MARTI GX500 vs. REMOTE MIX 4

[ChiefOperator]

Folks,

As you know from my other posts, I'm helping a small AM put together a remote set up. They don't have the money for the Access or Comrex units, but they do have the money for basic POTS and cell units. I realize they can roll their own by putting together a mixer, amp, etc. But they're looking for more of a "plug and play" set up. This brings me to a couple questions. All input is appreciated.

Currently, they're looking at the JK Audio remote Mix 4 as well as the Marti GX500 (the remote mixer). Both look very nice. The Marti *appears* to have a few more features that would be good for sporting events. It lacks a cell phone interface, but the station already has one.

www.martielectronics.com/hierarchy/product.php?maj=201&sec=212&cls=335&prod=487

www.jkaudio.com/remotemix-4.htm

Does anyone have experience with either of these units, especially the Marti? If so, I would appreciate your reviews. Second, what are you using at the studio? They have an extra hybrid, which would probably be fine. But other studio suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

the jk audio thing is nice becase it will work with blueetooth on your cell phone. Hopefully it should provide a easier and in many ways better interface to the cell. I dont know that much about Maris product you mentioned. I thinkfor what you want the jk audio thing would prove useful.

 

[dtube1]

Prior to my opinion on these two boxes, full disclosure:
I did a user report on the JK Broadcast Host for Radio World a few years back.

That out of the way, I have both of these units. I used the Marti for one year and side-lined it. The box sounds ok, work fine, and is simple to operate. BUT, when the AC adaptor is plugged in, the charging circuit makes a very audible whine in both the audio output and in the send audio. The level of this tone isn't very high; but listening to it for an entire football game is maddening. I replaced it with a JK RemoteMix-Sport. It has been a rock. I did replace it this year with a RemoteMix-4. It has yet to see action, but I am impressed with the features (the individual headphone levels, phantom power, and individual channel clip lights are a real plus). One word of warning on it though: the mic preamps have entirely too much gain. I bought new AKG HSC-271 headsets (condenser mic elements) for my main kit this year. When I plugged in the AKG's, I could not raise the level by more than a fraction before the preamps were clipping. I then tried my Sennheiser HMD25's (dynamic mics) and found that, although better, I could not raise the inputs level very much before the clip indicators came on with those as well. I did some research on them and found that the preamp chip is also the A/D converter. The gain on that chip is set by one resistor. I got the schems from JK and swapped-out that resistor on each channel and knocked 12dB off the inputs (I could have done more). I sent this mod into John Bisset at RW with all the details; he is supposed to publish it in the next Workbench.
-D

 

[techie2]

I'm still using a Zercom Max-Z (hey, it sounds good on the air for a POTS remote and is built like a rock). Mine's modified to disable the loop alarm so I can use a JK Audio "Daptor One" for a cell phone remote.

If I had the choice to get a new unit, I'd probably go for the RemoteMix 4. Individual volume controls for the headsets are a nice feature. I have done too many football games with a color guy who would make me deaf if I ran my headset at the level he wanted. I have to use an external headphone DA box with my Zercom so I can adjust my level separately. Plus the Remotemix will interface with about any phone out there since it has a handset interface. That means you can use still broadcast out on those wacky digital and VoIP systems that you run into in school buildings (although you'll have to bring the phone out to the press table to make it work).

The GX-500 has 2 lines, but the hybrids require line power to work. That means you can't use it with a Daptor One device if you need to interface with a cell phone. I don't think it has individual headset volume either. Other than that it's a pretty nice unit. Good and compact, and I think it has a rechargeable battery inside for remotes where there's no shore power available.

Both are probably about equal for POTS only remotes if you can get an analog line wherever you go. For flexibility in being able to get on the air from any phone system, I would have to give the edge to the Remotemix series units.

 

[gunterm]

the jk audio thing is nice becase it will work with blueetooth on your cell phone. Hopefully it should provide a easier and in many ways better interface to the cell. I dont know that much about Maris product you mentioned. I thinkfor what you want the jk audio thing would prove useful.

Bluetooth uses very bad lossy compression, I would hardwire it.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

I agree with the lossy compression issue. In use though I have had issues with a contract station I mess with having the GSM cell phone RF actually get into the hard-wire interface and create quite a bit of noise, plus the tear-up issues of wiring the two things together. In a perfect world with great ballanced wiring and jocks/sports guys that took great care of stuff I would say the hard-wire would be the best. Bluetooth just offers a simplier fix (a bit flawed, yes) to get around those issues.

 

[techie2]

I've never had problems with the cell phone RF getting back into my mixer, but it does cause trouble with the Superadio that I use as a cue monitor. Separating them by about 2 feet gets rid of the problem.