Lectro vs. Audio Ltd.

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
Anyone see this? https://www.newsshooter.com/2018/04/16/sound-devices-goes-wireless/
Doesn't seem to have caused many ripples. I've never used Audio Limited wireless but have heard from colleagues in Europe that they are good.
Personally for me, nothing touches Lectrosonics for build quality, reliability or sound quality generally but it's interesting that SD thought enough of them to buy them when probably 85% of their customer base uses Lectro?
Anyone here ever put Audio Limited against Lectro and if so, what did you find?

I may see if I can get a hold of some of the Audio Limited for a shootout against each other, might make for a good article?
 
puredrifting said:
Personally for me, nothing touches Lectrosonics for build quality, reliability or sound quality generally
I may see if I can get a hold of some of the Audio Limited for a shootout against each other, might make for a good article?
Click to expand...

Audio Ltd. are very well thought of anywhere in comparison to Lectrosonics, not just here in the UK and Europe. Plenty of discussion about them on JWSound, and here are some comparisons re clipping and range:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUf7SqHn0zA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBttQqrm8ao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwp-qJvEjdw

Cheers,

Roland
 
Throwback said:
Audio Ltd. are very well thought of anywhere in comparison to Lectrosonics, not just here in the UK and Europe. Plenty of discussion about them on JWSound, and here are some comparisons re clipping and range:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUf7SqHn0zA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBttQqrm8ao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwp-qJvEjdw

Cheers,

Roland
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links Roland. Do you have any hands-on experience with Audio Ltd.?

I've read about Audio Ltd.:

1. Transmitter is limited to 10/20/50mw with no 100mw option
2. They utilize an unusual (at least for the US?) Lemo 3 vs TA5 that the Lectros have
3. Audio Ltd. has no compatibility modes to mix or match when you need to work with other systems. ie; Senn compatibility mode.

OTOH, any distinct advantages you see over Lectro?
 
It might change things up with the next generation of Sound Devices mixers. An integrated ability to change transmitter gain at the mixer through Audio LTD is probably in the works. This might cut into Lectrosonics market and it might cause me to switch, but I'm all set right now.

The transmitter has integrated recording, so once Zaxcom's patent is overturned (?) then that will be a nice feature to have.

The Lectro SSM uses the same three pin lemo so it is almost more of a standard than the TA5.
 
The Audio Ltd A10 are new systems, so I think comparison to other/earlier Audio Ltd systems pretty much doesn't apply. SD said they were really impressed with what Audio Ltd was working on and Matt Anderson, Prez and pretty much chief engineer at SD said he spent 6 months in the UK working with their engineers. And these systems are significantly less expensive than previous Audio Ltd systems (probably because SD brought in some strong manufacturing experience).

The issues you list above sound like what Steve Oakley brought up on Newsshooter. Steve and I are acquainted and he's a good smart guy (we hung out a bit at NAB). But not having used the new Audio Ltd systems, I'd think things to consider:

1. SD says they're really impressed by the RF performance of what Audio Ltd was coming up with. Considering these are digital, and perhaps super good at rejecting RFI, then perhaps we can get a perfectly acceptable range with 50mW. I don't know that, but considering where SD's customers work (i.e.- not just in perfect sound stages with good line of sight and short distances), I'd think range is something they've considered. Worth confirming, though.

2. A different connector is an issue, but I figure I can either (a) rewire my main lavs or more likely (b) switch to the new connector with new lavs. Lavs wear out and aren't super expensive in the big scheme of what we buy. And wiring three-pin Lemo connectors isn't as challenging as 5-pin Lemos. I have 7 Lectro systems and even if I adopt Audio Ltd, I probably won't move all at once. But this isn't a game changer for me. And think of back in the old day, the switch from Vega (or whatever) to Lectro...or the people who switched from Lectro to Zaxcom...or camera people who switch between B4, PL, EF, E-mount, MFT, etc...now that gets expensive. New connectors for a dozen lavs? No big deal.

3. Lack of compatibility is a bummer. But I don't use that all that much...mainly when feeding to lectro IFB receivers and also to a Sennheiser G3 for a camera scratch track. Though it would be nice for people who want to slowly move to Audio Ltd. Maybe Audio Ltd could add that in the future? I have no idea.

Here's Audio Ltd's page for the A10 systems:
http://audioltd.com/a10/

And here's Trew Audio's page to see typical US prices for these systems:
https://www.trewaudio.com/product-tag/audio-ltd/


I've been a long-time and happy Lectro customer. I've also rented Zaxcom system and liked those. And I've used the low-end Sennheiser G systems once in a while; they're professionally decent and really affordable.

But my four "better" Lectro systems are in Block 24 and Block 26. So I need new (or re-blocked) systems anyway... so I'm checking out Audio Ltd, Wisycom, and the latest from Lectro and Zax.

