Wireless handheld microphone systems are available for churches of every size. Even though the available frequency space has shrunk over the past ten years, today’s systems are built to handle it. They tune across wide ranges, adapt to different setups, and filter out unwanted signals well.
The key to much of this is digital wireless, which lets more channels share the same spectrum space without interfering with each other. Digital systems also let you trade off range, number of channels, and sound quality to fit your worship space. As a bonus, digital wireless microphone systems also work well with digital audio networking and computer control within your audio equipment chain.
Some systems have also added technologies for increasing reliability and resistance to dropouts, transmitting the same signal on more than one frequency (frequency diversity) and transmitting the same audio data in different time slots (time diversity), with algorithms at the receiver reassembling the digital information into coherent order.
Following is a round-up of digital wireless microphones systems are more capable and flexible than ever for houses of worship.
AKG | Model: DMS800
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Band: UHF (Various bands ranging between 548 – 832 MHz)
- Receiver Bandwidth:150 MHz
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: Agile; scan and spectrum analyzer functions
- Diversity Scheme: True diversity
- Receiver Format: 1RU/2-channel
- Receiver Outputs: Analog; Dante and AES/EBU digital
- Audio Bandwidth: 25 Hz – 20 kHz (+/-3 dB)
- Sampling Rate: 24-bit/44 kHz
- Latency: < 4 msTransmitter
- RF Power: Variable, 10/20/30/50 mWTx/Rx
- Communication: IR sync
AUDIO-TECHNICA | Model: D50 Digital
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Bands: DF2: 470.125 to 607.875 MHz
- Frequency Agiility/RF Search: Agile; scanniing
- Diversity Scheme: True digital diversity
- Receiver Format: Half-rack: 4-channel Dante receiver or 2-channel Audio-Technica LINK receiver
- Receiver Outputs: 4 balanced analog XLR
- Audio Bandwidth: 24-bit/48 kHz, expands to 96 kHz with Dante
- Sampling Rate: Standard: 48 kHz; HD mode: 48 kHz
- Latency: Standard: 2.1 ms; HD: 3.3 ms
- Transmitter RF Power: Selectable 20 mW, 10 mW, or 1 mW in Standard mode, and 1 mW in HD mode
- Control/Interfacing: Front-panel access, 100 Mbps IP control; Audio-Technica’s Wireless Manager software
AUDIX | Model: Novacore
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Bands: DF2: 470.125 to 607.875 MHz
- Frequency Agiility/RF Search: Agile; scanniing
- Diversity Scheme: True digital diversity
- Receiver Format: Half-rack: 4-channel Dante receiver or 2-channel Audio-Technica LINK receiver
- Receiver Outputs: 4 balanced analog XLR
- Audio Bandwidth: 24-bit/48 kHz, expands to 96 kHz with Dante
- Sampling Rate: Standard: 48 kHz; HD mode: 48 kHz
- Latency: Standard: 2.1 ms; HD: 3.3 ms
- Transmitter RF Power: Selectable 20 mW, 10 mW, or 1 mW in Standard mode, and 1 mW in HD mode
- Control/Interfacing: Front-panel access, 100 Mbps IP control; Audio-Technica’s Wireless Manager software
BEYERDYNAMIC | Model: TG 1000
north-america.beyerdynamic.com
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Band: UHF (470 – 789 MHz; available at 470 – 698 MHz)
- Receiver Bandwidth: 319 MHz
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: Agile; scanning
- Diversity Scheme: True diversity
- Receiver Format: 1RU/2-channel
- Receiver Outputs: Analog
- Audio Bandwidth: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sampling Rate: 24-bit/44 kHz
- Latency: < 2.1 msTransmitter
- RF Power: Variable, 10/50 mW
- Tx/Rx Communication: IR sync
- Control/Interfacing: IP-based control using Chameleon software; control via computer, tablet, smart phone
CAD AUDIO | Model: WX1000HH
- RF Transmission: Analog
- Frequency Band: UHF (510 – 570 MHz)
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: Auto-scan and IR sync functions
- Diversity Scheme: True diversityReceiver Format: Half-rack/1-channe
- lReceiver Outputs: Analog
- Audio Bandwidth: 30 Hz to 18 kHz
- Dynamic Range: >100 dBTransmitter
- RF Power: Variable 10 mW
- Tx/Rx Communication: N/A
DPA | Model: N-Series
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Bands: 470 MHz -- 870 MHz (varies by region)
- RF Tuning Steps: 25 kHz
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: Agile; scanning
- Diversity Scheme: True digital diversity
- Receiver Format: Dual-channel (1RU)
- Receiver Outputs: Analog and Dante -- primary/secondary on separate connectors from control network)
- Audio Bandwidth: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sampling Rate: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz
- Latency: <2.9 msTransmitter RF Power: Variable, 1/5/10/20/50 mW 1 (follows region)
- Control/Interfacing: Audio Controller provides remote control and monitoring along with a wideband frequency analyzer
ELECTRO-VOICE | Model: RE3
- RF Transmission: Analog
- Frequency Band: UHF (488 – 524 MHz, 560 – 596 MHz, other bands available including 653 – 663 duplex gap)
- Receiver Bandwidth: 36 MHz (1,400 selectablefrequencies) for 488 – 524 MHz and 560-590 MHz
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: Frequency scan & sync
