Going Wirless

[swany]

I would recommend the shures also, only problem I have with that is I do Karaoke in the real world bars and they may be able as quoted to drive nails with em. Drunks have no respect for the equiptment their idea of a sound check to check to see if the mic is on is to bang it on their hand first. Some use their beer bottle, others their leg ect. The cheap ones you don't lose much. For most public karaoke in the usual bar scene a set of voco pros for less than a hundred bucks is plenty okay. For weddings doing toasts, I stick to my better mics, I guess it's live and learn. I do now know how to repair dropped and banged on mics. I keep an extra repaired unit in each show for it's rotation. Whatever you buy try to get an extra mic with the unit, it will save you sooner or later.

[Monolithent]

You may have already purchased but wanted to throw in some personal experience on some wireless mics I've used over the years.

I am a Shure user and will never use any other brand. I have wired SM-58s that I bought 12 years ago that are still as good today as they were when I bought them (couple new windscreens and some scratches but still functionally flawless)

PGX24/SM-58 or Beta 58: Good range with diversity, sound quality is very good (Beta 58 is extremely good), transmitter bodies are plastic and I used tape on the battery cover of every one I own and has worked flawless for years. Transmitter uses AA batteries and will have to be swapped out every three or four shows (recommend rechargeables). Several transmit recieve channels and a cool InfraRed sync setup never had any interference (and I live on an Air Force Base). Personal experience with both of these mics is that the SM 58 has very good sound and will assist most singers and moreover is quite durable if a bit of control is exercised over your singers. The Beta 58 is exceptionally clear and loves its sound from close up, however it is much more delicate and for the extra cost I would never hand it to a singer that I was unsure of.

LX88-II SM-58: Good range but non-diversity so not as good as PGX24, sound quality is similar as they use modified versions of the same SM-58 Capsule. Two mics and large rackmountable reciever with lost of options. Battery cover on the transmitter has the same issues as with most twist on types (develops a crack or two -- I find electrical tape early keeps everything together nicely for a long time). The switches on the transmitter should be covered with tape or similar during a show to prevent accidental shutoff. This is an older model and Shure will not be repairing them much longer.

After the PGX series the models get very expensive very quickly and they only really gain you range and options that are probably beyond the need for most hosts.

I'll tell you the same I tell most people. Figure your budget and go have a listen to everything in your budget. Use what you think is best. Durability, Sound quality, Range and Cost.

These, as always, are my personal opinions and experience with products and I hope I don't offend anyone with my statements.

Good luck

[capnvic]

In my past experience with wireless mic's. I have always been satisfied with the midrange Shure VHF systems. They hold up very well. Caveat goes with the crowds you cater. If you know that your Karaoke singers are responsible enough, go with the Shure, otherwise spend a little less money on other systems such as Audio Technica Digital Reference VHF mic's or AKG's wireless systems. The AKG and the ATs are durable, if there are any minuses, its in the audio range of the mic's themselves. To me it is negligible. Vocopro' mics are another good alternative.
I use the Audio Technica Wireless mics and they hold up very well.