Today we review some of the most popular DJ Microphones but which one is right for you? In depth BLX, PLX, GLX, SLX SHOOTOUT #microphones #djgearreview #djtipsandtricks #mobiledjs #shuremicrophones
As a sound engineer and technical director for over 20 years, I echo everything he is saying about these different mic lines from Shure. I’ve used all the major brands - Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, etc. I have always leaned towards Shure products for their durability and reliability. I have had experience with all these lines plus the ULX. For me the SLX systems have been the most solid performer for the money. In a lot of medium to larger venues I always pair these systems with an antenna distribution system with the amplified flag style antennae to boost the signal. Almost a non-negotiable when operating a good number of mics in large spaces with lots of people.
Dropouts can happen anywhere with ANY wireless system... So here's a suggestion from someone who owns several Shure wireless systems including BLX, SLX, GLX and have used them for many years without any major problems. I even combine different series together during an event that requires multiple mics (Panels, Live Performances, Q&A's, etc.) WHENEVER you arrive at a venue, press and hold the group button on the receiver and let it scroll to automatically calibrate the receiver to the best channel to use then match the transmitter device (Handheld Mic, Headset, Lav, etc.) to that channel as well. Each venue has channel ranges that are problematic but Shure has built in this convenient feature to quickly locate channels with the best signal strength between transmitter and receiver available in each specific scenario. It may even be necessary to re scan periodically during an event as additional wireless systems users come online at the venue (Security, Maintenance, Production, Housekeeping, Catering, Transportation, Etc. This applies to ANY WIRELESS SYSTEM, so use whatever you like but scan for the best frequencies at any venue on arrival, it can save you a lot of headaches. Hope this is helpful to some of my event production & DJ colleagues :) Here is a scanning tutorial specifically for Shure users: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HIK0oVD-PjM.html
Steven Lucky Benson great advice and I want to emphasize what you said about scanning during the event. It’s a good practice to do the scan under the exact conditions when the mic will be in use, so do the scan when the room is full of ppl, not when it’s empty.
@@DJ-Coma Yup, you're on point! Conditions do change throughout an event, so I keep a back up system available (whenever possible) and can have a freshly scanned mic available at the first sign of trouble (dropout, interference, etc.) Plus having FULLY CHARGED BATTERIES is essential. Running a mic on a charge from the last gig is a big NO NO!!! The weaker the batteries, the weaker the signal and more likely for your system to have interference.
I completely understand what you’re saying and I do all the recommended steps but what I want when I’m working is a system that causes the LEAST amount of problems on an event. I can make it work with whatever system but I shouldn’t have to when there are systems that are just better at it from the start.
Thanks Terry, I have used the GLXD24 for about 4 years without ever experiencing any dropouts in several arenas that are at least a basketball court in size, both indoors and outdoors. I have viewed your channel because I was DJ'ing this weekend and my MIC grew legs and walked away. I value your opinion and thanks for giving me some real specs to help me make an informed purchase.
CT, just wanted to double back and tell you thank you. Based on this exceptional review/opinion, I purchased the SLX with the Beta58 and I am very impressed by the range and sound.
Great video, I have a BLX and PGX. I have not had any issues with the BLX but the PGX is my go too. I know that dropouts and mic interference can depend on where your located.
Thank you for your very informative review. I’m the audio tech at our church. All I really know, is what I learn from videos like yours. We recently purchased the GLX-D. It’s been a problem every since. The sound quality is very poor @ a distance of 20ft. Or less between transmitter and receiver. Now I’m going to see if our pastor will return them for the pgx system. Wish me well with that one.
Fantastic review, Cleveland! We are currently using SLX/SM58 at our church and were looking at investing in additional mics. I appreciate the candidness and detail. This review was way more helpful than some other reviews. Thanks so much!!
Thanks for this info, massively helpful for cutting to the chase. I wish Shure was more straight foward in their marketing about intended use cases for their products. The BLX is such an attractive option at that price point, but it makes sense that its too good to be true. Thanks man appreciate you!
Awesome video! Man so glad I watched this. I personally have been renting the GLX and have bad drop outs and I think because it’s at the 2.4 WiFi frequency. I’m gonna ditch it and try out the PGX now. Thanks!!
