Sennheiser EW-DP | Easy-to-Use Digital Wireless System
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- In this week’s episode we get to know Sennheiser’s new EW-DP wireless system. This prosumer UHF system is built for camera-top use to simplify and streamline filmmaking and content creation workflows. System-wide Bluetooth integration and app control make setting up and monitoring during recording easy. In this video we test out the EW-DP’s sound, range, and reliability, and show you how to effectively incorporate it into your workflow. Let’s take a closer look!
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX. school.learnlightandsound.com
Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com ko-fi.com/curtisjudd
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Sennheiser EW-DP Wireless Microphone System - B&H, Sweetwater, Trew, Amazon geni.us/iMsAZ
- Sanken COS11-D Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/UdpqK
- Sennheiser MKE 2 Lavalier Microphone - B&H, Sweetwater geni.us/CBvgm
- RODE Wireless GO II Dual Channel Compact Wireless Mic System - B&H, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/SQ5fT5Y
- DJI Mic Wireless Microphone System - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/5xVLEr
- Amaran 200x S LED light - B&H, Amazon, Aputure geni.us/y6ym5V
- Aputure Light Dome II soft box - Aputure, B&H, Amazon geni.us/AuMKRr
- Aputure Spotlight Mount - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store. Amazon geni.us/kfAj
- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender - B&H geni.us/GWKt
- Canon C70 Cinema Camera - B&H geni.us/ABYB
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon geni.us/InspOl
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens - B&H, Amazon geni.us/gr47
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd
#Sennheiser #EW-DP #Wireless
Index
00:00 Summary and My Take
00:09 Intro and signal chain
01:08 Sound samples
02:04 What makes this system unique?
02:50 Does this replace the G4?
03:29 New! Bluetooth integration
04:07 New! No companding
04:46 Indoor/outdoor range tests
06:07 Powering options
06:49 Latency
07:39 Rigging solutions
08:19 Thoughts on the ME 2 Lav
08:50 Practical noise floor test
09:26 New! Double antennas
09:56 Build quality
10:13 App features
11:01 Coming soon: plug-on TX
11:26 Pricing, warranty, and kit
11:43 What makes this ‘prosumer’?
12:34 Cons/good-to-knows
14:20 My take
14:54 Please buy my courses
NOTE: The outdoor distance test results here are pretty much identical to the other consumer and prosumer systems I have tested in this outdoor space. This is a brutal test - outdoors in the wide open with no walls or buildings nearby. If you keep the transmitter in direct line-of-site, we had a stable connection to around 75 meters. Even the pro level wireless systems didn't transmit too much farther when NOT in direct line-of-sight unless you add a shark-fin/LPDA antennae. So don't get upset at this result - it is a niche scenario and in line with most other systems.
Hi Curtis. I am an avid subscriber. As usual, thank you for the helpful reviews and tests. Any idea if EW-DP camera-mount receiver be compatible with EW-DX SK body-pack transmitter? I have ordered EW-DX Dante capable sets. And I wonder if these are compatible items. Thanks for the input.
@@reymartrapsi7315 According to the manual, the transmitter and the receiver are compatible with each other but some features may not be available.
@@reymartrapsi7315 From Sennheiser's site, it looks like they are compatible, but I'd contact their support to confirm if you're planning to mix and match.
The system should have a backup recording onto an sd/micro sd card. Their EW-D SKP has that but the transmitter doesn't (I know Zaxcom holds the patent for recording into a transmitter with a lavalier) but still, I find it weird. And your sound with the Sanken COS-11D sounds so much better than the ME2, they should package it with their MKE2. Oh well.
Curtis, this review was absolutely perfect. Just the right amount of information (even for someone with extensive audio and telecom engineering background) and presented with crystal clarity. You made it very easy for me do decide if it makes sense to replace my G4 with this, in 15 minutes instead of the usual days of research. Thanks bro!
Thank you!
I have the EW-DP. The receiver easily goes into my ORCA-30 bag. Just turn on the receiver and put it in the bag so the antennae are pointing up. Use Sennheiser's SmartAssist app to control it. Much bigger, easier to read and use than any of the EW series. When looking down at my mixer bag, I see no display on my EW-G4, either, yet that can't be operated by an app. Hands down, EW-DP is easier to operate in a mixer bag. Especially I like the EW-DP's ability to adjust the talent's transmitter from a distance without interrupting them (especially as I usually hide the TX near their underwear, e.g. bra strap).
Glad it is working well for you 👍
Gotham Sound coverage, livestreams from NAB showroom floor. Big fan. They did a great job last year and even better this year doing the booth visits and interviews with all their product vendors💯 👍
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Thanks for the great review. While I am not in the market for something like this at the moment if I ever am I will have a great starting place. Thanks again.
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I’ll be waiting for the version you can put in a bag. That should be an awesome unit.
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wow, first time first place, mark~
sennheiser just lauched a lot of new things recently, which is great besides my rode and dji wireless systems.
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Very informative, especially since I'm at the point where I either get another AVX or this set. So thanks, the latency issues is good to know!
Glad it was helpful! Happy recording!
