I’m glad I watched this and learned that the Sony’s battery indicator was so inaccurate. I did a test with my newest LADDA (equivalent to Eneloop) batteries and got 12.5 hours battery life from my Sony UTX-B03 transmitter and 10 hours from my Sony URX-P03 receiver. For quite a while of this test the battery indicators had zero bars. I also did a test on my Sennheiser G4’s with the same exact batteries and got 13.5 hours from the transmitter and 14 hours from the receiver. I also had a lav mic in the transmitters of both test in case audio running through might utilize more power. In the Sennheiser’s case, the battery indicators displayed 2 of 3 bars all the way until the end.
@@MorphilmAcademy Yah honestly, I'm a big fan of the Sony for bang for buck and like them in a Sony ecosystem because of the multi interface shoe integration. But on my Canon setups i'm still hoping someone like Deity develops the interface that tascam has for direct digital audio wireless. Regardless, this pro sumer level is still an amazing option for more camera ops who want a basic audio kit when we can't hire audio pros.
G4 ew 500 are pretty reliable and sound OK. They transmit to 50mw, the receiver has headphone output for good quality IEM, +18db output, large bande. The kit is with MKE2 and they are very good mics (not as ME2). It is a mid pro but they should be with others finalists. I'll trust them more than theos.
Thank you for your comment and for watching our video. Yes, indeed, the G4 500 is better than the 100 series. And it would certainly deserve a spot in the good ones. However, we only reviewed the ones we've actually owned and tested. Also, it is a bit more expensive. (Almost double the price of the Theos and the Sony). So, for both those reasons, they are not in our finalists. Also, they are not "pro" enough to be among Zaxcom, Lecto, and Wisycom. So, it wasn't mentioned there either. So, although they are very reliable and we would also trust them more than the Theos, we find they don't offer good bang for the buck. Unless you find them used at a good price.
You packed in a lot, nice summary of options. Btw, Theos internal recording doesn't work while transmitting in the USA do to Zaxcom patent. I own the Sony and I'm happy but the battery indicator is inaccurate, the caddy is fiddly, I preferred the previous design. But like you said it is reliable which is more important than fancy features. I only do single person interviews and theater performances where I can send the board feed or stage mics wirelessly to camera so timecode and internal recording isn't needed like a film set.
Hi, yes indeed, the simultaneous recording is not possible in the USA. We are in Canada however, so I must admit that we did not take that into consideration. But we indeed should have mentioned it in the video. As for the Sony, I think I understand how the caddy system can feel ”fiddly”, but I think that having multiple caddies sort of fixes that problem. As for the old design, it had some pros indeed concerning the battery system, but overall, we find this newer version a lot better for everything else. Thank you for your feedback about the products and for watching the video. It’s very appreciated.
Thank you for your comment. It is true that newer versions of the Theos do seem to have stronger connectors and we have not had any issues with our replacement units yet. But it is still our duty to mention the problems we've had. Also, concerning software bugs, some might be fixed, but we still noticed several. Hopefully, they will all fixed soon.
Thank you very much. I'm kinda leaning towards Deity Theos because of internal recording. Have to check other systems you mentioned at the end of the video. Sony UWP-D seems to not be available in my country anymore. Maybe there's new generation already? :o
Indeed, internal recording is what made us switch to the Theos. It's very useful! As for the Sony, that is strange, which country are you in if I may ask? Here in Canada, it is still widely available. I haven't hear of any new versions that would discontinue this one.
@@MorphilmAcademy Poland. Most shops have them listed as out of stock. Also most known online shops in neighboring Germany has it out of stock. I have Sony cameras so UWP-D have some pros for me, but lack of internal recording and support of timecode makes me lean to Theos. Checked Sennheiser EW-DP ME4 also, much cheaper and has rechargeable batteries system, but again no internal recording and much narrower band range. Maybe I would get 3 of them and see which one is best. One place I'm going to record has Sennheisers which means they got clogged UHF range and I've seen some dropouts lately (via just 1 wall). Plus they have tons of charged batteries :D.