Great video! Had just gotten the GLX system - couldn't go 50 feet without a dropout so returned it and invested in the SLX system with upgraded antennas - I use a headset, not a handheld so I can't comment on how range differs from one to the other - but looking forward to getting the SLX system with the rechargeable batteries!
I have been using the BLX system for about 9 years now. I wouldn't call them garbage but lately depending on the area I'm in they have been dropping out but they have been 95% reliable over the years. That range is crazy though! My MC was damn near 200+ feet in a field away from me one time. That BLX lapel though is not reliable. I can attest to that! May have to go to Sennheiser for the lapels. I have been looking to upgrade my systems though so thanks for the run down because I had no idea what all the differences were. That SLX may be the move
I started with a mixture of Shure ulxs, blx and glxds for a band of 15 and it worked ok. Glxd and blx sucked when outdoors or when we used in ear monitors too. We upgraded to ulxd and axient digital. Best investment ever!!! We can network and use wireless controls without the glxd dropping out.
Well, I wish I could've heard about the GLX system 3 years ago before I bought it. I've had the mic for a year and a half. It doesn't go far from my dj booth or even when I'm set up for a live band. No issues for me with my GLXD24 Beta 57A at this time. I'm glad to have seen your video. Now I know.
@@tearitloosetearitloose4670 wow. Apparently I was shopping for wireless mics 2 years ago. Actually in the market again so I'll have to restart my research
I used PGXD since it just came out, was getting constant dropouts and pops and clicks. replaced them with BLX systems 4 years ago and everything is good so far
I was thinking to get the Shure GLXD24/B58 Digital Vocal Wireless System with Beta 58A Han. But after reading a lot reviews describing the issues with the wi fi and many other issues, I better get the Pgxd24 beta58 a d wow, wow and more wow. It’s a great microphone, cero drops and long coverage without any issues. Definitely the best mic for me if we talk about shure.... 😁
i have a very old from like 2005 Gemini UHF mic ive been using for for 1-2 gigs almost every wkend average for almost 17 yrs now, im not a Gemini fan but this thing has great sound and has never let me down, has very good range through about any walls etc, im buying some new mics soon but ill still use my old one most of the time im sure till it gives out.
A while ago i had a few PGXD's, two GLXD's and one Entry-level PG system. PGXD seemed to have the best all around range, clarity, and performance. GLXD was good for venues with less people (a digital issue with the signal and the amount of cellphones in the room), and the PG system was pure trash (a precursor to the BLX system). I got rid of all the pg's one GLXD (kept one for ceremonies and plus you'll always find a reason to keep mics) and all the PGXD's even though i got 8 ULX-p systems (tried on digital ULXD and was disappointed with the sound). This is a classic case of you get what you paid for, except, the PGXD wasn't a bad system taking price into consideration. The reality is, all soundmen wil say that having a wired connection is the best and your paying a premium for removing the cord. Great vid Terry.
I have 6 BLXR with SM 58 to replace my older ulx because of frequency rollout. Have the receivers rackmounted FOH about 60dt from stage. Quality was as good as my old ulx. This is despite having all the antenna on the back of the receivers which is not recommended with 3 or more mics. The biggest difference is the BLX has no battery meter. It just has a light green for good red for change the battery. Max receivers for BLX is 9 per band.
The GLX series uses the 2.4 band which is where Wifi often lives and if you're near access points or in an environment where there's a lot of 2.4GHz traffic like neighborhoods/hotels etc. The SM58 and the beta 87 are two completely different mics with different characteristics. Both are directional, but the beta is hyper cardioid, which means it picks up a little bit directly behind it but more focused right in front. The SM58 rejects sound behind it but has a wider pickup in front.
I use a 58 beta for my wired mic, a Sennheiser (forget model it's a $300 unit) for wireless. It's a decent mic but always thinking I'll make that my really good backup unit and get a better "A" unit. Thanks for video.
I’ve had 8 BLX Mics running in our church for 3 years and they work great. Don’t have the features of SLXD4D but it is very good for the price. My receivers are 60 ft from the stage and we never have dropouts. Most people that have reception problems don’t set them up properly.
My church bought a few BLX ( $449 each ) we decided to put them close to the stage , because we were getting drop outs but it was what we could afford because we needed 8 of them. They sound good to me as long as they’re close to the stage.
