Budget headsets?

[Mike Daniell]

A question I get frequently is a recommendation for budget headsets (ie headset radio mics). My personal experience is that budget headsets are more trouble than they're worth, but does anyone have a good recommendation based on experience?

[Eric Snodgrass]

http://www.microphonemadness.com/

I've used the MM-PSM model on many small-budget shows. They work. They sound okay, but don't expect them to sound like a Countryman E6, a DPA or even a Sennheiser MKE2. You get what you pay with these mics.
The upsides to them are that they are inexpensive and are headset mics, so their gain before feedback is better than a headworn lav. They are also surprisingly durable - I used a number of them in a design for a rock/horror musical (with blood effects) on a cast of 11 and I think they might have had one break in the entire ten-week run. That is why I continue to recommend them to small productions with small budgets but ambitious goals.

When ordering, you specify the pack to be used with the mic and they will put on the proper connector.

[Mike Daniell]

Thanks, Eric. So that's just the headset mic - still need to get a transmitter and receiver. What do you use for these?

[Boswell]

Sennheiser freePORT fp 12-C-US is a very good budget set, just add a headworn mic to it

[Eric Snodgrass]

Thanks, Eric. So that's just the headset mic - still need to get a transmitter and receiver. What do you use for these?

I, like you, always think budget radio packs and receivers are much more trouble than they are worth. The cheapest pack-receiver combo I would recommend is the Sennheiser Evolution G3 100 series. In the 'States they are around $500 (US) or so and are worth every penny. They are very durable, very stable in transmission, sound good, have many frequencies from which to choose and will last for years. They have a lot of information on the receiver displays, just like more expensive sets, and I believe that is a great feature.
I've used the Shure PGX packs and do not like them at all. They do not sound good and are not as durable as the Sennheisers (the packs are made of plastic). They do not display any information on the pack or receiver displays and they do not allow the user to choose from many frequencies.
I've used some Audio Technica wireless systems. I can't remember the model numbers, but I do know that they are a step up from the Shure PGX line. I'm not overly fond of them, though, because I have experienced drop-out issues with them. In my opinion they do not exhibit strong transmission characteristics like the Sennheisers.

[Eric Snodgrass]

Having wrote all that stuff in my previous post above, my stock answer to theaters wanting to purchase wireless for a single production is, "Rent the wireless."

These smaller theaters might think purchasing wireless is a good idea but that is not the case. I find that these theaters might use wireless once a season for some musical or event. Renting is definitely the way to go. A rental house can service, maintain and/or replace the packs and mics during the run of the show. The cost should be cheaper than purchasing the same number of wireless units. Also the theater does not have to keep the gear in inventory. Most small theaters do not have a person that knows anything about wireless mics, including the simple task of set-up. A rental house can instruct on the proper set-up.

[fincaman]

I have been using Soundlab head sets for 8 years and they have been FLAWLESS as we speak I am doing a show using six, rehearsals went OK first night tonight as usual I don't expect any problems they have 256 frequencies 19 of which are in the new legal UK band. I also use YPA flesh coloured head-mics at £22 they are fantastic value. I have used these systems side by side with Senns on several occasions with identical results. My local theater after seeing my YPA headset mics is replacing their Senn headset mics with them as the Senns fail !!!

[Mike Daniell]

Thanks all for the recommendations.

fincaman, do you have a web address for the Soundlab headsets? Couldn't find one using Google.

[Eric Snodgrass]

I did a search and all I could find for Sound Lab wireless is this - http://www.soundbasemegastore.com/Sound ... em-p12311/
It's for a wireless handheld mic in the VHF frequency band.