Dear Friends,
As we round the half-way point for the year, I am pleased to welcome some new readers and some new product lines to our AudioLink family.
This issue includes articles, information and links concerning:
- Nady Systems Sound Products
- Conference Room Telephones: Polycom vs. Bogen
- Responses to Customer Questions
- Clearance Sale on Fender Passport Deluxe PA Systems
- AudioLink Services Catalog
AudioLink Adds Nady Systems to the Online Catalog
I am pleased to announce that AudioLink is now an authorized national dealer for the Nady Systems line of audio equipment.
Nady Systems has been designing, manufacturing, and marketing wireless microphones since 1976. One of the earliest innovators in the area of wireless microphones, headsets and remote control technology, Nady has sold close to two million wireless systems worldwide, and continues to provide innovative products at very competitive prices.
Nady's original focus was in the music industry and, by 1985, more than 75% of the world's top performing acts were using Nady's wireless systems.
More recently, the company introduced an extensive new pro audio line -- Nady Audio -- which includes a broad spectrum of high quality, durable and affordable audio gear: mixers, amplifiers, crossovers, EQ's, pro rack gear, consoles, speakers, headphones and studio mics as well as drum mics, instrument mics, and specialty mics.
Comparing Nady mics to other name brands:
So what makes Nady mics different from Fender, Shure, and Anchor mics among others?
Canvassing our vast number of contacts and associates in the industry, we sampled opinion on various model numbers and got a pretty good picture of what differences to expect when comparing apples to oranges - or, in this case, Nady to Fender, Anchor & Shure.
The most obvious difference among brands is price -- Nady prices seem to be consistently lower than those of others.
How can Nady keep up while charging such low prices?
The answer is, they keep up pretty well; thank you very much for asking.
Basically, Nady uses materials which are lighter, less expensive and, therefore, cheaper, some would say less durable. In addition, Nady products do not carry the extreme ranges of sound characteristic of high fidelity.
In effect, Nady trades high fidelity and durability for an advantage in price.
It really comes down to personal taste.
For example, consider the following wireless microphones.
The Anchor Audio UHF-6400 wireless microphone package is a very popular, high quality item. It's a true diversity, 64 channel, UHF wireless system. This means you get 64 UHF channels to select from and twin antennas which will follow you as you move from left to right in the stage area, greatly reducing RF drop outs. The Anchor mic comes in two variations - the UHF 6400 hand held and the UHF 6400 hands free
Retail: $599.99
The comparable NAdy UHF-10H hand held and the Nady UHF-10L hands free are wireless mic systems which offer what Nady calls "digitru" diversity, (you may choose the single band you want from the 794-820 MHz range when you order) as well as dual antennas.
Retail: $189.99
Which would I choose?
Well, if I were making a presentation in say, midtown Manhattan or beautiful downtown Burbank, then the Anchor product is the best choice, due to the wider and manually tunable selection of UHF channels. Put simply, the chances of RF interference are significantly reduced.
However, if I was not competing with the saturated radio frequency environment of a large city or busy convention complex, then the Nady is a good "cheap" alternative.
In short, check your local area for the transmission frequencies of your local venue, choose accordingly and save a few hundred dollars.
So if you want to pull a wireless Roger Daltrey act on stage, I would avoid Nady! But, with a little care, it works fine for a lot of other users.
Some unusual Nady Product Options: In niche markets Nady also offers some interesting product options.
Nady sells some high end microphones that can easily pass the Blink 182 or Linkin Park test, as they are made of high quality materials (though some experts have expressed the opinion that they lack the dynamic range of better known competitors) but carry a relatively higher price tag.
I am particularly impressed by Nady's dual wireless package, the Encore Duet, which gives you the opportunity to mix and match multiple microphone options. You can choose the dual lavaliere, the dual hand held or the lav/hand held combination. That's a unique choice.
That's why, at less than $300.00 Retail, I have chosen to add this item to our list of Best Buys.
So, to wrap up, Nady is a very viable option for a good, "less expensive," pro audio microphone.
In this spirit, we have put together some special mix-and-match Fender Passport PA systems incorporating Nady wireless microphones that you may want to consider. Click Here to learn more!
Conference Room Telephones: Polycom vs. Bogen
We have recently added Bogen products to the catalog and one of them is the V-HUB conference telephone.
I was immediately struck by its similarity to a world famous product, the Polycom SoundStation conference phone (which we also sell) and wondered how they stack up against each other. Here's what I found out:
The innovator and leader in this field is undoubtedly Polycom. The Bogen V-Hub has a similar look and the features are virtually the same: 10 number Speed Dial, flashing Hold, Mute button and 3 omni-directional speakers arranged in a 360 degree layout. So what's the catch, if any?
Both phones are "analog" models. This means that you can plug these phones into a standard phone jack in your office conference room or the jack in your den at home.
Both phones have full-duplex operation. This means you and the person on the other end of the line can speak simultaneously without clipping each other off.
Both Bogen and Polycom make fine products for those who want more from a traditional speaker phone.
However, the Polycom SoundStation has the ability to be used in a digital PBX phone system through the addition of an interface adapter, (approximate cost: $120.00 retail) which connects to the modular handset and adapts to the typical office phone system (like the one in the conference room here at AudioLink Central).
