Karaoke Forums

I'll start by saying I still swear by the Nady Dkw Duo as a CHEAP alternative for wireless for karaoke.

That being said I always knew there are better microphones out there ..how could there not be ..the Nady was only $49 .

So I'm ready to make the purchase of a quality DUAL wireless set up ..has to be dual as my venues are small and crowded and I don't want wired out there on a regular basis. ( I have an sm58 and some Senns for that)

Seen many good reviews on here for the AKG WMS40 -@ $329 for the set
But would I better off just going for a SHURE DUAL wireless PG58 set up listed for $549? ( It's not the SM58 head )
--Pros and cons of each

You're timing on this is perfect Jam, I actually got to play with the AKG set last weekend at a friends house and I own the PG58 Dual setup for my Karaoke rig so I can give you a pretty good perspective on the differences. Let's start with the simple stuff.

1. The AKG's take AA's while the PG58's use 9V (Advantage AKG)
2. The PG58's are frequency agile with 10 selectable channels, the AKG's are not (Advantage Shure)
3. The AKG's provide balanced 1/4" outs for each channel, PG58's provide both balanced XLR and 1/4" for each mic (Advantage Shure)
4. The AKG's have metal external antennas, the Shures have internal (Advantage here depends on personal preference, I don't like metal antennas, they break)
5. The Shure antennas are true diversity antennas the AKG's are not (Advantage: Shure)
6. The AKG's have a volume control on the front for each mic, the PG58's have a level control for each mic in the rear that requires a jeweler's screwdriver to modify (I'll go Advantage AKG here although I've never found a reason to adjust it after setting it the first time, especially since a wired mic has no such adjustment).
7. Neither set comes with rackmount equipment, AKG has rack rails available, Shure has a rack shelf that the receiver can be mounted to (Advantage AKG, I like rack railes better even though the shelf is very nice and looks very clean)


OK Now for the subjective side of things. Both are reasonably good quality Microphones for their price. The PG58's audio performance is really very similar to the SM58 and looking at their response curves and polar patterns bears this out as well. The familiar SM58 proximity effect is in full play which is nice. The AKG's are a little brighter and have a slightly tighter polar pattern. They still exhibit a fair amount of proximity effect but not quite as warm as the Shures. The Shures provide a little more off-axis and distance pickup but this also leads to a little less background rejection. Oddly enough though when ringing out monitors, I have a far easier time getting the Shures dialed in than my friend's AKG's. Despite the polar pattern, the Shure's seem to have better gain before feedback performance.

The PG58's are a little heavier than the AKG's which for me is a good thing. I like to have a solid feeling mic in my hands and the AKG's felt almost toy like to me because they're so light. They do have a sleeker case design however, which looks cool. Both mics have their fair share of handling noise. I've found that the PG58's can be managed by dialing in the levels on the back of the receiver. I'd honestly say both mics are about even in this regard.

The only other real noticeable thing to me, and now we're back to the conversations we've had before, is that the Shure's obviously benefit from the companding technology of their higher end brethren. Spoken word is more defined and sung vocals have considerably more clarity on the PG58's than the SR40's.

After playing with the AKG's this weekend, I can tell you that for Karaoke I'd be ok using either set. However, in the end I'm happy I spent the extra to get the PG288 set. The biggest detracter I've noticed with them is the battery situation, I'd really love to use AA's instead of 9V's. I still get 3-4 shows out of a 9V battery (I don't leave them on, only turn them on when I hand them to singers) but obviously AA's are nicer. The frequency agility of the Shure's was a big deal to me, not so much because I run into interference but because I'm using two pg288 kits (4 mics) plus my two SLX Wireless sets (Mic and Instrument Pack).

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Great summary. I can tell you I was a bit concerned with the AKG durability when I got them, but they have been really durable. I deployed them in December 2007 and have had zero problems since them despite multiple drops.

Also, in our environment people can't always reach the place to put them back on the stand and when they put the AKG on the table, they don't roll off. The SM58 / PG58 will, though Shure sells an octogonal rubber ring which we started using to prevent it.

We have had ZERO problem with AKG drop-outs, despite an often-packed venue with many bodies intervening. And the battery life is outstanding. We leave them turned on all the time, and get 4 or more shows from a single AA.

I also think the PG58/288 is light compared to the SM58 PGX24. I take Tony's word for the similar freq response of the PG58, though subjectively I don't like it's sound nearly as well as the SM58.

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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.

Tony,
Thanks for the detailed response.
#1 - Battery is a big plus as stated - cost savings alone
#2 - Currently using VHF and in small venues and yet to have any FREQ problems
so may not be an issue
#3 - I think the SHURE balanced XLR for each mic is a huge plus for bands etc.
for me and the occasional KARAOKE DUET I'm not too concerned about mixing singers seperately.
#4 - In 2 years I've yet t break the Nady's external attennas and again I shouldn't have a problem with freq/diversity
#5 prefer the volume up front again for karaoke probably easier
#6 -not rackmounting so no biggy

I think I'd prefer a brighter sounding mic so AKG seems to be a better fit for me
The fact that they are LIGHTER..which do you feel will be more durable in a Karaoke enviroment ? ( keep in mind for 2yrs if someone dropped my Nady's I didn't care --one reason I used them)

so far it seems based on your great review and the many more on other discussions the AKG is a good buy for karaoke. again not the BEST but BETTER than most price equivalent systems.

Micky

Thanks also !! you answered one of my questions concerning durability

AKG WMS40 DUAL SET - PURCHASED $248 DELIVERED

Thanks..give my own review once I receive and use them

Just to be clear, the AKG's do have separate outputs for each mic (there are 2 1/4" TRS jacks on the rear). The only difference here is that the Shure's have both 1/4" TRS and XLR for each mic. It's not a big deal but means you can use just a regular mic cable rather than a TRS->XLR Male cord.

