Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Review
Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
- ME 2-II Omnidirectional Lav Mic
- Fast-Setup System for DIY Videographer
- MMD 42 Omni Handheld Mic/Transmitter
- Lightweight Bodypack Transmitter
- Easy-to-Use, Automatic Operation
- Ultra-Compact Plug-In Receiver
- Automatic Mic Level Control
- Protected Peer-to-Peer Connection
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 34 Reviews
Easy-to-use, reliable digital audio for video
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by This Does Not Compute on B&H Photo Video
Sennheiser was kind enough to send me this AVX combo kit to review on my YouTube channel. Overall, this is a great system for both those who are new to wireless microphones, and also those who want to upgrade from an older analog system. It's very easy to use -- once you've done the initial pairing of the transmitter and receiver, daily operation is truly plug and play. The system figures out what frequency to use, and will automatically (and seamlessly) switch to another one at any time if interference is detected. Instead of going through all the features of the system, here are my overall impressions as well as some notes about the system most reviews don't cover: Receiver: --The XLR connector on the receiver swivels almost all the way around so you can orient it upright for best reception. --The receiver can turn itself on and off when it detects phantom power. The idea is, when you turn your camera on and off, the receiver will do the same to save battery life. Note that the receiver still receives its power from its battery -- it doesn't operate off of phantom power as some have reported, it merely detects its presence. Of course, your camera or field recorder has to have a built-in XLR connector in order to use this feature. --Can only be used with and pair to one transmitter at a time. If you want to switch from the bodypack to the handheld, you need to re-pair the receiver with the handheld. Thankfully this is a pretty quick and easy process. Bodypack transmitter: --It has the same kind of threaded 3.5mm input jack as some other wireless systems, so if you already have a favorite lavalier mic, you can keep using it. --There's a mute switch, which is a blessing and a curse -- sometimes, talent likes to push buttons and this can cause problems during a shoot. Thankfully, the status LED on both the transmitter and the receiver turn yellow when the mute switch is on. --The LCD screen shows remaining battery life in hours. Handheld transmitter: --The handheld transmitter's microphone capsule is replaceable, and the transmitter will work with Sennheiser's Evolution series capsules. An MD42 capsule is included with the combo kit, but if you use handhelds frequently, it's nice to have the option to replace it with one that has a different pickup pattern. --The handheld included in the combo kit does not have a mute switch, but in the handheld-only kit it does. --The power and pairing buttons on the handheld are pretty small and somewhat difficult to press, and the status LED is a bit too bright -- you'll want to remind talent to hold the transmitter with the LED towards them to keep it from being distracting on camera. Batteries: --All of the batteries for the system are lithium-ion and rechargeable. --They all have micro-USB ports right on the battery for ease of charging -- any regular USB cable and charger will work, which is great for travel. --There's a status LED next to the USB port to let you know when charging is done. --Both transmitters are rated for 15 hours of use on a charge. The bodypack can be recharged with the battery installed, and can also be used while the battery is recharging -- this can be great for setting up a point-to-point wireless audio link with AVX. (Some other industries, like mobile DJs, will do this for remote speakers at events.) --The receiver is rated for 4 hours of use on a charge. This is probably less than what most are used to. The aforementioned phantom power detection can help extend this, provided your camera or recorder is compatible. Another thing that can help is that, as with the bodypack, the receiver can be recharged while in operation, like from a portable USB power bank. Sound quality: --24-bit, 48KHz signal using the CELT codec. --There's a form of auto gain control built into the system, but it's not like what you may have used before. It's really more like normalization or dynamic range compression; it's meant to keep peaks in the signal from causing distortion. --Be sure to properly set the output gain on the receiver; at full strength (0 dBu), it could cause the preamps on some cameras to peak and distort. You can pad the receiver down to -10, -20 and -30 dBu. In summary, this is a great system for anyone who wants solid wireless audio performance but doesn't have the knowledge or time to worry about the technical aspects of it. ... More
Not Ready for Primetime
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Dan on B&H Photo Video