I think the greatest news with the EW-DP is the near-absence of latency. Thank you Curtis. Wife cameo @1:08! 💛
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As usual, your review is awesome. Thank you for supplying the range (25 meters) for these receivers. Sennheiser's website specifies the range for the EW-D receivers (100 meters), but it conspicuously says nothing about the range for these EW-DP receivers.
👍 it’ll generally be better indoors. The 25m is worst-case outdoors.
Is it possible to connect a MKE2 to this digital system?
Yes
Upon release the auto scan function appeared to only scan until it found the next vacant frequency, rather than scan the whole spectrum and choose the best.
Happy to see reviewers getting better indoor range than I did. I had frequent dropouts at 15-20 ft using auto-scan so maybe the feature has been updated.
Using a third party scanner and setting the frequency manually made a huge improvement so I know the hardware is capable. I’m hoping they pushed an update to make their criteria more picky.
Seemed pretty solid in our tests. 👍
I will wait for the bag receiver version
Ok.
As a long time Senheisser user I actually bought the DJI wireless unit.Very impressed with ,easy to use,and good value.
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Hi a prosumer / live events person here and thanks for all these technical insights!
thanks for touching on how these compares to wireless go n DJI mic systems, basically it’s ability to change frequencies and operating on another freq band (UHF instead of 2.4ghz), which could be big if 2.4ghz is giving issues on set.
I am wondering also about how this (digital +UHF) compares to analog +UHF, any pro and cons between them?
- You mentioned larger dynamic range and ability to control TX settings at RX. But you introduce latency. Hope i get that right.
Would appreciate a video looking at wireless systems Analog vs digital | 2.4ghz vs UHF
@7:30 I believe Curtis says that latency is not an issue with the EW-DP (latency only 1.9 milliseconds). Cheers, Cheer!
Yes, that’s right but this system only adds 1.9ms of latency which is not a problem for 99.99% of cases. Digital systems like this also use smaller frequency bands per transmitter so you can use more transmitters/channels.
Hi Cutis, as always a helpful test. Thx.
Are you going to test the Deity Theos as well, when it will be available? It has some nice additional features compared to the Sennheiser. E. g. removable antennas and built-in recording on the Lavalier transmitter.
Yes, I plan to. 👍
I have the AVX with a MKE 2 mic . It is by far the best sound over the ew100 however the delay means I don’t actually use it that much in shoots with more than one mic
Yes, AVX is a great sounding system and quite reliable indoors.
What do u mean by delay?
@@JoshSmith-ct3fi That's a reference to the fact that there is a 19ms latency in the AVX digital wireless system. That is to say, it takes 19ms from the time the mic picks up sound and the output on the receiver outputs that sound to camera or recorder.
@@curtisjudd understood . whats the latency numbers on this ew-dp?
@@JoshSmith-ct3fi 1.9 ms. Very good.
Thanks Curtis! Very helpful as usual. What do you think about clipping issues with this system over an AVX when you're operating solo ?
This is more likely to clip if you push the gain too high.
Hey @curtisjudd. Thank you for such a detailed review. I was wondering if you have any recommendations. I currently mix from a bag using a G4 set up, I really love the look of this system, and the simplicity of it compared to the G4. I was disheartened to learn that it's not built to fit into a sound bag setup (though it will be cool if they end up coming out with that), in the meantime, do you have any recommendations for digital systems that are simple like this and also designed to be used with a bag for location sound?
Possibly the Sony digital system?
Excellent video! Seeing this review reminded me of the Sony UWP-D series (of which there are surprisingly few reviews). Is the EW-DP a similar product to the UWP-D in terms of use case and technology? I know the UWP-D series is a little pricier, with true diversity and the ability to pass the digitally converted signal directly into certain Sony model cameras. Trying to understand how to think about where to place the EW-DP and the UWP-D within the range of amazing options we have from consumer to pro.
Yes, similar market segment. The Sony has some advantages, at least on paper. And a higher price as you noted.
I reckon Sony UWP-D is at the top of the prosumer rankings. (so above any consumer product, or any other prosumer wireless. But of course well below any pro wireless)
Awesome video as always. Quick question, I noticed that the RF Power seems to be a 10mW maximum. In contrast with the G4 which can go up to 50mW, this is a big difference. Do you find this to be a problem for range? (vs the G4 for example, or the Theos)? Thanks.
RF output power is a complex business, but I did fine the THEOS at 100mW to transmit substantially farther, yes.
Would love to see some stuff about wireless monitoring options, especially for MixPre.
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How would one use this with a mix pre 6 ii?
@@JoshSmith-ct3fi The receiver comes with an XLR output cable so you'd connect that to one of the MixPre's inputs and position the receiver so that it has a clear, hopefully line-of-site position to the transmitter.
@@curtisjudd thanks . I see it comes with full size XLR output . For c70 what cable or accessories are used to plug receiver into the c70 mini XLR ports ?
@@JoshSmith-ct3fi you could just use the 3.5mm input on the C70. Or get an XLR female to mini XLR male adapter.
Another great review! is there a more budget-friendly UHF system?