Sounds like the AKG should be a good fit for you. They're a nice set and I really honestly believe that if you go that route, you'll be glad you switched. Six months from now you'll be wondering why you didn't do it sooner.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

gotcha ---misread your post -- I thought it read 1 output for both mics.

Hopefully you're right and I''ll love them until someone drops or throws them

We have both, the Shure is much much better. I don't like the sound of the AKG's

I just sang through the Carvin UX16-MC tonight, and was pretty impressed. Really sounded good for my voice as well as a female, and they claim 25 hours on dual AA. Look quite durable. Low handling noise, unlike most of the mics I have seen in that price range. For $230, seems like a good deal.

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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 receivedmy new AKG WMS40 last week and below are my impressions:

The microphones themselves were well built and had some weight to them.
They looked very impressive according to some singers. The receiver unit again seemed solid and the antennas were not the metal stick up in the air kind.

Once I had them dialed in I could tell right away that they were CLEAR and CUT thru the music nicely. This was also the sentiment of the singers I polled thru out Friday and Saturdays Show. These are a definate IMPROVEMENT in sound quality over my previous wireless set up the NADY DKW DUO.

That being said.

I don't feel completely comfortable using these at every venue.
#1 - I won't put them out with a younger/drunkier crowd full of C type singers.
The singers who were out for a good time ..could care less about the sound of these compared to the NADYS. When polled their respones was along the lines of " They sound ok ...but so did the other ones"

#2 - The singers who were a little more serious ( and older) liked the weight of the microphone and the sound improvement. ( but said the other ones were ok "Nady's)

So if you are looking for an affordable pro-sound dual wireless set up I can confirm also that the AKG's are a great buy.

If you are looking for a budget set up and you don't want to spend $300 and are worried about equipment abuse. I still stand by the Nadys FOR $50 as a great buy ---for those casual singers where GREAT sound is secondaryto having fun.

Awesome Jam!!! Glad your liking the new gear. I can definitely understand why you'd be nervous about putting them out there for the wrong people. Also glad to hear they changed the antenna design. Are they flexible external antennas or did they go with internal now?

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

they are still external but they didn't seem expandble --but know you have me thinking so I'llhave to check

Confirming that the antenna on the receiver I have is not expandble...sort of like a cell phone .


OK –used the AKG at the 3rd of my 3 shows. Again comments were made on the NEW MICS…how they looked “cool”

One singer questioned me on the new mics ..When I asked if she liked them she said she didn’t know. If I asked if she thought they were CLEARER than the old mics..She again just said they were different. ?

Had one younger singer who felt the need to “flip” the mic every time before handing it back to me and it made me nervous.

So bottom line is I’ll probably only use these “better sounding”
mics at 1 of my 3 shows. I’ll keep using the $49 Nadys at the other shows which have singers who are ..younger, drink more, and less serious about the sound and more serious about just having FUN.

Not sure how you KJ's can hand over even more expensive systems $500-$600 to drunk singers. ( I know MOST OF THE SINGERS HERE DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THAT)

Jam,

Good info on the AKGs.

you gotta understand that SOME kjs out there like me already had/have expensive DJ equipment and mics and may use some of that dj equipment for side-karaoke gigs.

Also if a pro is "used" to only investing in quality/expensive products and can't afford to have an inferior product potentailly fail at a high-dollar event, then peace-of-mind, as well as, a larger tax write-off is worth paying for.

A lot of kjs on the hawaiian islands do this as a hobby and minimally invest in all parts of their equipment...and it shows...

I am fortunate to be able to use my backup dj gear and older mics that have already been through yers of use.

And..depending on where, when, and quality of singers (good or bad) can determine if it's worth it to buy/use expensive equipment that may be damaged.

It seems your venues may have more rowdy and disrespectful singers, whereas all but one venue i've ever kj'd at the singers have been respectful 95% of the time and only a few drunken people have accidentally knocked over a tv or dropped a mic.

Johnny

just to be clear ... I would never use CHEAP equipment if I thought it drastically affected my show. I have a case full cheap wired mics I've experimented with over the years. At my current shows ..space is very limited and wireless just WORKS for me. As much as people love to disagree with me .. The inexpensive WIRELESS NADYS work for me. Have I lost any potential singers by using them.
NO. If in the future if I get a gig with higher caliber singers I would re think my use of them. but the truth is the casual karaoke singer at my current shows likes them. ( or more accurately does not hate them). Do I sacrafice some quality of sound using them over the AKGS ...for sure.. But experiance tells me that sooner or later some INTOXICATED singer will either TOSS, DROP or break them some how and that would ruin it for the times I could have used them for a more CONTROLED show.

Makes perfect sense Jam... i've never heard the nadys myself, but think it's great that there's a VERY affordable and decent sounding alternative in mics out there.

My AKG antennas are INTERNAL...maybe the UK spec is different??

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UPDATE:

So I've used the AKG's for a few shows and I was surprised that after last Saturdays show I asked one of the regular singers how he liked them after using them for 2 weeks.... he told me he liked the NADY'S better.
His friend standing with him had the opposite feeling and liked the AKGS.
. So I decided to use the Nady's at last nights show and they sounded fine.
( granted not as good or as clear as the AKGS but "THESE" singers could care less)

Tuesday nights show my heart skipped a beat when I saw (and heard) one of the AKG's hit the floor during PBTDBL .. of course a drunken group rendition.
Luckily the mic survived !!!!

They do that. Ours have been dropped many times. The only thing that you have to watch for is the little colored triangle popping out.

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