@@JoATTech I see... Perhaps they simply have restock delays. You could try contacting a shop to know if they have some more Sonys on the way. As for the EW-DP, I would definitely choose the Theos over it. It has such low RF power (only 10 mW) and like you said, no internal recording and narrow band. But indeed, testing out everything yourself is always the best option. Let us know how it turns out.
@@MorphilmAcademy I guess I'm going with deity theos (next month if I'm lucky). But there are literally 4 units in my country. Cause only 1 company sells them right now and they have 4 dual sets ... 2nd world countries are no fun :D I have to figure out how to use TC-1 with my cameras, looks like I need the set of 3 :(.
@@JoATTech Yeah, it sometimes gets complicated in pretty much any country outside of the USA haha. As for the TC-1, what cameras do you have? What's your setup?
Great video Curently i use the AVX from sennheiser, but i was looking at the theos or Sony which one you think would be a better option? I currently film corporate, events and one man productions, others gigs Ill get a sound recordist. but right now im looking to upgrade from the 2.4ghz. Also i have the rode wireless pro.
Hi, thanks for watching our video. So it depends on a few things. First, which camera model do you film on? If it’s Sony cameras, the UWP-D might be interesting. Also, in which country do you live? If you are in the USA, again, the UWP-D might be a good choice since you won’t have the simultaneous internal recording of the Theos in the USA. If you are anywhere else in the world, however, I would say the Theos is a better choice. Especially since you do events. The backup recording might be super useful, and you could plug in external antennas to get much better range and filter out unwanted frequencies. It would be very complicated to do that on the Sony. On top of that, Deity is having a Black Friday sale, so now might be a good time. That said, I’m curious, what are the reasons you are looking to upgrade from the AVX and Wireless Pro? Is it just because you want the frequency choices, or are you having a lot of dropouts or other problems? Because the Wireless Pro already has internal recording, so, is it because you need more range?
@MorphilmAcademy looking for a better solution with the UHF frequency. The wireless pro do work very nice, but. I don't trust them in events with a lot of people. So the AVX have been my go to. The AVX the only thing I don't like is the battery life of the receivers. That's the only gripe that I have with them, maybe I'll just get the sanken lavs and be with it. Unless I get to sell my kits. I use Sony Fx3 and A1. I also do livestreams but I integrate a Zoom F3 to the main console and then to the computer or to the osee switcher.
@@JibaroTech Yeah, I think the Deity Theos would be the best option for you (if you are not in the USA). They'll give you all the flexibility you need. Just make sure you test them thoroughly because using them in the event. To make sure they work properly. Since the AVX is more expensive, if you sell them, the Theos is going to be pretty affordable. Let me know how it goes and which you end up choosing.
Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry the video wasn’t able to help you make a decision. I understand the hard choice between these two hahaha. Could you tell me what you do and what sort of projects you would use it for? Perhaps I can help you make a decision based on that. Let me know :)
@@MorphilmAcademy No worries, your video is very informative! I shoot corporate events, music events, and documentary interviews. I use to only use the DJI Mic 1 set, I have since purchased a Rode NTG4+ with a Zoom F3 recorder for interviews and it has been working great. Recently I shot a band performance at a mall, I had my F3 hooked up to the mixer, lined out to my DJI 1 mic to transmit to my camera. And it was a disaster. Just about 5 feet away from the tech booth and I was already getting interference. At least I have the audio on the F3 and can manually sync in post, but it’s a pain. So that’s why I’m looking into a UHF system with double AA batteries. Because after 2 years of regular use the battery on both the transmitters and receiver of my DJI Mic 1 now drains fast. The internal 32 bit float of the Deity is big for me, since there were times that I’ve relied on the internal recording of the DJI Mic in the past. On the other hand, being a Sony shooter, I also like the direct hot shoe of the Sony for power and audio.