Yes, consumer level systems like from Saramonic, but my experience with them was mixed.
@@curtisjudd Thank you!! Will look into it!!
The new Deity THEOS UHF wireless will probably be priced quite aggressively.
@@davidcmpeterson Thank you1
Exceptionnal review! Everything i needed to make my choice.
I have one question Curtis, would it be useable with a smartphone ?
In my opinion, all the other consumers microphones has poor performances, so i'm looking for something in the prosumer range.
Yes, but a direct connection depends on which phone you have - check out the CL 35 USB-C accessory cable which has a 3.5 mm locking TRS connecter (receiver side) to a USB-C connection (phone); if you have an iPhone 15 or Android device, you're good to go! This cable is also compatible with the MKE 200 on-camera mic and MKE 400 on-camera shotgun mic.
Thanks Robb. Good suggestion
Chris big fan of your channel. Thank you for what you do. I have a few AVX systems, beside the latency what are some other variations between these 2 systems? Could you do a comparison video between this and AVX?
The other HUGE difference is that you tune the EW-DP to a frequency that isn’t busy in the exact location where you’re recording. And you can record with more channels because you have more frequency spectrum in which you can work. If your AVX system is working well for you, this system is not a replacement or upgrade, just a different option for different circumstances.
@@curtisjuddon the other hand, what I love about the AVX is the zero-set-up workflow .. as a camera guy that has to do sound out of necessity , I love the simplicity (and also compact size) of the AVX. I don’t really understand the exact advantages of this system (beside latency). Maybe a comparison video could be super useful
@@Superjeanmarc yes, AVX was made for situations exactly like yours - simple setup and quality audio for camera people.
EW-DP is tunable to different frequencies. AVX is not. Huge difference if you’re ever in a situation where audio signal is dropping out.
@@curtisjudd Thanks ! Yes for a one man band like me, the simplicity and size of the AVX is more important. I have a very positive experience with AVX in term of stability, I only wish it would have a longer range. I do for example a hosted wildlife TV show where many times , I need to make very wide establishing shots with the host in the middle of the landscape, or in the middle of animals .. In that case, I wish the AVX would also have infernal recording or a longer range.
@@Superjeanmarc I agree. Internal recording is problematic in the US because Zaxcom holds patents which prevents other companies from easily implementing the feature (at least with removable memory cards). And the frequency that AVX uses and the configuration of the system will always struggle with outdoor distance, unfortunately. But it is a really simple system otherwise.
Great review as always. I bought these last week and love them. Only issue is the app says a firmware update is available but when I try to update it just infinitely spins and doesn’t do anything. Were you able to successfully update yours out of the box?
Yes, for the transmitter, you have to press and hold the sync button for 3 seconds when the app instructs.
@@curtisjudd my app never instructed anything. Just spins when I hit firmware update…
@@stepheneckert4006 hmm, might be best to contact Sennheiser support.
Hey Curtis. Would you recommend to use this set with mic level or line level? If to crank up the audio level on camera all the way up to get the line level input from this unit usable, would it be noizier than to use it on mic level set the gain and camera level normally? The maximum gain on receiver is +42db, what's the best gain setting to get the least noise from the ambient sounds? Thanks!
I tested not with my Canon C70 and they’re pretty much the same in terms of noise floor.
Does it state the mw of the transmission? The good thing about digital vs analog is that if you jave one bar solid, you have full audio quality. In analog the signal gets noisy as the bars drop.
It doesn’t share the mW output of the TX, presumably because it wants to keep things simple.
At this level seems like a 10mw unit.
Thanks Curtis. You mentioned that they're adding a plug on TX for other mics that has a built in recorder. Why do you think they didn't implement a recorder on this TX body pack? Seems odd when there are so many circumstances where you could use a stand alone recorder, especially when the range on this thing is only 25m max. Any thoughts on this? Also - what mic would you suggest to replace ME-2? I noticed the Sanken was a considerable improvement over the ME-2. Would you rate that over the MKE-2?
Hi Jason, Zaxcom holds a US patent on recording body packs with lavalier microphones so that’s my guess for why they didn’t implement that. NOTE: the 25m distance is under the worst RF circumstances - out doors in the wide open with no walls nearby. For reference this is also true of every consumer grade wireless system I’ve used and other prosumer systems. The only time I’ve been able to achieve better results in this exact test is with pro level wireless systems and external shark fin/LPDA antennae. I’d rate the MKE2 and Sanken as fairly similar with slightly different voicing.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis - that's super helpful. I didn't know about that patent. I'm interested in learning more about the new Deity Theos Wireless system - apparently the DBTX transmitter has a built in recorder too - so they must be paying for a patent license. They just announced it at NAB. The Theos system seems to improve on the Sennheiser EW-DP in a number of ways - including having 32 bit float recordings. I'm curious to see how they stack up against each other - although I don't think the Theos system is coming out till June/July.
@@jasonknight1281 Yes! Looking forward to trying it out.
I wonder if you had an opportunity to check the noise floor of the COD 11D compared to the ME2 though the digital link. I use the COS 11D mostly and the MKE 2 occasionally and the ME2 when I expect I might loose a mic due to abuse or envirroment.
