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Forum Home » Sound Reinforcement » LAB Lounge » Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system
| Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332030] |
Mon, 16 June 2008 14:27  |
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| Which one?[ 7 vote(s) ] |
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| 1. | Audix RAD360 |  4 / 57% | | 2. | Sabine SWM7000 | 3 / 43% |
I have a tough decision ahead of me… I am buying a wireless mic system (as mentioned in my other post about case set-ups).
I had the pleasure of testing a Sabine SWM7000 2.4 Ghz system with the OM3 head and I loved it, the lead singer loved it also. But I didn’t get a chance to use the FBX or Mic Modeling features, nor was I able to check out the computer interface.
I can’t decide if I want to go with the Sabine unit or the Audix unit. Each unit has it plus and minus. The single mic version of the Sabine system is $1050-1100 and the Audix RAD-360 runs about $550-650 with the same capsule. However I have to add, the Sabine is above my budget, but the Audix one is below my budget. Can you see why I need your help?
Sabine:
Pro’s:
2.4Ghz – no need to worry about Feb09.
Rechargeable batteries
Built in FBX & Compressor tools
Con’s:
Much more expensive system
Audix:
Pro’s:
Cheaper
Con’s:
Feb09 concern
My clients; we are primarily in the bar scene with weekly gigs. There is two other wireless systems that are being used, 1 older Shure headset mic and 1 older Shure guitar system. I am not filling riders with the bands I am working with.
What would you do IF you where in my shoes?
Sabine w/ OM3
OR
Audix w/ OM3, possible an OM5 capsule
[Updated on: Mon, 16 June 2008 14:30]
I on the web at: meerkatsound.com
I'm a member of the Maryland EV QRx Mafia
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332048 is a reply to message #332034 ] |
Mon, 16 June 2008 15:15  |
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| Jeff Babcock wrote on Mon, 16 June 2008 15:45 |
Matt,
As long as the audix is not in the "C" spectrum (700ish plus) then you should be fine for a while. Any unit with enough channels to select from should be fine for your use.
I would save your money and get a better capsule - I'd go with the OM5 or OM6 (if available) over the OM3.
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Jeff, I was looking at the OM5 capsule with the Audix system. I was also going to get a Black or Yellow system, if I go the Audix route.
Audix frequencies are:
Black = 638-662 MHz
Yellow = 692-716 MHz
Red = 782-806 MHz
Green = 790-814 MHz
I on the web at: meerkatsound.com
I'm a member of the Maryland EV QRx Mafia
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332246 is a reply to message #332048 ] |
Tue, 17 June 2008 09:14 |
Doran Oster
Messages: 21
Registered: November 2004
Location: Alachua, FL |
Here Often |
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Both the fabulous OM3 and OM5 are options with the Sabine system. You should A/B the sound quality of several systems before making a decision. Consider the cost of batteries before deciding which system costs less.
Doran Oster
Sabine, Inc.
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332267 is a reply to message #332048 ] |
Tue, 17 June 2008 10:55 |
 Rick Stansby
Messages: 1429
Registered: November 2004
Location: Davis, California |
Has No Life |
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| Matt Vivlamore wrote on Mon, 16 June 2008 13:15 |
| Jeff Babcock wrote on Mon, 16 June 2008 15:45 |
Matt,
As long as the audix is not in the "C" spectrum (700ish plus) then you should be fine for a while. Any unit with enough channels to select from should be fine for your use.
I would save your money and get a better capsule - I'd go with the OM5 or OM6 (if available) over the OM3.
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Jeff, I was looking at the OM5 capsule with the Audix system. I was also going to get a Black or Yellow system, if I go the Audix route.
Audix frequencies are:
Black = 638-662 MHz
Yellow = 692-716 MHz
Red = 782-806 MHz
Green = 790-814 MHz
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It is my understanding that the "feb 09 issue" only affects 698 MHz up to 800 or so, so you should probably get the Black frequency range. All soundmen know that black is the coolest color anyway 
I have never used the sabine wireless mics, but I wouldn't buy them. In my experience Sabine is a decent company that designs usable equipment, but their current advertisements use misinformation and scare tactics to fool people into thinking that all UHF microphones will be useless in 2009. I'm sure that will help their sales in the MI market, but we're smarter than that here. [/rant]
Rick
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332281 is a reply to message #332267 ] |
Tue, 17 June 2008 11:57 |
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| Rick Stansby wrote on Tue, 17 June 2008 11:55 |
I have never used the sabine wireless mics, but I wouldn't buy them. In my experience Sabine is a decent company that designs usable equipment, but their current advertisements use misinformation and scare tactics to fool people into thinking that all UHF microphones will be useless in 2009. I'm sure that will help their sales in the MI market, but we're smarter than that here. [/rant]
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Since I have never seen any manufacturer's marketing material bring up the fact that it's illegal for ANYONE without a broadcasting license to use most any RF mic, I wouldn't be fast to condemn Sabine.
