NAMM 2018: Sennheiser Expands XS Wireless 1 Series, Unveils evolution wireless G4

At NAMM, Sennheiser will be expanding its XS Wireless 1 series with the addition of a new two-channel receiver, the EM-XSW 1 DUAL. The receiver will be available separately or as part of two XSW 1 DUAL Sets that combine it with two wireless microphones using either the e 825 or e 835 capsule. These systems and the new receiver will be available from April 2018.

The new XS Wireless DUAL Sets offer excellent live sound, a stunning design and incredible ease of use and have been created with users such as weekend DJs, schools, houses of worship and hospitality venues on a budget in mind. The EM-XSW 1 DUAL two-channel receiver features automatic frequency management with one-touch synchronization, antenna switching diversity for reliable reception and intuitive, icon-based controls. Each receiver has up to ten compatible, preset channels in eight frequency banks, and provides balanced XLR and unbalanced jack outputs.

“The EM-XSW 1 DUAL two-channel receiver will be very compelling to users that would prefer to work with two mics and require a neat, one-unit set-up,” says Sennheiser product manager Oliver Schmitz. “Like the other systems in the XSW 1 series, the DUAL Sets offer fast set-up, straightforward user operation and great sound.”

The XSW 1 DUAL Sets are available in various frequency ranges within the UHF band (A: 548-572 MHz, GB: 606-630 MHz, B: 614- 638 MHz, C: 766-790 MHz, D: 794-806 MHz, E: 821-832 MHz + 863-865 MHz, K: 925-937.5 MHz) and will be available globally from April 2018.

Sennheiser will also launch the evolution wireless G4 in April 2018. With a sleek new user interface, a generously expanded switching bandwidth and higher RF output power for the 300 and 500 series, new multi-channel functionality for the 100 series and brand-new on-camera systems, G4 delivers high-quality, reliable audio for musical performances, houses of worship, theatres, business and education settings as well as camera work.

“With evolution wireless G4, we have built on the extremely rich feature set of the G3 series, expanding its capabilities even further, while still maintaining the compelling pricing of the preceding generation,” says Dennis Stegemerten, product manager for evolution wireless G4. “Many user-inspired improvements have been included, and all systems will be fully compatible with all previous evolution wireless generations, safeguarding our customers’ investments.”

evolution wireless G3 users will recognize the familiar 100, IEM, 300 and 500 sub-series – but there are some important additions: There are brand-new professional sets for ENG and film work in the 500 series, three new Base Sets in the 300 series, as well as upgraded Vocal Sets and a new Combo Set in the 100 series.

Bands, houses of worship and community theatres will find their ideal wireless solutions within the 100 G4 and 500 G4 series. The 100 series comprises Vocal Sets that include the acclaimed capsules of the evolution e 835, e 845, e 865, e 935, and e 945 microphones. Also available are an Instrument Set, a Headmic Set and two Lavalier Sets with either the ME 2-II (omni) or ME 4 (cardioid). All transmitters and the receiver are also available separately.

Compared to G3, the 100 series impresses with new multi-channel capabilities: Up to 12 wireless systems can now be daisy-chained for simultaneous programming via an enhanced Easy Set-up function. The daisy-chain cable comes included, as do rack-mount ears for professional use. The orange LCD display of G3 has been replaced with a high-contrast black and white LCD display. Also new are a sync LED and an Escape button for more convenient and quicker operation. The 100 series handheld features a new lightweight aluminum housing, and a programmable mute switch for singers or speakers seeking full control of their audio signal. Also new is a 100 series Combo Set that includes a rack-mount receiver, a handheld transmitter with e 835 capsule, and a bodypack transmitter with ME 2-II clip-on.

The ew G4 500 series is ideal for bands, theatres and houses of worship that require an expanded feature set, greater range, more spectrum flexibility and the additional control options offered by the Wireless Systems Manager software. Available systems include Vocal Sets with e 935, e 945 and e 965 capsules, an Instrument Set, a Lavalier Set with professional MKE 2 clip-on, as well as individual receiver and transmitter units.

500 series users are now greeted with a brand-new, contrast-rich black and white OLED display with automatic dimming, a convenient jog wheel, blue Sync LED, red warning LED and an Escape button that makes navigation much easier. The switching bandwidth of the series has been expanded considerably to rival Sennheiser’s professional 2000 series, with bandwidths of up to 88 MHz and up to 32 channels. The RF output power has been increased to 50 mW, switchable in three steps (10, 30, 50 mW) to expand transmission range or adjust to difficult RF environments, and all bodypacks feature increased protection from humidity and moisture.

The IEM series receives similar enhancements to user-friendliness as the 500 series: a contrast-rich black and white OLED display, a convenient jog wheel, automatic dimming, blue Sync LED, red warning LED and an Escape button for quick and easy navigation. The RF output power has been increased to 50 mW, and the bodypacks come with protection from humidity and moisture – ideal for stage work. Individual units are available, as are a single and a Twin IEM Set.

The evolution wireless 100-p sets have become go-to solutions for any filming, broadcasting, or reporting need. “G3 is the best-selling on-camera wireless system in the market, and G4 takes this legacy one step further by adding exciting 500 series pro camera systems,” comments Dennis Stegemerten.

