Karaoke Forums

well, i'm trying to find a good wireless mic.  seems that my efforts so far have been subpar.

i first went with an inexpensive NADY system ($60).  sound was good, but it crapped out after about a month.  next up was the more expensive audiotechnica 200 series ($100) of which i bought two.  sound was much better than the NADY, but one of them crashed and burned after 3 months.  the other still working great.  i refuse to buy $300 wireless mics for karaoke singers who could break them (whether by accident or not)  just doesn't make good business sense.  anyone other KJs out there who have had good luck with inexpensive wireless systems?  i am close to resorting back to hard wired mics!

Does ANYBODY know how the search function works?  :no:

Goto the Forum Search page, type in wireless mic in the search bar, select : Search for all terms and press the search button. You will find numerous discussions regarding microphones.

ps. I'd put this in the Technical Forum.

sorry allstar.  the thought of searching for this topic didn't cross my mind.  you're correct.  it would have been a better avenue to do a search .  i humbly apologize for disturbing you.

ok, i've now searched the forums data base and not found what i was looking for.  i found a couple of subjects, but they didn't answer the question.

No. Yet get what you pay for. Pay peanuts, get monkeys. You want something decent, you'll have to pay for it.

If you are not prepared to get good quality equipment for the people to use while visiting your show, you should not be a KJ. Too many people walk this earth with a crappy system, sounding like $h!t and then undercutting the KJ's who actually invested a lot of money.




sar·cas·tic (sär-kãs'tĭk)
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Given to using sarcasm.
[SARC(ASM) + -astic, as in ENTHUSIASTIC.]

SYNONYMS  sarcastic, ironic, caustic, satirical, sardonic. These adjectives mean having or marked by a feeling of bitterness and a biting or cutting quality. Sarcastic suggests sharp taunting and ridicule that wounds.

Sorry, I will have to take exception to this. I have a first rate system that I do shows at civil parties, and weddings etc. On this system I have 3  $300.00 mics. But I can get as much as $2000.00 a show for these shows. If I loose a $300.00 mic big deal.

But for playing bars who ony pay $125-175 for a 4 hour show you would be crazy to use  the Good stuff. Loss potential is astronomical. I have a special setup for bars. Not the same quality, but still the best in town.

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

Dr. D, so what you are saying is that you proudly play with a crap system while doing your bar gigs?

I didn't say that, But I wont take a $10,000 setup into a bar that doesn't want to pay what it is worth. WHen I find a bar that will pay me $1000 a show Ill Break out the good stuff, till then They get what they pay for.

I also Have a Limo service, I don't rent a stretch for the same price as a taxi ride......

If you would then you shouldn't be in business. [glow=red]I am not in it to loose money[/glow].

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I found my wireless mic on e-bay. It was slightly used, but what a deal. It looked brand in box when I received it.
Audio Technica 3000 series for well under $300. yes you have to be careful with e-bay, but if you do your home work and check out the seller you should be fine.

No offense, but I find using the search engine usually doesn't help. I've tried using it several different ways. I think it needs a little fine tuning.  :D

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

i appreciate all the input....even from your allstar

i'm pretty sure i understand the concept of money=quality, but like Dr. D i'm not going to hand a $300 mic to a $20 drunk in a bar that pays me $150.  that equals about $1200 in microphones a year out and $1800 in pay in for a net gain of $600.  now take out gas money, my time etc, and i'm on the losing end!  i have gotten high end mics from ebay but those are for my band not for karaoke.  guess i'll go back to the audio technica.  at least i've got a 50% success rate with them.

Hi there CrankItUpProd, I'm still new to this site, but have been involved with karaoke for about 15 years. anyway, I have a friend who owns a karaoke bar where I recently added an additional set of wireless mics, Vocopro VHF-3000 Dual Channel VHF Wireless Microphone System $99.00 from AceKaraoke.com. These mics are used 7 days a week from 9pm to 2am and have been dropped several times, that I have seen but probably more, so far we have not had any problems with them and I think they sound pretty decent.

Just my .02 cents.

thanks Dino.  i appreciate the input!

Check These Out, I posted about these a while back.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-8-FREQUENCY-WIREL ... dZViewItem

I gotta say I love them 1 rack space, 2 microphones, metal mics not plastic and a carrying case.  They sound great and are nice and cheap.  You wont be sorry if you try them.

I have a set of the Vocopro uhf3800, and have never had a drop, or any problems. I have an audio technica 3000, and a 2000. both perform well. But I have 2 shure uhf mics, That I reserve for myself and a few good customers that have superb sound.