I didn’t specifically measure the noise floor but the Sanken is not an exceptionally quiet mic. But good enough in most cases (the preamp of the EW DP is not noisier than the COS11D.
Thanks. I didn't not know these things work better if you are inside a building & needed walls to bounce the singnal off. Could you review the Sony UWP-D? I am really interested in comparing these Sennheisers to the Sony's as they are very similar but the Sony's seem a lot more expensive & I can't figure out why (besides being able to receive two transmitters).
Will try. Limited budget to buy things here, but will definitely try.
I do a lot of corporate events and panel discussions in theaters and school gyms etc. I will be plugging into an Allen & Heath QU24 mic line for play back and recording. I purchased this item yesterday based on the sales person’s recommendation. How do you feel about this product for my set up?
This should be a good option for that. 👍
since you mentioned the noise level with the me2 was -61 dB and yet you were testing it with the COS11x what was the noise level with the Cos11x? thank you so much!
95% of this was recorded with the ME2, aside from the short sample with the COS-11D. I didn’t specifically measure it, but my guess is at least 3dB quieter.
Random question for Curtis or anyone else who knows their audio stuff! -- As the battery drains, is range reduced? For instance, if it's "two bars" power remaining rather than "three bars" (not that the EW-DP uses bars anymore).
By the way, for anyone reading, my experiences with the EW-DP after a first outing.... So, I was livestreaming a funeral service from a church. Probably around 20m from the altar. Had two EW-DP kits. Normally, I hoist up receivers on a light stand. But the setup was a rush this time, and I had them down around the height of the church pews, and I also didn't do any auto scan for best frequencies beforehand.
Right before service -- all good. Could even hear the priest talking when he went into the vestry area at the back of the church, so it was transmitting through the walls fine. But during the service, I got a few drop-outs, and the receiver said "No signal".
Solution: I lifted up the receiver so that there was line of sight, and I think this mostly cured the dropouts. Although, on testing with my second shooter afterwards, when he was around the same distance and had his back turned to me, the dropouts would return.
So, feeling about the kit for the time being...
-- The sound sounded great to me. Just using the ME2 mic. I'm not enough of an audiophile to properly appreciate the difference between this and better microphones!
-- Battery life and ability to see actual time remaining -- huge plus. Gave me the confidence to turn things on early rather than last-second.
-- It was really handy that the receiver said "No signal", so that I had some sort of idea of what the problem was. So, troubleshooting with receiver and phone app is a big plus. I could even verify that it wasn't an accidentally activated mute switch that was somehow responsible.
-- But the actual drop-outs are a bit worrying of course. I think the system really likes line of sight. I don't know whether they're better or worse than other digital systems in this regard, but I don't remember having had a similar issue with my 15-year-old Sony UWP analog microphones. Not in that sort of shooting environment.
-- I think drop-outs could potentially be caused by a lot of things, so I think I need to do more detective work to get a better idea of the cause.
-- Also worth mentioning: there wasn't an ugly static noise when the drop-outs happened, so that's also a big plus. My ears (and the ears of the audience watching the livestream) say thank you.
No, battery status (aside from drained) should not affect range.
Yes, definitely best to keep those antennae up higher and oriented is the same plane as the transmitter antenna.
This is of course one-channel reciever with balanced output? To connect two channels to 3,5mm input you need some kind of splitter?
Correct, actually a combiner cable.
Hello teacher. Which system do you recommend to transmit the audio, during the recording of a concert, directly from the mixing console using its RCA outputs. Thank you.
I saw your video showing how to do it with the Rode Go II. However, the issue is whether the audio transmitted in 2.4 Ghz will be stable and reliable, knowing that during a concert there will be many telephone, electrical, etc. signals.
Looking to replace my rode go ii system. The new go pro seems tempting since I'm used to the ecosystem but I want a more pro solution for when i am in a tight space and a lav is the way to go. Rode go ii has been fine but I am ready to upgrade. Is this a good move considering I tend to connect into an f3. would it make my s1h rig too bulky? Any other products out there that might be better suited for use with the f3? ditch the f3? lol Goal is to find 1 more atomx sync so I can use timecode with my f3 and 2 ninjas (during A & B cam interviews) . Sorry for the all questions!
We’ll have a review coming in the next few weeks which will hopefully answer your questions.
Sennheiser’s manual says that there are several possible gain/AF levels allowing unity gain (they mention instrument level, like a guitar), is there any difference between the offered options? What’s your recommendation for setting unity gain for output?
My recommendation is to set your camera’s input to its lowest setting, set your input level on the receiver until the meter is hitting about 2/3rds, then set the AF out so that the camera meter matches the receiver meter.
Thanks for the review, Curtis. What makes no sense to me is the size of this unit (both the receiver and transmitter) - I guess this is because it is not a 2.4Ghz system and so it needs to be this big and cumbersome. I really hope to see Sennheiser come up with an updated version of the AVX with smaller transmitter packs, and better battery life but with the same tiny receiver XLR kits - it's such a great system even years after it was announced.
