them on that Shure & Sennheiser are good wireless microphone brands. And encouraged them to not buy an off brand. I also pointed out that wired mics last a longer. I'm just trying to see what cheap systems people have had the best luck with. So far that seems to be GTD Audio.

Myself personally, I think the money would be better spent upgrading their sound system. They're currently running a pair of JBL JRX115 speakers they bought used several years ago. And their power amps (One amp for the two main speakers. And one amp for the nursery's 8" wall speaker & the basement's ceiling speakers.) look really old. (The have 1/4" outs with no Speakon outs, so I'm guessing 20 years or older.) Plus I think a wireless system will probably cause people to walk in front of the speakers.

For $400 they could buy a QSC GX5 amplifier for their JRX speakers. And that amplifier could be used for a lot of different speaker choices if they ever decided to upgrade their speakers to something that sounds better. (JRX115 already goes louder than they ever push them.)

That sounds like a good plan - steering them away from a cheap wireless purchase would probably be a good idea, but if they insist, make sure you don't get blamed if (when) it doesn't work as well as they would like. I personally would upgrade the loudspeakers first (amplifiers make much less difference in how something sounds than loudspeakers) but $400 won't get them much in the way of good loudspeakers. A pair of used Electro-Voice Sx300s would be a hell of a lot better than any JRX and can be had in the $500/pair range, but a GX5 would be a good buy as well.

[BillESC]

One thing to consider with a multi channel wireless system, especially cheap ones, if one of the receivers fails and needs service, you're left with NO Mics at all.

At the very least I'd suggest Audio Technica's ATW 2000 wireless systems. These are entry level pro units with a MAP price of $ 349.00 but I can get the price down for you.

[jrichey_98]

This thread came up in a search I did while trying to find more information on the GTD Audio G-787. I registered for these forums because I thought I had some feedback that might be helpful and the post was only half a month old.

We put on a church play a while ago and all the wireless was all very old fixed frequency VHF or in the 700MHz range and illegal to use. So I did some research and gambled on the GTD Audio G-788L. It seemed to good to be true, to recap: $100 a channel, uses TA3F connectors compatible with AKG headsets, has 30mW transmitter, use 2xAA instead of 9v (a big + in my book), Adjustable Squelch, and True Diversity.

Anyway, we bought them after reading a few reviews on a different forum by someone with the handle of BrentEvans. I can link if it's not against the rules. Anyway we bought two of them for four channels and they worked fantastic all night at about 100-ft range. They aren't as good as with something $400 a channel or over, but they were nothing short of impressive for the price.

That said, I am trying to find out if their G-787 is really a true diversity system (dual receivers per channel). If it is, and has all the features of the G-788 then I would personally be buying a couple in a heartbeat. Maybe one day if I'll take a gamble on it hope it pays off. If you end up trying one then please report back ;)

Thanks and Good Luck Sincerely,
--Jem