Lectrosonics 2xx vs 4xx?

Shawn Philip Nelson

Shawn Philip Nelson

Veteran
I am getting near to bumping my audio package up another notch and am now turning my attention towards wireless. I know not to get the G2s and to go for the Lectros. I know to get at least the 2xx series.

But...for intercutting between an MKH60 or Schoeps will a Lectrosonices 2xx series with a Countryman mic be good enough or do I really need to jump up to the 4xx series? I can almost get 2 full 2xx series used for the price of one 4xx series, so I'd sure love to use those!

On a side note, I visited a local indie movie recently and they had a ton of expensive gear (a full grip truck, more HMIs than I could count, full Jimmy Jib, etc.) and they were running G2s to everyone! I wanted to pull the audio guy aside and ask why the heck he was doing that...alas, I resisted the urge.
 
I'm going through the same thing. I have 4 sets of G2's and they've served me well over the last 2 years, but I've been on a few jobs where people kind of raised their eyebrows at the use of these units. (and in all fairness, I did lend them to a production recenlty and heard them in the mix verus all the other Lectro 200s on the production, and you COULD tell a difference in the sound--- Lectro's were much more open-- G2s sounded like there was burlap over the mic).

I figured that since the 400 series has been out for a year or two, that would be the way to go for upgrade. I got a good deal on a used 400 set, and now I'm buying 1 new set from Trew Audio. One used set and one new set has lessened the cost burden at this point.

I will say that the channel scan feature on the 411a receiver along with the trackng front end is REALLY worth the price. BUT, a lot of guys are selling their 200 series to move up to the 400s right now, so you might be able to get a really clean 200 set for a good price.
 
I definitely get that the 4xx series has more features, but will the 2xx series with a good mic sound as good?

Also I don't know what "block" to buy! Does it matter?
 
The block absolutely matters. Go to the Lectro site - they have a table where you can select your city and see what blocks are available.

Be advised that Lectro is severely backordered - it is taking about 6-8 weeks now to get an order out.

As far as what to get, if you're not doing a lot of bag work, take a look at the R400A's. Very reasonable price, though they cannot be bagged. I also just picked up to PSC RF Multi's and will be running one set of shark fins to all of my sets.

Phil
 
200 series

200 series

Yes, the 4xx series has nice features but I think that you will be pleased with the sound and performance of the 2xx series. I currently own three 401 sets with sm and um transmitters (Block 27, 28, 29) and I am very happy with the way they perform. Before that I worked (and still use) with many 2xx sets with great results. They sound very good with sanken Cos-11 mic's.
Also, like vicrattlehead said, there are many folks looking to sell their 2xx setups to get the 4xx setups. Here is your chance to get a good deal on used.

As far as freq block to get, I would contact Lectrosonics direct. They can guide you of what frequencies are busy in the main area you plan to use the wireless (in your case Portland, OR). This way you can get a block that is not frequency congested. Here in NYC, I have had great success with blocks 26, 27, and 28, even when grouped with many news crews using wireless.
 
Could you post a link to that table? I found the table that shows what frequencies go to what blocks, and then I found a TV freq table that confused me. I dialed in Portland, OR and it shows that there are continuous tv stations on every block, though it seems to flag blocks 23 and 29-31 as red. But I could not find a simple "If you are in this city then use these blocks" table.

For the price, I am strongly inclined to get some 2xx series. Gotham has a pair of UCR210D/UM200C for only $1200 and that seems almost too good to be true.
 
no real life difference if you are working with um s , there is quit different for uh 400 (buttplug0which you can send to 200 reciever .
avoid 210s from the early stage , quit disapointimg range and switching antenna noice
the 205 or 211 are the best to get .
 
Oleg, what about that pair of UCR210D/UM200C for only $1200 that Gotham has? I'm very tempted to buy them both tomorrow morning, are you saying they wouldn't work well for me?
 