Damn..been djing for over 30 years, Never knew this info as Im looking into wireless mics and there true functions! Well explained Cleveland Terry. THANK YOU!! Gonna watch your vid on frequencies.. what do you think about GTD Wireless mics, I opened up for Styles P and he grab the wrong wireless mic (GTD) & his manager didnt notice it till the end of performance, He said it sound like the Shure PG series, I was like OOPs! lol, " It was a GTD"...
I actually have had a great experience with the Blx series. Cost was really not a concern when I made the purchase. I actually called Shure they told me what really separates the slx and blx is when you start needing to run several systems at the same time like more than 5. I actually did a install at a church. I have 5 blx systems in there run sound every Sunday for the past year no issues. This is in downtown Raleigh NC. I actually use the blx in my ceremony rig as well have not had an issue. For my lapels though I do run the Sennheiser G4’s. One thing to keep in mind is that when you purchase any wireless system remember to use the software and frequency checker to get the best range for the area you cover. This makes a huge difference as you are sharing bandwidth with TV stations.
Something i didnt see in the video or the comments - you do sound check right? Great. NOW - when the hall fills up - Re-Sync the frequencies again and i am sure your wireless system will switch. Its amazing how the radio spectrum of a room changes when 150 cell phones join in :-)
I’ve had the BLX system for over a year. Used it on dozens of gigs. Nothing wrong with it. No drop outs, boo frequency issues. I roll of low end on all my sm58s wired and the wireless. Sounds fine. I’m not shure (lol) what you are talking about.
the main differenz between the sm58 and the Beta87 is that the 87 is a condenser mic where as the 58 is a dynamic mic, hence the different looking capsule. Also the 87 has a super cardiod pattern and the 58 cardiod.
I have used Shure, Sennheiser and Audio Technica mics for over 25 years. The largest number of wireless mics I've had to set up and use is 24 mics in 2021 for a meeting/streaming conference. We didn't have any dropouts or any interference using the mixtures of Shure SLX, PGX, GLX, ULX, Sennheiser G3, XSW, EW and SKM models. The venue was at Holiday Inn next to a marina and the port. We may have been just lucky to not have any dropouts in audio. The mics were all on a tabletop stand, 3 to a table plus 2 roamers. The furthest mics were about 80 feet away. The only problems we encountered were the AA Duracell packs we bought from Walmart. They woul last no more than 2 hours on the BLX transmitters. The AA batteries in the Sennheisers lasted the entire day.
Hi Terry, enjoyed your video on the differences of the of the Shure systems. I'm looking for our church worship group. We are in a small bldg now but we want to buy equipment that will work for the bldg we are in now & for the new bldg we will be constructing. So right now I've always liked the SM58 but after watching your video I'm turning towards the SLX w/the Beta 87A mic. The mics we are using now are the Phenyx Pro, to me, you can't really hear the words of the singer and they pick up everything around them. In a Christian band, the words are the most important part. Which would you suggest that would work for our small church bldg that we are in now and the new much bigger bldg we will build? Right now the mic boxes are up on the stage don't know if in the new bldg they will be with the sound man towards the back or we may keep them with the band up front. Hope to hear from you, thanks. Carlos.
Saw many of your videos. Good stuff mein. I upgraded to a dual SLX system. But I have a question. Want to buy another for smaller events, buying another SLX, but saw you have the beta 87 over the beta 58. May I ask why? I like the 58 better especially for weddings when guests are speaking. But I notice singers/people with a more higher/squeaky voice are better on the 87a. So your opinion on the difference between beta 87 and beta 58 and SM 58 please?
One note on why the GLX system has such issues in many places: it is using the 2.4 GHz band. This band is quite crowded, as it is used for bluetooth and older wifi. If you're experiencing 20 ft distances with the GLX, it's quite likely the locations your at have pervasive wifi (likely multiple networks being presented) and extensive bluetooth use.