Big and cumbersome is relative. Yes, the receiver is larger than the AVX, but you cannot tune the AVX and if you’re also recording a wired boom mic, you have the 19ms latency of AVX to contend with. It is all about engineering trade offs. My recommendation is to use the one which works best for your use cases. If AVX is it, enjoy that there’s no need for you to sell it and buy this instead.
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis, there are always pros/cons. I think that this more or less originated towards the same target audience as the AVX (which was/is more expensive) although this is UHF and the AVX is 2.4 GHz. I can say from our experience that aside from maybe once, we never had any issues with interference over years of use and we used it in trade shows when there are tons of devices broadcasting in all frequencies. My point is that we would love to see an updated AVX version and this is certainly not it.
@@IddoGenuth I believe AVX is actually 1.9GHz and yes, I agree, this is NOT an update to or replacement for AVX. What would you like to see in an updated version of AVX?
@@curtisjudd I think (not 100% sure) that there are different AVX models by region. Anyway, what I would like to see is as I wrote a smaller receiver, better battery life, and if possible some sort of dual system (one receiver two transmitters) plus some kind of BT app control as you have here (not for channel changes - you don't need those with the AVX, but for changing settings - you can even add noise cancellation option, etc.).
@@IddoGenuth all good ideas. But I’d expect those features to add substantially to the price. In my experience, when Sennheiser makes a prosumer or pro level product, they’ll make sure it performs by spending a good bit of engineering R&D time and then manufacture it in their impressive factory in Germany. Of course this means it will be a fair bit pricier.
DEITY’s approach is more focused on providing innovative, feature rich products at lower prices. They are engineered and manufactured in China. In my experience, they’re getting better and more reliable, but not quite to Sennheiser standards yet.
Hi Curtis, thanks for creating the (by far) best review of the EW-DP I've seen so far.
Wondering if you could help with some questions I have about the system. Having trouble finding info (perhaps I should write Sennheiser directly!).
-- Dynamic range. So, this is one selling point, right? "With a remarkable 134 dB dynamic range, the transmitter can handle just about any input level you throw at it without having to worry about setting the input gain to prevent clipping." -- But what about the ME2 and ME4 microphones themselves? Are there limits to how soft and how loud a sound they can reproduce without problems? Could you dangle one of these things in front of a soundspeaker at a wedding, or, heaven forbid, a concert?
-- Battery life. Would you have any idea of the difference in battery life between Sennheiser's battery and a couple of Eneloop Pros?
-- Latency. I'm curious about your thoughts on what factors can increase the claimed 1.9 milliseconds of latency. Would distance, or having to travel through walls or bodies, influence the latency?
Thanks! Sennheiser doesn’t list the dynamic range of the ME2 but my sense is that it is not an enormous range relative to boom mics or other small to large diaphragm condenser mics. This is one of the costs of miniaturization, at least at its $129 price.
I didn’t test with envelops before I had to send it back, unfortunately, but I’d assume about half of what you can get with the Li battery.
Latency is defined by the processing speed of the transmitter and receiver from what I understand. So it isn’t something that varies with circumstances.
@@curtisjudd Cheers for the answers!
I've now got two EW-DP sets. So, I should stop being lazy and do my own tests re battery life!
Now, I know absolutely nothing about batteries. But, on first glance, the Sennheiser BA 70 battery has "1720 mAh" written on the side of it, and a single Eneloop Pro has "2450 mAh". So, two of them might be able to equal or better the Sennheiser! I'll post a comment here if I find out.
Another random comment on the kit: I didn't read the manual, but I think you're meant to charge the supplied BA 70 battery inside the receiver.
Ok, cool. No idea how to charge it otherwise, other than ordering the separately sold charging unit. But Sennheiser seems to only supply a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, and I don't have all that many free USB-C ports around me.
So, a note to Sennheiser in the unlikely event they ever read this -- please supply a USB-A to USB-C cable with the next kit! Or at least a USB-A adapter for the USB-C cable.
@@artstories5828 I'm glad to hear you have a couple sets of EW-DP to run some of your own tests, too - can't wait to hear about your experiences, please keep us posted! A couple quick comments that may help clarify some topics.
1) 134 dB of Dynamic Range relates to the capability of the wireless link, which has roughly 5x more dynamic range than most other wireless systems available. The main advantage of this is that we can completely remove the need to set gain at the transmitter, which also means we avoid clipping or otherwise overloading the transmitter electronics entirely. This also makes life a little easier when you have talent mic'd up since you don't have to go over to their bodypack to adjust anything... gain is adjusted on the receiver (or via the Smart Assist app) as opposed to the transmitter so you have an appropriate level coming out of the Digital to Analog converter and then to the device output. Regarding your comment on mic selection and using the ME 2 as an example, the max SPL is rated at 130 dB so - in theory - if you could protect it from air movement related to the speaker you probably wouldn't clip the mic or the transmitter... but as Curtis mentioned, there are other options with much better dynamic range in the Sennheiser portfolio. Just a heads up - there's an SKP Plug-On Transmitter coming soon: both XLR and 3.5 mm inputs, on-board recording via MicroSD, +48V Phantom Power ;-)
2) A higher mAh battery would get you longer battery life, however, one of the distinct advantages of the BA 70 is that it allows the system to calculate run time in hours and minutes; AA batteries (rechargeable or primary cells) will only provide you with a read out in percentage of battery remaining. The EK receiver can run off 2 x AA battery, the BA 70 li-ion pack or USB power - if you're using the BA 70 and plug USB power into the unit, it will charge your pack and operate simultaneously. The EK receiver can also run solely off USB power without a battery inserted, too. An EW-D Charging Set will get you two BA 70s (compatible in all transmitters and receivers from the Evolution Wireless Digital series) and the L 70 USB charger, which will get you back to 100% in about 3 hours.