Dave Dermont - Chief Lizard, LAB Lounge
Time everlasting
Time to play "B" sides
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332292 is a reply to message #332281 ] |
Tue, 17 June 2008 12:26 |
Josh Oswald
Messages: 503
Registered: March 2006
Location: Montgomery, Alabama |
Has No Life |
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Matt,
I demo'd the Sabine SWM7000 with an OM3 a few months ago. I really, really liked the sound of this mic. The build quality on the handheld and the rack unit seemed good overall. My two criticisms...
1) The unit i demo'd did not have a back lit LCD on the handheld. I didn't like that at all.
2) This one is a little harder to explain, but the rack unit's controls looked a litt cheesy and were a little hard to read if you were not looking directly at it. Think old school rear projection television set here...if you're not level with the center of the screen, you lost some picture clarity. That's kind of the situation with my demo. My wireless rack is off to the side of the console and it was tough to see the read outs from my chair.
The mic modeling was a cool feature, but i would probably never have used it and the compressor and de-esser, etc...all cool, but again, probably wouldn't have used it much.
Unfortunately cost on the sabine gear was just too high for the 8 units i needed. I had to go another route.
If i were in your shoes, I'd probably save the money and get the audix stuff.
Oh, and about the Sabine adds on PSW...i don't care for them, but hey, they're just trying to sell gear.
Hth,
Josh O
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332306 is a reply to message #332292 ] |
Tue, 17 June 2008 13:03 |
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Josh,
I did notice that the display was a little difficult to read, I had mine slide into the bottom of the rack. I thought the display was difficult to read because of the blue film on it (that protector stuff)...
In the end, which wireless systems did you end up with?
I am also wondering has anyone made a/b comparison between the Audix unit and Sabine unit using the same head?
I on the web at: meerkatsound.com
I'm a member of the Maryland EV QRx Mafia
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332315 is a reply to message #332306 ] |
Tue, 17 June 2008 13:20 |
Josh Oswald
Messages: 503
Registered: March 2006
Location: Montgomery, Alabama |
Has No Life |
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Matt,
I A/B'd the Sabine with the OM3 to a Shure SLX Beta 87A, an older Shure LX Beta87a, and an even older Sennheiser unit which model number i can't remember. Out of the three, the Sabine unit (with no dynamics or modeling engaged) sounded the best. It might have been that i was just use to the sound of the Beta 87's and the Sabine sound different, but overall i liked it alot.
I think one thing that would improve on screen readability, would be to make the whole thing an LCD and not use the static overlays that are filed in with LCD content. Ok, reading that really doesn't make any sense...if you see one, you'll get what i'm saying. 
I went with 8 Shure ULXS with Beta87a heads.
Josh
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332451 is a reply to message #332281 ] |
Tue, 17 June 2008 18:55 |
Rick Stansby
Messages: 1429
Registered: November 2004
Location: Davis, California |
Has No Life |
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| Dave Dermont wrote on Tue, 17 June 2008 09:57 |
| Rick Stansby wrote on Tue, 17 June 2008 11:55 |
I have never used the sabine wireless mics, but I wouldn't buy them. In my experience Sabine is a decent company that designs usable equipment, but their current advertisements use misinformation and scare tactics to fool people into thinking that all UHF microphones will be useless in 2009. I'm sure that will help their sales in the MI market, but we're smarter than that here. [/rant]
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Since I have never seen any manufacturer's marketing material bring up the fact that it's illegal for ANYONE without a broadcasting license to use most any RF mic, I wouldn't be fast to condemn Sabine.
