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Product
Review by Mobile Beat: The DJ Magazine
(Pages 99-103, Issue 66, May 2001)
Title: A
Cornucopia of Karaoke Components
Reviewed by: Jammin' Jim Kerins
Audio2000'S® Serves up an assortment of karaoke confections.
Happy happy, joy joy, Mobile Beat just sent me a box of toys, toys.
My second most favorite delivery person (the first being the pizza delivery girl),
the UPS man, just dropped off a big box full of mixers, amplifiers and microphones....whoa
boy! Since I haven't abused any electronics in nearly two weeks, I hope these high-tech
boxes are up to the challenge.
All of the equipment came from the warehouses of Audio2000'S® (H&F
Technologies). This company makes a wide range of entry-to-intermediate level
karaoke and DJ equipment. Many of you DJ part-time and when it comes to buying
equipment, you're looking for the best bang for your buck. Will Audio2000'S® deliver? Let's apply the AC,
load up the batteries, whack the shiny boxes around a little, and see what happens.
Just give me the condensed version
ACM193
The first item up for scrutiny was the ACM193 condenser microphone.
"What the heck is a condenser microphone and why would I want one?" you ask.
Condenser microphones use a more sensitive pickup element which is typically in
need of an electric boost, provided in this case by an AA battery. You'll hear
condenser mics on most recordings and high-end live shows. They reproduce the input
(i.e. a singing voice) more accurately, and have greater presence and realism. On
the downside: the more sensitive the element, the more fragile, and the battery needs
replacing every few shows.
The base of the microphone easily unscrewed, allowing access to the
battery compartment. With a double-A battery at the ready, I took a moment to admire
the sharp looking black finish, with matching black windscreen. The microphone is
thinner and a bit longer than a standard SM-58, but is quite attractive. The ACM193
connects to your mixer with a standard mic. cable, and has a convenient on/off switch. (Or
maybe not so convenient when the klumsy karaoke singer accidentally switches it off.)
Let me make this perfectly clear
Having used and abused all types of expensive microphones, it was
immediately apparent to me that this microphone has the superior sonic characteristics of
a condenser. An improved level of realism and clarity will be audible to a
discriminating listener when compared to that old, it's-been-dropped-a-thousand-times
mcirophone you may be currently using.
Finally, without throwing it on the floor ten times it will be tough
for me to assess its durability. I think it's safe to say that if you host a lot of
drunken karaoke shows, you may want to keep this microphone for yourself. Certainly
if you do a lot of weddings (introductions, in particular), you may want to consider using
such an accurate microphone.
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Hot off the wire
AWM6072S
Karaoke singer to host: "I wanna use the wireless
microphone-'cause it sounds better."
Actually. in most instances a 100-dollar wired microphone will sound
better, when critically compared to most 700-dollar wireless microphone systems.
Just as broadcast radio limits the dynamic range and sometimes the audio spectrum of
music, wireless microphones have their own sonic limitations. But once again, most
casual listeners don't know the difference. And how can I possibly look cool having
a cord attached? Remember the golden rule in business: the customer/karaoke singer is
always right, especially when she's crying "I want my wireless."
Audio2000'S® can make you look hip in the eyes of your audience with the AWM6072S, a 1/2
rack space, dual frequency dual channel VHF wireless system, at a budget-conscious
price. Practical reasons for using it are obviously to save space and eliminate
tangled and beer-soaked cords, with the added cachet of being a double-wireless
wonder. The microphone is constructed from lightweight plastic, and as always,
reasonable care should be taken when deciding which klutzy singer you hand it over
to. Unlike at the craft show, "you break it, you bought it" may not
necessarily apply on karaoke night.
Have I got a two-for-one deal for you....
Each microphone has an internal dual-channel selector switch and
external on/off switch, and a handy low-battery indicator light. The plastic
receiver box has two retractable metal antennas with channel selector switches and volume
controls for each microphone on the faceplate. The rear panel features power,
squelch, mic/line selector, and a single microphone output. Having one microphone
output allows you to take up only one channel on your mixer to control two wireless
microphones. This lets you adjust wireless microphonevolumes from the front of the
receiver unit. The downside to this setup is that you can't adjust the EQ and vocal
effects independently for each mic.
It took just a few minutes to get the microphones up and running.
Initially I encounter some hum from the unit, but it was simply a matter of
repositioning the receiver. The microphone sounded fine and had little trouble
within about a 100-foot range. When I experienced some interference on one of the
microphones I simply changed the frequency switch, and that cleared up the problem.
