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Comms: HME's vs. Eartec UltraLITE


John McGillen

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debating which system to buy into...

The HME's (MB300 and WH300 all-in-one headsets) are 3-4x time the price but is also the industry standard.

The Eartec's are much cheaper and more efficient since they don't require a base station.

I have used both and this is my experience.

HME

Pros: Up to 12 people can talk at the same time (up to 30 people with two base stations), ability to connect base station to walkies for communicating with AC's and other crew that don't wear headsets, headsets have good battery life (base station not so much)

Cons: A lot more expensive, require AC to set up base station during company moves

Eartec

Pros: Easy to setup and use, cheap, lift speaker up to mute

Cons: plastic feeling, no ability to connect with walkies, have received complains about interference from sound mixer, person wearing master headset must stay within range

I'm curious to hear y'all thoughts

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Ear tec for smaller gigs, where you aren't displaced, really spread out etc. They are fast, and cheap so if one breaks its not the end of the world. The things that break are the mic attachements, they lose their tension and don't hold the position. Rubber bands/bongo ties can fix this by adding friction. But if they are treated well, they will last, I've had mine for about 2 years.

 

The HME's way more versatile, good for bigger gigs, and where communication between multiple departments for specialty shots, stunts, heavy coordination is a must. 

The ac's still have to monitor batteries on the headsets for both, and when transporting I usually hand my headset off to one of them anyway. 

HME's are great for high end projects that have the money to rent the kit. but if you are just packaging your headsets into your base kit and have a quick fix for those times no one thought about communication, then ear tec is the way. 

Personal note: The sounds HME's make ie. beeps, etc. are more annoying than the eartecs, even though when the base station or master headset of the eartecs dies, the incessant beeping would drive anyone mad.

Also a broken HME is still possible, and those are a bit more to fix/replace 

Edited by Kevin Jacobsen
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