Zeromus-X
12-05-2002, 08:32 PM
Well now, here's some interesting data for those who care about it.
Preface: This test should not be taken as the be-all end-all of wireless tests for these units. I did this in a matter of five minutes using a bassline that I played by hand. When I have more time, I'll use a reference tone (such as a bass drop) which would be identical through each wireless system, and we'd see a definite cutoff point. However, since this is for a bass rig, I figured the easiest thing to do would be to run the bass through it.
Test equipment:
Ibanez EDA-900 - Piezos off, Magnetic on full, tone on full.
to Spectraflex Fatso-Flex 10' braided nylon cable
to *
to SansAmp RBI
to TC Electronic Triple-C compressor (in effects loop)
to CBI 14 gauge speaker cable
to Sound Blaster Audigy sound card, Line In
to Cool Edit Pro 2
where * is the method being tested -- nothing at all, the Samson, or the Sennheiser.
The two models being tested are a Samson VHF-TD wireless unit ($149 at American Musical) and a Sennheiser Digital 1000 wireless unit ($299 at American Musical, cheaper elsewhere). I put a new Energizer e^2 9v battery in the bass for testing this, and each wireless transmitter also has a new battery (the same as the bass, Energizer e^2). The bass itself is tuned to a dropped C# tuning (all strings down 1/2 step; bottom string down a full step further).
Step 1: Frequency analysis of low E string.
Cable:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cord_Low_CSharp.gif
Samson:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Samson_Low_CSharp.gif
Sennheiser:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Senn_Low_CSharp.gif
The most drastic difference in these pictures isn't the low end, but what appears to be the low-mids -- the cable and the Sennheiser graphs show a gradual decrease between 200 Hz and 500 Hz, while the Samson drops suddenly around the same area. All testing shows a spike around 15000 Hz which I will assume is being induced by either a cable with interference or the computer itself, as it's present in all samples.
Cable: 33.64 Hz @ -30.6 dB
Samson: 33.64 Hz @ -29.75 dB
Sennheiser: 33.64 Hz @ -28.26 dB
When viewing the decibel levels for each, it's interesting to note that the cable scores the lowest. This could be due to the gain being set too high on the wireless receivers, however.
Combination of C# note for each method
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Combination.gif
Green = Cable, Red = Samson, Purple = Sennheiser
This chart makes it a little more obvious which unit is boosting which frequencies. Interestingly enough, the Sennheiser appears to beat out even the cable itself for most of the test above 250 Hz! I can't explain this one, as I'm not using a shit cable. Perhaps a fluke. I don't know.
Step 2: Frequency analysis of a series of notes.
The next three graphs are frequency spectrum analysis shots of a simple note progression: C# D E E D C#. Simple up and down. Each is done twice per unit tested (i.e. the cable one goes C# D E E D C# C# D E E D C#), with the first time being hit moderately hard and the second being played gently.
Cable:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cord_Full.gif
Samson:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Samson_Full.gif
Sennheiser:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Senn_Full.gif
Combination:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Complete_Full.gif
Green = Cable, Red = Samson, Blue = Sennheiser
All the methods are about even on the low end, with the Sennheiser again winning out for the low-mid range.
In conclusion it seems that both the Samson VHF-TD and the Sennheiser unit accurately reproduce the low notes of a bass. The sound quality is what really counts. I have no way of measuring the amount of static one gets when walking around or anything. I have not had the Digital 1000 long enough to fairly judge this yet, either. I'll be able to post about that when we do our next show, at which point you'll get another full review if you'd like.
If you can see one thing from these charts though... the Digital 1000 and a standard cable sure look about the same to me!!
Cable (green) vs. Samson VHF-TD (blue):
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cable_vs_Samson.gif
Cable (green) vs. Sennheiser Digital 1000 (blue):
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cable_vs_Senn.gif
If you wish to hear the audio sample I used to make these charts, click here (http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cable_Samson_Senn.mp3).