I already owned an older Sennheiser wireless lav, but I was looking to add a 2nd to my collection of gear. I decided to "upgrade" and bought this whole kit. Upon delivery my initial impression of it was positive. I loved the form factor. I really liked how small the receivers are, and that they can plug directly into a camera XLR input without any additional wires or mounting brackets. They are also very easy to pair to the transmitters. The icing on the cake was that everything fit very nicely into the included hard case.Now for the bad news. Issue #1: I discovered that there is a significant latency in the audio signal with the lavaliere. To test, I hooked a receiver into one channel on my camera, and then hooked a hard wired Sony lavaliere into the other channel. I clipped both mics to my test subject and had them talk for a bit. Then I brought the clip into Premiere and compared the waveform of both audio channels. There was about a 1 frame difference between the wireless and hardwired (when recorded at 30fps). This was a deal breaker for me, as I work regular shoots that require me to mix a variety of microphones (wireless and hardwired). And I don't need to give myself additional work of trying to sync audio tracks to avoid echo. Issue #2: The receiver will create interference in other microphones if in close proximity. My camera XLR inputs are directly underneath the camera's shotgun mic. Which means when this receiver is plugged in and turned on, there will be a constant buzz in the shotgun mic. I almost always run my shotgun in the other audio channel as a backup, so the fact that this happens is unacceptable. I read 1 other review of this mic that mentioned these 2 issues. Unfortunately, I experienced the same thing. If you are using these on their own and not mixing them with any other types of mics, then they might work fine for you. But this kit just won't cut it for me, so I returned it. I'm sticking with the Sennheiser G3 line for now. ... More
AVX wireless
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by David on B&H Photo Video
You can trick the eyes but you can't trick the ears.....ALWAYS remember that Weddings. I could write a book about all the things that can go wrong at weddings for a videographer and poor audio is on top of the list. With weddings, you get one chance and one opportunity, in most cases, so I am most impressed with the simplicity of setting up the AVX, as well as the crisp and clear sound quality it produces. Pairing is as easy as pushing a button. There is no second guessing about signal strength or fine tuning, as it does it all for you, and it sounds great. (Quick story)....Groom comes out, bride comes down isle, preacher gets ready to talk and turns on his microphone. Yes, you guessed it. Mr groom is linked to the preachers microphone and is back-feeding to the amplified sound system. I then became part of the ceremony when I had go to the groom to correct this. GEEEZ! This will not happen with the AVX system as it uses a different frequency range not common to other wireless systems. However, if there is one, it will change automatically to an available frequency for you and continue to do so. Very impressive indeed. Don't think for a minute that simplicity doesn't have its price, it does, but the AVX is well worth every penny and here is why. There's no white noise jumps, crackles, or audio level changes. This can take hours to correct in post production, and even then only making it sound a little better. You seasoned videographers know exactly what I'm talking about. I feel better turning over a final product to my customers knowing the audio will definitely not be an issue what so ever. ... More
Amazingly Good, Amazingly Easy
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Guenther Group on B&H Photo Video
Wireless microphones, by their nature, aren't always that easy to use. Finding the right frequency, occasional RF issues, being in the legal spectrum, etc. These ARE easy. No spectrum issues. I shot for four hours straight today using the lavalier setup and didn't hear one hit. Extremely clear. Very, very impressed. You literally hit the pair button on each device and within seconds you go from a red light to a green one and you are paired. After four hours of shooting, the lav mic said it still had 9 hours of battery life left. We tested before the shoot and were able to hear things clearly through a couple of walls. And then didn't have any drop outs until we were nearly 175 feet apart line of sight. We also followed the suggestions and made the receiver output at only 1 bar out of 4 possible bars for the Canon XF305 camera we used giving us a clear and not overly loud signal. And we also ran the receiver off the phantom power with zero hiccups. Also, the tiny receiver that sticks out of the XLR plug is brilliant. It will be so easy to operate two AVX systems simultaneously without things being velcroed on or hanging off the rig. My wireless microphones were recently stolen and these have been a surprise as a replacement. I'll be buying my second set soon. ... More
Great System for one man band
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by OTE Productions on B&H Photo Video
