Lectrosonics Kit from B&H

N

nard0

New member
I'm considering this kit from B&H.





http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=495325&is=REG



Lectrosonics series 400

I'm just getting one good wireless lav set-up. I'd like something that is tough and sounds really good. I've got the dough to get something decent.

Is this a good choice?

 
The Tx and the Rx are great, but the lav isn't very good - see if you can get the setup without the the lav and pick up (at a minimum) a Countryman EMW.

Phil
 
I have an old UM195B unit and switched out the standard mike and replaced it with the TRAM 50. It works so much better.
 
I appreciate the insight, folks. Found the package without the lav. The cos-11 seems to be well regarded on the forum, so I think I'll go with that.

Thanks again.
 
you can go with 401/lm package , there is no difference in performers if you use without close transmitters around -
sanken is the best choice for overall lavaliere
 
Two thoughts;

A. unless you are doing one person interviews, a second wireless is generally called for in most applications.

B. you can get better deals, and service, on Lectros from Gotham Sound, Trew Audio, and/or Coffey Sound. B&H has worst prices and zero service.

Enjoy your wireless
 
Thanks, wabbit.

Actually, I am mostly doing one person interviews these days. I am going to buy a second one eventually, but that's on the list after the shotgun mic (and a bunch of other stuff). I'd just like to have a solid start. Also, lav system rentals are pretty cheap at my local rental house.

Thanks for the alternate vendor recommendations. Hopefully I'll be able to save a bit more with those guys, and good service is always appreciated.

Once again, thanks for the advice.
 
gotham , tai or lsc
you may sqizz few bucks and not more

about lectro - really doesnt matter as noone repair them - you ship directly to new mexico
if you are new yourker - then gotham is abetter palce as they not only nice but have some clew about sound ,.
 
Oleg 2 said:
you may sqizz few bucks and not more
Click to expand...

LOL, yes that is true, the lowest price is locked by Lectro (similar to Sound Devices products). Although, as an example, there was about a $50 difference between B&H and Gotham last time I got a Lectro and that was at least a night out at the movies with the wife.

While Lectros do only get serviced in NM, your dealer, like Trew and Gotham, can (and do) provide additional service like providing you with a replacement unit while your unit is in for service. You also will get accurate advice on wiring, compatibility issues, and other product specific advice. B&H provides none of that, they are a warehouse dealer and nothing else; their salesmen do not know their products.

Warehouse sales is fine if you are buying a HDTV for your home but I want names and reputations on the line when dealing with my professional equipment. I had a major issue over a weekend with some wireless a few years back and was able to contact John Coffey at his Sunday picnic to help resolve it. You will not that type of attention from B&H.

All that and you generally save money; B&H=0 professional sound dealers=3.

Cheers
 
wabbit said:
B&H provides none of that, they are a warehouse dealer and nothing else; their salesmen do not know their products.
Click to expand...

While I respect the fact that you're entitled to your opinion and regret what seems to have been an unsatisfactory past experience with us, your comments above are simply untrue and worse, inaccurately disparaging.

B&H endeavors at all times to hire sales associates from the ranks of industry pros and to augment the experience each brings to us with extensive and ongoing product training from manufacturer's tech experts and other industry pros. I doubt there is any other retailer who can legitimately make this claim and back it with our investment in time, office space, manpower and $$$ in employee recruitment and training.

I'm perfectly willing to concede we're not a boutique shop and may not offer the level of hand-holding and coddling some seem to think substitutes for experience and knowledge. I'm also willing to concede that some of our sales associate's brisk Nu Yawk manner can be misconstrued for brusque, and if so we regret it, but none has, to my knowledge, ever been purposely rude.

You will not that type of attention from B&H.
Click to expand...
Yet, here I am so it seems you do get that type of attention from B&H!

 Happy Thanksgiving.
 
Hey Henry,

While I respect the fact you feel the need to proselytize for your company, my comments are simple not untrue and were not meant to be disparaging as much as a simple statement of comparison.

Harsh, sure, but inaccurate, no. While saying your salesmen do not know your products might be seen as an exaggeration, it was meant to illustrate the difference between your store and the above mentioned ones. B&H salesmen might know the spec sheets but they don't know the functional aspects of their equipment like the "boutique" shops do. For example, will B&H sell you a SM tx and B6 with standard TA5 wiring? Do they know why that is a concern?

You may spend plenty of $$$ training your guys but the pro sound guys use the equipment they sell, they spend hours chatting with pros who are out in the field, they live and breath this stuff.

Overall I think you misunderstand my position; I don't have negative feelings towards B&H, we buy from you as necessary, but I appreciate the advantages of buying from a "boutique" dealer and I am sharing that with fellow potential customers. What you call "hand holding" I call invaluable support before & after the sale.

You might not like people drawing the comparison but I really wouldn't suggest you disparage that service as "coddling" because you are just going to alienate the very people you are attempting to woo. Overnighting me a temporary replacement Lextro tx while mine gets serviced for just the cost of shipping it back is not "hand-holding," it is life and $$$ saving service that B&H simple can't provide. All of the above and I always pay less then B&H prices.

