VHF mics

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S

Steve LeBlanc

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 19, 2006
6,829
192
65
Fredericton, NB
www.frederictonweddingdj.com
Here's my situation...I presently have an Audio Technica 1452 wireless in my rack.....

For ceremonies and back up (I already have 2 lav mics...the handheld would go in the officiants pocket, just in case) I was looking for a relatively inexpensive handheld...I'm think VHF, more specifically the Audio Technica 200 series, or even a Gemini UHF (not diversity)...

I know some of the argument that will be raised. I'm interested in those who are using VHF or low end UHF...

What are youe experiences??

Thanks
 
I have a few vhf audio technica's. I use them as drunk mics for karaoke. I find the problem not being transmission, but the quality of the sound from the mic.


If you can find any Sennheiser freeways were being sold for $150 and they are uhf.
 
Thanks Guys.....This will be relegated to back up/emergency use and for ceremonies (if the lav mics for some reason aren't suitable)....Kevin...I will look seriously at what you have suggested...I have a gemini lav; works fine for me.....

Any one else...please relate your experiences....
 
I always use VHF (or lower) -- UHF sucks when it comes to moving around obstacles, such as brick walls. The wave form is too tight. Has some advantages in quality, if conditions are right, and the equipment is good.

Cons: Cons are going away, as every piece of equipment seems to be moving to higher frequencies. So, the lower bands are getting less crowded, meaning less interference.

Get something from Europe, on a very low frequency. You will get serious range and excellent quality. Not legal in the states, but, it works... :sqwink:

Just my .00002 cents :)
 
Had an Audio Technica VHF. Poor sound and it was noisy.
Gave it away. Not good enough even for back-up.
Have 2 Gemini VHF dual diversity.
Pretty fair mics. These are back-ups now.
Have 1 Gemini UHF.
Excellent sound and very quiet.
 
Aw, Rick's gonna be mad at me for postin' this. :(

When we were doing the street festivals back home, we were set up in a breezeway that was part of an ancient building structure, all brick. This is old-school brickwork ~ two frigging feet thick on both sides.

Dammit, I hate to say this (sorry Rick) but our Shure UHF did quite well out there on the street... even when the speaker walked down the street and mixed with the crowd.

We were surrounded by thick, old brickwork in that arcade arch breezeway. But the mic worked. It never dropped.
 
Dammit, I hate to say this (sorry Rick) but our Shure UHF did quite well out there on the street...
Click to expand...

Don't hate to say it -- glad it worked for you :)

I've had bad luck in my place -- same sort of walls, about two feet thick, with a layer of plaster on the insides.

If you have UHF equipment in the lower UHF range (down towards 300 Mhz), they generally work well. A lot of the new stuff is jumping up into the 1.9+ and 2.4 Ghz bands now, and they just plain suck for brick walls.

When possible, I like to get stuff in the < 230 Mhz bands, which is VHF.

You can get cordless phones that work out to 50-75 miles in that range (course they occupy the military bands in this country) ;)
 
Been using Shure TV58Ds, which are the diversity VHF Sm58s. Cant say a bad thing about them. I have 2 of them rack mounted side by side in my karaoke rack and I never even extend the antennae. I have another I use in my wedding rig.

Have never had any problem with interference or dropouts. Have never paid more than $259 for them either...and they can probably be found even cheaper now.
 
I should have added that a couple of years ago I had an outdooor gig under the flightpath of Logan International Airport in Boston. The hotel manager told me that DJ's had lots of trouble with wireless mics being interfered with in this location and he strongly recommended wired mics only.

I set up some wired mics but also the Gemini VHF wirless rigs. I used the wireless rigs all night without a problem, even though planes were passing overhead every few minutes.
 
Steve, I really don't want to part with them.
Even though I'm semi-retired from the DJ business I do catch a gig from time to time and back-up equipment has always been important to me.
Good luck with your search.
 
I have a couple of AT's VHF no problems. I have one Handheld and a lav. They are the cheaper ones I think they were $300 a piece no complaints.....
 
I've found a possible alternative....$130 (original retail was $650...circa 2000)

AKG SR60 Receiver w/ HT60 head

http://www.akg.com/mediendatenbank2/psfile/datei/66/ht604055c28f3c431.pdf

http://www.akg.com/mediendatenbank2/psfile/datei/38/sr604055c291d3a0e.pdf

It's diversity...I'm told the head is as good as many of the top brands. I realize it's a few years old....Given the price I'm wonder if a 5 year old "top of the line" diversity VHF...is better than a new "entry level" UHF..

Rick...others...your thoughts?
 
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