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In many ways, Sennheiser's new Evolution wireless represents a technological evolution, with exciting features and performance derived from their professional 6000 and 9000 series offerings. According to the company, their newly designed system sets out to bring a very high level of audio performance and reliability in a package that even a user with limited wireless expertise could master. With the EW-D, they've created a system that is powerful yet very easy to use, and with excellent audio quality.
The EW-D system appears on the surface to be similar to other half-rack, single-channel wireless -- and indeed meets those basic functions. However, some key innovations raise the bar, including a simple yet encompassing smartphone app to control multiple systems, an exceptionally wide dynamic range, and the virtual elimination of intermodulation distortion that allows more interference-free channels within a given band.
System Basics
The basic components of the EW-D digital wireless include a half-rack, single-channel receiver, a handheld transmitter that accepts a variety of interchangeable dynamic and condenser mic heads, and a bodypack transmitter for headset, lavalier, and instrument applications. A new active antenna splitter has also been developed for the system to share antennas among a group of receivers. Additional components include an optional lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack and charger, and a variety of small lavaliers and headsets with the locking 1/8” 3-conductor connectors that fit the bodypack's locking connection – specially shielded for use with digital transmitters.
EW-D systems cover a 56 MHz of UHF tuning bandwidth (spanning over 9 U.S. TV broadcast channels), assuring access to sufficient wireless channels in almost all locations. Available bands include 470 - 526 MHz, 520 - 576 MHz, and 552 - 608 MHz -- with others for international use. The transmitters emit 10 mW for the audio link, and the same power level for the Bluetooth LE that is used for monitoring and remote control of the transmitters and receivers. System latency is an astonishingly small 1.9 ms.
The tranmitters feature 134 dB of audio input dynamic range, so it is able to handle input levels from very soft to very loud without requiring additional onboard sensitivity adjustment circuitry -- yielding quite transparent and detailed audio quality at any source level. At the receiver or using the Smart Assist app, gain can be adjusted on individual channels within a range of -3 to +42 dB (in 3 dB increments) and receiver audio output can be adjusted between -24 to +18 dB (in 6 dB increments). This capability allows a sound tech to remotely and quickly adjust a speaker or singer's audio level if they're quieter or louder than expected, without changing audio quality or risking distortion or system noise. System frequency response is cited at 20 Hz - 20 kHz (-3 dB), using 24-bit digital audio.
Derived for Sennheiser's professional 9000 and 6000 series wireless, which sell for several thousand dollars a channel, the EW-D circuitry design virtually eliminates intermodulation distortion and the frequency coordination difficulties it can lead to, allowing them to use an "equidistant grid" method of channel spacing -- with a 600 kHz distance between adjacent channels. Combined with the receiver's scanning capabilities and the ability to assign compatible frequencies to a group of systems via the smart phone app, setting up a multi-channel wireless installation is greatly simplified.
The EW-D Smart Assist App
One of the more innovative aspects of this wireless system is Smart Assist, which puts full remote control of up to sixteen systems onto the smartphone in your pocket. The free download works on iOS and Android devices, giving you visibility and the ability to set and change frequencies, scan and coordinate frequencies among multiple systems, change output levels, label channels, monitor the real-time performance of all transmitters and receivers, and more. You can even preview its operation by downloading the app and going through the Demo Mode, and access detailed instructions on all aspects of setting up and operating the system under the Support Hub tab.
I first tried to load the app on my older Samsung Galaxy prepaid phone, but it was incompatible, so I put it on my first generation Google Pixel, where it functioned acceptably (there were a few errors in connecting with the receiver on the first try, which I attributed to the phone's older version of Android software or some other flaw in a well-used phone). I'm certain that Smart Assist should be compatible with all of the newer devices.
The process of bringing the systems into Smart Assist is relatively simple and quick -- and only needs to be done initially. Begin by adding each wireless receiver into the app's Dashboard page. At that point you have the chance to give a unique name to that channel and perform other setup tasks, or you can wait until you have loaded all of your systems before proceeding. When you've built your multi-channel system in Smart Assist, you are also able to make changes as needed, such as editing parameters, or adding or deleting systems. Sync the transmitters via the app, or manually as desired.
The systems are displayed as a stack of horizontal bars showing the name, frequency, current transmitting status, battery level, and locked or muted status. With a tap on one of these bars, a window opens that allows you to perform further operations on that channel, including setting frequency, syncing the transmitter, changing gain and audio out levels, and locking mute and receiver functions. When done, close the window and go back to monitoring the entire system.
Smart Assist will control up to 16 systems in the current app vesion. If your installation has more channels than that, you can control the remainder with a second smart device with another incidence of the app.
The EW-D connects with the smart phone app via Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) to transfer the wireless monitoring data and instructions for setting changes among the devices in the network. This capability allows setup and changes to the system from a considerable distance -- for example, on stage with the transmitter in hand and adjusting levels. A Sennheiser introductory video and other sources mentioned making changes from over 100 feet away. I was over 40 feet from the receiver through a wall and able to change parameters, though I didn't test the limits of distance for this capability.
Trying It Out
I received two systems -- a handheld and a bodypack / instrument one -- plus dynamic and condenser mic heads, an instrument cable, headset and lavalier microphones, rechargeable batteries, and rack-mounting hardware. I ran the systems in various combinations through my sound system, and used both the receiver controls and the Smart Assist app to change parameters. The app was especially fun to use, hearing and observing the changes in real time.
The retail packaging was virtually all recyclable yet protects well, which I applaud. The receiver and transmitters seem quite durable, all with metal chassis and solid construction. They should survive years of regular use without wearing out. I appreciate the battery door on the bodypack, which is easy to open and close with a simultaneous squeeze of the buttons on both sides, yet shuts snugly -- secure from accidentally opening while in use.
The system sounded detailed and transparent with speaking voice and singing through the handheld and headset microphones, and wonderfully neutral with an acoustic guitar via the instrument cable. It's like one would expect when using a good wired mic with a well-shielded cable. When no signal was happening, it was dead-quiet, and turning transmitters on and off was similarly silent.
I walked with the handheld transmitter while someone else listened, with the receiver inside the building, and went at least 250' away with no dropouts and no change in audio quality. This result supports the stated range of 100 meters or almost 330 feet.
The frequency change and transmitter syncing processes are quite rapid, so can be accomplished in the heat of the moment with virtually no interruption. And with the app and its Bluetooth connection, the receiver frequency can be changed and the transmitter quickly synced with that receiver at a distance, with just a short press of the transmitter's sync button. Not quite as magic as being able to accomplish a full frequency change for both the receiver and transmitter instantaneously by remote control, yet still game-changing compared to bringing the Tx within a few inches of the Rx, as with infrared syncing methods used in many other systems.
Final Thoughts
So, I'm impressed by Sennheiser's new EW-D digital wireless system, both for its transparency with excellent audio quality, and its unique features – the Smart Assist app, the Bluetooth LE linking, the equidistant grid frequency selection, and the extremely wide input dynamic range. It seems for the most part that they've met their goal of creating a high-performance wireless that is very easy to manage, even for a less experienced sound person, yet with features that will cover a variety of critical multi-channel wireless applications.
Sennheiser has used a refreshingly simple pricing model for this system, with receiver, handheld transmitter (without mic head), and bodypack transmitter (without mic) all priced at $299.95 each. Or systems are priced starting at $589.99. Just select the handheld microphone head, headset, or other input that you need at its component pricing and you're ready to go. For systems with many channels, add the antenna combiner, directional antennas, and other options. Well thought out and well made, the new EW-D digital wireless is definitely worth a look.
