Connecting Wireless Speakers

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djjoe

New DJ
Oct 20, 2019
2
0
64
I'm playing a fund-raising benefit at the end of November for a friend with cancer. The venue is an old church. I'll be set up on the main floor. Downstairs is a bar and seating area. The organizer would like me to have a speaker set up downstairs so people can hear the music and announcements. Wiring is not an option.

I have a 12-channel mixer. My Atco speakers connect to the one set of the 1/4 outputs, which pair with one set of 1/4 inputs that my laptop connects to. I have an additional 1/4 output and three addition 1/4 inputs. I also have two RCA inputs/outputs.

For the upstairs, I'll be set up with my laptop, mixer, and Atco speakers - all wired.

For the downstairs, I want to use one or both of my Sony SRS-XB20 Bluetooth speakers. They are small, but produce a sufficient volume of quality sound for the seating area.

The question is: how do I connect the Sony speakers wirelessly to my mixer so that the microphones and the music also transmit to the downstairs?

I'm okay with buying a different small wireless speaker if necessary.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
 
Well... the way I do it is running a wireless mic beltpack system backwards. So the booth output from my console goes into a 1/4 inch to Shure cable. And then I put the wireless mic receiver on the speaker I want to send signal to. I can put multiple receivers out, so I could send a single signal to 2+ speakers if needed.

It sounds like you're trying to do more of a blue tooth set up for wireless. I don't really trust bluetooth in professional applications. But you could maybe try something like https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-B...03011_1_4?s=mp3&ie=UTF8&qid=1571889545&sr=1-4 to send a signal out.

But when you say they are downstairs... it makes me think that bluetooth is probably not strong enough to reach reliably.

If you can get in there and test it, that would be ideal. But wireless is finicky and doing it cheaply often produces poor results.
 
Might be an issue going through a floor, especially a heavy duty one. As Ross said, one option is the reverse bodypack. Another is an IEM setup, which is basically the same but with a larger transmitter and smaller receiver. Third is the Alto Stealth which works ok.
 
...I don't really trust bluetooth in professional applications....when you say they are downstairs, it makes me think that bluetooth is probably not strong enough to reach reliably...wireless is finicky and doing it cheaply often produces poor results.
I concur on all points.

Even a pre-event test in the empty space will not provide a reliable test. Once the space is full of cellular devices and the bodymass using them, the environment will be substantially different.

I have had the best, not perfect, but satisfactory results using a configuration like Ross suggests using wireless mic equipment.

The BEST, most reliable solutions can be are very expensive and frustratingly unattainable and pointless to discuss here.

Seems your best solution would be to get HQ wireless mic systems and implement as already recommended.

Good Luck helping this cause.
 
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But when you say they are downstairs... it makes me think that bluetooth is probably not strong enough to reach reliably.

THAT!
Although I remember almost nothing from my year at computer school...
I do recall that Bluetooth is not intended for long distances.
And probably NOT intended to pass thru walls and floors.
 
I second the Alto Stealth wireless system. I know 2 DJs who use that system and no issues.
 
Inexpensive systems do work until they don’t. The question is then what do you do? Best is to use something which is know to work all of the time. Anything cheap doesn’t work all the time. A quick check on all the forums will let you know what works all time and the systems where people have issues.
 
I use sennheiser ew g3/g4 wireless equipment. New is $600-$700. Used $300-$400. I buy mostly used.

i find used great equipment is better than brand new crap
 
Going through a floor? I do not recommend wireless at all.

Buy a couple of 100 foot speaker cables, and a coupler if you have to. Spend time taping the cords down every where. ....That is the only way I would do this IF you have to send a signal down stairs through a floor.

I had trouble sending a wireless signal to one of my speakers that was in clear line of sight 100 feet away. Granted, I was using a cheaper lav mic system (I don't have a XLR or 1/4 inch to SHURE cable. But I have multiple XLR to AUX cables which work with other lav mic boxes. ...End result was the volume was simply too low coming out of the speaker, and I could not get it up loud enough. I ended up running a 100 foot XLR and taping a long the wall...I had JUST enough cable to get it to the speaker. Took a lot of time taping down the cable, but much better result than the wireless route I was trying to go for.

If I had a higher end lav system and proper cables, I am sure the result would have been fine seeing I was in direct line of sight of the speaker. BUT, going through a floor or around corners with walls, I would not recommend wireless when the audio is important
 
Going through a floor? I do not recommend wireless at all.

Buy a couple of 100 foot speaker cables, and a coupler if you have to. Spend time taping the cords down every where. ....That is the only way I would do this IF you have to send a signal down stairs through a floor.

I had trouble sending a wireless signal to one of my speakers that was in clear line of sight 100 feet away. Granted, I was using a cheaper lav mic system (I don't have a XLR or 1/4 inch to SHURE cable. But I have multiple XLR to AUX cables which work with other lav mic boxes. ...End result was the volume was simply too low coming out of the speaker, and I could not get it up loud enough. I ended up running a 100 foot XLR and taping a long the wall...I had JUST enough cable to get it to the speaker. Took a lot of time taping down the cable, but much better result than the wireless route I was trying to go for.

If I had a higher end lav system and proper cables, I am sure the result would have been fine seeing I was in direct line of sight of the speaker. BUT, going through a floor or around corners with walls, I would not recommend wireless when the audio is important
Ricky you mentioned you didn't have a good enough lav mic. Do you remember what that was?
 
I ran me entire speaker setup for the reception wirelessly this last weekend. Y'all probably think I am crazy but dam, QLD is rock solid, even far distances. Sounds the same as running wires. I then used my Yeti to power one of the speakers.
 
I ran me entire speaker setup for the reception wirelessly this last weekend. Y'all probably think I am crazy but dam, QLD is rock solid, even far distances. Sounds the same as running wires. I then used my Yeti to power one of the speakers.
Not at all here. Friends of mine have run the Stealth wireless system the whole event and no issues. Just got to know how to properly set things up.
 
I don't know what stealth system you are referring to but it is not rocket science. You plug it in, scan the channel, and you are done.
 
I don't know what stealth system you are referring to but it is not rocket science. You plug it in, scan the channel, and you are done.
I guess you are right but my point was I have never known them having a issue with using their wireless system to use for speakers. Now they have never had to go through a wall or a floor to use their wireless system. I don't know if that can have a big effect on how good things work or not.
 
Does anyone know if the G3 and G4 systems are compatible? I have the G3 Body-packs (receiver and transmitter) and can't find any used G3 receiver packs for sale.
I would say yes to backwards .. they don't show forwards ..

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I take it back .. the G4 receiver also says backwards compatible ...

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