With much reduced available spectrum for wireless mics compared to just a few years ago – coupled with ever increasing spectrum usage – the quality, accuracy, and reliability of the wireless you invest in and use in your services is critically important. In many more populated areas, you’ll need to squeeze your wireless channels in the few remaining spaces among multiple digital television transmissions, wireless broadband and mobile carriers, and a variety of official and commercial communications bands.
With D-Squared wireless, the one system will cover the full legal UHF spectrum for wireless microphones in the U.S.
If the microphone systems that are bringing your worship team’s voices to the congregation are not consistently flawless, it doesn’t matter how good the rest of the audio equipment is. With wireless mics, the problems can easily compound when the channel count gets higher. Here are my first impressions about Lectrosonics’ latest solution – their DSQD multi-channel system.
Who Is Lectrosonics?
The name Lectrosonics may not be as immediately recognizable outside of the television broadcast and similar professional fields – in part because for the past couple decades their equipment has been more widely adopted for those critical applications than in mainstream music stores or houses of worship. Don’t let this fool you. They are one of the leaders, with over 40 years of experience designing and building wireless microphone systems in their New Mexico manufacturing facility.
Like most other wireless companies, Lectrosonics began with single-channel VHF systems and later introduced UHF systems that incorporated frequency agility and wider tuning ranges. Durability, portability, excellent audio quality, and adaptability were essential because broadcasters relied on their systems. Over the past decade or so, they were pioneers in expanding the number of channels within a receiver, leading to their latest offering, known as DSQD or “D-Squared”.
System frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+/-1 dB), using 24-bit, 48 kHz sampling, so you can expect accurate and noise-free audio reproduction of any voice or instrument you give it.
This pro-quality system consists of the DSQD receiver, plus the DHu handheld and DBu bodypack transmitters. From my initial look at the system and its documentation, it appears straightforward enough to be run in a more plug-and-play manner – including two-way IR communication between transmitter and receiver for frequency set-up and operating control – when you need just a few channels of wireless. For larger multi-channel productions, the receivers may be tied together via Wireless Designer control software and digital audio networking, with shared remote antenna arrays and 256-bit encryption.
Four-Channels in a Half-Rack
The DSQD receiver features four channels in a half-rack chassis – or eight channels in 1RU when two units are positioned side-by-side. This is impressive channel density, yet it appears that the front and rear panel layout permits easy and rapid access to each channel – from the receiver itself or via control software. The backlit color LCD screen displays frequency, audio and RF level, transmitter battery condition, and other relevant information for all four channels, with surrounding buttons to delve deeper into channel menus and options.
These channels can be used in the typical manner, with one transmitter per channel, or two may be paired together for redundancy in critical applications. Rear-panel outputs include an XLR per channel, Dante digital audio RJ45 connector with loop-through (or optional AES3 digital version), plus A /B antenna connectors with loop-through and an internal multicoupler to serve the multiple channels.
The complementary DHu and DBu transmitters are just as sophisticated – and rugged with their machined aluminum housings and durable switches and connectors. I expect that they’re durable enough to provide many years of constant use, and will feel solid yet not overly heavy. The handheld comes with the HHC cardioid condenser capsule, and can also accept a variety of other manufacturer’s microphone heads. The bodypack accepts any lavalier or headset mic, or instrument / line-level signal, with an input gain control range of 44 dB in 1 dB steps. Transmitter RF power output is selectable at 25 or 50 mW, and is powered by two AA batteries.
Wide Bandwidth, Great Audio
As a reminder, the grace period to replace any remaining legacy 600-MHz wireless expired this July, and it is strictly illegal to use that equipment. With D-Squared wireless, the one system will cover the full legal UHF spectrum for wireless microphones in the U.S. – so you won’t have to remember which transmitter goes with which receiver band if your systems can only cover a portion of the available spectrum. Both the receiver and transmitters tune across 470 – 608 MHz, so you’ll be able to locate your wireless channels on any empty and available television band in your area. And if your production travels to different locations or in the future some new wireless service lands on top of the channels you’re using, finding open channels is just a matter of setting new frequencies.
Per the specifications, system frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+/-1 dB), using 24-bit, 48 kHz sampling – and when combined with their proprietary transmission scheme you can expect accurate and noise-free audio reproduction of any voice or instrument you give it. Latency is quite low – under 2 ms via the standard XLR receiver output and a miniscule 0.75 ms when using the Dante digital output.
Final Thoughts
The D-Squared wireless system is a truly professional option, for those who require several channels of robust, reliable, and high-quality wireless performance with the possibility of setting up redundant transmitters, and those who are broadcasting their services via television / radio or are operating in more extreme RF environments. It’s certainly not in every church’s budget, yet for those who depend on their wireless to work every time over the long haul, opting for quality is a smart move.
I expect this system to have pristine audio quality, and look forward to exploring it in more depth. The four-channel DSQD receiver is $4,990, and handheld or body pack transmitters are $1,599 each.