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I didn't mean to condemn Sabine. I tried to use the [/rant] tag to point out that it wasn't a really big issue, more just something that rubs me the wrong way. Many companies exaggerate things in their ads. The marketing doesn't affect the quality of the product that Sabine sells.
Rick
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #332532 is a reply to message #332451 ] |
Wed, 18 June 2008 00:15 |
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John Moore
Messages: 181
Registered: March 2006
Location: Tracy, CA-Central Valley |
Has No Life |
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We have 4 of the RAD360's and they rock. Quality in sound is comparable IMO to the wired versions of the same heads. We have OM3 and OM5. No experience with the Sabines, but if you look for some used ones as we have found, paid about $300 for each on average on ebay...some came with both lapel and hand held. Even found one with lapel, headset and hand held units, including the body pack...set up on the RAD is easy as well, we bought the antenna combiner and have 4 racked up together in a EWI case, with a storage drawer in the bottom for the mics and accessories.
Always in upgrade mode,I hate that...
http://www.trinityprosound.com
Dealers for Peavey,B52,CBI Cables,RAPCO,Altman,ETC,Distro#1-4/0,CAMLOKs,
Thomas Truss,Road Ready Cases,Audix,Yorkville,
Irradiant,Apex,Alto,Traynor,ART
209-832-8023
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #333145 is a reply to message #332451 ] |
Fri, 20 June 2008 00:07 |
Doran Oster
Messages: 21
Registered: November 2004
Location: Alachua, FL |
Here Often |
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We believe our ads are accurate. Almost all of the copy concerning UHF comes right off the websites of the big-three wireless manufacturers and industry experts.
If anyone points out any statement that is misleading or inaccurate, it will be corrected as soon as possible.
Doran Oster
President
Sabine, Inc.
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #333150 is a reply to message #333145 ] |
Fri, 20 June 2008 01:05 |
Rick Stansby
Messages: 1429
Registered: November 2004
Location: Davis, California |
Has No Life |
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| Doran Oster wrote on Thu, 19 June 2008 22:07 |
We believe our ads are accurate. Almost all of the copy concerning UHF comes right off the websites of the big-three wireless manufacturers and industry experts.
If anyone points out any statement that is misleading or inaccurate, it will be corrected as soon as possible.
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Doran,
I respect the fact that you have come here to help the OP and also to address the complaint that I raised. I didn't mean to hijack the thread, and I don't want to overplay the importance of marketing claims. However, since you took the time to respond, I will do my best to explain what I find misleading in the ad.
I find the ad misleading because of 2 statements. I can't find the ad now to quote directly, but I remember approximately what was said:
1) "Is UHF dead?" This rhetorical question implies that all UHF mics will be affected by changes that are happening in Feb. 2009. In fact only transmitters in a specific frequency range will be affected.
2) Sabine wireless mics: "The only wireless mic guaranteed to work after feb. 2009." Again the ad implies that the changes affect more mics than are actually affected.
I can't say that the ad is dishonest, only misleading. It takes advantage of widespread confusion on this issue. Obviously it is not your duty to clear up this confusion, you don't even make UHF wireless mics.
FWIW I think your technology is interesting, I especially like the fact that your are using rechargeable batteries.
Rick
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #333355 is a reply to message #333150 ] |
Fri, 20 June 2008 21:39 |
Doran Oster
Messages: 21
Registered: November 2004
Location: Alachua, FL |
Here Often |
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Rick,
Thanks for your comments.
From everything we understand, the remaining white spaces have a very short life after Feb 2009 before other interfering devices are allowed into that space. Some mic companies have been lobbying hard to have the rules modified so that there is a little space reserved for UHF mics, but so far, they have not been successful.
If this is an exaggeration, our competitors should be comfortable giving their customers a written guarantee that they will be able to find sufficient UHF space for a reasonable time after their purchase or the customer gets a refund. That's our guarantee.
Thanks again.
Doran
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| Re: Help me decide; Sabine vs. Audix wireless system [message #333570 is a reply to message #333355 ] |
Sat, 21 June 2008 21:44 |
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Slight update... After turning in the Sabine system, I have a Shure SLX w/ Beta 58A head out for a test drive for the next couple weeks.
I was going to demo the Audix unit, but one wasn't in-stock. So, I am demoing a SLX set-up for the time being.
I on the web at: meerkatsound.com
I'm a member of the Maryland EV QRx Mafia
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