- Diversity Scheme: True diversity
- Receiver Format: Half-rack/1-channel
- Receiver Outputs: Analog
- Audio Bandwidth: 51 Hz – 16 kHz (handheld); 63 Hz – 16 kHz (bodypack, both +/-2 dB)
- Transmitter RF Power: Variable, 10/50 mW
GALAXY | Model: CSL/CSL4
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Bands: Multiple depending on band option: 470-407 MHz, 520-554 MHz, 572-596 MHz
- Frequency Agiility/RF Search: Frequency agility
- Diversity Scheme: Digital UHF Tru-diversity architecture
- Receiver Format: CSL: Single-channel, half-rack/tablttop receiver; CSL4: quad-channel, standard 1U
- Receiver Outputs: Balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4”
- Audio Bandwidth: 50 hz-16 kHz
- Sampling Rate: Non published
- Latency: Under 3 msTransmitter RF Power: 10mW or 50mW depending on venue conditions
- Control/Interfacing: IR Sync, and integrated RF spctrum analyzer
HOLLYLAND | Model: LARK MAX 2
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Bands: 2400MHz ~ 2483.5 MHz
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: 2.4 GHz adaptive frequency hopping
- Diversity Scheme: Non-DiversityReceiver Format: Camera-mount and USB-C plug-in for mobile
- Receiver Outputs: 3.5mm TRS Camera output, direct to smartphones, tablets or laptops
- Audio Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
- Sampling Rate: 48 kHz
- Latency: 20ms from TX to RX
- Transmitter RF Power: 10 mW
- Control/Interfacing: Built-in touchscreen paired with control knob
LECTROSONICS | Model: D Squared
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Band: UHF (470 – 608 MHz for U.S.; 470 – 614 MHz for export)
- Receiver Bandwidth: 144 MHz
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: Automatic discovery & channel selection
- Diversity Scheme: Noiseless antenna switching, Vector, or Frequency
- Receiver Format: 4 channels in ½ RU
- Receiver Outputs: Dante & analogAudio Bandwidth: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+/-1 dB)
- Sampling Rate: 24-bit/48 kHz
- Latency: Ranges from 1.2 ms in D2 mode to 2.9 ms in Hybrid compact modes
- Transmitter RF Power: Variable; 10/25/35/50 mW
- Tx/Rx Communication: Via infrared
- Control/Interfacing: USB, and RJ-45 Ethernet ports; monitor and control with Wireless Designer software
MIPRO | Model: ACT-5800 Series
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Band: 5.8 GHz
- Receiver Bandwidth: 125 MHz(5,725 – 5,850 MHz
- )Frequency Agility/RF Search: Manually
- Diversity Scheme: Dual-tuner true diversity receiving
- Receiver Format: Quad channel(1 RU)
- Receiver Outputs: Analog
- Audio Bandwidth: 18 Hz – 23 kHz
- Sampling Rate: 24-bit/48 kHz
- Latency: < 1.7 msTransmitter RF Power: 20 mW for both handheld and bodypack (country dependent)
- Tx/Rx Communication: ACT Sync
SHURE | Model: SLX-D+
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Bands: Up to 138 MHz (region dependent)
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: Frequency agility
- Diversity Scheme: Digital predictive switching diversity
- Receiver Format: Half-rack single, half-rack dual, full-rack quad, quad with Dante and portable/camera-mount
- Receiver Outputs: Balanced analog XLR and 1/4” instrument outputs per channel
- Audio Bandwidth: 470 - 608 MHz
- Sampling Rate: 48 kHz
- Latency: 2.8 ms
- Transmitter RF Power: Selectable, 1 mW (Low) and 10 mW (High)
- Control/Interfacing: ShowLink Ease and the Wireless Workbench Mobile App on iOS and Android.
SENNHEISER | Model: EW-DX EM 4 Dante receiver & EW-DX SKM transmitter
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Bands: 470.200 - 550.000 MHz
- RF Tuning Steps: Standard Mode with 600 kHz spacing; Link Density (LD) Mode with 300 kHz spacing
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: AutoScan scans environment and deploys frequencies with equidistant channel spacing
- Receiver Format: 4 channels; Link Density (LD) Mode with 300 kHz spacing for up to 293 channels
- Receiver Outputs: Dante digital audio output, RJ-45
- Audio Bandwidth: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sampling Rate: 48 or 96 kHz
- Latency: 1.9 ms with proprietary Sennheiser Performance Audio Codec (SePAC)
- Transmitter RF Power: 10 mW
- Control/Interfacing: Network enabled for expanded remote control with Sennheiser Control Cockpit, Wireless System Manager, and third party media control systems via plugin
SOUND DEVICES | Model: ASTRA ARX32
- RF Transmission: Digital
- Frequency Bands: 169 – 1525 MHz
- RF Tuning Steps: SpectraBand with 3 tuning bands for a total of ~72 MHz of operating bandwidth for transmitters
- Frequency Agility/RF Search: AutoAssign automatic deployment of multiple clean frequencies
- Diversity Scheme: Proprietary HexVersityReceiver Format: 16 channels expandable to 32 channels via software licenses
- Receiver Outputs: Native Dante, MADI, AES, and Analog outputs
- Audio Bandwidth: 10 Hz – 20 kHzSampling Rate: 48 or 96 kHz
- Latency: 2 ms, analog or digital outputs
- Transmitter RF Power: Variable, 2 mW to 100 mW
- Tx/Rx Communication: BNC timecode input for auto timecode sync of transmitters over NexLink
- Control/Interfacing: Web App control from browser on any computer, smartphone, or tablet
