talkmagic.co.uk

Perhaps someone with more knowledge on this area can help out.

I currently have a wireless headset microphone and a reciever, but I am looking to get a a wireless hand held microphone and possibly also a new headset.

By the way, are those discrete headsets any good? I presume they must be if professional theatres use them, but they just seems so small!

The question is, do I need to buy a new receiver for the new microphones, or if not what do I need to check to make sure all the new equipment will work with the old stuff?

Thanks,

I've got two mics, one headset mic with belt transmitter and one hand held mic. Both the mics and the receivers have an adjustable frequency setting, as long at the frequency setting for the mic and receiver are the same then they're fine.

I read this and called my brother who is a sound engineer. He says the discreet headsets work fine, but like anything else you get what you pay for. So go in with your eyes wide open. Yes you can work old and new stuff together if they are compatible. That is not always automatically the case. As lady of Mystery said the frequency has to be the same, but sometimes there is more than that. Best bet go to a music store with your existing equipment and ask them for help.

While I have never had the need as I only do close up. I do know that there are certain times when you just can't be cheap. Communication is so important. So if you speak people have to be able to hear and hear without straining. Otherwise there is no point. Really is one of those situations where you want to get what is right.

Have a look at the Sennheiser Freeport radio mics. I think they are discontinued now, but it is/was the budget range from one of the market leaders. I have the Presenter version with a clip-on mic which is fine for my use, but the transmitter could easily take a discreet headset mic as long as it had Sennheiser's threaded jack connector. It also comes in a version with a handheld mic transmitter (and a version for an instrument with no supplied mic). It's a UHF Diversity system - two terms to look out for.
Some of the cheaper ones are in the VHF frequency range - many of these are acceptable (my handheld is a pretty good VHF system) but I'd not recommend it. Go for a UHF system.
I wouldn't buy a radio system that was not Diversity. Simply, a Diversity system has two separate receivers to mitigate the risk of reception problems or dead spots. Note that not all systems with two antennae are diversity systems - if it doesn't say it is a diversity system, it probably isn't.
The Freeport has 4 frequencies to select from (may not be compatible with other existing transmitters or receivers) and you shouldn't need any licence to operate them in the UK (unless you get a grey import, so best check). If I remember correctly they sold for about 130-150 new. I got a barely used one on eBay for about £80 a couple of years ago, though I did need to replace the mains adapter.

PM me if you have any specific questions. I'm not a sound tech so may not have all the answers, but I do own a small PA that I use for speech, music etc.