Review on 🎤 Phenyx Pro PTU-4000A: Ultimate 8-Channel Wireless Microphone System with 8 Handheld Mics - Long Range, All-Metal Build, Ideal for Karaoke, Church, and Events by Matthew Riley

This is the second Phenyx Pro system we have purchased for our company - the first was the PTU-5000B. The PTU-4000A is very similar to the PTU-5000B in terms of build quality. So if you've ever had the chance to use them, you'll know right away that this is a system designed for some abuse. I will be adding a video rating shortly, and until then please allow me to elaborate on this system. too strong, but not thin like plastic). As a result, the rod-shaped microphone sits securely in the speaker's hand without having to worry about hand fatigue. At the bottom of the microphone is a push button switch that turns the unit on, located right on the edge of the battery compartment cover. It's a little unsafe to toggle the mic on and off without looking for it, but I have a feeling it's a minor inconvenience at best. The main body of the microphone has a taper just above the power display screen, which is very comfortable to hold and increases the grip of the main tube. Speaking of the display screen, each wand has a small crisp square covering the "screen" power indicator, which glows green when the device is powered on. The backlight is bright but not obtrusive and is a great way to visually check if the device is powered on from a distance. Even when switched off, you can still see the pre-printed fixed frequency that the microphone is assigned to. Other "junk" is visible on screen, but this is just a static image to give the "look" of a more expensive device. Again, this doesn't detract from the actual performance of the system itself. A nice extra that the Phenyx Pro gives you is a set of rubberized finger cuffs that fit snugly into the barrel of the microphone body. They're color-coded for easier visual location, but the best part is how they're designed. The edges of the fingers protrude just far enough from the body to prevent the mesh mic head from hitting or rolling off a flat surface if the mic is ever mounted (i.e. left on a table). There were 8 sets of batteries in the box, so each microphone is ready to use. The main unit has a solid metal body that gives it a sense of quality and durability. The main unit is 1U but has rubber washers on the bottom in case you want to place it on a mixing table or booth shelf. The device turns on via a button on the front in the middle. Once the system is on, the two screens will glow with the same green glow as handheld microphones. Likewise, fixed frequencies and other static information are pre-printed on the screens. One thing that caught my eye is the placement of the LEDs that light up the screens. The lighting effect of the screens was brightest at the ends (presumably where the LEDs are built in), while the middle of the screens was a little darker than the edges. I was still able to easily see the frequency information and this is in no way a "deal breaker" but it is visible to others at a glance. There are also red and green indicators for each channel: one shows the microphone is on, and the other shows the channel is active. Each channel has its own volume control, also made of metal alloy. The grip is textured and feels good. On the back of the unit you'll find antenna array connections, eight individual XLR outputs (one for each channel), and a mixed 1/4-inch TS jack. Exit. This is a great feature to add as sometimes you want individual control over each channel and other times you might just want a mixed output (mixing ambient noise for the venue is the first thing that comes to mind). Phenyx Pro was also kind enough to add a ¼" TS connection cable to the system as well as a ¼" to 1/8" adapter. Out of the box the system is ready to be run (at least in some capacity) using a mixed ¼" outlet. We had a chance to try the system out at a live event and I have to say it worked better than the equipment available in the hall - at least in my opinion. The venue itself was an open conference area with separate rooms about 60ft by 150ft. Since we were in a corner of the room we were able to put the mic in the moved the opposite corner without hearing any frequency hiss or dropouts.The specs on the unit say it can handle up to 260ft (open area) and I have to say I would believe that.We have the PTU-4000A used in conjunction with our PTU-5000B system (making sure there is no crossover problem) because we have both moveable mics and bodypack he needed and did not notice any significant crosstalk problems on the various channels. It's worth noting that if you plan to use more than one system, you should check and make sure you have different sets of frequencies (A and B). Since our PTU-5000B system is tuned to a different channel frequency than the PTU-4000A system we tested, there were enough differences that there were no problems. Of course, your mileage may vary. In this context, I would also like to draw your attention to a few other interesting points. First, you can purchase a bodypack transmitter for use with this system. Wearables replace a handheld mic, but if you need eight channels and want a pair of bodypack transmitters "just in case", this is a great option. I had the opportunity to chat with their customer service team on their Facebook page and they pointed me in the right direction on their website to view and order other accessories. Due to the current pandemic, please understand that some items may be delayed due to shipping restrictions. And that brings me to my final point: Phennyx Pro customer support. I have to say that they really care about their customers and the experience you get from their products. I was able to ask questions, request technical support, and provide feedback to members of their team. At every opportunity they treated me kindly and fairly and let me know they genuinely cared about anything I asked a question about. Decent quality, I would STRONGLY recommend trying the Phenyx Pro PTU-4000 series (or any of their product lines really).