If you had to choose out of these 3 Lavs at DVinfo.net

Oliver Darden · February 22nd, 2009, 08:14 PM

Which one would you pick? Say you were using it for a documentary feature film in many different situations, whether in a car, or in a situation where your subject is moving a lot or just formal interviews.

My budget is $299 or under.

1) Voice Technologies VT500
2) Audio-Technica AT899C
3) Tram TR50

I choose these 3 from my research on:
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/lavs_brockett.html

I did my audio testing on a pair of Event ASP8's and these are the 3 mics that sounded best to my ears.

Wayne Brissette · February 22nd, 2009, 08:55 PM

It's not on your list, but I still go with the Sanken COS-11 lavs every time. It's the only lav I use (except when I have to rent, then I usually get stuck with the TRAMS). The Trams on your list are pretty good.

Wayne

Oliver Darden · February 23rd, 2009, 12:17 AM

Wayne, that's a bit out of my price range I think.

Andy Turrett · February 23rd, 2009, 05:45 AM

Cos11 should be right in your price range. Around $300. They are great sounding mics and the rubber mount makes them easy to hide.

Andy

Dan Brockett · February 23rd, 2009, 10:13 AM

I don't know Andy, BH shows U.S. $414.00 for the COS-11x kit. Have you checked with Trew or LSC? I have not, not sure what retails are.

Oliver, out of the mics you liked the best, I don't think you would go wrong with any of them but I personally have owned two of the Trams for going on 12 years, they are pretty solid. Not as small and easy to hide as the Countryman B6 but solid sound and pretty well built. Also cuts pretty well with a shotgun or hyper cardioid. I was actually surprised when I did the testing for the article, everyone always says how well the COS-11 cuts with shotguns, I thought the Tram cut more transparently with the shotgun/hyper than the Sanken did personally.

Dan

Battle Vaughan · February 23rd, 2009, 10:26 AM

The only one on your list I have used is the Tram, but it is very satisfactory. I have only lower-end AudioTechnica and Sennheisers to compare with, so this may not be helpful, but the Trams do have a good reputation. //Battle Vaughan /miamiherald.com video team

Rick Reineke · February 23rd, 2009, 10:43 AM

The $414.00 for the COS-11x is probably for the hardwired XLR version.

Andy Turrett · February 23rd, 2009, 11:11 AM

The B&H price of $414 is for the Hardwired version. Based on Oliver's description he would be going wireless.

I've seen the Sanken cos 11 with just a pigtail cost around $299. It might cost a little more for the appropriate wireless connector to be soldered. I own B6s, Sonotrims (which are exactly like Trams but have better sonics) and Cos 11s. I mostly use the Cos 11s because they are a great sounding Lav and it is the most versatile and easiest to hide Lav of all the mics I own. I use the other Lavs I own too but I use the Sanken Cos 11 about 90 percent of the time.

Shaun Roemich · February 23rd, 2009, 11:42 AM

Thread Hijack Alert: I've used that site MANY times and I never realized it was "our" own Dan Brockett...

Perrone Ford · February 23rd, 2009, 11:46 AM

The Cos11x is $299 for pigtail at B&H. Then you have to buy the connector, and if you can't solder small fittings, pay someone else to do that. What have you saved?

Or he could buy a Countryman B3 for under $200, or a Countryman B6 for $299-$314 ready to go. Or the Tram, or the PSC, or the Sonotrim.

I would have loved the Sanken, but sometimes, you can only spend, what you can spend.

Andy Turrett · February 23rd, 2009, 01:03 PM

It should only cost another $25 to $40 max to have any Audio House solder the proper connector for you. I'm not sure if B&H does that but most other Audio House do. A Countryman B6 is nice but is very limiting and you won't be able to use it outdoors. I'm not familiar with the B3

Since Oliver will be using the Lav for Documentary I think the ease of hiding the Cos 11 will make up for the temporary pain of paying a few extra dollars.

Perrone Ford · February 23rd, 2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Turrett

It should only cost another $25 to $40 max to have any Audio House solder the proper connector for you. I'm not sure if B&H does that but most other Audio House do. A Countryman B6 is nice but is very limiting and you won't be able to use it outdoors. I'm not familiar with the B3

Since Oliver will be using the Lav for Documentary I think the ease of hiding the Cos 11 will make up for the temporary pain of paying a few extra dollars.

Not to derail the thread, but why can't you use the B6 outdoors? Never heard that one before.

Oliver Darden · February 23rd, 2009, 02:47 PM

Could someone please provide me with a link on B&H to the COS-11x setup I would need to use with my xha1 (has phantom power) and Sennheiser ew500.

Dean Sensui · February 23rd, 2009, 02:47 PM

I was using the Countryman B3s but when I got the ATW-1800 system I wasn't able to find the wiring schematic to convert the B3's to use with the new mic system, so I had to use AT's 899CW mics.

To my surprise the 899CW's sound about as good as the Countryman mics. Seems well balanced, and they are just a little bigger than the Countryman B3s.

Rick Reineke · February 23rd, 2009, 03:40 PM

AT's 899 sounds IS a nice sounding mic. A little more prone to pick-up clothing and cable noise than the aforementioned Tram or COS IMO.