3) USB-C is the way of the future! In all seriousness, this is something we struggle with... we try not to include things that will either go unused or thrown out - there's nothing special about the USB cable, so any any USB-A to USB-C should work or it may be worthwhile to grab a couple USB-A to USB-C adapters while the world migrates fully to USB-C over the next few years. I can appreciate the suggestion and hope you have something on hand for your immediate need as these cables are fairly prolific in our homes.
4) As Curtis mentioned on the latency topic - the 1.9 ms is related to signal processing and not transmission. EW-DP is a digital UHF system so the transmission "speed" is essentially the speed of light... which, I'm told, is pretty fast! 🙂
Enjoy your EW-DP rig!!
@@robb.blumenreder Robb, thanks very much for the in-depth info and clarifications!
Among lavs sanken stands out in the test
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Wish they pair this with the MKE2 than the ME2, I mean, I'm still going to use the DPA 4060 or Sanken COS-11D, but would be great if they pair it with MKE2 with discounts much like their G4 or their AVX systems.
Yes, that'd be nice.
We have two Sennheiser AVX MKE2 sets. Is this the better choice to upgrade or should we rather buy two more of our old ones?
Are you happy with AVX for your use cases? If so, stick with them. If you’re having dropout issues, these *might help.
Hi Curtis.
We really appreciate this sound content you are still creating.
We have a question: We are shooting low budget documentaries with the Deity d3 pro and last day it recorded some "cellphone or wifi" audio noise in an interview... it was a weird repetitive sound that appeared for a while... We dont know exactly what caused it because we were outside the city and not close from any electronic device.
Do you know what could had happened?
Thanks
IKA multimedia team
Usually a nearby mobile phone or WiFi device does that.
@@curtisjudd and if I use an XLR mic/cable... That would not had happened?
@@ikamultimedia Possibly - balanced XLR cables, especially the higher quality, better shielded cables are more immune to RF interference.
@@curtisjudd and there are those high end cables also "xlr to mini xlr" for example for a bmpcc 6k? As I assume that the xlr to xlr must be better...
@@ikamultimedia balanced, yes, but not sure how well shielded. But should decrease the risk of RF interference.
will the sanken cos 11d with a locking 3.5 work with this ew dp kit ? does this Sennheiser ew dp kit provide 5volts bias power needed for the sanken cos 11d mics ?
Yes
We use the Sennheiser digital 9000. It was most expensive wireless systems in 2012. It also still stands as one of the best wireless systems out there. We use SK 9000 with MKE 1 and SKM 9000 with Neumann kk 205. We also use one of the best analog systems Sennheiser SK 5212-II and SKM SKM 5200-II with EM 3732-II receiver (it is definitely better than Wisycom, or the same). Do you have experience with these devices?
I don’t, but Sennheiser is well known in wireless for a reason (mostly for their higher end systems from what I understand.)
but you are talking about live events and such. Or do you have this on a sound cart?
what do you think about the body pack not having a screen to monitor or adjust audio with this sennheiser ew -dp system? what do you think of the sennheiser me 4 mic ?
Would be nice to have a screen on the transmitter, but it is a tradeoff because screens run down the batteries more quickly. I haven't used the ME 4 so not sure about that mic.
I had trouble with lots of self-noise on the BP-TRX so I didn't even get to testing the timecode. I'd be surprised if they keep selling the BP-TRX once their THEOS system starts shipping.
Are you able to switch to new frequencies from the receiver side via BLE?
From the RX, yes
Any insight on when the Bag Receiver version might be coming out?
No, I don’t have inside info.
Hi. I got the version with the bag grip. And there is bag guide inside of printed leaflet.
@curtis what advantage does this system have over the rode wireless go II or the dji mic if there's no interference around apart from the latency?
Replaceable batteries.
@@curtisjudd How about the quality of the sound? In terms of clarity etc, not referring to the mic. Much like how different audio interface have different preamp sound. And I heard that system like DJI and Rode uses a different voltage? Because when I was ordering the DPA 4060 lav mic I notice different system using different voltage. How does this come into play when it comes to sound quality?
@@Slipsch The microphone will generally make a bigger difference in my experience. Under-volting a microphone can damage it, so if you're planning to use external mics regularly, especially expensive mics like a DPA, I'd make sure the voltages supplied by the transmitter are within the range the microphone needs.
I decided to not buy the EW-DX (I like the idea of Dante and being able to keep everything digital) because I was hoping for the this exactly, but now you are telling me the bag version is coming soon?! so much waiting ah...