So my understanding is that you’re a videographer that records his own audio (”One-man army” style), correct? As for the DJI, yeah, 2.4GHz is often a problem in malls, there is simply too much interference there. Indeed, a proper UHF system with AA batteries is a good idea. Since you seem to be doing events and documentary shoots, internal recording (especially in 32 bit float) is a fantastic idea. Since you often won’t have a second chance to record something. You often can’t just do another take right? Also, in events, interference can often be a problem since it’s an uncontrolled environment, even for UHF systems. So, having the ability to connect external antennas to focus on your signal, could be a great idea, depending on your setup. So the Theos would be great for that. As for the Sony, it’s true that the hot shoe connection can be very practical, but only when you record directly in your camera, which, as a sound recordist, I wouldn’t recommend (unless it’s for a scratch track or a backup). You’ll get much better quality recording in your F3. So, overall, if I were you, I would go with the Theos, unless you’re in the USA. Because that means you won’t be able to record and transmit at the same time. So, if you are in the USA, I would go with the Sony, since, without the simultaneous internal recording on the Theos, the Sony might be a bit better and more reliable. Of course, if you have the budget, getting one of each would make a super versatile kit. I hope this helps. Let me know which one you end up choosing and how it goes. And don’t hesitate if you have any more questions.
@@MorphilmAcademy Just ordered the Theos, thank you! Now I have a different question, regarding an interview shoot. I might need to do a long form 2 person interview soon, I plan to use 2 XLR mics, connected to my F3. I will be shooting with 3 cameras, 1 close up shot for each person, and 1 wide shot with them both. I want the audio from my F3 to be fed on all 3 cameras so that I don't need to sync in post. Since the F3 only has 1 audio out, what's the best solution for this? Can I just get a 3.5mm splitter? Should I rent a different recorder for this? Which one?
@ArtOca Awesome, I’m glad I could help you make a decision. As for your interview shoot, like I said, I cannot recommend using the audio recorded directly on the cameras. It simply will not be as high quality as using the audio from your F3. If you are worried about syncing in post, it’s super easy. Even if you don’t have timecode, you can simply use the ”Auto-Sync with audio” feature. Most editing software has that now. It works very well, especially for a long form interview since you’ll likely have very few separate clips. Just make sure you have the internal mic turned-on on the cameras. That said, if you really want the audio to be fed to all 3 cameras from the F3. I don’t think a simple splitter would work. You would lose too much signal strength. As for other recorders, even with something like a Mixpre 10 ii (which has 3 outputs), it would mean cables everywhere. But If that doesn’t bother you, the Mixpre 10 ii is what I would recommend renting. If you don’t wan’t to do that, I have 2 other options. Option 1: Rent camera hops. So 1 transmitter and 3 receivers. A Sennheiser G3 kit is usually easy to find and cheap to rent. If you can find Sony’s, even better. I doubt you would be able to rent a Theos system. Anyway, you simply have to plug your F3 output in the transmitter and plug each receiver to each camera. Nice and clean, no cables. Option 2: Rent an active splitter or a mixing board with multiple outputs. Unfortunately, we don’t really use this kind of gear, so I don’t have a specific recommendation. But a Mixing board would take the signal from the F3, boost it and split it to each camera. You’ll still have cables everywhere however. So, syncing in post would still be the easiest and cheapest option. But, if you don’t want that, Option 1 would probably be your best option. That said, if you have the budget, hiring a sound recordist would be so much easier for you. Or, you can rent a full, proper kit. What we would do is get something like a Mixpre 10 ii, 2 wireless lavs, 2 XLR shotgun microphones and 4 timecode sync boxes. And use all of that to record and sync the interview. I hope all of this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions. It’s our pleasure to help. Take care and good luck with your shoot.
I’m glad I watched this and learned that the Sony’s battery indicator was so inaccurate. I did a test with my newest LADDA (equivalent to Eneloop) batteries and got 12.5 hours battery life from my Sony UTX-B03 transmitter and 10 hours from my Sony URX-P03 receiver. For quite a while of this test the battery indicators had zero bars.