Oliver, if you wish to use a COS-11 hard-wired as well as with a the EW-500, you would need a phantom power module that has a 3.5mm TRS input and XLR out. I have TA-5 to XLR modules ( Lectro type plug) but have not seen a mini TRS to XLR . I suggest you contact Trew Audio, Location Sound Corp. or other Location audio specialty shops... unless someone on this forum has a solution.

February 22nd, 2009, 08:14 PM	#1
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	If you had to choose out of these 3 Lavs Which one would you pick? Say you were using it for a documentary feature film in many different situations, whether in a car, or in a situation where your subject is moving a lot or just formal interviews. My budget is $299 or under. 1) Voice Technologies VT500 2) Audio-Technica AT899C 3) Tram TR50 I choose these 3 from my research on: http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/lavs_brockett.html I did my audio testing on a pair of Event ASP8's and these are the 3 mics that sounded best to my ears.

February 22nd, 2009, 08:55 PM	#2
Wayne Brissette Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 383	It's not on your list, but I still go with the Sanken COS-11 lavs every time. It's the only lav I use (except when I have to rent, then I usually get stuck with the TRAMS). The Trams on your list are pretty good. Wayne __________________ Mics: KMR 82 i, NTG-1, MKH418S, MKH8040, SR77, QTC1, QTC40, SR30 Recorder: Zaxcom Deva 5.8 & MIX-12. Wireless: TRX900 stereo, Lectro 411

February 23rd, 2009, 11:42 AM	#9
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Thread Hijack Alert: I've used that site MANY times and I never realized it was "our" own Dan Brockett... __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

February 23rd, 2009, 11:46 AM	#10
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	The Cos11x is $299 for pigtail at B&H. Then you have to buy the connector, and if you can't solder small fittings, pay someone else to do that. What have you saved? Or he could buy a Countryman B3 for under $200, or a Countryman B6 for $299-$314 ready to go. Or the Tram, or the PSC, or the Sonotrim. I would have loved the Sanken, but sometimes, you can only spend, what you can spend. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

February 23rd, 2009, 02:47 PM	#14
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	I was using the Countryman B3s but when I got the ATW-1800 system I wasn't able to find the wiring schematic to convert the B3's to use with the new mic system, so I had to use AT's 899CW mics. To my surprise the 899CW's sound about as good as the Countryman mics. Seems well balanced, and they are just a little bigger than the Countryman B3s. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

February 23rd, 2009, 12:17 AM	#3
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	Wayne, that's a bit out of my price range I think.

February 23rd, 2009, 05:45 AM	#4
Andy Turrett Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northampton,MA Posts: 38	Cos11 should be right in your price range. Around $300. They are great sounding mics and the rubber mount makes them easy to hide. Andy

February 23rd, 2009, 10:13 AM	#5
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	I don't know Andy, BH shows U.S. $414.00 for the COS-11x kit. Have you checked with Trew or LSC? I have not, not sure what retails are. Oliver, out of the mics you liked the best, I don't think you would go wrong with any of them but I personally have owned two of the Trams for going on 12 years, they are pretty solid. Not as small and easy to hide as the Countryman B6 but solid sound and pretty well built. Also cuts pretty well with a shotgun or hyper cardioid. I was actually surprised when I did the testing for the article, everyone always says how well the COS-11 cuts with shotguns, I thought the Tram cut more transparently with the shotgun/hyper than the Sanken did personally. Dan

February 23rd, 2009, 10:26 AM	#6
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	The only one on your list I have used is the Tram, but it is very satisfactory. I have only lower-end AudioTechnica and Sennheisers to compare with, so this may not be helpful, but the Trams do have a good reputation. //Battle Vaughan /miamiherald.com video team

February 23rd, 2009, 10:43 AM	#7
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,038	The $414.00 for the COS-11x is probably for the hardwired XLR version.

February 23rd, 2009, 11:11 AM	#8
Andy Turrett Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northampton,MA Posts: 38	The B&H price of $414 is for the Hardwired version. Based on Oliver's description he would be going wireless. I've seen the Sanken cos 11 with just a pigtail cost around $299. It might cost a little more for the appropriate wireless connector to be soldered. I own B6s, Sonotrims (which are exactly like Trams but have better sonics) and Cos 11s. I mostly use the Cos 11s because they are a great sounding Lav and it is the most versatile and easiest to hide Lav of all the mics I own. I use the other Lavs I own too but I use the Sanken Cos 11 about 90 percent of the time.

February 23rd, 2009, 01:03 PM	#11
Andy Turrett Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northampton,MA Posts: 38	It should only cost another $25 to $40 max to have any Audio House solder the proper connector for you. I'm not sure if B&H does that but most other Audio House do. A Countryman B6 is nice but is very limiting and you won't be able to use it outdoors. I'm not familiar with the B3 Since Oliver will be using the Lav for Documentary I think the ease of hiding the Cos 11 will make up for the temporary pain of paying a few extra dollars.

February 23rd, 2009, 03:40 PM	#15
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,038	AT's 899 sounds IS a nice sounding mic. A little more prone to pick-up clothing and cable noise than the aforementioned Tram or COS IMO. Oliver, if you wish to use a COS-11 hard-wired as well as with a the EW-500, you would need a phantom power module that has a 3.5mm TRS input and XLR out. I have TA-5 to XLR modules ( Lectro type plug) but have not seen a mini TRS to XLR . I suggest you contact Trew Audio, Location Sound Corp. or other Location audio specialty shops... unless someone on this forum has a solution.