anyone using the sennheiser evolution 100 series
 

I bought this today based on a friend who has it seemed to work good and was looking for a backup to my lectrosonics, the big appeal was the cube (plus tried a friends a good range and clarity). I want to use a shotgun off boompole and as my "b" system. I liked it it $512 with shipping seemed okay....Im looking for opinions from those who have owned it for a while, good or bad.....

thanks

michel

I've had my Evolution 100 for a while now and it has been excellent. I have the EW112p (camera mountable reciever) system and I had a ECM77b Lav modified to use with the transmitter. I'm going to purchase the plug-on transmitter to use with my Sennheiser ME66 as a wireless boom mic. I don't think there is a better wireless system for the money, my personal opinion.

Hi donbarzoni,

I'm in the process of buying the EW112P from Chris at ZGC. It comes standard with the ME-2 lav. Did you ever use this mic and how was it. Later I'd like to buy the Sennheiser MKE-2 Gold mic, but at over $400 it'll have to wait a while.

Use it, love it.
 

The standard mic is a joy. Its works very well and is easy to mount on a camera. It also uses standard 9volt batts so that's easy to find.

What is ZGC selling them for??

Nathan Gifford

I use the Sennheiser 500 wireless plug-on to my boom mounted shotgun - I get superb sound and have never had a drop-out due to interference, distance, etc.

Nathan,

ZGC's price is around $450, but Chris is always open to negotiation.

I'm convinced! I was given the oportunity to play around with the 112 pack (me2 omni lav). For a few bucks more I can get the butt plugg as well(plug in transmitter) Now if I can sell the wife's car?

Since the evolution 100 series are 3.5 minijack how are people attaching the reciever to the camera?

Are you using the MA200/100 with an XLR adapter?

Evolution 100
 

I have the ew112p, with the ME2 microphone, I have found it excellent.
I feed it through the MA100 LH channel and have a K6 with ME66 and feed into the RH channel.
I would also like a wireless microphone for interviews. Has any one had experience with the SKM145 microphone?.
I did think of using a SKP100 transmitter on the ME66 but sometimes a opportunity to interview somebody may happen very quickly so did not want to mess around taking it of the camera.

I attach the receive to the handle
 

I mount the receiver above the tape door to the handle with 'gorilla velco.' Gorilla velco is a really heavy duty version.

The downside of this installation is if you grab the handle you can dislodge the receiver.

Nathan Gifford
Tickfaw, LA

I just recieved the 100 kit, plug-on, body transmit, body reciever, lav, I also have the xlr adapter CL100, problem is the reciever has no output, the tech service guys wouldn't answer the phone and somewone that I spoke to wanted the reciever back, secretary said that my visa would be charged full amount, not real happy with the 100 series.

where does one find "gorilla Velcro"?

100kit
 

I just got mine, recveiver and lav are fine but the cube sucks, audio is so very low tossed ti to a friend to see if it was just me being a idiot and he had the same problem.....any thoughts. based on my experiencve wouldnt reccomend the system of couse it was $495 at bh, i wanted cube most paid little and appear to have got a dust puppet cube...

michel

I tried the cube on an AT835b and a sennheiser ME66 and both work fine. You do have to set the sensitivety to 0db with the AT.

The book is poor in describing any of the buttonology. In fact in the book I had it didn't even mention the settings. The book however did mention the plug-on for microphones needed a metal bodied microphone because that is the surface it used as an antenna, it said not to use plastic mics.

Gorilla Velcro.
 

Gorilla velcro is a nickname for the other type of velco. Both strips are identical, unlike the more common hook and loop. Its like a bunck of very, very small nail heads and when engaged provides for a much firmer hold.

You can knock the receiver off the handle even with gorilla velco. However, it will not shake off like it can if you are using hook and loop.

Nathan Gifford

What is a CL100?
 

I haven't had any problems at all with Ew112p. The SK100 (trnsmitter) even works fine with my Shure hand mic.

You do have to learn how to set the device, both the transmitter and receiver. The manual is not the greatest. Most manuals seem to written for people already familar with audio gear and wireless systems than us more common Joes/Janes (or is Janes/Joes?).

The transmitter (SK100) has 4 gain settings: 0, -10, -20, and -30dB. I generally leave mine set to -10dB. That's really the only setting on the mic you should ever have to use unless there is a frequency conflict. You may have cause to use the mute button, but that can be more trouble than its worth.

On the receiver (EK100) the only soft panel setting worthy of note is the squelch. In noisy RF environments you might have to work that one. The knob controls the audio output. I do not have it cranked up all the way. I will make some fine adjustments on that control when I set up and then do everything else on the cam as needed.

Its true there is only one audio output jack on the receiver. That has never been an issue with me. I listen through the cam, with the audio output set to mix so I can hear all 4 channels. By pressing the monitor button I can select the configuration I want.

I still think this system is excellent. It has never been a moment's trouble. It is made of metal, not plastic. I have dropped more than once and it continues to function. Battery life is excellent. Reproduction quality is very good, even for a lav.

To me the only thing better than this gem is to have two of 'em.

Nathan Gifford

Replacement kit arrived, after testing the lav, plug on, and receiver, I found the 100 system has very good sound. Does need just a little more gain in volume so I don't have to pump it up so high but I can live with that.

I bought the EV 100 from B&H back when they had their $300 special for the bodypack transmitter and receiver. I also bought the sugar-cube transmitter which works well after adjusting its sensitivity. Another $200.

I more recently purchased the integraded dynamic microphone/transmitter. sort of disappointed with it because of handling noise. And it is no more sensitive than the sugar-cube/SM-58 combo which is a much better microhone for hand-held purposes.

My system came with both min-jack and XLR cables.

I just hang the receive of the strap of my PD-150 although I intend to make a drop-in tray for the bottom. sort of like an XLR adapter.

Talking with the Sennheiser folks at NAB, I was please to find out that the 300 and 500 series products will also work with the 100 series. Just some of the goodies like reporting back battery strength may not work.

I have found that cell phones and pagers can cause some problems with the system. At a recent wedding, the DJ asked eveyone to turn their phones and pagers off, not mute them but turn them off.

He had an AT system and noted that the phones and pagers could cause problems.

Realize that there are different bands for the Evolution.
 

The Evolution comes configured to run in one of 5 bands 32MHz wide with 4 preset channels (on the 100 series). The presets can be changed.

Some bands may be more prone to interference that others. Generally the better retailers will help you in selecting the band that is best for you.

I have version C (740MHz-772MHz) and have never had a problem.

Nathan Gifford
Tickfaw, LA