I don’t know what the bag receiver will or will not have. If you need something to get a job done, I’d make a list of your must have and nice to have features and find the closest fit available today. Otherwise, you may have to wait for forever.
Can you connect 2 receives to one transmitter?
Yes.
Is the auto-scan function dependent on the app? Can you perform an autoscan directly from the receiver?
Auto Scan is available directly from the Receiver in standalone configurations or via the Smart Assist app - the app is essentially an extension of the receiver, allowing you to make the same changes while not being physically next to it. The major advantage of using the app for the Auto Scan feature comes into play when you're setting up multiple channels of wireless since it will find open frequencies for each receiver then walk you through synchronizing each of your transmitters.
Thank you!
What's your quick take on this vs the Sony UWPD system?
I haven't used the Sony UWP-D system, unfortunately.
Can I use multiple transmitters with one receiver? If not, which system is good for interviews with multiple people talking?
You can add an additional receiver and transmitter. The receivers stack with magnets. Or you can look at dual channel systems like from:
Sony: czcams.com/video/3tFZfhUyihQ/video.htmlfeature=shared
DEITY: czcams.com/video/kY_ZjGBdy0o/video.htmlfeature=shared
I'm returning mine. The receiver resets itself when the audio from the transmitter peaks. Every time. It doesn't even need to peak. A loud signal from the transmitter will make the receiver reset itself. Firmware Version 1.8.1. I can't find any information online, in the app, or in the included documentation about this issue. Love your videos. I think I just got a lemon.
Hi Ky - I saw your video and review on Amazon and think I know what may be happening here. I'm assuming you were using EW-DP with a smartphone? The EW-DP system has an "auto off" eco function to preserve battery life - when a connected device is powered down, the EK receiver will shut itself off, too. When clipping/overloading the signal on a smartphone, the audio input of the phone is likely disconnecting to protect it and I'm guessing this is the cause of the power cycling in your video.
Take my money.
LOL! Not me, Sennheiser can take your money.
What attachment are you using to put this system into c70 using the mini xlr ports ?
XLR female to mini XLR male adapter cables
@@curtisjudd what brand ?
@@JoshSmith-ct3fi Blackmagic Design as I recall.
Sennheiser does anything but SMA out of the box. There are people out there who mod their EW G2/G3/G4 systems for SMA support.
Yes.
I`m getting some noise in the audio. Nothing you can`t get out in post. Somehow, it seems nosy, compared to G2 or G3, or Sony UWP-D. Seem like Sony UWP-D`s default compander. Cute, I see where it can work better than others.
My guess is the ME2’s limited dynamic range means that the fans in my lights make a noise floor that sits higher than I’d like.
@@curtisjudd that could be… maybe it just needs to be run a bit hotter. But that’s just my take. Ps starting to use more and more DPA 4060 against cos11. They seem to sound better on these consumer gear than Sanken do. Would you be kind, if the time allows it to such a test?
@@sebastianciho yes, if the budget allows.
Which one is better between Sony UWP D21 or Sennheiser EW 112P G4 or This one
In 2023, I’d opt for the EW-DP or the So y system.
Is the scanning function the same as the G4?
No! Much faster and easier.
Quick Note on removable Antennae: If this is in fact thought of as an on camera system, I don't see the point for removable antennae. Main uses for external antennae in my opinion would be sound bags (bowties for example) or sound carts with external (and perhaps far away) antennae. For the second you could perhaps get away with the already existing EW-D or DX rackmountable receivers - which do need external power and already have external antennae support. For sound bags, this is (as you pointed out) not suitable anyways. It would have been nice but if Sennheiser actually makes a slot or bag version, I don't see a point in complaining
Agreed. Just wanted to make sure people who wanted this to be a bag solution know that it really is not.
How about packing this system to head to the location?
@@Slipsch the antennae adjust on 2 axis so you can unfold them and carry in a camera bag.
One good thing about removable antennae: you can replace them if they get damaged.
Hi! Actually this is also compatible with bag. There is even printed guide inside of the box how to use it on the sound bag.@@curtisjudd
Maybe I missed it in the video but is the app necessary to use the device?
It is not necessary.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the reply!
Hey there! Does anyone know if having the sennheiser EW-DP receiver pluged into a 32bit float recorder will enable the capabilities of 32bit float (prevent clipping), or will I be capped at 24bit since it's a digital system?
You can still clip in the wireless system before the audio ever gets to the recorder. But it won't hurt to plug the EW-DP into a 32-bit float recorder.
@@curtisjudd Wow thank you for your answer! Do you think analog sennheiser systems like the G4 are still relevant today? Are the G4s a better choice vs the EW-DP if you want 32 bit float?
@@V_SURF They're still relevant and lots of people are using them and making fine audio with them. But they're not any better for 32-bit float. They can also clip.
If you have the budget for higher end gear and clipping audio is a serious problem for your work, the Zaxcom, Sound Devices, and SHURE Axient digital systems manage dynamic range in slightly different ways to prevent clipping.