I also did a test on my Sennheiser G4’s with the same exact batteries and got 13.5 hours from the transmitter and 14 hours from the receiver. I also had a lav mic in the transmitters of both test in case audio running through might utilize more power. In the Sennheiser’s case, the battery indicators displayed 2 of 3 bars all the way until the end.
Thank you very much for your comment and all your test results. That is very much appreciated.
Very informative video! Great work! We can see you put a lot of effort in your videos, keep it up! 🙌
Thank you so much! :)
Amazing review!
Thank you so much, that means a lot! :)
@@MorphilmAcademy Yah honestly, I'm a big fan of the Sony for bang for buck and like them in a Sony ecosystem because of the multi interface shoe integration. But on my Canon setups i'm still hoping someone like Deity develops the interface that tascam has for direct digital audio wireless.
Regardless, this pro sumer level is still an amazing option for more camera ops who want a basic audio kit when we can't hire audio pros.
Indeed, the prosumer category is exactly for that.
Yeah, hopefully something gets made for Canon users.
G4 ew 500 are pretty reliable and sound OK. They transmit to 50mw, the receiver has headphone output for good quality IEM, +18db output, large bande. The kit is with MKE2 and they are very good mics (not as ME2). It is a mid pro but they should be with others finalists. I'll trust them more than theos.
Thank you for your comment and for watching our video.
Yes, indeed, the G4 500 is better than the 100 series. And it would certainly deserve a spot in the good ones.
However, we only reviewed the ones we've actually owned and tested. Also, it is a bit more expensive. (Almost double the price of the Theos and the Sony). So, for both those reasons, they are not in our finalists.
Also, they are not "pro" enough to be among Zaxcom, Lecto, and Wisycom. So, it wasn't mentioned there either.
So, although they are very reliable and we would also trust them more than the Theos, we find they don't offer good bang for the buck. Unless you find them used at a good price.
You packed in a lot, nice summary of options. Btw, Theos internal recording doesn't work while transmitting in the USA do to Zaxcom patent. I own the Sony and I'm happy but the battery indicator is inaccurate, the caddy is fiddly, I preferred the previous design. But like you said it is reliable which is more important than fancy features. I only do single person interviews and theater performances where I can send the board feed or stage mics wirelessly to camera so timecode and internal recording isn't needed like a film set.
Hi, yes indeed, the simultaneous recording is not possible in the USA. We are in Canada however, so I must admit that we did not take that into consideration. But we indeed should have mentioned it in the video.
As for the Sony, I think I understand how the caddy system can feel ”fiddly”, but I think that having multiple caddies sort of fixes that problem. As for the old design, it had some pros indeed concerning the battery system, but overall, we find this newer version a lot better for everything else.
Thank you for your feedback about the products and for watching the video. It’s very appreciated.
The issues raised here have been resolved during the communication of Deity community, and the latest firmware and APP update is now available.
Thank you for your comment. It is true that newer versions of the Theos do seem to have stronger connectors and we have not had any issues with our replacement units yet. But it is still our duty to mention the problems we've had. Also, concerning software bugs, some might be fixed, but we still noticed several. Hopefully, they will all fixed soon.
Thank you very much. I'm kinda leaning towards Deity Theos because of internal recording.
Have to check other systems you mentioned at the end of the video. Sony UWP-D seems to not be available in my country anymore. Maybe there's new generation already? :o
Indeed, internal recording is what made us switch to the Theos. It's very useful! As for the Sony, that is strange, which country are you in if I may ask? Here in Canada, it is still widely available. I haven't hear of any new versions that would discontinue this one.
@@MorphilmAcademy Poland. Most shops have them listed as out of stock. Also most known online shops in neighboring Germany has it out of stock.
I have Sony cameras so UWP-D have some pros for me, but lack of internal recording and support of timecode makes me lean to Theos.
Checked Sennheiser EW-DP ME4 also, much cheaper and has rechargeable batteries system, but again no internal recording and much narrower band range.
