PRODUCT - Music Inc. Magazine

crowded with digital television
stations because the stations
that were in the 700 MHz band
moved down to the remaining TV
band,” said Chris Lyons, manager
of technical and educational communications
at Shure. “The bus is
getting a little bit more crowded,
and there are more people who
want to get on the bus.”
In turn, manufacturers have
taken a second look at other parts
of the spectrum.
“Digital is a good alternative
to UHF,” said Ryan Clement, general
manager and vice president
of Grandma’s Music & Sound in
Albuquerque, N.M. “Just looking
ahead, digital seems to offer better
sound quality and less chance
of FCC-related issues.”
He added that informing consumers
of recent changes is the
most effective way to promote
and sell the category.
Digital wireless also eliminates
region-to-region interference
inconveniences. Peckham
said Full Compass markets to
“those who must operate with
extremely high reliability in different
locations,” such as touring
bands. Here, digital is a godsend
for music retailers looking to
limit the number of SKUs in
their wireless sector. This goes
for online dealers with national
customer bases, too.
“One thing that’s nice about
[digital wireless] is that there are
fewer SKUs to stock,” Lyons said.
“The same SKU, the same unit,
is sellable to customers throughout
North and South America.
With the analog system, when
somebody calls, you have to say,
‘OK, where are you? You’re in
Denver? You need this particular
SKU.’ And let’s hope that dealer
has one in stock.”
ToNE GENERAToRS
With the digital wireless
market coming of age,
several retailers are
targeting the most
unexpected users
of all: instrumentalists.
This group often
finds the category
particularly attractive
due to digital
wireless’ lack of companding
technology.
“We’re focusing on
customers who have
a need for improved
wireless sound quality
— guitar players,
vocalists, presenters
have been the most
receptive,” said GC
Pro Senior Account
Manager Dan Scalpone,
who discussed
the Shure PGXD as
a popular, versatile
piece. “For an additional
$50 cost from
the analog version,
you receive an easyto-use,
clear-sounding
unit.”
Josh Snyder, pro audio department
manager at Drome Sound
in Schenectady, N.Y., explained
that instruments are characterized
by a larger range of high and
low frequencies than vocals. He
said he believes digital wireless
better emphasizes these differences.
And he, like many retailers,
abides by a what-you-playis-what-you-get
mantra when
selling the category. This grabs
the interest of guitar and bass
players coveting the uncompromised
tone of their axes, as opposed
to a more processed sound.
“Guitar players are usually
very particular about their tone,”
Snyder said.
“With guitar, you get a better
transparency, you get more
clarity,” Lyons said, adding that
he emphasizes the improved dynamic
range and lower noise floor
when selling digital wireless
TREND SEGMENTS
DIGITAL WIRELESS
TREND SEGMENTS
DIGITAL WIRELESS
systems. “It results in a more
realistic, lifelike rendition of the
sound.”
According to Snyder, the
digital component isn’t even the
biggest selling point. When qualifying
a guitarist, for instance,
he mentions the cable modeling
feature of the Line 6 Relay G30,
which lets users dial in preferred
cable length.
Lectrosonics Director of Business
Development Karl Winkler
said his company has had tremendous
success with “general
purpose” systems. Still, he mentioned
that the Quadra digital
in-ear monitoring feature gives
the system unique selling power.
Boomer added that foolproof
sync-and-scan functions make
digital wireless extremely profitable
for MI rental outfits.
“You send these things out
to schoolteachers, and you don’t
have to have any more ability
than to turn it on,” Boomer said.
PicK YoUR BATTlES
John Nady
‘Looking ahead,
digital seems
to offer better
sound quality
and less
chance of Fccrelated
issues.’
— ryan clement
Digital wireless isn’t for everyone,
though. According
to Lectrosonics’ Winkler, music
retailers must evaluate the advantages
and disadvantages of each
MAY 2011 I MUSIC INC. I 61