Sennheiser EW-D — a professional digital wireless system
Maxim Liadov
The Sennheiser EW-D digital wireless system is the German company's latest development. It targets a broad range of users, from concerts to events and presentations. These include professional musicians, theater performers, education, business presentations, training, conferences, and executive speeches.
In Sennheiser's digital wireless range, the EW-D sits between entry-level products such as the XSW-D and the technically advanced Digital 6000/9000 systems. It is for professionals who need stable, high-quality microphone connections but have a limited budget or do not immediately need many channels. Users can start with one receiver and a handheld or lavalier transmitter, then easily add channels later.
We tested the EW-D ME2 SET Lavalier Set Omnidirectional. It contains an EW-D EM single-channel receiver, EW-D SK bodypack transmitter, and standard ME 2 lavalier with a clip. The power supply includes plugs for different countries. We chose a real-use test. We already use wireless systems, including an on-camera digital lavalier for studio videos, so we made an EW-D review video using the EW-D itself to record the voice. Sound was excellent immediately, without processing.
Its appearance and range recall the analog Sennheiser EW, but the EW-D is fully digital, with modern benefits in sound and operation. It can be seen as a more affordable Digital 6000/9000, bringing many proprietary developments into a broader price range. It is not the cheapest product. For important concerts or speakers, however, range and reliability come first. The EW-D removes the need to choose between digital sound quality and analog connection stability. Total EW-D latency is only 1.9 milliseconds, making it audibly indistinguishable from an analog wireless system.
Importantly, the EW-D uses frequencies from 470 MHz upward rather than the 2.4 GHz band common in affordable digital equipment. All else equal, 470 MHz is better for radio range than 2.4 GHz. Frequency and wavelength are linked: higher frequencies have shorter wavelengths and generally lose usable range more quickly. Like higher-end models, the EW-D uses the lower-frequency band to extend operating distance from 30 to 100 meters. This improves reliability and expands possible uses. Avoiding 2.4 GHz also avoids the often crowded band used by home Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices, and similar equipment.
Channel count and bandwidth are impressive too. With 90 channels across 56 MHz, finding free frequencies for several transmitters and receivers is easy.
Unlike similar solutions, the EW-D scales to 16 receivers operating together without specialist configuration or computer-control equipment. A full 16-channel installation needs new high-linearity splitters and efficient antennas, but no Ethernet switches, wired control network, or computer control. All control is handled from a smartphone, reducing extra cables.
New high-linearity components allow equally spaced radio frequencies, known as an equidistant frequency grid. This effectively removes transmitter intermodulation problems. In simple terms, serious technical measures keep several active channels from interfering with one another. The process is automated, allowing out-of-the-box use without a radio-frequency specialist.
The system keeps the range and stability of professional analog wireless while removing analog limitations. These include narrower frequency and dynamic ranges and compander artifacts during sudden dynamic changes. The digital EW-D avoids these problems. Its specifications are outstanding even among digital systems. A huge 134 dB dynamic range makes it a strong technical competitor.
We experienced these benefits directly. We had no concerns about transmission quality or natural voice tone. Listen to the examples in our video or other EW-D videos online.
A QR code on the box and in the instructions links to Sennheiser EW-D Smart Assist in the App Store or Google Play. Supported Apple devices should be no more than 5 years old. The application did not run on older phones in our test, but worked well on an iPhone 7 and newer.
Smart Assist allows setup even without wireless-system experience. Its Russian-language wizard guides the user step by step and explains what to press for synchronization. Illustrated answers to common questions, tutorial videos, and the full official manual are included. Initial setup takes only a couple of minutes. Afterward, Bluetooth allows remote control without walking between transmitter and receiver to press buttons.
Each transmitter/receiver pair gets a unique name. The transmitter has no display or settings. When several units are used, press a transmitter button once and the matching receiver display flashes.
The same identification is available in the application. A 6-letter name appears in the center of the receiver display.
There are many settings, but they are easy to understand. Transmitter gain adjusts in 3 dB steps. Precise transmitter gain adjustment is not essential because its 134 dB dynamic range greatly exceeds the familiar 120 dB figure.
Our image gallery shows EW-D Smart Assist in use. Browse the smartphone screenshots with keyboard left/right arrows, by clicking the screen edges, or by selecting a thumbnail.
The application is designed for centralized control of up to 16 systems. At the time of the review, competing systems did not offer this capability. It was a particular EW-D advantage.
Hardware buttons remain available. If the phone battery runs out, 5 receiver buttons allow quick synchronization and changes to channel, microphone gain, output level, and MUTE lock.
The receiver has a useful segmented peak meter. On overload, the wider top segment lights for several seconds, and the indicator changes from green to orange. Red means no radio connection, for example because the linked unit is off or its battery is empty. Battery status is shown on the right.
The receiver's rear is familiar: two removable antennas, a power connector with cable strain relief, and XLR and TRS outputs.
Our test covered connection stability, transmitted sound quality, setup convenience, and everyday use.
We already used another manufacturer's 2.4 GHz digital lavalier system, so we had a personal interest in what the move to EW-D would bring.
We liked the display very much. It is informative without clutter, showing all parameters without confusing nested menus. It is a segmented LED display rather than a pixel matrix and remains visible from any angle. Letters and numbers look excellent, even more attractive to us than smartphone Hi-DPI displays. In our subjective view, the design and execution deserve high praise.
We liked the transmitter's slim modern design, metal housing, and support for branded rechargeable packs as well as AA batteries. The branded packs provide 12 hours instead of 8 hours from disposable batteries. The same packs fit bodypacks and handheld microphones.
Smart Assist is fully localized into Russian and includes illustrated help, a manual, and videos.
The video lets you assess sound quality yourself. In our view, it is highly professional and comparable to more expensive systems, especially when 2.4 GHz is crowded with many active routers. A vocal microphone may reveal sound quality more clearly than a lavalier. Sennheiser offers a wide choice of interchangeable handheld microphone heads.
- e 835/e 845/e 865
- e 935/e 945/e 965
- MMD 435/MMD 445/MMD 42
- Neumann KK 204/KK 205
Users can choose a dynamic or condenser capsule for the task and voice, with two Neumann capsule models also supported.
Useful accessories include power-supply plugs and a receiver rackmount kit.
External antennas and antenna splitters can improve range and reception reliability further if the budget allows.
Conclusions
We were pleased with the test results and can confidently recommend the Sennheiser EW-D for many uses. Its 3 main advantages are:
1. A professional digital system. It uses frequencies from 470 MHz upward instead of 2.4 GHz, providing a 100-meter line-of-sight range and 90 available channels.
2. Easy use. Anyone can learn it. The Russian-language Smart Assist application provides convenient setup and remote control, plus help and tutorial videos. Russian training videos are on the Sennheiser Russia YouTube channel.
3. Expansion. Up to 16 channels can be added without extra control equipment, software, or radio specialists, unlike competing solutions. Extra antennas can also improve reception.
In our view, the Sennheiser EW-D removes the main reasons to choose analog wireless. It replaces analog systems without losing reliability and delivers much better sound. The price gap between analog and digital has finally disappeared too.
Note. This is an adapted machine translation into English. It follows the “In simple terms” approach. Read the original article at https://prosound.ixbt.com/microphones/sennheiser-ew-d.shtml.