As a final point I would challenge you to find customers that have bought from both you and the above dealers that will disagree with me.

The original poster can certainly place two phone calls and decide for himself who he would rather do business with.

But again, I don't think B&H does anything "wrong," as a warehouse dealer you play to your strengths (you are able to put package deals together that no one else can) but don't get upset when someone points out your inherent weaknesses.

If you guys put together some moderate mid-level audio package deals together you could appeal to many people who visit this site. You could even start a thread on what sort of deals some first time pro audio customers might be interested in.

Cheers
 
wabbit said:
Hey Henry,
While I respect the fact you feel the need to proselytize for your company, my comments are simple not untrue and were not meant to be disparaging as much as a simple statement of comparison.
Click to expand...

From your use of the word proselytize and your phrase, "not meant to be disparaging," when your original post, "B&H has worst prices and zero service," was so obviously disparaging I have to conclude you simply don't wish to consider this objectively so I will refrain from troubling you further.

If you guys put together some moderate mid-level audio package deals together you could appeal to many people who visit this site. You could even start a thread...
Click to expand...

Perhaps you're not as familiar with B&H as you think you are? You may want to peruse our News Article page or our e-mail archive page to learn more about one of our most popular, successful and well-received services.

As far as the rest of our many friends in dvxuser.com, I leave it to each individually to shop where he or she feels the best combination of products, service and prices can be obtained. I will take an immodest moment to quote from a recent entry in another thread here: B&H Photo is not always the cheapest but they are very reputable. I've dealt with them over the telephone many times and always been pleased with the way I was treated. I would really like to visit their store in New York sometime.
 
Last edited:
Henry,

First, let me say that I have bought many items from B&H, and I have always recommended your Web site as having one of the most comprehensive collections of sound equipment and specs of any I've seen. And I do agree that B&H is very reputable, and mostly reliable.

But (and you knew it was coming) - here's the problem. I have spent a significant amount of money with B&H over the past few years, and yet, no one there knows me, treats me any differently than someone that has never spent any money with B&H, etc. When I call Trew or Coffey, I speak with the same person each time, and they do know who I am, and can reference my previous orders to ensure that what I'm ordering makes sense with the other things I have.

Also, I have yet to get any wiggle room on pricing from anyone at B&H. Maybe I'm not a great negotiator, but why should I have to be? I'm a sound guy, not a lawyer.

And, you reference the news article page on the Web site - I just took a look at the lavaliere article and its weakness plays right into Wabbit's arguments. To say that a Tram TR-50 lav is a popular choice nowadays is misleading at best. The article doesn't even list or reference two highly regarded lav models - the Countryman B-6 and the DPA's.

I think we all recognize that there are limitations on people's knowledge and that none of us expect your sales people to be experts, especially when dealing with the huge inventory of products they have to deal with (and the fact that the pro audio folks are dealing with all different modes of audio, from location sound to studio work, to post production to bands and home office musicians). When we call Trew, Coffey, Location, Gotham, etc., we are talking to people who's customers (mostly) are location sound folks - they know their stuff, know what the "big guys" are using and can better guide us towards the right products.

Henry, I hope you don't see this as an attack - it is purely meant to be constructive feedback. If you search my posts, you will see that I often recommend people check B&H.

Happy holidays!

Phil
 
ptalsky said:
Henry, I hope you don't see this as an attack - it is purely meant to be constructive feedback. If you search my posts, you will see that I often recommend people check B&H.
Happy holidays!
Phil
Click to expand...
Thank you. I appreciate this constructive and informative feedback and I will share it with our marketing people. You raise good points that deserve internal conversation.

can reference my previous orders to ensure that what I'm ordering makes sense with the other things I have.
Click to expand...
That's doable. Still using the Rode NT5 & AKG Pro40? :-)
I know to the minute when this order was placed, the name of the sales associate who took the order and all that jazz. We prefer our sales associates not spend time browsing old orders unless necessary, but when necessary, all they need is to be able to ID who you are. We also have a marketing staff for pro customers and if you're visiting our booth at any trade show, you can easily make the acquaintance of one of those chaps.

We cannot be all things to all customers and we know that. We are a big operation with many employees and many SKUs and a BIG in-stock inventory. With that we do endeavor to treat each customer with the respect he or she deserves and to make ourselves as accessible as possible to as wide a range of customers as possible.

Best wishes for a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving.
 
Last edited:
This is also NOT meant as an attack - I too have bought many products from B&H, and your/their service has been great in terms of having everything I need available, and being able to get it to me reliably. BUT

"I'm perfectly willing to concede we're not a boutique shop and may not offer the level of hand-holding and coddling some seem to think substitutes for experience and knowledge."

- This comment qenuinely bugs me. It makes me never want to buy from B&H ever again. Its exactly this kind of aggressive, elitist attitude that slows learning and growth in an industry. Quality, passionate sound people do not appear overnight.

