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Buy once, cry once, wireless.

Medicine Man

Medicine Man

Apr 10, 2015
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#1
So I joined a new project with the understanding that I was just going to play bass and not do any sound, lights, or tech. Anyway, I'm not proud of it, but a few gigs in I got sweet talked/bullied into doing sound again for smaller, lower paying shows so that we can fill our books more in between the bigger stuff without needing to hire sound. I need a new wireless, and want to hit the sweet spot between cheap and good enough I won't have issues and need to upgrade later. I'm interested in Ya'lls opinion on where that is. Nothing in the 2.5 wifi band preferably. Thanks, you guys are the best.
 
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#3
Bassed in NZ said:
Sennheiser EW-D - been bulletproof for gigs I’ve done, no wifi interference, simple Bluetooth app to configure (if you need to). That plus some rechargeable AA batteries and you’re all good
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I heartily second this suggestion.

This unit is seriously the best deal in wireless today. I've had mine over a year. And I replaced a $2100 Lectrosonics wireless rig with this. No doubt the Lector sounds awesome, but it's over 10 years old and has many, many miles on it. And the power buttons were getting cranky, meaning a $400 flat repair fee. For that and $200 more, I got the new Sennheiser EW-D. And to my ears, it sounds very bit as good.
 
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#4
Medicine Man said:
So I joined a new project with the understanding that I was just going to play bass and not do any sound, lights, or tech. Anyway, I'm not proud of it, but a few gigs in I got sweet talked/bullied into doing sound again for smaller, lower paying shows so that we can fill our books more in between the bigger stuff without needing to hire sound. I need a new wireless, and want to hit the sweet spot between cheap and good enough I won't have issues and need to upgrade later. I'm interested in Ya'lls opinion on where that is. Nothing in the 2.5 wifi band preferably. Thanks, you guys are the best.
Click to expand...
FWIW, I've never had a problem with my G10S

Edit: never mind, different wireless system. G10S is only for instruments
 
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#5
Another vote for the Sennheiser EW-D. Only issue I’ve had with mine was matching up the different gain and volume controls for use with my basses (Sadowsky NYC 5’s with the Super P & Super J pickups = pretty high output). Once I got that dialed in I was pretty happy with this unit and in particular like the app for setting up and selecting frequencies.

The only ongoing “issue” I’ve run into is the format of the receiver; this thing really should live in a rackmount case with an external antenna if possible to maximize its usefulness. I was able to get mine into my main pedalboard but it does take up quite a bit of real estate there, so I bought a Shure GLXD+ for my smaller board.

IMG_7345.jpeg
 
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#7
For me the buy once cry once was the Shure GLXD16. Yeah mine's now the previous version, but its been stellar for many years now. We're a casino band and those places are hot with wifi and the Shure has proven its value. If anything ever happens to it, I'd buy the newest "+" version in a heartbeat.
 
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#8
Kevan Campbell said:
Another vote for the Sennheiser EW-D. Only issue I’ve had with mine was matching up the different gain and volume controls for use with my basses (Sadowsky NYC 5’s with the Super P & Super J pickups = pretty high output). Once I got that dialed in I was pretty happy with this unit and in particular like the app for setting up and selecting frequencies.

The only ongoing “issue” I’ve run into is the format of the receiver; this thing really should live in a rackmount case with an external antenna if possible to maximize its usefulness. I was able to get mine into my main pedalboard but it does take up quite a bit of real estate there, so I bought a Shure GLXD+ for my smaller board.

View attachment 5300882
Click to expand...
Yes, I made an earlier post/reply to this, but it was late at the time, so I deleted that one to start over.....

Your EW-D kit should have come with a rack-mount kit with a half-rack-wide panel with 2 antenna holes in it. My only beef here is that they should include the panel-mount antenna connectors and the short cables to run from the rear of the unit to that panel. You'll have to order those separately
 
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#9
Geri O said:
Yes, I made an earlier post/reply to this, but it was late at the time, so I deleted that one to start over.....

Your EW-D kit should have come with a rack-mount kit with a half-rack-wide panel with 2 antenna holes in it. My only beef here is that they should include the panel-mount antenna connectors and the short cables to run from the rear of the unit to that panel. You'll have to order those separately
Click to expand...

That does make some sense, but my claim about the EW-D needing really needing to be rackmounted intended to be in reference of the format of the receiver not optimized for pedalboard real estate and convenience like other wireless options such as the Shure GLXD16+. Looking back over my post I guess I should have been more clear in my wording.

I did indeed get the rackmount ears and would also highly agree that it would be nice of Sennheiser to include the panel-mount connectors and cables. I guess not enough people need those parts to warrant including them at a higher end price for the system.

The entire reason I first bought my EW-D in the first place was to rackmount it inside of this massive road case I had built to house a 6x10 as well as rackmount drawers, amps and IEM system. At the time I was living in Texas where it’s pretty common to have amps onstage, and the artists/groups I was playing with/for were playing large enough stages that a cased-out rig like the one I was putting together would have been very useful…now that I’m in Tennessee, that approach has changed a bit (still gonna build it but I doubt I’ll get to use it much).
 
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#11
walterw said:
OT but i like how you put a date on your various knob settings! i guess that's to keep yourself from just letting things go for too long without re-thinking?
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Haha yep, that’s precisely the reason I did that! Every year I’ll go through pedalboards and tighten screws, swap in/out pedals, rewire and replace any necessary parts. I figured I may as well do some tone-hunting at the end of each pedalboard’s rebuild as a reward!
 
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#12
I’ve said this for others….. I have two Shure ULX units in different bands that I bought used years ago. They aren’t digital but have never let me down, using the unit best for the area, scan suggested channel and group that Shure outlines. I watch Rig Rundown sometimes and I see more Shure brand on stage there as well as what other bands we do shows with use. If your playing shows with other bands, using wireless for guitar, IEM, mic’s, etc….. there needs to be space. The higher end units are built with this in mind. So if playing local small club ya might not need a unit like you see big acts use.
So a few things to think about when using wireless imo.
 
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#13
mikeswals said:
For me the buy once cry once was the Shure GLXD16. Yeah mine's now the previous version, but its been stellar for many years now. We're a casino band and those places are hot with wifi and the Shure has proven its value. If anything ever happens to it, I'd buy the newest "+" version in a heartbeat.
Click to expand...
Ditto. I also had no problems with the Line 6 G50, but I like the form factor of the GLXD16 better. The new + model is in the 5.8 GHz band, but mine has never failed even though it's in the 2.4 band.
 
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#15
I was looking at getting a new system as well, I was seriously considering the Shure GLXD16+ just do to it's really convenient form factor, but after reading some info directly from Shure, I'm now headed a different direction and have the Sennheiser EW-D on order, it should be here next week sometime...I didn't necessarily want a rack mount unit, but it is what it is. :meh:

My issue with the GLXD16+ is that according to Shure, if other members of your band are using the legacy GLXD systems (my rhythm player uses 2 of them), they tell you to run your GLXD16+ in 5.8 GHz only....which kinda defeats the purpose of buying a dual band in the first place. o_O :banghead:

sHURE.jpg
 
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#20
friend of mine dumped his wireless gear over a year ago and got XVive units for his bass, mic, & ears. He's used them extensively and after a recent gig when I asked him about them he said he has had nothing but positive experience with them. He raved about the simplicity and small size as well as the battery charge life.
 

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