Lectrosonic recommendation please

[IronFilm]

A couple of thoughts for the OP.

The UCR211/UM200C package was the top of the analog heap when it was new, and is still a very fine radio set. The UCR211, like the 210 and 205 before it, has a receiver front end featuring tracking filters and a very robust radio (high IP3 among other things). This equipment is still considered pro level.

The UCR411 followed by the 411A replaced the 211 as a receiver. The newer one is very similar in terms of the radio design and general functionality, but the audio was upgraded using the newer Digital Hybrid Wireless platform. This means that instead of passing through an analog compandor system (as most radios do, including the 211, 210, 205, etc.) the audio is digitized, processed, and transmitted over an FM link then is re-constructed for the output. Doing so avoids the typical analog/companded noise and distortion, particularly on high frequency transients information. That said, even the 211/210/205 used a dual-band compandor that was very very good.

Similarly, the UM200C was an analog transmitter, 100mW, using the dual band compandor for the audio processing. The UM400 followed by the UM400a replaced it but is functionally very much the same but again with the Digital Hybrid audio processing.

One nice feature that the 400 Series has is Compatibility Modes: this allows a 400 Series device to be set as a 100, 200 or 400 Series unit, depending on what you need. So, in other words, you can use a UM200C with a UCR411A by setting the receiver to 200 mode. You can use a UM400a with a UCR211 by setting the transmitter to 200 mode.

The next class down in receivers is the UCR201 and UCR401. They lack the tracking filter front end, so they are not quite as good in high-RF environments, but they are still good radios. The same differences are there between 200 series (analog) and 400 Series (Digital Hybrid).

The SRb is just a bit better than the UCR401, since it is a newer design, but as others have pointed out it is not quite up to the performance of the 411A. In many circumstances, you would not notice any difference at all. But in high-RF environments where there are a lot of channels being used, and maybe some IFB, etc. you might notice that the UCR411A gets greater range. The size and 2-channel ability of the SRb give it a real edge in many ways.

Another alternative for transmitters, if you don't think you need 100 mW is the LMa. It is like a UM400a except that it is "only" 50 mW (most are between 50 and 70 mW actually) and costs half as much. Then, in the other direction, you can look at the SR series: in the US they offer settings at 50, 100 and 250 mW, and are 2/3 the size of the LMa or UM400a. They are also more expensive than the SMQV.

So, in summary, probably the "best" system available from Lectrosonics currently is the SMQV + UCR411A. A very popular system is a pair of SMQV with an SRb. To start cutting costs, perhaps consider a pair of LMa with an SRb. A single LMa with a UCR401 is a dynamite setup and not too expensive (maybe around $2000 street new). The used radios particularly the UCR210 and 211 are very fine systems and are less expensive still.

Cheers,

Thank you! Even though this comment was years old, I'd like to say thanks it was very useful and interesting

I'm trying to get the early research done at the moment in working out what Lectrosonics I'd like to upgrade to at the end of the year. I think I want Lectrosonics SRc + 2x LT, but some of what you mentioned might be a good option as a cheaper secondhand purchase to go with instead.

 

[gkantziper]

I still have a couple 190 combos that work fine. Incredibly well made.

 

[Noiz2]

I picked up a couple of LMa + UCR100 pairs that have worked really well. The UCR100 is analog but since the LMa's have compatibility modes they work fine and going forward just replacing the receiver moves it to a digital Hybrid system.

The UCR100's were designed to plug into DSLR's and such and out put on a 1/4" phone plug, so if your going to an XLR input you need an adapter cable. I'm usually using that, but it has been handy to be able to use it direct into a DSLR. Still wouldn't be my first choice but the used price was right.

From some limited use of G3 Sennheiser systems the LMa/UCR100 seems to have a lot more range and a lot less trouble going through walls. I was getting a clean signal between a second floor room to a rear basement in a large old house. So that was 100'+ going through two floors and three walls, one of which was an exterior brick wall. This was a test, but in an actual show I was two rooms away in a hospital and had no problems at all. And these were hours of recordings over a 18 hr span, late night through middle of the day early afternoon.

I did similar tests with a G3 system and it was getting hits with a couple of walls, and it failed well before the distance I got in the old house. That is not a real comparison because they were not done at the same location and at the same time so the results probably reflect a bit the differences. And both were solid in any reasonable scenarios.