Shure Axient Digital and ULX-D wireless microphone systems both offer a robust feature set and can be used in a wide variety of applications. However, there are significant differences between the systems which often lead to one system being more suitable for a particular applications. In this article, we'll discuss some of the similarities and differences between ULX-D and Axient Digital.
Common Features
- Latency and Frequency Response: Both Axient Digital and ULX-D offer as low as 3ms end-to-end latency and full 20 Hz - 20 kHz audio frequency response.
- RF Frequency Bands: Both Axient Digital and ULX-D offers systems which operate in a variety of frequency bands (region-dependent).
- Remote Antenna Inputs: Axient Digital and ULX-D support connecting custom-designed remote antenna systems consisting of multiple zones.
- Dante Audio: Both Axient Digital and ULX-D offer Dante audio outputs. With ULX-D, you will need the ULXD4D or ULXD4Q receiver. For Axient Digital, you'll need an AD4D or AD4Q receiver for Dante digital audio.
- Rechargeable Batteries: Both systems may be used with rechargeable batteries (standard on some Axient Digital transmitters, optional on ULX-D).
- Mic Elements: Both systems work with a wide range of Shure microphone elements, including SM58 and Beta 58A handheld options, and most Shure lavalier and headset microphones.
- Remote Management: Both systems can be managed remotely using Shure Wireless Workbench 6 (ULX-D).
- Logic Interface: Both systems can provide a third-party control system with information via the Command Strings interface.
Features Unique to ULX-D
- Multiple Microphone Form Factors: ULX-D offers boundary and gooseneck transmitter options in addition to more traditional bodypack and handheld transmitters.
- Mixed Output: ULX-D receivers can provide a single-channel output containing the mixed audio from all four receivers channels in a quad receivers, or both channels in a dual receiver.
- Compatibility with QLX-D systems: ULX-D receivers can receive audio from some QLX-D transmitters in some cases.
- Single-Channel Receiver: The ULXD4 can be used for small systems consisting of one channel of wireless.
- VHF Operation: ULX-D and QLX-D are available in VHF-band variants.
Features Unique to Axient Digital
- ShowLink: Axient Digital offers transmitters (ADX1, ADX1M, ADX2, and ADX2FD) capable of remote management via ShowLink, which allows for automatic frequency reassignment while in use as well as adjustment of other parameters. An AD610 ShowLink Access Point is required, and an AXT600 Spectrum Manager is required for automatic frequency hopping.
- Quadversity: Quad-channel Axient Digital receivers may be used in Quadversity mode, which allows for four antennas per channel.
- Frequency Diversity: Axient Digital is capable of frequency diversity with some transmitter configurations.
- True Multi-Receiver Diversity Architecture: With Axient Digital, both antenna inputs are actively receiving and decoding the digital signal at all times. The digital bitstreams are then combined to provide the redundancy, filling in any holes on a bit by bit basis.
- Camera Slot Portable Receiver: The ADX5D receiver can be used with existing Axient Digital transmitters to provide audio to cameras or portable audio recorders in the field.
- Analog, AES3, and Dante Audio Outputs: Axient Digital offers AES3 outputs in addition to Dante and Analog.
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