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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => SR Forum Archives => Product Reviews: Sound Reinforcement FUD Forum Archive => Topic started by: Matt Hunnicutt on January 19, 2010, 06:13:58 PM

Title: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: Matt Hunnicutt on January 19, 2010, 06:13:58 PM
I've used several Countryman E6 mini earworn mics, several because they have a tendency to die. (I'm not in charge of purchasing.)

Has anyone else had problems with these mics?
The particular problem I've dealt with is a random loud crackling sound, later leading to little to no sound coming through it.

I thought these were nice mics?
Any thoughts?

And are there some better names I should be looking at?
Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: Tom Manchester on January 19, 2010, 11:00:11 PM
Matt Hunnicutt wrote on Tue, 19 January 2010 18:13

I've used several Countryman E6 mini earworn mics, several because they have a tendency to die. (I'm not in charge of purchasing.)

Has anyone else had problems with these mics?
The particular problem I've dealt with is a random loud crackling sound, later leading to little to no sound coming through it.

I thought these were nice mics?
Any thoughts?

And are there some better names I should be looking at?



I think the cable and the little connection between the mic boom and cable tends to go bad. I have one that needs a new cable as well.
Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: Jamin Lynch on January 20, 2010, 06:45:11 PM
I stopped using the Countryman mics a while back due to poor quality. I've since switched over to DPA 4088 mics. A little more money but well worth it.
Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: David Karol on January 20, 2010, 07:46:35 PM
Matt Hunnicutt wrote on Tue, 19 January 2010 18:13

I've used several Countryman E6 mini earworn mics, several because they have a tendency to die. (I'm not in charge of purchasing.)

Has anyone else had problems with these mics?
The particular problem I've dealt with is a random loud crackling sound, later leading to little to no sound coming through it.

I thought these were nice mics?
Any thoughts?

And are there some better names I should be looking at?



The crackling sound has to do with a problem in the connector.  If you send it in to Countryman, they'll evaluate it at no charge.  Chances are the problem is in the connector, since you mentioned that crackling sound.  In multiple mics, not only Countryman, we've had an issue where one of the connections becomes slightly loose, that's a symptom of such event.  If you want Countryman to replace the connector, I'm pretty sure it's a flat charge of $30 if not still under warranty.  
Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: john sanders on January 25, 2010, 03:52:38 PM
Though not specific to Countryman mics; I believe that this crackling sound can also be caused by a cable failure. It's also my belief that with other brands such as Shure once the cable is defective you need to replace the entire unit. Perhaps because they're not serviceable.
Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: MIKEHARRIS on June 30, 2010, 02:00:53 PM
the E6 cables are field replaceable...and available in 1mm & 2mm sizes

Murphy's law says if ya gotta spare, you wont have a problem
Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: Jason Ellis on July 01, 2010, 12:34:25 PM
The E6's come by default with the lighter gauge 1mm cables - which need have strain relief at the transmitter as that is where they have died most often for us.

We used a piece of Gaffer's tape and brought the cable back down along the connector housing with about an inch an half loop above and that has helped quite a bit. However, we have begun ordering the 2mm cable instead and that has made a bigger difference when using the earsets with untrained users. I still us the 1mm on female wearers.

Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: Tim Padrick on July 10, 2010, 09:54:45 PM
MIKEHARRIS wrote on Wed, 30 June 2010 13:00

Murphy's law says if ya gotta spare, you wont have a problem


Not in the case of E6 cables Sad  Better have several spares.
Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: Eddie Czubinski on July 10, 2010, 11:29:55 PM
Matt Hunnicutt wrote on Tue, 19 January 2010 17:13

I've used several Countryman E6 mini earworn mics, several because they have a tendency to die. (I'm not in charge of purchasing.)

Has anyone else had problems with these mics?
The particular problem I've dealt with is a random loud crackling sound, later leading to little to no sound coming through it.

I thought these were nice mics?
Any thoughts?

And are there some better names I should be looking at?


I have had the same problem my school used to rent them for the yearly musical and I always had problems with them. The company always told us they were working fine when they came out and looked at them but they weren't. Anyway my school bought Audio Technica BP892 mics with the Audio Technica 3000 series wireless system. And so far I really like them.
Title: Re: Countryman E6 what's wrong with it?
Post by: David Kaiser on July 11, 2010, 04:45:41 PM
During Memorial Day Weekend, I switched an E6 from Shure to Audio Technica before I put it on a speaker. It was passing audio. He then left the room for a short time, came back in and started Sunday school. There was no sound. The cable may have snagged on something, or I didn't snap it in fully. I ran to my supplies closet and got an AT892. I put it on him and the meeting went forward. After the meeting, I wiggled the connector a little and all was well. That E6 had been used at the Labfest in Ct two weeks before with a Shure cable, and had done just fine.