Posts Tagged ‘Shure PSM 900’

The Shure PSM 900 wireless in ear monitor system is now available and ready to ship!

I am excited to report that I received word that I can start taking orders for the new PSM 900 and that the units will start shipping on March 1, 2010.

We design and build In Ear Monitor Systems. Call (615) 534-1190 Ext 2 or Email Me
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Although it is new to the market you will not be ‘rolling the dice’ on this new IEM system. I had the privilege seeing and listening to it at NAMM. My initial response was that it was extremely quiet, very tight low end and smooth high end. An already proven and rock solid RF technology based on the UHR wireless system, the PSM 900 will combine this reliability and a sound quality to propel this system to the new industry standard for in ear monitors.

I also had the privilege of testing the new Sennheiser 2000 series wireless system while mixing monitors on the 2010 CMA Awards. It was certainly one of the best sounding wireless in ear monitor systems I had ever heard to date. However, the price point on the system makes it out of reach for most users and a tough justification for most production companies. Mean while, there are rumblings going on about Shure’s new IEM system…

Let’s face it, Shure in my opinion has not come out with an in ear system that has sounded good since the PSM 600. Which I still use and spec the P6HW for a wired IEM system today, it still rocks!. Fast forward to NAMM 2010 and the debut of the PSM 900. I stop by Shure to take a look and listen. The RF, features and functions are no doubt impressive but how’s it sound? Since then I personally know that it has been used by Creed, Pete Townsend on the Super Bowl and many, many others. In the words of Frank Sgambellone (FOH for Godsmack, Monitors for Alter Bridge, & many more) “Shure’s knocked it out of the park with this one.”

The new Shure PSM 900 is $1099.00 and we’ll ship it to you for FREE!

The PSM 900 system is currently available to ship with the following components.

P9T Transmitter

P9R Body pack receiver

SE425CL Sound Isolating TM Earphones shown (not included)

Hear are list of Features and Functions that will set it apart from the rest of the IEM systems on the market. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to Email Me.

PSM®900 Technology

CueMode (patent pending): Hear what the performer hears, with the touch of a button! With CueMode a monitor engineer can, with a single bodypack, flip through and audition up to 20 different mixes to check levels, balance or anything else needed to keep the show running smoothly. IR sync makes it easy to set up the different mixes the engineer wants to link to, and once set up the channels are easily stored, replaced or deleted for quick and efficient set up.
Scan and Sync: PSM®900 systems utilize Scan and Sync technology, which vastly improves efficiency and ease of setup. Group Scan analyzes the RF environment for interference and identifies the group with the highest number of available compatible frequencies. Sync communicates the results of the scan to the TX over IR link and assigns the identified group and channel. Channel scan can then be performed to find the next clear channel to use, which can then be synced to the next TX in your set up. The whole operation can be done within a few seconds, and results in the clearest channels to use for your monitoring set-up.
Robust Front-End RF Filtering: A feature of the bodypack RX, and based on the premium filtering technology of UHF-R® wireless microphone systems. PSM®900 systems use an extremely precise RF filter that rejects potential RF interference from signals outside the RX’s bandwidth BEFORE traveling to the RX itself.
Active RF Gain Control: Just like how too much audio input gain can distort an audio signal, too much RF signal can cause distortion or dropouts on a wireless PSM® system. Active RF Gain Control automatically reduces the receiver sensitivity for 31dB of additional RF dynamic range before an overload can affect the system, reducing dropouts due to receiver overload and preserving audio quality.
RF Mute Switch: A convenient on/off switch for enabling RF transmissionlocated on the front panel of the receiver. When switched to the off position, the user can perform set up operations, such as adjusting audio level and signal flow, or other actions without disturbing the current RF environment.
Audio Reference Companding (ARC): Companding is the process of compressing the audio signal prior to transmission and expanding it after reception. All pro audio wireless needs companding to deliver a wide dynamic range. Audio Reference Companding is a more efficient, level-dependent companding scheme. Instead of companding across the entire dynamic range like most wireless systems (causing a whooshing audio artifact known as “breathing”), companding only occurs at high audio levels. These levels are high enough to make the companding artifacts inaudible. The result is an improved wireless sound quality that sounds more natural, with less noise and greater dynamic range than other wireless systems – no artifacts, lower noise floor, clearer sound at all audio levels.
MixMode® Technology: Shure MixMode® Technology enables you to balance the level of two separate channels while simultaneously listening to both signals in both ears. Use the controls on your bodypack to set your own levels and create the mix you want—without affecting anyone else’s.
Separate Level and Clip Indicators: With personal monitor systems, audio signal can be too hot as it comes out from the mixing board and into the TX, and/or when it is sent from the TX to the RX, making it difficult to tell why the signal is distorted when it gets to the artist’s ears. PSM 900 TX’s have separate clip indicators for both level input and TX output to help determine if the signal needs to be adjusted at the board or at the TX.
Loop Out: Handy L/R outputs on the back panel of the receiver that can be used with MixMode to daisy-chain signal from one unit to another, out to monitor wedges, recording devices, or any other audio input.

This past week, Shure debuted it’s new PSM 900 wireless personal in-ear monitor system at the 2010 winter NAMM convention. Boasting better RF performance and sonic quality than any other wireless in-ear monitor system on the market. I spoke with Geno, a Shure engineer at NAMM about their new system. He described the feature packed bells and whistles of the system. Of which many of us have become spoiled with; allowing us to efficiently program multiple wireless systems. Features such as infrared sync and group/channel scanning. The PSM 900 takes these features to another level. In under 5 seconds, I was able to scan the entire group and lock in those frequencies! Another 2 seconds and it was synced via infrared, very cool!

I really like the P9R bodypack. It’s small and lightweight but does not feel fragile. It is actually made of metal! According to Shure it’s the thinnest personal monitor bodypack available. One feature which is worth the price of admission alone, especially to us monitor engineers is CueMode. CueMode can be enabled on any bodypack and gives the ability to select and monitor up to 20 different mixes without the need of additional equipment. You can actually monitor the audio you’re transmitting without the coloration of a consoles cue section electronics and yes, that means you’re also monitoring the RF! Another cool feature is the ability to mute the PSM 900 RF. This allows you to scan and program your system while other bands are performing. Without interfering with other RF systems being used. The effects of inter-modulation are greatly reduced by the precision front-end RF filtering of the PSM 900. Up to 20 compatible frequencies per 36 Megahertz frequency range are possible.

I haven’t had a chance to field test it, which is the only true way to give a piece of gear the thumbs up or down I did however take a listen to it at the Shure booth during NAMM. The program being played was unfamiliar but in trying to focus on the sonic quality of the system my initial reaction was that it did seem light years ahead of previous wireless PSM systems. The low end seemed tight and punchy and the noise floor was very low. The price point for the new PSM 900 is about $1000.00 and should start shipping mid-2010.

Not having network capability is a HUGE drawback with today’s coordination that is required for multi-RF systems. Despite that, the system can be managed quickly and easily so all and all it seems to be a great system.  I can’t wait to take it for a test drive to see what it sounds like out in the trenches. Stay tuned…

Jason Spence – Owner

jason@jss.net

(615) 534-1190 Ext. 2