I have used this system for a few months now and it has held up very well. Like others I have switched from a G3 system to this because of some interference issues but I have had no real interference issues with this system yet. HOWEVER, I have had some odd noise/interference when I have had my Tram TR50 mic near the transmitter (within a foot or so) I thought that this was outside interference at first but it is the microphone itself picking up some transmission noise (happens only with my Trams so I'm assuming that the shielding is not as good?). This may explain the two poor reviews describing interference that was constant? This has happened to me when I have the transmitter placed in the jacket pocket of the person being interviewed. Put the transmitter on a belt and it goes away. Build quality is better than G3 and I like the new batteries. I have used these on interviews now in downtown New York City, DC, St. Louis in places where I would get intermittent hits in the past but these have performed well. Small latency in the audio, but this is not noticeable in reality ... More
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Different results with different cameras
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Rusty on B&H Photo Video
I tested these with my Sony FS7 and the sounded great. A snug fit on the FS7. Yesterday I took them out with my Canon C100 and they sounded too hot at the receiver's lowest output. I switched to Line level on the camera and maxed the receiver's output, then it sounded great. Lesson learned. Tx/Rx Link is great. When the Tx moves out of range Rx waits patently without noise to link with a proper signal. Small, recessed buttons are the norm with Sennheiser. Kind of a pain. I guess I misunderstood what to expect. I really, REALLY wanted the receivers to be powered by Phantom, they are switched only. Receiver batteries take about an hour to charge. Waiting for replacements to be available, hopefully soon. Making car charging work. ... More
Love this kit - Still need to buy backup batteries.
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Jessica on B&H Photo Video
I use this kit primarily for educational videos where one or two people are talking in a controlled environment. I find it very intuitive to use, and have yet to have any signal issues. The encrypted digital signal prevents cross-talk like you might get with the G3. This particular kit does not come with backup batteries, although the case does come with slots for 2 receiver backup batteries, and slots for 2 transmitter backup batteries. There is no extra slot for the stick microphone backup battery, but it can fit diagonally in the square compartment. I highly recommend getting backup batteries if you plan to shoot two people for over 3 hours since the small receiver batteries only last about 4 hours, although if you have a digital recorder with phantom power on the XLR input where the receiver is plugged in, the receiver will automatically turn off if you turn off the recorder. This helps conserve battery. The transmitter packs are small relative to the Rode system which is partly what sold me on this system, and this kit option was hard to beat. ... More
Updated AVX review
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Paul Anderegg on B&H Photo Video
Followed the advice of the Sennheiser representative, and underexposed my audio. Made a huge difference, and the lav system when levels are set extremely low, showed no signs of overmodulted hot mic, or digitally compressed audio mp3 effect. It is very important on this system to not trust the VU as stated. There are many ways to get this system to give the same VU picture, but get completely different results. Always start with the receiver level set to 1 bar, then adjust rec level on the camera. Increase the receiver output (red bars) level only if you must. I am including a high noise environment test I did with the MD42 handheld transmitter from YouTube. This was shot on a small PXW-X70 camcorder, which cannot really fit any wireless system other than the AVX when using a top light. If the link doesn't work, it can be searched for on YouTube.http://youtu.be/KsUoa2KNDJ8 ... More
Excellent set and easy to use
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by David on B&H Photo Video
I use this Lav set for interviews and weddings. Prior to this I used other Sennheiser sets. I loved the build quality of them but having to scan for open frequencies and sync the transmitter and receiver added an extra step and time which are both at a premium during a wedding especially. What I like about this set is the ease of use that it automatically scans and uses open frequencies on the fly. Several times with my old set I would be near the water recording. A boat would go by and cause interference and drop off. This set will seamlessly find a new frequency without losing audio. I use for wireless handheld mic for run and gun interviews. It works great but it seems to me the user has to hold it very close to his mouth to get the correct audio level. That means the mic is next to their mouth in all the shots. Maybe I am missing something but I don't see where that is adjustable unless I raise the audio record levels on my camera which is a pain because I will forget to set it back. ... More
Big step up from G3 series!!