Maybe I would get 3 of them and see which one is best. One place I'm going to record has Sennheisers which means they got clogged UHF range and I've seen some dropouts lately (via just 1 wall). Plus they have tons of charged batteries :D.
@@JoATTech I see... Perhaps they simply have restock delays. You could try contacting a shop to know if they have some more Sonys on the way.
As for the EW-DP, I would definitely choose the Theos over it. It has such low RF power (only 10 mW) and like you said, no internal recording and narrow band.
But indeed, testing out everything yourself is always the best option. Let us know how it turns out.
@@MorphilmAcademy I guess I'm going with deity theos (next month if I'm lucky). But there are literally 4 units in my country. Cause only 1 company sells them right now and they have 4 dual sets ... 2nd world countries are no fun :D
I have to figure out how to use TC-1 with my cameras, looks like I need the set of 3 :(.
@@JoATTech Yeah, it sometimes gets complicated in pretty much any country outside of the USA haha.
As for the TC-1, what cameras do you have? What's your setup?
Great video Curently i use the AVX from sennheiser, but i was looking at the theos or Sony which one you think would be a better option? I currently film corporate, events and one man productions, others gigs Ill get a sound recordist. but right now im looking to upgrade from the 2.4ghz. Also i have the rode wireless pro.
Hi, thanks for watching our video.
So it depends on a few things. First, which camera model do you film on? If it’s Sony cameras, the UWP-D might be interesting. Also, in which country do you live? If you are in the USA, again, the UWP-D might be a good choice since you won’t have the simultaneous internal recording of the Theos in the USA.
If you are anywhere else in the world, however, I would say the Theos is a better choice. Especially since you do events. The backup recording might be super useful, and you could plug in external antennas to get much better range and filter out unwanted frequencies. It would be very complicated to do that on the Sony.
On top of that, Deity is having a Black Friday sale, so now might be a good time.
That said, I’m curious, what are the reasons you are looking to upgrade from the AVX and Wireless Pro? Is it just because you want the frequency choices, or are you having a lot of dropouts or other problems?
Because the Wireless Pro already has internal recording, so, is it because you need more range?
@MorphilmAcademy looking for a better solution with the UHF frequency. The wireless pro do work very nice, but. I don't trust them in events with a lot of people. So the AVX have been my go to.
The AVX the only thing I don't like is the battery life of the receivers. That's the only gripe that I have with them, maybe I'll just get the sanken lavs and be with it. Unless I get to sell my kits.
I use Sony Fx3 and A1. I also do livestreams but I integrate a Zoom F3 to the main console and then to the computer or to the osee switcher.
@@JibaroTech Yeah, I think the Deity Theos would be the best option for you (if you are not in the USA). They'll give you all the flexibility you need. Just make sure you test them thoroughly because using them in the event. To make sure they work properly.
Since the AVX is more expensive, if you sell them, the Theos is going to be pretty affordable.
Let me know how it goes and which you end up choosing.
Looking to upgrade from the DJI Mic 1 to a UHF System
This video is very informative but I’m still undecided between the Sony and the Deity Theos 🤔
Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry the video wasn’t able to help you make a decision.
I understand the hard choice between these two hahaha. Could you tell me what you do and what sort of projects you would use it for? Perhaps I can help you make a decision based on that.
Let me know :)
@@MorphilmAcademy No worries, your video is very informative!
I shoot corporate events, music events, and documentary interviews.
I use to only use the DJI Mic 1 set, I have since purchased a Rode NTG4+ with a Zoom F3 recorder for interviews and it has been working great.
Recently I shot a band performance at a mall, I had my F3 hooked up to the mixer, lined out to my DJI 1 mic to transmit to my camera.
And it was a disaster.
Just about 5 feet away from the tech booth and I was already getting interference.
At least I have the audio on the F3 and can manually sync in post, but it’s a pain.
So that’s why I’m looking into a UHF system with double AA batteries.
Because after 2 years of regular use the battery on both the transmitters and receiver of my DJI Mic 1 now drains fast.
