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Audio Technica Question.
- Thread starter Elvis
- Start date
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: Audio Technica Question.
I've got the ATW101 and the Sennheiser 100ENG.
Everything about the AT's specs made it seem superior to the Sennheiser system. But everything I read kept saying that Sennheiser's was "the bomb" and nobody talked about the AT. Then I rented the AT system for a couple of shoots and it seemed great. But I really needed a plug-in transmitter for a handheld mic, and Sennheiser's system included one, and it was so inexpensive compared to the AT's...
That I ended up getting both.
The AT has three major advantages, in my view, over the Sennheiser: it's got true XLR output (the Sennheiser uses an unbalanced 1/8" mini jack), it's true diversity (the Sennheiser isn't), and it uses a TA5 input connector just like Lectrosonics systems. The Sennheiser uses a 1/8" jack.
With that said, I think I like the Sennheiser more. Why? I can't really nail it down. It just seems more like a pro unit. It's smaller, more solid, and has a really nifty LCD display on it, which includes a full audio level meter (the AT only has a peak light). You can individually dial in the exact UHF frequency you want, whereas on the AT you have 100 channels to choose from, but you use a little plastic screwdriver to rotate some dials to change channels, whereas on the Sennheiser you have a digital LCD readout that displays the exact frequency you're using. The Sennheiser system also uses one battery for the receiver and one for the transmitter, whereas the AT uses two for the receiver and one for the transmitter (which makes sense, since there are technically two receivers in the AT). If the Sennheiser had a TA5 connector and true balanced XLR output, I think I'd take it over the AT, diversity or not.
Seems like the Sennheiser might last a little longer in the battery department. They're both rated at 8 to 9 hours, but when I ran 'em dry, the AT quit first. Not by much though, so that's not much of a point.
I use the Sennheiser for the handheld mic and the AT for the lavaliere. There's absolutely no interference or crosstalk, the two systems peacefully co-exist (I made sure to order systems that use different spectrums of the UHF frequency). However, last night I noticed that with no mic in place (i.e., just the receivers plugged into the camera) there was some hiss & interference coming over the Sennheiser channel. It disappeared when the transmitter was turned on, but -- I don't know, seems like it should have been dead silent. The AT was. So the Sennheiser should have been as well. Made me wonder if the unbalanced output was suspect, but then it should have still had interference even with the transmitter enabled, and it didn't, so in the end it was no big deal at all, just... I dunno, curious.
So, in short, they're both great systems. The hard part in deciding between them is that they're both priced the same too! I'm quite happy with both, I don't think you'd go wrong with either of them.
(I know this isn't what you asked, you asked about the Sennheiser 500, but I don't have one of those and don't have experience with it so I couldn't compare it. But the 100 and the AT101 are the same price so even if this doesn't help you, maybe it will help someone else...)
I've got the ATW101 and the Sennheiser 100ENG.
Everything about the AT's specs made it seem superior to the Sennheiser system. But everything I read kept saying that Sennheiser's was "the bomb" and nobody talked about the AT. Then I rented the AT system for a couple of shoots and it seemed great. But I really needed a plug-in transmitter for a handheld mic, and Sennheiser's system included one, and it was so inexpensive compared to the AT's...
That I ended up getting both.
The AT has three major advantages, in my view, over the Sennheiser: it's got true XLR output (the Sennheiser uses an unbalanced 1/8" mini jack), it's true diversity (the Sennheiser isn't), and it uses a TA5 input connector just like Lectrosonics systems. The Sennheiser uses a 1/8" jack.
