Karaoke Forums

For many years I have been using Shure sm 58 UHF wireless mics. 1 had been serviced buy Shure after it got dropped ( actually it wasn't the singers fault, it was a bad mic holder). Anyway, both had gotten to a point where they were disstorting, especially when singers were way overbearing. I sent both mics back to Shure and they replaced the crystals, but when I got them back , there wasn't any improvement (after $100 for each).
So now, I'm looking to replace them both but I don't have the budget that I had when I purchaseed them. Any suggestions for a quality reasonably priced UHF wireless that would sound good and be durable.
All input appreciated.
Thanks
Sound Escape

Doesn't exist, sad to say. As usual, cheap, good, and reliable can't be found.

The best compromise I have seen is the AKG WMS40. We have had a pair of those in service for nearly two years (6 shows a month) without trouble. I have also had good reports on durability from others. They don't roll easily, which solves a lot of problems.

http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--AKGWMS40DVOX

Great battery life. They don't sound as good as the SM58, of course. But they are better than your Nady, Vocopro, and other cheapies.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I own one of these so I'm not just talking about theoretical possibilities.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AUDIO-TECHNICA-ATW- ... 7C294%3A50

Audio Technica ATW 252, worth the money and solid/good quality. The link above is for
one on ebay for $68.

The Nady DKW3 is worth the $30 that it costs too.

Vocopro VHF3000 are decent too. Base and two transmitters for $89.

None of these three matches the OP's criteria of "quality reasonably priced UHF wireless that would sound good and be durable". The Audio Technica is a good mic if Souind Escape is ok with the fact that it is a VHF mic not UHF as was requested. The Vocopros are also VHF (hence the model number) and much lesser quality than the Audio Technica. I would never classify anything with the Nady name on it as quality or sounding good. Maybe worth the price yes, but you get what you pay for and with a $30 Nady wireless mic, that ain't much.

Audio Technica's are good mics and the VHF one above would be a good budget choice. I personally owned the Vocopro UHF 5800's and was pretty happy with the sound. Granted they're not SM58's but they did have a pretty good pickup curve and very very little handling noise. They don't have very good off-axis rejection and there are some dips at certain frequencies resulting in the need for some EQ work but nothing major.

If you really want quality at a low cost, I would recommend going used. Look at Music Go Round if there's one in your area, they've usually got some good deals. I know someone who bought a Shure PGX with a Beta 58 head for a little over $200 there.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Are the receivers still good? I've seen many sure mics on Ebay, without receivers....just make sure you get the right frequency, and the sellers have many sales, with a 99% or better rating.....at least, that's what I'd do.....

I own a set of 5805s and I am happy with the noise-rejection and handling noise. My singers are happy because there are always enough cordless mics for them now, and I am happy they don't trip over mic cords anymore.

They are not as durable as a professional Shure/Sennheiser/etc cordless mic. I have one that will not charge, and I haven't been able to RMA it yet because I just got a voicemail box when I called Vocopro support. I haven't called a second time yet though. I probably will buy another set, and I won't get the rechargeable ones next time.

The switches aren't the greatest either, and the LED on the transmitter doesn't necessarily mean the transmitter is actually on. My partner just cleaned some gunk out of the switches of two of mine with electronic cleaner. They work fine now.

At under $400 for four handhelds and a receiver, I will be happy with them if they last one year on average.


Keep in mind that you should not use 698MHz - 800MHz (or there-abouts) for wireless mics anymore. I have seen a lot of used and overstock stuff in that band for sale cheap lately, but if you buy it you may eventually find Verizon/AT&T deploys a new service in your town and your mics no longer work. Also, it's illegal to use them now, so if you cause interference to licensed commercial services, you might get a visit from the FCC or a carrier. They can even fine you for it.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

How old are the mics? What frequencies do they run? Could it be they are in the now banned frequency range of the new digital tv bands which is why they are distorting because of frequency interference in the area? It also could be the receiver itself is going bad - or they are simply turned up too high on the output of the receiver. Check in the mic if there is a gain switch that is set on high (I have an SM58 wireless that has a switch for high gain & low gain and if it is set to the high - I get distortion on all vocals). Are they running on the same receiver or two different receivers?

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Hi Lonman, I remember you from karaoke warehouse forum and I think you were also on the Sound Choice forum, I used to work at Prosing. They are separate recievers and I never even thought about the change to digital thing, if I found out the frequencies, could I find out if that is the case. These mics have worked great since I bought them probably back 2002 give or take a year. I have not made any changes to the recievers at all. I used to have to break down equipment every night, but now I only do Fri. & Sat. and just have to cover the stuff up when I leave. Could the past action of moving equipment altered the recievers.
Thanks for everyones input.

