Audio-Technica UniPoint User Manual

REVIEW

UniPoint Line

John McJunkin

Audio-Technica

New improvements to a solid and reliable line of microphones.

Wh en it comes to computer s of tware, we hav e c om e to ex pect occasional updates. Version 1 is great, then version 2 comes out with enhancements and new features. But with hardware, this type of update is not automatic. Sometimes a manufacturer will introduce a “Mark II” product, but the wholesale improvement of an entire product line is a rare event. Audio -Technica has accomplished exactly that with its UniPoint®line. There are ﬁ ve primary enhancements to the line, some more earth-shattering than others, but all result in signiﬁ cantly better products all around. Let’s see what they’ve done.

The proliferation of computers, BlackBerries, cell phones, Bluetooth, and other technology in boardrooms and meeting spaces have given us more RF than ever before. A-T’s solution is UniGuard, a complete redesign of how UniPoint products are shielded from RF. In my estimation, this is among the more important improvements.

The second major enhancement is the introduction of interchangeable elements to boost quality and help reject feedback when it’s a problem. There are capsules for omnidirectional, cardioid, and hypercardioid patterns, and the

new UniLine

The third enhancement is UniSteep®, a high- quality 80Hz low-cut ﬁ l te r to r ed uc e r um bl e and othe r l ow -fr equ en cy ambience in a natural way. These are indeed effective and steep ﬁ lters (18dB/octave, to be exact).

The four th innovation is UniLine, a new line- cardioid ele ment with a tight pattern. Think line array in a microphone. These mini-shotguns have a super-tight pattern, which is occasionally necessary. I love these mics!

The ﬁ fth and ﬁ nal enhancement is PivotPoint ing connector on the line’s boundary mics, enabling simpliﬁ ed mic integration. Not only does mic integration take more time, but if a contractor or integrator breaks open the box to move the wiring and make an install aesthetically pleasing, it can severely compromise the shielding. Audio-Technica’s engineers signiﬁ cantly improved the RF shielding of these microphones, and PivotPoint was born to both aesthetic and practical parents. The mic can be easily installed in an attractive way, while avoiding the shield-compromising problems associated with opening up the box—an enhancement I found particularly clever.

pattern (more on that in a moment).

, a rotat-

GIVE A LISTEN

There are more than 30 microphones in the UniPoint line, so I reviewed a representative sample. I chose nine different mics, including extra capsules, various mounting and installation hardware, numerous windscreens, and a plethora of different ways to get the mics’ signals from A to B. As always, AudioTe ch nica ’s h ar dw ar e i s s olid , s turd y, a nd it lo oks nice too. In particular, I love its small- diameter goosenecks with “virtually no memory.” This claim is not an exag geration in the least. These are truly excellent goosenecks.

The ﬁ rst of the three gooseneck-mount mics I listened to was the U859QL, intended for use with an XLRF-type desk-mounted connector. It accepts any of the UniPoint interchangeable elements and features the UniSteep ﬁ lter. This is the only mic in the entire UniPoint line that does not feature UniGuard RF shielding. I like the way this mic sounds—it’s absolutely perfect for podium work. It ships with a cardioid element, and the off-axis rejection is perfect for most gooseneck-oriented applications.

The next gooseneck-based mic was the U857QL, the longer (18.94in.) version of the U857Q (14.37in.). This gooseneck also mounts to an XLRF-type connector. It also accepts any of the interchangeable elements and features the UniSteep ﬁ lter and the UniGuard RF shielding. This mic also shipped with a cardioid element with just the right amount of off-axis rejection for most likely applications. I discovered the low-end response of this mic (along with that of all the other gooseneck-type A-T mics) to be excellent for a small-diaphragm condenser.

The third and final gooseneck was the U857RU. This mic direct-mounts to any standard 5/8in. to 27in. stand or the included mounting ﬂ ange with a cable pass-through adapter. This mic shipped with the UniLine “line-array” cardioid element, which has a substantially narrow pattern, perfect for applications where feedback is problematic. It also features UniSteep and UniGuard.

I tested two hanging microphones, the ﬁ rst of which was the U853A. It shipped with both a steel hanger and a plastic stand-mounted housing for podium or other stand-attached applicatio ns . It inc lude s t he AT85 31 p ower mo du le that operates on phantom or battery power. It also accepts interchangeable elements and features UniGuard and UniSteep. The other hanging mic

was the U853PMWU, which is essentially the same as the U853A, aside from the fact that it features the UniLine mini-shotgun element in a white ﬁ nish. Did I mention that I love these “line -array” mics?

I also tested three boundary mics—the U841A, U851RW, and U891RC. The U841 is a simple omnidirectional mic, the U851RW and U891RC both exhibit a cardioid pattern, and all three feature UniGuard, UniSteep, plus the U851RW and U891RC employ A-T’s PivotPoint rotating output connectors. The U851RW spor ts a white ﬁ nish, and the U891RC also includes a switch that can trigger ex ternal devices or it can switch the mic on or off with touch-on/touch-off, press-to -talk, or press-to-mute modes.

Finally, I tested the U873R handheld mic, which is a condenser unit with interchangeable elements for diverse polar patterns. The mic ships with a hypercardioid capsule. Like the other mics, this one features UniGuard and UniSteep.

In regard to the UniGuard technology, I threw every thing I had at these mics—cell phones, BlackBerries, walkie-talkies, cordless telephones, 802.11g wireless Internet —anything I could muster in an attempt to get RF noise and/ or interference, but to no avail. The shielding is truly excellent. Also, most of these mics can handle 130dB SPL or more—certainly enough for virtually any install/integration application. It cam e as no surp rise to me tha t th e quality of the mics is excellent. I’ve come to expect that from A-T. The pleasant surprise is the updates and enhancements to the entire line.

THE LAST WORD

I had an epiphany as I tested the new UniPoint microphones. The difference between a good manufacturer and a great one is that a good manufacturer will develop a good product or line and continue to maintain good quality. A great manufacturer will develop a good product or line, then improve it, based upon experience. AudioTechnica has heard what contractors and integrators have had to say about these products and used that feedback to improve the entire line. The UniPoint line was good before, but now it’s truly great. Bravo, Audio-Technica.

John McJunkin is the principal of Avalon Studio Service in Phoenix and consults for both studios and live sound applications.

PRODUCT SUMMARY

Company: Audio-Technica

www.audio-technica.com

Product: UniPoint line Pros: Major enhancements and improve-

ments to entire line.

Cons: None. Applications: Ideal for boardrooms, podi-

ums, house of worship, and broadcast.

SPECIFICATIONS

U857Q Frequency Response: 30Hz-

20,000Hz Maximum Input Sound Level: 139dB SPL, 1kHz at 1% THD Dynamic Range: 115dB, 1kHz at max SPL Signal-Noise Ratio: 70dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa

U853PMWU Frequency Response: 30Hz-

20,000Hz Maximum Input Sound Level: 124dB SPL, 1kHz at 1% THD Dynamic Range: 102dB, 1kHz at max SPL Signal-Noise Ratio: 72dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa

U851RW Frequency Response: 30Hz-

20,000Hz Maximum Input Sound Level: 134dB SPL, 1kHz at 1% THD Dynamic Range: 108dB, 1kHz at max SPL Signal-Noise Ratio: 68dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa

Reprinted with permission from the January 2006 issue of

Form No. 0310-0873-00

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