The 100-p G4 series includes the ew 135-p G4 Portable Handheld Mic Set, two Portable Lavalier Mic Sets, the 112-p G4 (omni) and the ew 122-p G4 (cardioid), as well as the ENG Combo Set, which combines the camera receiver with a plug-on transmitter and a bodypack transmitter with omni ME 2-II clip-on.

Complementing the G4 100-p sets are brand-new 500-p series PRO Sets for ENG work and general filming needs. Systems include the ew 512-p G4 Pro Portable Lavalier Mic Set (with camera receiver, bodypack transmitter, professional MKE 2 lavalier mic and various accessories), the ew 500 BOOM G4 Pro Portable Boom Set (with camera receiver, plug-on transmitter with phantom power and accessories) and finally the Pro Film Combo Set, which includes both transmitter types (bodypack and plug-on), the camera receiver and accessories.

Compared to the 100-p series, the 500-p systems operate with a higher switching bandwidth of up to 88 MHz (compared to 42 MHz) and thus a higher channel count. Additionally, the systems feature a selectable output power of up to 50 mW and are less sensitive to moisture. All 100-p and 500-p series components are also available separately.

Targeting users in corporate, hospitality and education settings, the 300 series comprises a Vocal Set with an e 865 microphone head, a Lavalier Set with the ME 2-II clip-on, and a new Headmic Set which includes the SL HEADMIC 1, the pro’s choice for speeches and lectures.

Also new in the series are the Base Sets, which provide a cost-efficient way to update or expand existing evolution wireless systems. All Base Sets include a receiver and transmitter but come without the microphone or the microphone head, ready for use with existing accessories. There are Base Sets that include a handheld or a bodypack, or a Combo Set with both options. Handhelds, the bodypack and the receiver can also be ordered separately.

The 300 series features an increased switching bandwidth of up to 88 MHz or up to 32 channels, allowing for large set-ups in multiple rooms. The series features the same new user interface and increased output power of 50 mW as the 500 series. The bodypacks’ protection against humidity has been improved too. An integrated network port allows for remote control and monitoring via the Wireless Systems Manager or the convenient Sennheiser Control Cockpit software. Meanwhile, the receivers are ready for integration into the LSP 500 PRO wireless loudspeaker system.

Kai Tossing, Portfolio Manager, Business Communication, says: “With the availability of ew G4, we will also issue a new version of Sennheiser Control Cockpit. This software allows users to centrally and remotely control their wireless systems in real-time via a web browser on their smartphones, tablets or laptops. Sennheiser Cockpit Control will not only work with SpeechLine Digital Wireless and the new G4 systems but also with Digital 6000.”

Rounding out its NAMM offerings, Sennheiser has announced major upgrades to its Digital 6000 wireless microphone system. A free firmware update for all EM 6000 receivers enables a Command function that lets users set up a talkback channel with suitable transmitters. In addition, the EM 6000 DANTE has been upgraded to now feature a secondary Dante port.

“Since its launch in February 2017, Digital 6000 has met with huge acclaim from a broad range of users, from artists and live audio companies to broadcasters and corporations,” says Tom Vollmers, Product Manager for Digital 6000. “The new upgrade with a Command function and secondary Dante port adds further attractive features to a system that is already highly praised for its exceptional audio quality and fantastic spectrum efficiency.”

Digital 6000 is physically engineered to be intermodulation-free. More channels can be accommodated in less space, as they can simply be placed in an equidistant grid. Crucially important in today’s densely populated radio spectrum, the Digital 6000 system does not itself congest the spectrum with any intermodulation products. This leaves productions with more spectrum available for operating wireless links.

With an audio codec that has been specially fine-tuned and purpose-designed, Digital 6000 offers a very detailed and fully natural sound, while the digital principle eliminates the analog noisefloor and compression and ensures a quieter overall floor for professional audio work.

The new firmware update 2.0 expands Digital 6000 with a ‘Command’ or talkback function. Whether it’s an artist wishing to communicate with the monitor engineer or a broadcaster seeking to establish a talkback link from an onsite reporter, Digital 6000 can ensure reliable communication while maintaining high-quality audio transmission.

To operate a talkback channel, users have a choice of several transmitter options: They are able to use the special SKM 9000 COM handheld or make the SK 6000 or SK 9000 bodypack transmitters “COM-ready” by connecting the KA 9000 COM command cable.

Any output of the receiver can be freely assigned as a talkback channel, and programmed to either work as “push to talk” or “push to mute”. On EM 6000 DANTE receivers, dual Dante channels are supported. A “COM” icon will appear on the receiver display to indicate that the Command function is in operation. The icon will invert its color once the command button on the transmitter or the KA 9000 COM is pressed.

The new firmware version 2.0 also improves the Auto Setup function of Digital 6000. It is now possible to distribute transmitter sync settings from one master receiver to all associated receivers. Also included is a completely new sync option, “Frequency Only”. This option only changes the transmission frequency, leaving all other settings untouched – a feature very much in demand with touring productions.

The new software also provides an Audio Mute for the receiver as well as soft backlighting to all function buttons and switches, facilitating work in dark environments.

The secondary Dante port on the new EM 6000 DANTE receiver further increases reliability by enabling the operation of a redundant network. The port can alternatively be used to daisy-chain several receivers. Early adopters of the Digital 6000 DANTE that prefer a Dante-type receiver with two ports can take benefit of a Sennheiser swap service. They are asked to contact their local Sennheiser sales rep for more detailed information. The swap period starts on April 1 and ends on May 31, 2018.