The internal 32 bit float of the Deity is big for me, since there were times that I’ve relied on the internal recording of the DJI Mic in the past.
On the other hand, being a Sony shooter, I also like the direct hot shoe of the Sony for power and audio.
So my understanding is that you’re a videographer that records his own audio (”One-man army” style), correct?
As for the DJI, yeah, 2.4GHz is often a problem in malls, there is simply too much interference there.
Indeed, a proper UHF system with AA batteries is a good idea.
Since you seem to be doing events and documentary shoots, internal recording (especially in 32 bit float) is a fantastic idea. Since you often won’t have a second chance to record something. You often can’t just do another take right?
Also, in events, interference can often be a problem since it’s an uncontrolled environment, even for UHF systems. So, having the ability to connect external antennas to focus on your signal, could be a great idea, depending on your setup. So the Theos would be great for that.
As for the Sony, it’s true that the hot shoe connection can be very practical, but only when you record directly in your camera, which, as a sound recordist, I wouldn’t recommend (unless it’s for a scratch track or a backup). You’ll get much better quality recording in your F3.
So, overall, if I were you, I would go with the Theos, unless you’re in the USA. Because that means you won’t be able to record and transmit at the same time.
So, if you are in the USA, I would go with the Sony, since, without the simultaneous internal recording on the Theos, the Sony might be a bit better and more reliable.
Of course, if you have the budget, getting one of each would make a super versatile kit.
I hope this helps. Let me know which one you end up choosing and how it goes.
And don’t hesitate if you have any more questions.
@@MorphilmAcademy Just ordered the Theos, thank you!
Now I have a different question, regarding an interview shoot.
I might need to do a long form 2 person interview soon, I plan to use 2 XLR mics, connected to my F3.
I will be shooting with 3 cameras, 1 close up shot for each person, and 1 wide shot with them both.
I want the audio from my F3 to be fed on all 3 cameras so that I don't need to sync in post.
Since the F3 only has 1 audio out, what's the best solution for this?
Can I just get a 3.5mm splitter?
Should I rent a different recorder for this? Which one?
@ArtOca Awesome, I’m glad I could help you make a decision.
As for your interview shoot, like I said, I cannot recommend using the audio recorded directly on the cameras. It simply will not be as high quality as using the audio from your F3.
If you are worried about syncing in post, it’s super easy. Even if you don’t have timecode, you can simply use the ”Auto-Sync with audio” feature. Most editing software has that now. It works very well, especially for a long form interview since you’ll likely have very few separate clips. Just make sure you have the internal mic turned-on on the cameras.
That said, if you really want the audio to be fed to all 3 cameras from the F3. I don’t think a simple splitter would work. You would lose too much signal strength. As for other recorders, even with something like a Mixpre 10 ii (which has 3 outputs), it would mean cables everywhere. But If that doesn’t bother you, the Mixpre 10 ii is what I would recommend renting.
If you don’t wan’t to do that, I have 2 other options.
Option 1: Rent camera hops. So 1 transmitter and 3 receivers. A Sennheiser G3 kit is usually easy to find and cheap to rent. If you can find Sony’s, even better. I doubt you would be able to rent a Theos system.
Anyway, you simply have to plug your F3 output in the transmitter and plug each receiver to each camera. Nice and clean, no cables.
Option 2: Rent an active splitter or a mixing board with multiple outputs. Unfortunately, we don’t really use this kind of gear, so I don’t have a specific recommendation. But a Mixing board would take the signal from the F3, boost it and split it to each camera. You’ll still have cables everywhere however.
So, syncing in post would still be the easiest and cheapest option. But, if you don’t want that, Option 1 would probably be your best option.
That said, if you have the budget, hiring a sound recordist would be so much easier for you. Or, you can rent a full, proper kit. What we would do is get something like a Mixpre 10 ii, 2 wireless lavs, 2 XLR shotgun microphones and 4 timecode sync boxes. And use all of that to record and sync the interview.
I hope all of this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions. It’s our pleasure to help.
Take care and good luck with your shoot.