I was unable to verify the possibility of the use of this adapter with the V-HUB. I even called Bogen tech support and was told the question had never arisen. Score one for AudioMan.
It seems to me that any analog phone should work with this adapter but it's not a lock.
So if you want to adapt an analog conference phone to a digital PBX system... Polycom is your choice.
If you are happy with an analog (2-wire) jack and don't expect to upgrade any time soon... well... you could save quite a few dollars with Bogen.
By the way, anybody else notice that the Polycom looks like the Federation Starship Enterprise and the Bogen like a Romulan Bird of Prey? Hmmm...
Responses to Customer Questions
Here are some more of the questions asked by our readers and customers.
Feel free to get involved with your own questions or comments. We address them individually, and in each issue I highlight some of the more useful examples. For instance:
dcooper who was browsing our blank cassette pages, wanted to know if we sell 30 minute tapes, which are not listed with the 60, 90 and 120 minute products he found there.
We replied:
Dear d,
I have some information for you which I hope you will find useful:
Thirty (30) minute blank cassettes are available as a custom order item. (We can do custom orders on most A-V products -- so if you don't see it in the catalog just write to us!)
The cost is .45 each and they must be purchased in bulk packs of 100 each, with a minimum order of 1 bulk pack.
Each pack will cost $45.00 plus shipping and handling. Shipping is UPS, the weight is 16 pounds per 100 and handling is $7.95. Please note we waive handling fees on orders of more than $100.00.
These are generic brand, white shell cassettes and do not include labels or jewel cases.
To place your order, use our manual Order Form or call 1-800-516-6955 and we will be happy to be of assistance.
We hope this is helpful,
Here's another inquiry, this time from Colin H.
"I am looking at your item number 00197 and would like to know if this microphone will work with my AmpliVox bodypack transmitter. I see that the mini XLR plug is the same. Can you help"?
And here's our response:
Dear Colin,
I contacted Anchor Audio and was informed that this proprietary item, the CM-60 collar microphone with mini XLR (TA4F) adapter, works properly only with the Anchor bodypack transmitter WB-6000 or WB-6400 and is a component of the UHF-6400 wireless microphone system.
While there is a possibility that this microphone will work with your transmitter, there is no guarantee it will interface properly with any other brand name equipment. This is due to the configuration of the contact pins inside the connector, and how they operate electrically with the transmitter.
Thus, it is not recommended that you purchase this item, unless it is to buy the entire wireless microphone system, thereby replacing your present equipment.
Hope this helps!
Clearance Sale on Fender Passport PA Systems
We've created special package deals catering to the family of Fender Passport PA Systems.
Check out the great deals and big savings when you combine a Passport PA (PD-150 or PD-250) with speaker stands or wireless microphones! We've got Fender stands & wireless microphones, Anchor Audio UHF mics as well as an introduction to the Nady line of VHF & UHF mics. Make sure you take a good look at the Fender Passport PD-250 & Dual Anchor Audio UHF-6400 Package. It's a sweet deal!
Learn More
Meanwhile, here's a sampling of our current Specials if you're in the market for a solution to your presentation requirements:
Three all-in-one systems of Microboards CD-R and DVD-R duplicators & printers at substantial discounts.
If you want to set yourself up as your own digital media publisher, Microboards offers these products as a cost effective solution. To further assist you, we've taken the guesswork out of the equation by putting together three internally compatible packages of Microboards Technology products. These packages provide you with reliable digital duplicating and printing capabilities at the throughput you need and a price you’ll like!
Learn more
NEW! Anchor Audio Announces the debut of the Explorer Pro PA System --- The next generation Explorer Pro is perfect for sound projection in indoor or outdoor settings. The unit delivers 110 dB of intelligible speech from one sound system designed for users with little or no technical experience. This versatile new system features true AC/DC, a 110/220V power supply, a voice-over function and improved battery life.
Ideal for schools, corporate trainers, places of worship and many other applications.
Click Here and see which system is right for your needs.
We offer the unique Deluxe Multi-Channel Tour Guide System, loaded with special features and brought to you exclusively by AudioLink at a GREAT price! This system has the ability to handle simultaneous presentations (including multi-language applications) without switching channels - or causing interference - by using multi-channel FM wide-band in a new configuration.
Learn more
AudioLink Services
You already know that AudioLinks.com is the premiere source for audio equipment discounts, but are you aware of the other services we provide?
Conference & Meeting Planning, Equipment Rental, Interpreting, Recording & Transcription as well as Voice Over Production are just some of the other areas of the industry we can help you with.
Let us give you a Free Consultation and you'll find out just how versatile we really are!
Well, that's about it for this edition. In future issues we plan to offer reports and updates on different types of audio equipment, links to useful sites and to answer questions posed by you and other readers. We hope you will find this newsletter useful and we welcome your feedback.
Looking for something that's not on our web site? Contact Us and we'll respond as quickly as possible, or, visit AudioLink's product pages and see for yourself why we are known as: "The Home of Sound Solutions"
Until then,
That's sound advice...
Regards,
Audio Man
SiteManager@audiolinks.com
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