what kind of battery do you use?

[brianchiu]

Have you done a blind test, having somebody switching between the two power cords without you knowing which cord is being used and then see if you can tell the difference?

I suspect that something else is responsible for the difference you heard or thought you heard.

True double-blind testing is the definative lab test to determine the difference between any two or more options, and the results are generally very accurate IME.

Good point,thanks!
It was a noisy soundcheck on the stage,so .... it could be something else,but I should do the blind test next time.

 

[t0t0m]

I use : Duracell, Energizer, and Pro cell
I found out that Energizer Max last a little bit longer life...

 

[line6man]

4 or 5 years ... wow !!

Why does that wow you?

 

[stflbn]

Duracell Procells.

I buy about 40 of them at a time for usually around $1 each.


.

 

[Rune Bivrin]

IKEA batteries. No kidding. They are dirt cheap and always come out in the top tier in independent tests. Made by Varta if I remember correctly.

Rechargables are useless. At least NiMH:s. I have a bunch, and they are invariably half discharged when I grab them. The self discharge makes them unreliable.

 

[okcrum]

Whatever alkalines are cheapest.

 

[joeyl]

I use procells since I had a good deal on ebay.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I'm going to have to start a company that sells "Tone Cells".

They may look like regular 9V batteries, but they make your tone much better!

 

[whitedk57]

I buy Rayovac alkaline batteries from my local grocer because they put them on sale every so often for $1.00 per 9v battery. At that price, I really don't care if it lasts as long as Duracell or the other big-name brands. It makes replacing a questionable battery much easier - I hate wasting money when a battery isn't quite dead. But I also love peace of mind for my performances.

 

[agedhorse]

From the Shure web site:

By knowing the current draw of the wireless transmitter along with the capacity of the battery, it is possible to know the life of the battery. It is easy to show that rechargeable 9 volt Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries have a much shorter life than standard alkaline types. For this reason, 9 volt Ni-Cd and Ni-MH rechargeables are typically not well suited for wireless transmitter applications. Currently, 9 volt alkaline batteries are the best choice because of their performance for the cost. If an application does require rechargeable batteries, use the 9 volt version of the rechargeable Li+ batteries. For wireless transmitters that use AA batteries, rechargeables and alkalines both perform well.

This is generally reasonably accurate but does not address the rechargable 9 volt batteries that have an extra cell or two that give a nominal voltage of 8.4 or 9.6 volts.

Alkaline 9 volt batteries should have about twice (or maybe a little more) the running lifespan of a high capacity NiMh, but if you only need 3-4 hours out of a battery before recharging then it's a viable option.

One thing to note though, the battery meters on typical wireless mics will not accurately indicate the state of charge due to the different discharge vs. voltage curve with this chemistry. This may be one reason for dissatisfaction with rechargables.

 

[agedhorse]

Rechargables are useless. At least NiMH:s. I have a bunch, and they are invariably half discharged when I grab them. The self discharge makes them unreliable.

Self-discharge, especially the high capacity versions, is something that can be pretty easily addressed with smart charger technology. Just takes a little self-discipline. For a venue that may use a dozen batteries a week, the potential savings is significant enough to make it worth while. For a casual user, probably not.

 

[brianchiu]

Why does that wow you?

cause I change my battery every 1~2 month; I know it's not used up but I can't take the chance of losing power in the middle of the show...

 

[groooooove]

a 9 volt thats not dead or dying.

 

[brianchiu]

I'm going to have to start a company that sells "Tone Cells".

They may look like regular 9V batteries, but they make your tone much better!

you're kidding right?
How can batteries make your tone better?

 

[brianchiu]

I also love peace of mind for my performances.

Agreed!

So I replace battery before it's necessary,and I use them on tuner,pedals,or my son's toys

 

[lindseyp]

...
Do they really make a difference?

Duracell. Yes, they make a difference in my opinion--they seem to drain slower in my experience. Get the copper Tops from the local store, the Duracell site says there's no difference between them and the Duracell Procell batteries.

 

[somegeezer]

I really doubt it makes much difference between batteries apart from lifetime. I just use whatever 9v I have lying around. I think at the moment, I have some sort of Duracell batteries.

 

[line6man]

cause I change my battery every 1~2 month; I know it's not used up but I can't take the chance of losing power in the middle of the show...

Something is wrong with your bass' wiring then. Batteries should last quite a long time.

you're kidding right?
How can batteries make your tone better?

He was kidding.

 

[megadan]

you're kidding right?
How can batteries make your tone better?

i think it's a joke based on the Many recent "$1200 power cord" type threads.

For batteries I just use whatever is on sale. Changed the batteries in my Stingray 2 or 3 times over maybe 4 years; never changed the one in my G&L since I got it a year or so ago.

 

[walterw]

From the Shure web site:

By knowing the current draw of the wireless transmitter along with the capacity of the battery, it is possible to know the life of the battery. It is easy to show that rechargeable 9 volt Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries have a much shorter life than standard alkaline types. For this reason, 9 volt Ni-Cd and Ni-MH rechargeables are typically not well suited for wireless transmitter applications.

This is generally reasonably accurate but does not address the rechargable 9 volt batteries that have an extra cell or two that give a nominal voltage of 8.4 or 9.6 volts.

Alkaline 9 volt batteries should have about twice (or maybe a little more) the running lifespan of a high capacity NiMh, but if you only need 3-4 hours out of a battery before recharging then it's a viable option.

One thing to note though, the battery meters on typical wireless mics will not accurately indicate the state of charge due to the different discharge vs. voltage curve with this chemistry. This may be one reason for dissatisfaction with rechargables.

slightly OT, but my [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] will last slightly longer in my wireless in-ear pack than an actual alkaline. they're only 8.4V, but they have like 500mA/H, so they hang for a long time under load.

i'd never use them in an instrument, though, they'd be dead in a month whether it was ever plugged in or not.

for that, i like the energizer industrial, ever since i found this chart.

i can't find nuon brand batteries, but energizer industrials ran a close second and outdid the duracells by a wide margin, so that's what i go with now.