Audio-Technica recently introduced an expanded version of their digital wireless microphone system – the System 10 Pro. After working with the original System 10 when it was released about two and a half years ago, I was curious about the new features being added to what I called at the time a “deceptively simple” yet great sounding system.
Features of the Original System 10
The original System 10 features a single receiver in a durable molded-plastic, half-rack-sized chassis, with permanently attached antennas – coupled with handheld or bodypack transmitters. Its one-character backlit LCD display is used to show the receiver's channel number designation, which is shared with the transmitter. Different from other wireless systems, the channel number does not refer to a particular frequency, but to a pairing of a transmitter and receiver operating dynamically together. Both components are actually transceivers, so the transmitter and receiver are in continual communication, adapting to the changing RF environment.
The system operates in the 2.4 GHz spectrum, scans for open frequencies, and can shift those frequencies automatically when interference is encountered. Using a sophisticated RF scheme that includes a mix of frequency, time, and space diversity, the system is able to operate reliably and compatibly with WiFi routers and other 2.4 GHz devices. Transmission is digital, operating at 24-bit/48-kHz, with no need for audio companding circuitry, and the receiver output is analog via XLR and unbalanced quarter-inch connectors. Up to eight System 10 wireless units can be used together.
The System 10 Pro
It appears the new System 10 Pro moves these powerful operating principles into a rack-mountable format with connections, controls, and slots for two receiver modules in each half-rack chassis, and the ability to rack-mount a single chassis or tie two together for up to four channels of wireless in 1RU. In addition, we're told the individual receiver units can be mounted within the receiver chassis, or placed remotely via an RJ45 (Ethernet) cable connection to the chassis – so that in larger venues or a fixed installation the radio receiver and antennas can be located closer to the transmitter signal and the audio connections can be closer to the mix console.
Based on the company announcement, the Pro system maintains the same easy user interface, with each receiver module using half of the receiver chassis' LCD display to designate its channel number, along with each transmitter's battery level and received RF level. Small LED's for each channel show when a transmitter is on or off, and that an audio signal is being received. Each channel provides two push-buttons, the first to set the Channel ID number and the second to pair that receiver channel with a transmitter. Those buttons are the only front-panel controls, other than an on/off switch.
Linking and Remote Receivers
The rear panel appears to provide output connectors and controls for two channels, with a balanced XLR, unbalanced quarter-inch, output level control, and ground-lift switch (that only affects the balanced connector) for each channel. The rear panel features RJ12 In and Out connectors for linking, so that up to five receiver chassis – ten simultaneous channels of wireless – can communicate together, to better coordinate each channel's frequency and time-slot allocations. In an interesting twist, each channel also has an RJ45 connector, allowing a receiver module to be place remotely up to 328 feet away, powered via the connection.
When the receiver is removed from the receiver chassis, a hinged door flips down to cover the opening. It can then be slipped into the provided protective holder to aid in remote mounting. The receiver has a pair of removable, articulating antennas with SMA connectors on its front, a small LED on the rear to indicate its operating status, an RJ45 connector, and a 1/4”-20 mounting socket to place it on a stand, tripod, or other location. I'm unsure from the manual's illustrations whether the protective holder includes additional mounting options.
Transmitters and Pairing
The handheld and bodypack transmitters appear to be the same as used in the original System 10, and based on my earlier experience with them, they were durable units with simple, well-placed controls, and functioned fine with the system. They run on two AA batteries for over seven hours, with a 10 mW RF output. Both transmitters include a low-battery indicator, and allow the user to mute the audio – with the ability to lock the control to avoid accidental muting.
With A-T's pairing system between a receiver and transmitter, it is possible to use multiple transmitters with a single receiver; for example, a guitarist could have two bodypacks both paired to a receiver going into a guitar amp, and when changing guitars, turn off one pack and turn on the other to resume playing. When I have the opportunity to work with the system later this month, I'll note any changes or updates to the transmitters.
Ease of Use
A-T says the system is useful for applications ranging from houses of worship to touring musicians, theatrical productions, and audio rental houses. In its product brochure, the company emphasizes a key benefit of the System 10 Pro, as a multi-channel, professional-quality digital wireless system that can be deployed by people with no specialized knowledge of RF or frequency coordination. Though this might be a slight simplification, setting up a few channels of this wireless system or adding a few to an existing wireless installation operating in the UHF band should be able to be done easily and successfully, simply by pairing the transmitters and receivers, keeping those receivers at a safe distance from WiFi routers, and making the effort to keep transmitter and receiver within line-of-sight and within range.
Audio-Technica offers the System 10 Pro in multiple configurations, with either one or two receiver modules within the receiver chassis, with a single handheld or bodypack transmitter, with one of each, or with a pair of handhelds or bodypacks. List pricing from their web site ranges between $599 and $1,259, depending on how many receivers and transmitters are in the package. Additional receiver modules or transmitters may be purchased separately for an existing system.
I look forward to doing a thorough review of the System 10 Pro to see how the new features such as a dual-receiver chassis, remote-mounted receiver modules, and chassis linking are overlaid onto the solid RF architecture of the original System 10.