I don't ever remember being on the KH forum, but was/is still active on SC.
The receiver itself should have either a mhz number or a khz number by it. Yes you can find out once you know these numbers if that is the possible cause of the distortion. I've had many mics repaired through Shure that have worked just like new (they typically don't repair & just put new components in) so would be surprised if they didn't fix it properly.
One of my older wireless mics was in the now banned range & I get interference with it.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Most of the newer Shure receivers have a sticker on the front face plate that will give you the frequency band code (i.e. J3, L4, etc) and the actual frequency range in MHz. On older models the frequency information is on a sticker on the bottom of the receiver. Very likely the microphone itself maybe marked with this information too. The newer ones have this information on a sticker in the battery compartment. Some older models have it on a sticker at the bottom of the mic. Check those spots and see what you can figure out.

The DTV changes that resulted in the reassigment of the 700MHz bandwidth is exactly what led me to replace my Vocopros with Shure PG series mics.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I have been using Vocopro wireless mics for 4+ years now, and they are fine for what I do. I don't think I've ever heard a wireless mic that sounds as good as a corded one, but I like these, because they are fairly inexpensive and they recharge on the base. I never have to change batteries. They run from the same receiver. They are about $149 per set. Expresskaraoke.com often has them on sale for $99. They are good mics for the money. Mine have been dropped several times, and they are fine.

I'm not a big fan of Vocopro mics, from my days with Prosing, I've still got my Shures at the bar, I'll check them out when I go to do my show tonight.

I just picked up an Audio Technica 2120 used just 1 time for $200 from a music store that I used to sell karaoke stuff to. I checked it out on Musicians Friend, they have them used for $314.10.
I hope it's as good as I expect. Has anyone had any experience with them?

This mic ROCKS! He's got another one at the same price and I'm gonna grab it.
Musicians friend list MSRP at $500. I paid $325 for my SM58's these are very comparible.

Sorry but yuck! I've heard them at two different shows. They do not have the clear crisp sound of an SM58. Not even close! It's like comparing fm to am. If you think they are fine, then fine but I can easily tell the difference and I do not have the best ear for this type of thing. My wireless sm58s sound just as good as my wired. Yes, batteries can be a pain in the butt, but for the sound I demand from my system for my customers to get that "live professional" sound, it's worth it, even if I have to pick up pop and beer cans along the road.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I hate to say it but clean and crisp sometimes just amplifies people's mistakes. When we got our skull pattern Audix OM2 I was almost embarrassed that we had been using cheap wireless because the sound was so clear. Then I sang on it and it has a learning curve--in fact I just about gave up "singing" I sounded so bad. Of the people at our show, the ones who are accomplished singers and know mic technique sound so good on the OM2 that your jaw about drops--especially the men with low voices. But some of the recreational singers sound worse. We offer the choice and most of the "just there for the fun people have" gravitated back to the "more forgiving" cheapies. But we do offer the choice so don't kill me.

This is why I love good mics, and detest bad ones. I have a low voice, and there are many microphones that turn my voice to mud. Tenors and women still seem to sound decent, but a low baritone like me just doesn't seem to come out.

Then I go to a show with a good mic, and the difference is amazing.

If I ever come to your show -- and since you are PNW I well might -- remind me you have the wired mic. I will thank you for it!

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

We are in middle of nowhere Nevada so you probably won't venture in but the good mic is in a stand right next to the bad one and if people ask the difference we tell them. One of our regular men tried the good one and he was sold just by the way it was weighted and felt in his hand. Another still prefers to have us hook up his radio shack headset so perfect vocals aren't a priority with everyone there. But we aim to accomodate and our mixer (same as yours) seems to make even the headset sound less offensive than you would expect.

Aha, now I have the image of the lizard being a desert animal. I will not forget.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

The biggest sin the average KJ makes is at the most, they may adjust the singers volume. With the biggest problem there is with all of the different disc manufacturer disc brands there are major differences with the volume control disc to disc. A good KJ, will not only pay attention to loudness of both volume for singer and disc, but also listen for the singers tone. You need to add treble, take away treble, add bass or take away base in order to balance out the voice with the music.
To many KJ's turn on the song and walk away. You have to very hands on, mediocre singers will be surprissed with how well they sound. That's the difference between someone sounding good on a good mic and a marginal or poor mic.