Finally, the system performed well for its bargain price, although, as with most budget
wireless mics, the clarity was less than you'd expect from a standard wired microphone.
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A specially mixed mixer
AKJ7301
Audio2000'S® serves up a distinctive mixer with their AKJ7301 hybrid karaoke/DJ
mixer. Out of the box, this seems like a pretty cool full-featured unit. It
will fit any standard 19" rack, consuming six spaces. The layout looks fairly
clean, with sharp graphics and a nice gray background. It features four
dual-selectable input channels for CD, phono, mics, or whatever else you feel like
plugging in. These channels feature high, mid and low EQ, with gain input control
and effects send buttons. Channels one and two are dedicated microphone channels,
featuring three-band EQ, variable effects send, and volume control.
Unique karaoke features include an adjustable key controller that
gives you incremental up/down control of the key for any of the inputs on the four main
channels. The board also has the ability to utilize built-in function on multiplex
audio karaoke discs.
Interestingly, the mixer has a built-in adjustable effects unit.
However, the effects are only available to channels one through four, whereas the
main vocal channels utilize a non-variable digital delay. Curious about this
anomaly, I contacted Haw-Renn Chen, the head of Audio2000'S®, and he informed me that they are
currently working on upgrading this particular mixer to be able to utilize adjustable
effects on all channels. I was pleasantly surprised that I was immediately able to
talk to Mr. Chen, who demonstrated his company's eagerness to improve their products,
based upon a potential customer's input.
Mix-master Jammin' Jim gets wired
I wired the mixer up with the usual (i.e., CD players, karaoke
machine, microphones and of course big amplifier and speakers) for my demo. The
AKJ7301 was easy to set up and had low idle noise. Playing a few CDs revealed a
good-sounding mixer with faders, although not silky smooth, that work well. The EQ
is good and the effects were easily added, although it takes a hipper DJ than me to want
to add all kinds of effects to pre-recorded music, but then again, I'm getting old.
The microphone channels sounded real good and the built-in digital delay sounded much
better than most built-in units i've heard, with none of that robotic metal noise.
The unit has an auto-talkover setting (designed to automatically lower the music volume
while you're speaking and then restore level once you're done) that kindasorta
works. I usually just crank the fader north when it's time for me to speak, because
I have a lot to say, and I have a big ego. With the karaoke machine playing, I
engaged the key controller function. It will do a good job of changing the key to
suit all those singers who want to do songs they have no business singing. The key is
indicated by a nice bright LED located right under the mixer's big level-output meter.
Overall, this appears to be pretty handy mixer when karaoke is the priority.
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Power in the house
AKJ7050
The AKJ7050 is a karaoke mixer/amplifier. It's a home-style unit
with some professional features. I would consider this unit for the occasional
karaoke add-on, or for the part-time karaoke host. Let's open this baby up and see
what she's made of.
First of all, in order to use this unit for continuous DJ music,
you're probably going to need an auxiliary mixer to keep the tunes flowing. The
heart of the AKJ7050 is certainly its nearly 400 Watt internal power amp, with
professional banana plug speaker connectors. Inputs include lots of room to
plug-in all of your favorite gadgets. The front panel is clean and well laid out,
with connections for three microphones,each with independent level control. All
microphone signal paths are routed through a common two-band EQ and adjustable digital
delay, with master echo control. Two main volume controls adjust all microphones
together in relation to a master music control. This machine has a 12-step key
controller that can affect any of the musical inputs. A remote control is supplied
so that you can adjust the volume while you're getting yourself a much needed adult
beverage; after all, it is scaryoke.
Let the jam out
With the AKJ7050 hooked up to my new E-V speakers, it was time to
kick out the jam. Wasting no time, I quickly cranked up that annoying song,
"Who Let The Dogs Out" (those guys should be caged in a federal pen). The
machine has plenty of punch, good tone, and actually more head room than I anticipated.
I tired the key controller on some karaoke tracks and it worked well. The unit will
accept a total of five microphones. The mic inputs have very low noise and easily produced
a lot of gain. The built-in digital delay sounds better than most, and it features
an effects loop for using your own effects units. Everything about the AKJ7050
performed as advertised, although you would have to be careful with the unit, as it is not
rack mountable, and is perhaps not as rugged as a professional unit.
Fulfilling your needs
All of these units can cover a broad range of tasks, and might be
just what you're looking for in your particular market niche. For the weekend
warrior they just may be the ticket. Until next time, Jam on.
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