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

thanks, y'all.  i really appreciate the help.  i have a couple of shure's which i'm very happy with, but i use them only with the band.  i like the idea of two mics / one receiver and thus one rack space as noted by Pkircher.  i will have to check that out.

Last week I ordered a "cheapo" dual wireless set http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=270344

I received them yesterday and tested them at home and I have to admit for the $50
I paid for the entire setup brand new --not too bad.  
The mics run off of one channel with seperate volume controls on the receiver.
They are of course PLASTIC but the sound and feel was ok.  I wouldn't suggest these for touring or for concert performances but for a Karaoke gig like mine
in where space is very limited and everyone is always tripping on the mic cable
worth the money.  If some drunk drops it --for $50 I can replace it.  Thats the cost of a cheap wired mic.

I'll update once I use them live and see how they hold up at the show Saturday

that would be greatly appreciated.  i have since gone back to audiotechinica and they asre holding up....for now.  i, like you, have a hard time shelling out two night's worth of work for a mic that some A-hole could destroy!

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Let us know how they do.  I am looking to 'cut the cord' and go wireless.  I have one audio technica ATW-R600 now, that we use for ourselves, and Peavey wired mic's for the singers.  Those Peavey mic's have stood up to a lot of abuse, but not having people walking and tripping on the cords would be nice.

I have a Shure that i paid over $300 for.  I am having a hard time understanding what you all are so scared of?????

That Shure wireless has been used, don't think it was dropped that i know of.  I know that if it was, it will hold up, as opposed to a $60 or $100 mic.

I have hosts that use the higher end shurs with the multiple frequencies,and also wired SM58's, THEY HOLD UP

The first poster has now spen $160 on mics that are now in the trash.  That is $160 that he could have saved and put towards a decent Shure or higher end Audio Technica system.

Do I own a freeway 200 series by Audio Technica - yes i do, it is a wireless bodypack with an ATM75 headset mic, and it works great for what i use it for - announcing and doing trivia shows when both hands need to be free.

The only two parts of a SM58 wireless that i can think that would be damaged would be the battery cap and the grille, both are probably $5 each from Shure

NOW, i am not going to hand every staggering drunk a wireless mic, that is why I get the wireless back from the singer and don't leave it on a stand.  putting a mic on a stand seems to be the best way to get it dropped; either they can't get it out and when they do it goes flying, or they can't get it back into the clip.

Let's do some math:

Case#1:  host buys a $100 wireless mic set.  The set is NOT dual diversity, and is VHF.  This set cuts out if the singer goes too far (most will cause of interference and non-diversity).  This mic sounds ok.  The host plays friday and saturday nights at various bars, clubs, and resturants.  After 3 months of regular use this mic breaks (either through wear & Tear, dropped, purposly broken, etc)

ORIGINAL COST $100
Life 3 months or 24 shows (2 shows per week * 4 weeks a month * 3 months)
cost per show $4.17

Case 2:  host buys a multiple frequency SHURE PGX24/SM58 WIRELESS HANDHELD .  This is a UHF Dual diversity unit with 90 selectable frequencies.  This set will switch receivers if one gets a better signal, the range is long enough for all of the areas you play, no interference, if you do, you change the channel on the mic and receiver (which is basically holding the bottom of the mic to the reciver and hitting a button) This thing is sweet sounding.  The unit takes minor bumps and is dropped a few times, (no mic body slams).  This mic lasts you 3 years and counting.

Original cost $399.99 (PSSL)
Life 3 years, 36 months, 312 shows and then some
cost per show $1.28  
and as an added bonus this mic uses cheaper AA batteries, so you are not buying costly 9V batteries.  Shure rates that 2 AA batteries will allow 8 hours of continious use

Do the shure's last 3 years and counting - yes they do...... I know hosts that have had the same Shure mics for 3 years, they lost one system due to voltage issues (which cause more harm than one can imagine), but even then that unit was over 4 years old when that happened.

If you buy good NOW you spend less later.  That mic system in case#1 at the rate of failure you would have spent over $1200 in replacing them, and still ended with just one mic system, where you could have bought and kept 3 higher-end ones working.

well my AS-990s cost $ 200 for a dual wireless system. Neve had a bit of trouble with them.

I'll be damned if I'm going to spend $700 for a set of those! Absolutely ridiculous to spend that kinda money in a bar. For one gig a week!