Handheld Radio Mics

[skivvy]

Hello Everyone!!

 

Just a quick post here... I hope!!

 

I'm a technical stage manager for a theatre company based in Paisley, UK. At the moment we are seeking some handheld radio mics for use in a forthcoming school's tour we have planned. I was wondering if anyone had an idea of where to get handheld mics cheaply??

 

I've spent what seems like a lifetime on ebay and google searching for some cheap kit. Money is the major problem here... as the boss doesn't want to seem to part with any!! :P

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Chris

[Dj Dunc]

Ok try Thomann at thomann they are very good, just watch the licensing issues and also, the power plugs come as a 2 Pin Euro. Also try cpc CPC.

 

HTH

 

dunc

 

p.s someones bound to have a better idea than me

[StevieR]

First question that comes to mind is - how many systems do you want to use simultaneously?

 

I ask that because most of the 'cheap' systems only support a limited number - normally 4 maximum. If you need more then the system prices increase.

 

Also, bear in mind the old 'you only get what you pay for' and so a low purchase price may be offset by maintenance/replacement costs later on. I don't know what price bracket you are looking in but my personal experience of some of the cheap offerings has been less than great.

 

If you need any advice, I work with a hire co over in Edinburgh so feel free to PM me for tech info.

 

Steve

[Adam Brinkworth]

You can try Terralec - www.terralec.co.uk . There equipment can sometimes be quite decent, and they do suffice to what you are looking for - quite cheap.

 

If it is in budget http://www.terralec.co.uk/prod.asp?I=20388...HONE_FLIGHT_SET this looks like it is just what you need.

 

HTH

[Bobbsy]

To second what StevieR was saying...there's a truism about radio mics: "You can spend several thousand pounds on a radio mic system that will sound almost as good as a £10 microphone cable."

 

While there ARE some apparent bargains out there, the "cheapness" can be at the expense of the ability to run multiple systems legally and/or reliability and/or sound quality.

 

Depending on your needs, this can be an area where rental can sometimes be a better option but, if you decide to buy, do your research carefully to make sure the gear you buy is on legal, interference-free frequencies and has sound and RF quality you can live with.

 

Bob

[skivvy]

Thanks Guys!! Your posts have given me a wee bit more food for thought, and will need to push the boss for a lovely big cheque!

 

StevieR I've sent you a little PM... more like an essay but none the less!

 

If anyone else has any ideas, please let me know!

 

Thanks Guys.

 

Chris

chrisb@pacetheatre.co.uk

[bruce]

I'd go along with much of what was said above. The 4-unit JTS kit, suggested by Adam, is surprisingly good quality for the price - I've used the lav equivalent of this kit, and it works very well. However, the supplier Adam mentions seems a little pricey at 1400 pounds - you can get the same kit for 1050 elsewhere.

 

The Thomann T-bone units are in a much lower league, but they're probably among the best of the sub-100 quid bunch. All of the sub-100 bunch don't have the "feel" of more expensive units - they're generally plastic bodies, and much lighter. I've bought a couple of them for a local church hall, where they are more than adequate. They're less flexible, in that you have much fewer options for frequency selection, and running more than 4 units simultaneously would be a problem. But it may not be a problem for your application.

 

The Thomann ones can use rechargeable batteries, and chargers are built in to the receivers.

 

Don't touch the 20 quid chinese Ebay units with a bargepole.

 

Chris, if you want a look at the Thomann units, I'm about 15 miles southwest of you...

[Bobbsy]

I'd go along with much of what was said above. The 4-unit JTS kit, suggested by Adam, is surprisingly good quality for the price - I've used the lav equivalent of this kit, and it works very well. However, the supplier Adam mentions seems a little pricey at 1400 pounds - you can get the same kit for 1050 elsewhere.

 

If the RF frequency range mentioned in the Terralec ad is accurate (782-806MHz), you'd have to apply for rather expensive special licences to operate these in the UK...and there are potentially sites where such a licence would not be granted because of TV carriers in the same frequency range.

 

There's certainly a mismatch between the text (which mentions the unlicenced band) and the spec which lists frequencies quite far away from the unlicenced area. The text worries me because you definitely can't get 16 frequencies within the small unlicenced bandwidth.

 

Bob

[bruce]

I'm sure the terralec web page is wrong.

 

For some more discussion on JTS mics and frequencies, see HERE.

[David Duffy]

If you only need a few units the AKG WMS40 and the TOA WM/WT series are good value for money. The AKG WMS400 series are much nicer but more expensive. Watch out for some brands that chew through an expensive 9V battery in a few hours! As everyone says - you get what you pay for.

[cedd]

Another vote of confidence for the JTS stuff, it's very nicely engineered. Solid Metal transmitters, nice recievers. Generally a good piece of kit. Mine have proven themselves many times, Santa specials at a miniature railway with the "pantomime Dame" walking around in the rain with them really did say it all!

 

The Beltpack version has tons of gain left in it, perhaps a bit much, I also use mine as a wireless guitar with my groups and it tends to be a bit too much.

[dwh]

I've got a couple of Shure wireless SM58s kicking about which are by no means the most beautiful sounding mics in the world, but they'll do the job, and like their wired counterparts, take a bit of a beating (though I wouldn't want to subject them to much!)... We have the VHF versions, which are license free, but you can only get I *think* four different frequencies on them. If you don't need many, they'd fit the bill. They're a bit bulky, but quite nice, and I think we got them for about £180 each. Can't remember where from, shall have a dig around.

 

[Edit] A quick glance at Studiospares shows me prices of about £315 +VAT for what I'm talking about, so either we got a fantastic discount somewhere, or I remembered incorrectly!

[Matt Riley]

I've got a couple of Shure wireless SM58s kicking about <snip> We have the VHF versions, ...

 

Also you could look at some second hand shure LX series (vhf) if, like dwh said, you only need a relatively small number of frequencies. Good mics, robust, good battery life and when they were new they weren't cheap.