Everyone starts somewhere, and without a helpful guiding hand many talented sound people will never develop into anything more than glorified boomswingers - I KNOW this. It is a huge problem in our smaller South African "sound for video" industry.

So you can look down on education, and the sharing of knowledge, and dismiss these pillars of our industry as "hand-holding" and "coddling", but is this really the right stance for a company such as B&H to be taking?

The really big guys in location sound dont really need your sales people to help them decide what lav they want. Its the little guys that do. In a way, I'm reading your response there as "well, if you make a mistake, you'll just have to upgrade later. we make more money, you learn the hard way". I'm sorry, but I don't agree with that...
 
timapter said:
This is also NOT meant as an attack - I too have bought many products from B&H, and your/their service has been great in terms of having everything I need available, and being able to get it to me reliably. BUT

"I'm perfectly willing to concede we're not a boutique shop and may not offer the level of hand-holding and coddling some seem to think substitutes for experience and knowledge."

- This comment qenuinely bugs me. It makes me never want to buy from B&H ever again. Its exactly this kind of aggressive, elitist attitude that slows learning and growth in an industry. Quality, passionate sound people do not appear overnight.

Everyone starts somewhere, and without a helpful guiding hand many talented sound people will never develop into anything more than glorified boomswingers - I KNOW this. It is a huge problem in our smaller South African "sound for video" industry.

So you can look down on education, and the sharing of knowledge, and dismiss these pillars of our industry as "hand-holding" and "coddling", but is this really the right stance for a company such as B&H to be taking?

The really big guys in location sound dont really need your sales people to help them decide what lav they want. Its the little guys that do. In a way, I'm reading your response there as "well, if you make a mistake, you'll just have to upgrade later. we make more money, you learn the hard way". I'm sorry, but I don't agree with that...
Click to expand...

VERY well put.
 
henryp said:
From your use of the word proselytize and your phrase, "not meant to be disparaging," when your original post, "B&H has worst prices and zero service," was so obviously disparaging I have to conclude you simply don't wish to consider this objectively so I will refrain from troubling you further. [/I]
Click to expand...

As listed in my quote, "were not meant to be disparaging AS MUCH AS a simple statement of comparison."

If you must parse my words don't do so in such a obvious attempt to mis-construe the meaning. "...as much as a statement of comparison." The INTENT was to draw a comparison between B&H and the other guys. I made this clear in my reply but you are reading what you want at this point.

"While saying your salesmen do not know your products might be seen as an exaggeration"

I also already conceded this point, but if you need me to additionally concede "zero service" to be an exaggeration, then here you go. I ENGAGED IN A LITTLE COMPARITIVE HYPERBOLE TO MAKE A POINT. I apologize

If you don't want to discuss my main points;

A. Your prices offer no advantage over other dealers and are often on the high end,

B. The service you offer you customers in the form of knowledge of your products before the sale and support for customers after the sale is COMPARITIVELY lacking,

then you are correct and this thread should die...for others to read and get their own impression of this interaction.

My point on "mid-level audio package" was completely meant to be a helpful suggestion. I do not see what I was trying to impart in your links. Without being completely up to date on everything you offer (sorry I don't spend ALL free time familizing myself with everything on your site), I know you put together "kits" of the cheaper poles, mics, shockmounts, and cables. My suggestion is about offering popular mid-level equipment kits.

For example, popular items in here like; SD 302, AT4073a, Gitzo or Ktek pole, Ktek zeppelin, a couple of G2 wireless, EMW lavs, and misc cable could all be put into one "DXVUser Instant ENG" kit that would offer a savings over buying each individually from B&H. A savings as low as 5% on that type of package could really get a lot of people excited.

But instead of inquiring further about my suggestion, you take a sarcastic snipe at me...perfect example of why I shop at "boutique" dealers.

BTW, I guarantee if you call Trew, Gotham, etc they will work a super nice discount for buying all those items together.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving
 
timapter said:
So you can look down on education, and the sharing of knowledge, and dismiss these pillars of our industry ...
Click to expand...

I am sorry my comments were open to this misinterpretation and I regret if I conveyed a sentiment I did not intend. I have the UTMOST respect for education in your industry and mine. I was a still photographer for 20+ years before coming to B&H and were it not for patient trainers and mentors who took the time to see I was educated, I'd be selling shoes today. From my earliest days, when the internet was college geeks and Pentagon types using 2400 baud modems, I sought books, magazines, trade shows, professional organizations, people, and any other source for gaining and sharing knowledge I could find. There is no way to measure the value of this.

Today the internet makes this relatively simple, once we learn to separate the wheat from the chaff, but my appreciation of education, sharing knowledge and collegiality is undimmed.

Let me be clear: I DO NOT look down on education, and the sharing of knowledge and I DO NOT dismiss anyone, seasoned pro or relative newbie who brings something to the table.

We're here for the same purpose -- to share resources, whether they be hardware or technique or experience or anything else. Hopefully what we're not here to do is disparage or denigrate one another or dissect each other's every word and phrase.

My best to you and yours for Thanksgiving.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top