Distinct advantages over Lectro? I don't know. I'll need to rent/demo/use Audio Ltd. a while to see... But I guess if I can get fewer hits in the increasingly crowded and messy spectrum left for us, I'll be happy. And integration with SD mixers is promising (for me, though less so for someone who mainly wants to use these on a camera).

So that's all obvious. Mainly: I'm waiting for smart and objective reports from the field, and then waiting to try them out myself.

Not sure I'm moving the conversation forward at this point. So I'll stop. :-)

Has anyone here used the A10 system yet?
 
cpreston said:
It might change things up with the next generation of Sound Devices mixers. An integrated ability to change transmitter gain at the mixer through Audio LTD is probably in the works. This might cut into Lectrosonics market and it might cause me to switch, but I'm all set right now.

The transmitter has integrated recording, so once Zaxcom's patent is overturned (?) then that will be a nice feature to have.

The Lectro SSM uses the same three pin lemo so it is almost more of a standard than the TA5.
Click to expand...

New(er) Lectro transmitters have built-in recording, as well(my two SMDWB's have the function). But of course, you cannot record and transmit at the same time. It's currently just either/or. But I've been told that Lectro is working on that and it's a simple firmware change to allow recording while transmitting, if they are allowed to do it.

TA5's are still the predominant connector on Lectro's and the vast majority of wireless gear I run across is still Lectrosonics, especially on the broadcast/network side of thing. I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a Zaxcom wireless in the wild. I do also see Sennheiser, but almost exclusively on the lower end.
 
I've approached Lectrosonics and will be approaching my contacts at SD to write a review/shootout/test of comparable systems for HD Video Pro, if both companies are willing to lend us the gear to do it. We'll see.
I think most Americans are not very familiar with Audio Ltd. while much of the rest of the world know them as much or more than Lectrosonics.
 
Jim Feeley said:
The Audio Ltd A10 are new systems, so I think comparison to other/earlier Audio Ltd systems pretty much doesn't apply. SD said they were really impressed with what Audio Ltd was working on and Matt Anderson, Prez and pretty much chief engineer at SD said he spent 6 months in the UK working with their engineers. And these systems are significantly less expensive than previous Audio Ltd systems (probably because SD brought in some strong manufacturing experience).

The issues you list above sound like what Steve Oakley brought up on Newsshooter. Steve and I are acquainted and he's a good smart guy (we hung out a bit at NAB). But not having used the new Audio Ltd systems, I'd think things to consider:

1. SD says they're really impressed by the RF performance of what Audio Ltd was coming up with. Considering these are digital, and perhaps super good at rejecting RFI, then perhaps we can get a perfectly acceptable range with 50mW. I don't know that, but considering where SD's customers work (i.e.- not just in perfect sound stages with good line of sight and short distances), I'd think range is something they've considered. Worth confirming, though.

2. A different connector is an issue, but I figure I can either (a) rewire my main lavs or more likely (b) switch to the new connector with new lavs. Lavs wear out and aren't super expensive in the big scheme of what we buy. And wiring three-pin Lemo connectors isn't as challenging as 5-pin Lemos. I have 7 Lectro systems and even if I adopt Audio Ltd, I probably won't move all at once. But this isn't a game changer for me. And think of back in the old day, the switch from Vega (or whatever) to Lectro...or the people who switched from Lectro to Zaxcom...or camera people who switch between B4, PL, EF, E-mount, MFT, etc...now that gets expensive. New connectors for a dozen lavs? No big deal.

3. Lack of compatibility is a bummer. But I don't use that all that much...mainly when feeding to lectro IFB receivers and also to a Sennheiser G3 for a camera scratch track. Though it would be nice for people who want to slowly move to Audio Ltd. Maybe Audio Ltd could add that in the future? I have no idea.

Here's Audio Ltd's page for the A10 systems:
http://audioltd.com/a10/

And here's Trew Audio's page to see typical US prices for these systems:
https://www.trewaudio.com/product-tag/audio-ltd/


I've been a long-time and happy Lectro customer. I've also rented Zaxcom system and liked those. And I've used the low-end Sennheiser G systems once in a while; they're professionally decent and really affordable.

But my four "better" Lectro systems are in Block 24 and Block 26. So I need new (or re-blocked) systems anyway... so I'm checking out Audio Ltd, Wisycom, and the latest from Lectro and Zax.

Distinct advantages over Lectro? I don't know. I'll need to rent/demo/use Audio Ltd. a while to see... But I guess if I can get fewer hits in the increasingly crowded and messy spectrum left for us, I'll be happy. And integration with SD mixers is promising (for me, though less so for someone who mainly wants to use these on a camera).

So that's all obvious. Mainly: I'm waiting for smart and objective reports from the field, and then waiting to try them out myself.

Not sure I'm moving the conversation forward at this point. So I'll stop. :-)

Has anyone here used the A10 system yet?
Click to expand...

Yes, read those from Steve and few others.
 
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