May I ask you how it's possible to clip analog systems?@@curtisjudd
@@V_SURF The microphone can distort at high SPLs and the analogue preamp can also be overloaded. Also, many analogue systems use a companding system which compresses the audio at the transmitter and then expands it again at the receiver. If you're pushing the limits of what the analogue preamp can handle, in terms of dynamic range, the compression and expansion can potentially compound that issue.
Is it just me or is there a very audible noise floor here? Doesn't sound like it's from the fans, it's a pretty specific device noise floor. The G4 with sanken is absolutely silent on my C70. All the specs make me want to buy this system, but that noise floor leaves me wondering.
Same here
@@humphreybrondy nvm I just got myself one, it’s clean as day. Love it!
what frequency model should I get for California ?
Either one of the US models are fine for CA.
@@curtisjudd thanks..also what's either one? will those be good for Texas and Vegas too?
@@creativegreatsvisuals The unlicensed, legal frequencies to use in the US are the same from state to state. What differs is what TV stations broadcast, if any, within the same frequencies. You'll have to work around those. You should be fine with the 470 - 542 MHz model for every city in the US.
thank you so much
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions
Can I use one transmitter going out to two receivers?
Not sure, best to contact Sennheiser support to confirm.
Sure can! One UHF transmitter can feed an unlimited amount of UHF receivers (think of the transmitter as a radio station and the receivers as cars... there's no limit to the number of cars that can listen in).
@@robb.blumenreder
I asked Sennheiser about this. The answer is: no! With the old EW G4 that worked fine but the new EW-DP receiver makes a “Sync” connection with the transmitter so it can adjust gain and other features in the transmitter. This “Sync” connection can only be made with one transmitter.
That’s what they told me and it makes sense to me.
Thank you for your thoughts!
Hi @@trioristretto2431 - please allow me to clarify what I think our support team meant. When using the sync function to link a transmitter to a receiver, the receiver takes priority since that's what you're scanning your environment with. However, you can absolutely manually set identical frequencies for multiple receivers and send the same transmission signal to all of them; frequencies can be set via the Receiver Menu or via the Smart Assist app. As an aside, all gain adjustments can be individually adjusted at each receiver as there is no gain setting on the EW-D SK transmitter.
@@robb.blumenreder
So, what you are saying is that Sennheiser support does not know how their product works?
I think this is a huge miss for Sennheiser, I mean, compare this with the Deity Theos Wireless system. Tbh, idk what Sennheiser is doing... Non-removable antennae, and no 32-bit float safety audio recording on the transmitter. Only a Single channel for something so huge and 25m range??? Why Sennheiser? Why?
Yeah I was think dual channel receiver too !
@@ScoobieDee It's weird for a company like Sennheiser to do this, the sad thing is, it will take them 4-7 years before we see a new model. I would use Sennheiser just for the brand, but looking at what Deity is offering. It's hard to justify the Sennheiser.
Important, actually critical note: DEITY THEOS is not shipping, we don’t yet know the price, and we don’t know how well it works. It is premature to say it is better than any other system.
@@curtisjudd I won't say that it will be better than the sennheiser, but I'm saying that sennheiser should have included all the features that the theos is bringing.
That would be nice, yes. And I hope DEITY does deliver all of these features. Still, the fact remains that Sennheiser has a shipping product and DEITY has made promises and showed a prototype at trade shows.
so, the AVX has a lot better range. That's weird since their receiver is smaller without two antennas.
Hmmm, no, outdoors in a similar test with no buildings nearby, AVX did NOT perform better for me. Indoors the EW-DP performed better in my range samples.
@@curtisjudd Ok, thanks. I remeber a video in which you test the AVX range and you get almost a 100m outdoors. Maybe I'm confused.
EW-DP or AVX?
Simple, but less flexible (AVX), slightly more work to set up, but can adapt with different frequencies (EW-DP)? Choose the one which fits your needs.
ew, dp
🎙️
why such a big mattebox i wanna know
To hold the filters which are a standard size
No SD card for backup audio is YUUUUUUUUGE mistake
Many of the features are appealing, but the limitations make it "overpriced" to my below-pro situation. If the intent is to provide better direct-to-camera audio, then making users turn up the notoriously bad camera preamps is a bad idea, for example. Maybe they'll sort things out better in future generations of this line. I hope so, as it could be a great fit for me, ideally by correcting some of the current limitations.
Note that is ONLY when you set the output to LINE level, not microphone level. In deeper testing, I found the self noise levels to be more dependent on the lavalier microphone used. That was only a note for people recording with field recorders who expect a line level output. For direct to camera audio, this system is quite good.
@@curtisjudd when I did a comparison between the ME 2 and the MKE 2 mic at first I wasn’t that impressed with the MKE 2 at 2.5 x the price … however when breaking it down I realised the MKE was better in so many small ways it was well worth it and one of those things is the noise floor on the ME 2, its really quite bad in comparison to the MKE 2 ( not as bad as the standard Deity lapels though)
@@ScoobieDee that matches my experience. 👍
@@curtisjudd This clarification warrants writing in your description field, IMHO.
great! can u check collab email
?