201 or 211

201 or 211

Maybe go for either the UCR201 or UCR211 receivers since they have the frequency scan mode feature and icons for battery levels.
 
Hey guys I have 2x 401s with smd transmiters block 28. They wont work in Europe right??? Europe has different frequencies?? I'm wondering if I should sell those since I will be traveling a lot.
 
mumin said:
Hey guys I have 2x 401s with smd transmiters block 28. They wont work in Europe right??? Europe has different frequencies?? I'm wondering if I should sell those since I will be traveling a lot.
Click to expand...


Nope, sell em. I will give you a fair sum of $1500 per pair. Obviously kidding. As long as the freq is clean they will work fine anywhere in the world. Legally what channels you can use around the world is another topic.

As to 2xx or 4xx; both are great and I choose to upgrade to the 401 but to be honest I don't know if I would have done it now; the 401 systems have increased by almost $300 since they came out and many of the 2xx are selling in the low one thousand. Making it so you can almost get two 211 for the price of one 401 setup.

You won't be disappointed with the 211's and if there is one thing you can always use more of it's wireless.

I shot in Portland awhile back and the 29 block I use for Seattle was very clear. I also use the 26 block and that was a mess in Portland.

Cheers
 
Wabbit, what do you think about that pair of UCR210D/UM200C that Gotham has? And am I missing the main table to look at or the Lectrosonics website? It seems to indicate that the 23 and 29-31 block are bad but everything else is clear. You experience proves otherwise. Hmmm...
 
ask them if you can take them for a check up , if they good and clean - so why not .
if they coming with um 200c , it is probably they are from the ok era as i recall my first 210 feom 2000-2001 came with um 200b
 
The red channels are frequencies assigned to other signal carriers other than TV broadcast (i.e. DoD, etc). That means that interference can be extremely intermittent only when those particular frequencies are being used. There are stories of people's garage door openers not working anymore because DoD took over a certain chunk of bandwidth. Another important factor is whether local channels are broadcasting in digital or analog. Analog has 3 separate signals (color, video, audio) that don't occupy the entire 6 mhz channel allowing your microphone to squeeze in between. Digital modulation typically occupies the entire 6 mhz so the block with the furthest away analog station in theory should work the best (according to their chart). Block 29 seems to have channel 59, 60 and 63 open (in Portland) giving you 18 mhz of totally unoccupied air (assuming something else isn't using that frequency during your shoot) with 59 supposedly wide open. Anything in their chart that has a blank box on the bottom is, again, supposedly clear.
 
What Bob said. Red channels are iffy but in Seattle block 29 is extremely open. The block was almost completely empty when I was in Portland. From the chart you can see 26 is crowded in Portland and I from my experience I can confirm that. I remember finding a couple of bands we could work with but it was cramped.

Beyond that those 210d look like a great deal and Gotham will let you return if there is a problem but double check that as it has been awhile since I bought used from them. I occassionaly rent a 210d from a fellow mixer and most would be hard pressed to hear the difference.

If you go new I would recommend block 29 for Portland but the downside is 29 is not carried in stock and has to be custom ordered.

Cheers
 
Thanks Wabbit, Oleg, et all.

I called up Lectrosonics and spoke to them this morning and they said I only needed to avoid block 23 in the Portland area. He said 26 had enough to work with.

I then called up Gotham and asked them if anything was wrong with that set as I said it seemed too cheap to me, they said it was the owners personal set and that he was just upgrading to the 4xx but that these were in great shape. They then had only one of the two left so I immediately bought it and told them to send me a Countryman B6 as well. So I'm getting the UCR210d/UM200C with a new B6 for just over $1500 total, and that's a price I just couldn't refuse. I hear what you're saying Wabbit, but for that price I'm willing to hunt around in the 26 block.

Oleg, I think it is the newer ones. If not, the owner would have dumped them before now. I definitely think now is a good time to be scooping up used 2xx series. I'm still in the market for one or two more. I've now got the scoop on 205, 210 and 211 series receivers, what about UCR201?
 
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