GLXD owner here. My system has preformed flawlessly over the last 2 years. Range is definitely not an issue for me. Corporate parties to Airshows. The battery system is priceless. The auto frequency switching is flawless. I have 4 GLXD4R rack mounted with the Shure UA846Z2 LC Frequency Manager and two Passive Directional Antennas for my Airshows tested to more than 200 feet/ Flawless. We use headsets, lapels and handheld with this system. There are a lot and good wireless systems out there, My money was well spent on this system.. Just my 2 cents, Still give you a thumbs up TB. love the channel and subscribed.
SLX system is a great workhorse. (it is a Blackhorse that really doesn't get that much love) it gets the job done and much better than the other Shure systems that were mentioned in this video.
Hey bro quick question. My gear advisor suggest i go with the ND96 EV over the Shure 58. I primarily am wanting it to plug into my amp with my acoustic guitar and sing along. I’m not a gig guy yet I am pretty raw and new to this. It’s more of a hobby and learning process for me right now. My voice trying to Learn to sing. So with that in mind which mic would be best for my situation? I have a fishman loudbox mini acoustic amp. Thanks!!
Cleveland, I’ll have to bring my system and demo how to set it up. I can get upwards of 300+ feet. The unit runs on 2.4Ghz and thus where everyone gets confused. If you want excellent use from the GLXD set the group to four if using only 2 receivers, at which point the unit has many channel bands to go through without interruption. It took a couple of months to get it right, but once set you never have to worry.
I understand what you’re saying, however I’m only using one receiver. Every situation and venue are different, not to mention area where you are operating. I just never consistently get what you’re getting without constant fiddling and that’s not what in the business to do.
do you have any experience with the ULXs4 systems? I have an opportunity to puchase a ULX with a SM58 mic for really cheap and thinking about purchasing a brand new SLX...Already have a beta 58 capsule so if I do buy the ULX used I plan on putting the beta 58 capsule on the handheld.
Brother man Thanks for the info For a church purpose will you still suggest SLX. I know u gonna beat me up if I get BLX lol. Also when u compare male singer mic beta 58 a vs 87. For example I don’t have a big base voice. Mine is mixed. In my understanding Shure 87 cut out base which means it’s suitable for female singer the best. Can’t wait to hear from you. God bless.
I have a GLXD4 mic system and yes!!, I notice when even the persons body holding the mic is on the way between the mic and receiver, you get sound drop outs. it should be better but is impossible on a gig to have people not blocking the signal. very dissapointing
I have the slx4 and I got the big antenas from sweet waters ,and I haven't had no problem at all. I think is a great mic. I want to update to the qlx. and have the slx as a back up.
I've had drop outs with my blx24/pg58 (I believe it is) and I hate it, in ceremonies in weddings, after having scanned frequencies and being literally 5meters away. I got these dropouts in the same venue and same spot, then going inside the dinner room the mic can handle like 30meters with 0 dropouts. Also dropouts in another venue. I'm most of the times using a cheap combo that gives me nearly 0 dropouts: AKG pro mini duo (or dual), 2 mics for 120€
What do you think of the Sennheiser XSW-1 dual wireless 835’s? Need dual wireless mics for karaoke. Would you recommend this system or go for the highest tier stuff?
Funny I have experienced bad performance from GLX and decent performance from the BLX lol One thing I will say about the BLX4 systems, I ordered some 1/2 wave antennas from sure for them and the performance increased exponentially. We have used them for our lapel mics for 2 years strong without a single drop out. With that being said we have QLX-D systems for our main hand held mics As always I appreciate the uploads
Unfortunately, the SLX is on back order indefinitely. I’m tempted to get the GLX system because I need that extra microphone, I’m kinda hoping it’ll work out for me.
Hi terry im using the BMB UHF 800 with too mic’s are they a good brand. By the way I do weddings parties birthday parties and sometimes your backyard party they have always been dependable sometimes sometimes one mic will work on the other one won’t is there something else I should adjust the or squelch knobs on the back I’ve never tempered with them when you are right in front of my speakers they squeal any thoughts on this yours truly Dj Walt baby love
I'm a violinist that plays with backing tracks, so I'm always amplified. I rent out my shure pgx with sm58 wireless mic (through my large PA system) to my clients for an extra $50. I've used it over 100 times, and it has never failed or dropped out. What HAS failed is the dinky power brick cord - it is so thin and flimsy that it just broke while gently wrapping it up. I replaced it with a beefier brick, no problem...
