Building on decades of experience creating wired and wireless microphones, Audio-Technica has just introduced its System 10 digital wireless microphone system. With a well-considered feature set, handheld and beltpack options, and an emphasis on ease-of-use, A-T has done its homework analyzing and responding to the features of competitive digital wireless systems that have been introduced within the past two years.
I recently spent time at their AES show booth, discussing the System 10 with a product specialist. This fully digital wireless unit operates in the license-free 2.4 GHz band, and offers 24-bit / 48 kHz audio – resulting in audio reproduction free of companding and interference effects possible with analog wireless transmission.
The receivers are stand-alone half-rack-sized units, with permanently attached front-mounted antennas. The simple front panel provides a one-character backlit display, two buttons to identify and sync channels, and two LED's to indicate audio level overload and connection with a transmitter. The rear panel features a balanced XLR and unbalanced quarter-inch connector with a rotary level control. The receiver is powered with and inline AC adapter.
The handheld and beltpack transmitters are powered with two AA batteries. Each has a single-digit display, a power / mute indicator LED, a level control located in the battery compartment, and an on / mute switch. The LED doubles as a low-battery indicator. Construction appears durable, and the beltpack's mic connector is recessed to shield it from damage.
The simple system appearance conceals a sophisticated RF transmission scheme, consisting of a mix of frequency, time, and space diversity. The handheld / beltpack transmit on two different frequencies, and the receiver selects the one with the best signal-to-noise ratio. If one of the frequencies is encountering significant interference, the system will automatically select another clear one and relay that information between the receiver and transmitter.
Audio information digitized into “data packets” is transmitted in different time slots, so that the same information is received twice and the packet without errors is decoded to audio in the receiver, countering potential multipath problems. The receiver has a pair of antennas separated in space, and the transmitters also have a pair of antennas set apart from each other
with both transmitting a signal.
One very different concept is that the numerical designation on the receiver and transmitter screens is a “System ID” number rather than an RF channel number. The system seeks its own clear radio channels within the 2.4 GHz band, so this number is not associated with a particular frequency or set of frequencies. It is used to identify which transmitter is operating with which receiver.
A-T calls this process “pairing”, and it is activated by selecting System ID numeral 1 through 8 on the receiver, pressing the Pairing button on the receiver front panel and then at close range pressing the Pairing button within the battery compartment of the handheld or beltpack transmitter. In a moment, the transmitter display will show the same number as you have selected on the receiver. Because the System ID number is independent of the transmission frequency, it is possible that multiple systems could be designated “1”, and they would all still function.
Up to eight System 10 wireless units will operate together. Using the maximum number of systems depends on the RF environment in the location where they are installed. Keeping the receivers at a distance from WiFi routers, computers transmitting WiFi, and similar equipment operating in the 2.4 GHz band will allow more frequencies to work simultaneously. Typical operating range is 100 feet (30 meters).
The beltpack system is available with three different headsets – a secure mic appropriate for movement and performance and a low-profile unit in black or beige, a clip-on lavalier mic, and a guitar cable. If you already have your own microphone with the correct connect (a Hirose-style as used with other A-T products), you can purchase just the receiver and beltpack. A handheld transmitter system rounds out the offerings. List pricing ranges from $490 to $665, depending on the system configuration.
I am looking forward in the coming weeks to spending more time with the System 10, exploring the audio and ease-of-use benefits of Audio-Technica's latest wireless.