Thanks, and I hope this helps someone!
Preface: This test should not be taken as the be-all end-all of wireless tests for these units. I did this in a matter of five minutes using a bassline that I played by hand. When I have more time, I'll use a reference tone (such as a bass drop) which would be identical through each wireless system, and we'd see a definite cutoff point. However, since this is for a bass rig, I figured the easiest thing to do would be to run the bass through it.
Test equipment:
Ibanez EDA-900 - Piezos off, Magnetic on full, tone on full.
to Spectraflex Fatso-Flex 10' braided nylon cable
to *
to SansAmp RBI
to TC Electronic Triple-C compressor (in effects loop)
to CBI 14 gauge speaker cable
to Sound Blaster Audigy sound card, Line In
to Cool Edit Pro 2
where * is the method being tested -- nothing at all, the Samson, or the Sennheiser.
The two models being tested are a Samson VHF-TD wireless unit ($149 at American Musical) and a Sennheiser Digital 1000 wireless unit ($299 at American Musical, cheaper elsewhere). I put a new Energizer e^2 9v battery in the bass for testing this, and each wireless transmitter also has a new battery (the same as the bass, Energizer e^2). The bass itself is tuned to a dropped C# tuning (all strings down 1/2 step; bottom string down a full step further).
Step 1: Frequency analysis of low E string.
Cable:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cord_Low_CSharp.gif
Samson:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Samson_Low_CSharp.gif
Sennheiser:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Senn_Low_CSharp.gif
The most drastic difference in these pictures isn't the low end, but what appears to be the low-mids -- the cable and the Sennheiser graphs show a gradual decrease between 200 Hz and 500 Hz, while the Samson drops suddenly around the same area. All testing shows a spike around 15000 Hz which I will assume is being induced by either a cable with interference or the computer itself, as it's present in all samples.
Cable: 33.64 Hz @ -30.6 dB
Samson: 33.64 Hz @ -29.75 dB
Sennheiser: 33.64 Hz @ -28.26 dB
When viewing the decibel levels for each, it's interesting to note that the cable scores the lowest. This could be due to the gain being set too high on the wireless receivers, however.
Combination of C# note for each method
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Combination.gif
Green = Cable, Red = Samson, Purple = Sennheiser
This chart makes it a little more obvious which unit is boosting which frequencies. Interestingly enough, the Sennheiser appears to beat out even the cable itself for most of the test above 250 Hz! I can't explain this one, as I'm not using a shit cable. Perhaps a fluke. I don't know.
Step 2: Frequency analysis of a series of notes.
The next three graphs are frequency spectrum analysis shots of a simple note progression: C# D E E D C#. Simple up and down. Each is done twice per unit tested (i.e. the cable one goes C# D E E D C# C# D E E D C#), with the first time being hit moderately hard and the second being played gently.
Cable:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cord_Full.gif
Samson:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Samson_Full.gif
Sennheiser:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Senn_Full.gif
Combination:
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Complete_Full.gif
Green = Cable, Red = Samson, Blue = Sennheiser
All the methods are about even on the low end, with the Sennheiser again winning out for the low-mid range.
In conclusion it seems that both the Samson VHF-TD and the Sennheiser unit accurately reproduce the low notes of a bass. The sound quality is what really counts. I have no way of measuring the amount of static one gets when walking around or anything. I have not had the Digital 1000 long enough to fairly judge this yet, either. I'll be able to post about that when we do our next show, at which point you'll get another full review if you'd like.
If you can see one thing from these charts though... the Digital 1000 and a standard cable sure look about the same to me!!
Cable (green) vs. Samson VHF-TD (blue):
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cable_vs_Samson.gif
Cable (green) vs. Sennheiser Digital 1000 (blue):
http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cable_vs_Senn.gif
If you wish to hear the audio sample I used to make these charts, click here (http://www.starconrpg.com/wireless/Cable_Samson_Senn.mp3).
Thanks, and I hope this helps someone!