Sehnnheiser XSW 1-835 and XSW 2-835 Wireless Vocal Set

If you’re in the market for a high-quality, user-friendly, all-in-one wireless microphone system then you really should take a long look at Sennheiser’s XSW 1 and XSW 2 vocal microphone systems – I think you’ll end up liking them as much as I do.

Pros:

Great sound
Easy to Use
Automated Setup

Cons:

None

Sennheiser XSW 1-835 and XSW 2-835 Wireless Vocal Set

Bob Thomas takes a keen look at the latest Sennheiser has to offer, in the Sennheiser XSW 1-835 and XSW 2-835 Wireless Vocal Set.

Based just outside Hannover in Germany, Sennheiser began manufacturing high-quality microphones since 1946. Over the years the company’s product range has expanded to include a wide variety of wired microphones, wireless microphone systems (both digital and analogue) and headphones for the pro audio, home hi-fi and industrial markets. Sennheiser is now one of the biggest names in the wireless microphone sector, and their distinctive microphones can be seen both in the concert area and on television, with the annual Eurovision Song Contest being one of the shows that depend on Sennheiser microphones.

Sennheiser’s latest release, the XS Wireless systems, are attractively-priced, user-friendly, all-in-one analogue systems designed for use in both live vocal performances and spoken word applications. In the both are available in two versions – one operating on the licence-free Channel 70 863-865MHz frequency range, and the other on CH38, 606.500-616.MHz range which requires the purchase of a PMSE (Programme Making and Special Events) licence for legal operation in the UK.

Both receivers share the same basic circuit architecture. The difference being that the XSW 2 is designed to cater to the needs of the multichannel professional user (steel construction, detailed display, true diversity antennae and rackmount capability) whilst the XSW 1’s lighter, smaller and integrated switched diversity antennae make it ideal for the amateur or semi-professional vocalist or presenter who wants a simple-to-operate interface and is not interested in the arcane art of manually selecting frequencies.

The XSW hand-held transmitter is common to both systems and is supplied in three versions, all of which use capsules from Sennheiser’s renowned Evolution microphone series. The XSW 1 system can be purchased with either an e825 or e835 capsule, and the XSW 2 with either an e835 or a higher performance e865 capsule and all three transmitter versions are compatible with either receiver.

Each system can operate within eight banks of frequencies, each containing ten channels, although the limitations of the CH70 863-865MHz band mean that you can only operate up to four systems simultaneously. When setting up at a venue you can use the systems’ automatic frequency management and synchronisation to avoid any frequency clashes.

In use, both systems deliver a very high-quality, natural sound, partly due to the ability of the Evolution series cardioid capsules’ ability to reject feedback and to eliminate background noise. This level of performance reflects Sennheiser’s long history in microphone design and manufacture, but also the company’s enormous experience in wireless microphone technology.

If you’re in the market for a high-quality, user-friendly, all-in-one wireless microphone system then you really should take a long look at Sennheiser’s XSW 1 and XSW 2 vocal microphone systems – I think you’ll end up liking them as much as I do.