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Gary on B&H Photo Video
Had the EW100 G3 setup for years.... Now I switched to the AVX... So simple to set up and much more of a reliable connection between transmitter and receiver. I have had over the years the G3 give me swooshes of static during interviews when I was just 3 feet away from the receiver. A few times I had to reshoot the interview because of this. BUT with the AVX the audio is crisp, never any analog static like with the G3. Another plus to the AVX, is the size of the receiver. I was able to take off a bracket holding my G3 receiver as it wasn't needed with the AVX setup. The receiver is small, plugs right into the XLR port and is self contained. Now wires or bulky receiver anymore with the AVX. I've been waiting for a receiver like this for years!.. Thanks B&H and Senheisser! ... More
I hope Sennheiser can explain
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Larry on B&H Photo Video
I used this system for the first time in a church for a wedding. The transmitter was on my groom in his breast pocket. The receiver was about 60 feet away, with line of sight, and plugged into my Roland R-26. The signal was not clean at all. Lots of RF hits and I luckily didn't get hit with any for the 65 seconds the vows took place, but my god was I sweating it out. The hits would come and go, and this was definitely not as advertised. Isn't this suppose to be in a frequency range less used? And what about the whole auto switching frequencies before the noise becomes audible stuff?I may have to return this and go with a more professional setup with Shure. I hope Sennheiser responds. ... More
These are the BEST
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Derrick on B&H Photo Video
This is the best thing since apple pie! I use a lot of different cameras mounted in a lot of different ways and the Sennheiser wireless mic combo gives me not only the right amount of flexibility, but is so compact and easy to work with and around that I don't even notice it's there. No problems with frequency location, bleed in or conflict issues (I use two of them at a time, side-by-side) on most shoots. I have the lav and mic setups and can go to my field audio recorders, directly into the camera or into the field recorder and then into the camera or mixing board if I need to, the system works perfectly for me. I initially bought one set and was so impressed I turned around and bout the second. ... More
Same as Larry
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Marvin J on B&H Photo Video
Same Situation as Larry who posted back in September, I was also working a wedding outdoors and I had a frequency buzz the whole time for 30 Minutes straight. It ruined all audio in the Wedding Ceremony. I reset the system as well before the ceremony to try to get rid of the buzz but it was still there . Sennheiser I need a refund .
Very clean lavalier mic
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by mohammed on B&H Photo Video
Today my first use , i make interview in a big garden the voice was very clean , my interview was 1 hour long , when finished i checked the battery it still 4 lines , still full battery
Perfect Fit
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Derrick on B&H Photo Video
This combo set is a perfect fit for my video gear. I especially like the design of the receiver unit, it plugs right in to the camera or field recorder without taking up any space and hardly adds any weight to the rig. I'm still getting the hang of the settings for the sound but I've had no drop out or feedback issues with either the mic or lav components. I'm on the verge of ordering a second set. B&H delivered on time to Hawaii and the equipment was well packed for the long journey.
Solid Piece of Equipment
Sennheiser AVX Digital Wireless System - Handheld and Lavalier Combo Set
Reviewed by Jeremiah W. on Reverb
I have yet to use this in heavy rotation in any of my performance or production rigs, but my initial testing shows it to be a great addition to my arsenal of equipment. Battery life is amazing and the rechargeability is pretty awesome. Looking to swap out the capsule with another one more suited to my voice, but I have no doubts this will be my main vocal wireless
GREAT RIG
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Derrick on B&H Photo Video
This unit is compact, powerful and easy to use. I have two of these plugged into my Zoom F6. The small footprint and dual options made this great for my various video shoots. After buying the first set and using it, I immediately turned around and bought the second one. Easy to pair and I run two separate rigs at the same time.
Works great!
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Joanes on B&H Photo Video
So far we've use this on two shoots and it's been wonderful. Easy to set up and less bulky that our other sennheiser wireless mics. Looking to convert all of our wireless to this new model.
Perfect
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Derrick on B&H Photo Video
This combo set is a perfect fit for location shooting and run & gun audio recording. Matches up perfectly with my Sound Devices and Zoom recorders and I don't need to lug around the larger receiver boxes that my other wireless mics come with. It has all the features I need, the sync and setup takes seconds and it takes very little space in my go-bag.
THE BEST PERIOD
Sennheiser AVX-Combo SET Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (1.9 GHz)
Reviewed by Kota Aranda on B&H Photo Video
I had the pleasure of using this set from Sennheiser on a film set and i have to say it is on of the best i have used. If not, THE BEST. No confusion, no hassle, no headaches, all great sound. I especially love that you don't have to hassle with pairing like with the UHF AND VHF systems.