With that said, I think I like the Sennheiser more. Why? I can't really nail it down. It just seems more like a pro unit. It's smaller, more solid, and has a really nifty LCD display on it, which includes a full audio level meter (the AT only has a peak light). You can individually dial in the exact UHF frequency you want, whereas on the AT you have 100 channels to choose from, but you use a little plastic screwdriver to rotate some dials to change channels, whereas on the Sennheiser you have a digital LCD readout that displays the exact frequency you're using. The Sennheiser system also uses one battery for the receiver and one for the transmitter, whereas the AT uses two for the receiver and one for the transmitter (which makes sense, since there are technically two receivers in the AT). If the Sennheiser had a TA5 connector and true balanced XLR output, I think I'd take it over the AT, diversity or not.
Seems like the Sennheiser might last a little longer in the battery department. They're both rated at 8 to 9 hours, but when I ran 'em dry, the AT quit first. Not by much though, so that's not much of a point.
I use the Sennheiser for the handheld mic and the AT for the lavaliere. There's absolutely no interference or crosstalk, the two systems peacefully co-exist (I made sure to order systems that use different spectrums of the UHF frequency). However, last night I noticed that with no mic in place (i.e., just the receivers plugged into the camera) there was some hiss & interference coming over the Sennheiser channel. It disappeared when the transmitter was turned on, but -- I don't know, seems like it should have been dead silent. The AT was. So the Sennheiser should have been as well. Made me wonder if the unbalanced output was suspect, but then it should have still had interference even with the transmitter enabled, and it didn't, so in the end it was no big deal at all, just... I dunno, curious.
So, in short, they're both great systems. The hard part in deciding between them is that they're both priced the same too! I'm quite happy with both, I don't think you'd go wrong with either of them.
(I know this isn't what you asked, you asked about the Sennheiser 500, but I don't have one of those and don't have experience with it so I couldn't compare it. But the 100 and the AT101 are the same price so even if this doesn't help you, maybe it will help someone else...)
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: Audio Technica Question.
The Sennheiser stuff I have is the body-pack transmitter, plug-on transmitter, and camera-mountable receiver. All three units came in one kit, which you can see here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=218349&is=REG
The Sennheiser stuff I have is the body-pack transmitter, plug-on transmitter, and camera-mountable receiver. All three units came in one kit, which you can see here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=218349&is=REG
scottchapin
Well-known member
Re: Audio Technica Question.
Barry,
Does the sennheiser's easier frequency selection lend itself to accidental canges. The AT has to be changed with a screwdriver, provided, and stays put.
Barry,
Does the sennheiser's easier frequency selection lend itself to accidental canges. The AT has to be changed with a screwdriver, provided, and stays put.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: Audio Technica Question.
No, because the Sennheiser has a transparent plastic cover that slides over the whole LCD/button area. You slide it down (opening it, essentially), make your changes, and then slide it back up. Looks to be foolproof.
No, because the Sennheiser has a transparent plastic cover that slides over the whole LCD/button area. You slide it down (opening it, essentially), make your changes, and then slide it back up. Looks to be foolproof.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Audio Technica Question.
i too have the sennheiser 500 bundle, my favorite part of it is the plug on transmitter, but i have yet to use it on my handheld mic, i have used it a bunch of times to plug it into someone's soundboard!
it is great, you take the plug on transmitter, an xlr cable, and in most cases an adaptor to go from line level out to mic level, and then you get the sound onto your camera without the restriction of wires between you and the sound.
its nice to be far away from the nearest audio connection and have the flexibility to move around.
one great tip i got was that most powered speakers have an xlr out on the back of the speaker, so even if the soundboard doesn't have a free output you can get one off the speaker.
matthew
i too have the sennheiser 500 bundle, my favorite part of it is the plug on transmitter, but i have yet to use it on my handheld mic, i have used it a bunch of times to plug it into someone's soundboard!
it is great, you take the plug on transmitter, an xlr cable, and in most cases an adaptor to go from line level out to mic level, and then you get the sound onto your camera without the restriction of wires between you and the sound.
its nice to be far away from the nearest audio connection and have the flexibility to move around.
one great tip i got was that most powered speakers have an xlr out on the back of the speaker, so even if the soundboard doesn't have a free output you can get one off the speaker.
matthew