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[Lev Raber]

I’m looking around at various wireless headset’s for a Primary School. The budget isn’t massive as they are interested in getting 10 sets.
As it’s for primary children, it would be great to have something fairly robust if possible.
What would you recommend around £200 per set?

I do lots of school events (plays, musicals, etc) with children of all ages.
All of my beltpack systems are Shure of good quality (ULXP, ULXD,QLXD, UR even an old UHF).
All of my headsets (usually "over ear") are cheap, around $20 per set, because I consider them to be disposable.
I had only few accidents with receivers falling on the floor, but they handle it well, not so with headsets, even most expensive ones, because children are merciless. It's impossible to teach children to be careful with headsets, at some point they destroy them anyway. On average I lose 1 headset on 2-3 shows and this is acceptable to me, because I buy them 10 at a time, I also include a small insurance in contract for the mics lost during a performance. Worked for me so far. 

[Mike Caldwell]

I do lots of school events (plays, musicals, etc) with children of all ages.
All of my beltpack systems are Shure of good quality (ULXP, ULXD,QLXD, UR even an old UHF).
All of my headsets (usually "over ear") are cheap, around $20 per set, because I consider them to be disposable.
I had only few accidents with receivers falling on the floor, but they handle it well, not so with headsets, even most expensive ones, because children are merciless. It's impossible to teach children to be careful with headsets, at some point they destroy them anyway. On average I lose 1 headset on 2-3 shows and this is acceptable to me, because I buy them 10 at a time, I also include a small insurance in contract for the mics lost during a performance. Worked for me so far.

About the same as I do.

Yea in the hands of the general public....of all ages a $30 headset mic or a $600 headset mic will get destroyed just the same.

[Mike Caldwell]

Every other elementary school I visit (for repairs) has too many cheap wireless systems some well-meaning parent bought. Inevitably they're a nightmare to use in multiples, and a constant source of aggravations for the teachers saddled with making them work.

Had a school with a solid AT wireless system, was there for another service reason and they mentioned having mic issues during the play. So we went to the sound booth and there was an eight channel Amazon special wireless system had been added to the system!
I said I see the problem, piece of total crap, two rack space eight channel receiver, packs and mics for something like $340 on Amazon

[Russell Ault]

+1 to everything mentioned so far.

The cheapest, most bare-bones (but still reasonably reliable) wireless microphone system I'd even consider suggesting someone buy (if the spectrum isn't too tight) is Sennheiser's EW 100 G4, and that's going to run the OP at least twice their budget. Conversely, most school-owned wireless spends ~90% of its "working" life sitting in storage, which should make rental/hire a fairly attractive alternative (at least in theory).

On the other hand, everything between the performer's mouth and the TX is a consumable, so I'd suggest buying the cheapest capsules that will do the job acceptably.

-Russ

[Alec Spence]

Can't be done.
For 10 headset units, you're going to want antenna/power distribution.
Getting 10 units that will co-exist is do-able, but non-trivial, and certainly not cheap.
Not to mention the number of mics and kit that the kids will destroy.

The £2k would likely be much better spent elsewhere.

[Brian Jojade]

Like others have already mentioned, the expectations don't  match reality.  $200 for a wireless mic isn't enough for something that will work reliably.  $200 for systems that will work in groups of 10 just isn't going to happen.  Wireless doesn't care the age or talent level of musicians.  If you want it to work, it costs money.

The cheap wireless stuff you can find on Amazon MIGHT work once in a while.  But there's no way I'd ever put my name anywhere near it as a recommended system.  I'd much rather be accused of quoting stuff that's out of their budget than try to make cheap stuff like that work.  Been there, done that. Not doing it again.

[Matthew Knischewsky]

I’m looking around at various wireless headset’s for a Primary School. The budget isn’t massive as they are interested in getting 10 sets.
As it’s for primary children, it would be great to have something fairly robust if possible.

What would you recommend around £200 per set?

For school use I have many channels of Sennheiser XS Wireless 2 which works well enough for ~10 or fewer channels in one band. Most of the schools in this district are in areas that have a relatively open RF environment. I also have Sennheiser EW100/300 G3 and G4 units for situations that require higher performance or more channels.

For budget units the XS Wireless 2 works reasonably well, some of the trade offs are lower RF transmit power and there's no ability to lock out the controls on the transmitter. A proper antenna distribution system greatly improves the performance when running multiple systems, but with the XSW series they are not able to be powered by DC over the coax antenna cables.

For headset microphones I've had good luck with Apex 575 & 575C. They're not the least expensive option but they are consistent between units. Replacement cables and windscreens are available and reasonably priced.

Matt

[Jordan Wolf]

How often will this entire system be used per year?

If only for 2-3 weeks, you will be better off renting. It’s something that could even be fundraised for or sponsored, if those are options.

If a couple of channels are routinely needed, then finding out what your local vendors carry to supplement during play season be a good thing so subrented units will work with them.

If you really want to purchase, then I would budget for…
- no less than $400 PER CHANNEL
- antenna distro for every 4ch (maybe more, depending on the unit)
- proper antennas & cabling to reach them from the receiver units

(This price is also NOT necessarily including the capsule/element.)

You want a system that both you and the users years from now will never look at and say “what a waste”.

Buy once, cry once.

[Mike Caldwell]

How often will this entire system be used per year?

If only for 2-3 weeks, you will be better off renting. It’s something that could even be fundraised for or sponsored, if those are options.

If a couple of channels are routinely needed, then finding out what your local vendors carry to supplement during play season be a good thing so subrented units will work with them.

If you really want to purchase, then I would budget for…
- no less than $400 PER CHANNEL
- antenna distro for every 4ch (maybe more, depending on the unit)
- proper antennas & cabling to reach them from the receiver units

(This price is also NOT necessarily including the capsule/element.)

You want a system that both you and the users years from now will never look at and say “what a waste”.

Buy once, cry once.

All good points.
I'll add if you do go with the rental idea, look at what model system your supplier has and then stock up on the $30 headset mics for that system.

[Chris Hindle]

If renting, Book EARLY as most schools have "play season"at the same time......
Chris burnt by that once.

[ProSoundWeb Community]