Sony UWP-D Series or Sennheiser G3 Series Wireless Lav?

A

azactro

Active member
Hi all,

I'm looking to purchase a wireless lav system. There are many forums comparing the older Sony UWP-V1 to the Sennheiser G3, but very few comparing the UWP-D11 to the G3. I heard that the Sony UWP-V1 had a very low output. Is it so low that it is a problem? Is it usable?

Does anyone know if the Sony UWP-D11 has anymore output? Would you recommend the G3 over the Sony UWP-D series still? I'm planning on running this into a DSLR directly or through my Tascam DR-60D if I am able to bring it along.

Thanks,

Nick Mercer
 
Err.. I saw this sticky.. I didn't get far enough into it I guess. Thank you very much Alex.

Any comment regarding the max output on the UWP-D series compared to the G3?
 
Last edited:
What does "max output" mean? Do you mean RF output from the transmitter (higher output = longer range, etc.)
Or do you mean audio signal output from the receiver?

IIRC, the review suggested that the RF output from the Sony may be inferior as demonstrated by the shorter range compared to the G3.

OTOH, audio output level from the receiver doesn't seem like a big deal to me.
It is adjustable, and whatever it is, you can likely accommodate it in the recorder or camcorder.
 
In one YouTube comparison the Sony out-performed the Senn. G3 in RF/range, but that was 'out-of-the-box' w/o any frequency selection.. so that mitigated the results.. I commented on it, and the OP agreed.
 
I'm the person who supplied Alex with the UWP-D unit and helped him with the test. It was the UWP-D16 that included the plugon transmitter.

My UWP did not out-perform the Sennheiser in any aspect at all, although the Sony has a couple of new features the G3 does not offer. We found the plugon transmitter especially weak. However, if you don't need the plugon the basic Sony package is now pretty close to the G3 in performance. If the Sony was $450 like it used to be, it would be an excellent choice for those on a budget. However, the Sony is now $600 and the G3 is $630 - just get the G3. I returned my UWP. It was very good, but not really any better than my old G2 system.

If you're on a budget, I would recommend either a used G3 or G2, or watching to see if B&H puts the Sonys on sale again like they did in early July. The basic UWP-D11 was $437 in that sale - a great value at that price! If I had bought that instead of the package with the plugon I would have kept it.
 
Rick R said:
In one YouTube comparison the Sony out-performed the Senn. G3 in RF/range, but that was 'out-of-the-box' w/o any frequency selection.. so that mitigated the results.. I commented on it, and the OP agreed.
Click to expand...

I'm not as interested in range as much as a clean, hot, signal.
 
ddixon said:
I'm the person who supplied Alex with the UWP-D unit and helped him with the test. It was the UWP-D16 that included the plugon transmitter.

My UWP did not out-perform the Sennheiser in any aspect at all, although the Sony has a couple of new features the G3 does not offer. We found the plugon transmitter especially weak. However, if you don't need the plugon the basic Sony package is now pretty close to the G3 in performance. If the Sony was $450 like it used to be, it would be an excellent choice for those on a budget. However, the Sony is now $600 and the G3 is $630 - just get the G3. I returned my UWP. It was very good, but not really any better than my old G2 system.

If you're on a budget, I would recommend either a used G3 or G2, or watching to see if B&H puts the Sonys on sale again like they did in early July. The basic UWP-D11 was $437 in that sale - a great value at that price! If I had bought that instead of the package with the plugon I would have kept it.
Click to expand...


So, if the Sony and Sennheiser were the same price, which would you wind up keeping? Thank you for this comment.
 
Richard Crowley said:
What does "max output" mean? Do you mean RF output from the transmitter (higher output = longer range, etc.)
Or do you mean audio signal output from the receiver?

IIRC, the review suggested that the RF output from the Sony may be inferior as demonstrated by the shorter range compared to the G3.

OTOH, audio output level from the receiver doesn't seem like a big deal to me.
It is adjustable, and whatever it is, you can likely accommodate it in the recorder or camcorder.
Click to expand...

How hot the signal is without gain. I shoot with DSLRs (well now the GH4) and occasionally will use Dual System with the Tascam DR-60D. These don't have great pre-amps, so I need as much as the mic and wireless system can help. I am new to audio, so I may have this all wrong.
 
Of course, those videos that Bubble linked to are tests of the older Sony UWP, not the new one.

The new one has better sound, but the range is worse. I actually own the older UWP, and was able to compare them directly while I had the new model.

The range is not always a factor, but the new Sony's range was less than half that of the G3, even in direct, line-of-sight conditions.
 
I don't know about the Sony's, but I know that the G3 receiver outputs near to a consumer line level at a setting of 0. When running it into a mixer, I usually drop it to -12dB or -18dB in order to work with it at mic level. Unfortunately, the G3's don't output a true line level without adding gain to the receiver and you don't want to do that as it really starts to add hiss quickly. In any case, you have to attenuate the signal even more if you plan to run it directly into most DSLR's as they are meant to take a mic level signal. You will also want to attenuate the signal if you are running it into the Tascam recorder and run it at mic level.
 
azactro said:
Also, you seem to have posted the same video twice.
Click to expand...

is that mean you asked this question twice? :)

on the serious note, why don't you buy the system from BH and test it out for yourselft. Or just rent it and find out yourself? Keep in mind, each of ue using it on different application so what other testing/review might not the same stuff that you're using. Just saying.
 
Bubble said:
is that mean you asked this question twice? :)

on the serious note, why don't you buy the system from BH and test it out for yourselft. Or just rent it and find out yourself? Keep in mind, each of ue using it on different application so what other testing/review might not the same stuff that you're using. Just saying.
Click to expand...

Not quite sure what you are saying with the first statement. All I was saying is that both links you posted are the same link. I just wanted to know if you meant to post a different link so I could watch it.. I did not mean to offend you if that is indeed what happened.

The reason I am not buying from B&H and sending one back is because I am wanting to buy whichever system used anyway due to my budget. I don't think B&H would like me buying two mic units and then returning them.
 
cpreston said:
I don't know about the Sony's, but I know that the G3 receiver outputs near to a consumer line level at a setting of 0. When running it into a mixer, I usually drop it to -12dB or -18dB in order to work with it at mic level. Unfortunately, the G3's don't output a true line level without adding gain to the receiver and you don't want to do that as it really starts to add hiss quickly. In any case, you have to attenuate the signal even more if you plan to run it directly into most DSLR's as they are meant to take a mic level signal. You will also want to attenuate the signal if you are running it into the Tascam recorder and run it at mic level.
Click to expand...

What would happen if I did not lower the input? How much would you estimate the output needs to be lowered for the Tascam DR-60? If I didn't lower it, would it all just be too hot and peak?
 
azactro said:
So, if the Sony and Sennheiser were the same price, which would you wind up keeping? Thank you for this comment.
Click to expand...

If the UWP-D and G3 systems were the same price (which they practically are), I'd get the G3. The best thing you can say for the Sony is that its new, improved version is now almost on par with the G3. Alex did find the audio quality to be similar, the audio signal from the G3 a bit hotter, and we also found the range before getting audio dropouts to be much better on the G3.

If you can find the Sony on sale again at $200 less than the G3 it's a great option if you're on a budget and just plan to use it at close ranges. The review that Alex linked to earlier, combined with my followup comments in that thread, give all the details.
 
The G2/3 EK100 portable receiver's AF out set to +12 is a little anemic for a +4dB line in. It's usually usable though if the transmitter's sensitivity is set optimally. Otherwise a -12 or -18 AF out setting works good for mic level inputs.
 
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