Sennheiser XSW 52 Headworn Wireless Mic Review

Aug 17, 2012 11:56 AM, Reviewer: John McJunkin

A prosumer-grade mic fit for pro AV installation.

The EM 10 receiver included in the kit is a half-rack-space true diversity receiver. As with the system’s transmitter, it is very simple to operate, with minimal controls and a simple LCD display on the front panel, just four navigation buttons, a power button, and a level knob. The rear panel has only 1/4in. unbalanced and XLR balanced audio outputs and two 50Ω BNC connectors for its antennae, along with a line/mic output level switch, a squelch threshold knob, and power inlet fed by a wall wart.

The system is very simple to set up and use. I unboxed it and had all the hardware in place and ready to go within minutes. The frequency of the receiver can be determined one of three ways: manually, via preset, or by scanning. Scanning is the easiest way to go. Once the receiver’s frequency is determined, it’s transferred to the transmitter by first pressing the sync button of the receiver, and then that of the transmitter. The other controls are self-explanatory; muting and input sensitivity, for instance. I was able to start transmitting within moments after the hardware setup.

I evaluated the mic with a broad range of voices—male and female, young and old, spoken and sung, loud and soft. I actually created an a cappella multitrack recording with my own voice, and I was pleased with the result. I favor condenser mics due to the higher resolution in capturing transients and higher frequencies, and this mic delivered. Also, I used the mic in proximity to both monitors and front-of-house speakers. Of course, upon getting close enough to the speakers, feedback occurred, but only at surprisingly close distances. This is a big benefit of the super-cardioid pattern of the mic. It represented the full spectrum of the human voice very well and smoothly from top to bottom. The capsule can take 150dB of SPL without significant distortion, which is far more than enough.

The XSW series microphones benefit from the development of better materials, better design, and better construction, all of which have improved over the years. This is a system that would have been considered for delivery of full-on professional results in years past, and despite the fact that it’s considered a prosumer or even consumer-grade product with a price appropriate to that level of quality, it really delivers solid results. It lacks some of the bells and whistles of higher-end systems, but sounds great, is easy to use, and is definitely worth a look.

Product Summary

Pros: Good value, comfortable headworn mic, easy sync of wireless system

Cons: Mic can only be worn on the right side of the head

Applications: Musical vocals, speech, stage, house of worship

Price: $449

Specifications

System-wide

Frequency ranges: A: 548-572MHz GB: 606-630MHz; B: 614-638MHz; C: 766-790MHz; E: 821-832MHz and 863-865MHz

Switching bandwidth: 24MHz (range E: 13MHz)

Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥103dBa

THD: ≤1%

EM 10 receiver

Sensitivity (at peak deviation): < 3 μV at 52dB arms S/N

AF frequency response: 50–16,000Hz

Dimensions: 200x42x127mm

Weight: 730 grams

SK 20 transmitter

RF output power: 10mW

AF frequency response: 50–16,000Hz (Line); 80–16,000 Hz (Mic)

Power supply: 2 AA size batteries, 1.5V

Operating time: Approx. 10 hours

Dimensions: 66x96x24mm

Weight: 95 grams

ME 3 microphone

Transducer principle: Condenser, pre-polarized

Sensitivity: 1.6mV/Pa

Pick-up pattern: Cardioid

Maximum SPL: 150dB

John McJunkin is the principal of Avalon Podcasting in Chandler, Ariz. He has consulted in the development of studios and installations and provides high-quality podcast-production services.