The modern conferencing environment has changed a lot over the last few years; with more employees working remotely, a flexible conferencing system that allows everyone to be heard is more important than ever. To that end, Shure’s latest, powerful and comprehensive Microflex line-up of networked and securely encrypted audio-conferencing solutions will work no matter what your classroom, office or meeting space looks like.
Shure has engineered these systems to be reliable, straightforward, and easy to use; frequency allocation for the wireless components is handled automatically and transmission takes place in the DECT 1.9 GHz spectrum, far away from the increasingly crowded 2.4 GHz band and free from future UHF frequency reallocations. The wired mics and speakers connect to your network via a single Ethernet cable that carries both power (PoE) and data.
For smaller classrooms and conferencing spaces, the neXt 2 Series is a terrific starting point. The MXWAPXD2 Access Point Transceiver is the heart of the system, offering a portable two-channel hybrid system for a mixture of local and remote participants. It’s really four components in one: an advanced wireless microphone system, a smart charging station, an advanced digital signal processor, and a fully equipped audio interface. Analog, Dante, and USB-C interfaces make it simple to connect to a computer, sound system, and videoconferencing codec, with flexible architecture that allows you to adapt to the needs of different rooms and route microphone audio to remote participants, room loudspeakers, or both, so everyone hears what they need to hear clearly and intelligibly. On the top panel are two charging docks that allow you to recharge the batteries right inside the wireless microphones.
Like all the Microflex systems, the neXt 2 offers different wireless microphone choices, depending on your needs. The MXW1X is a bodypack transmitter which you can wear lanyard-style using its built-in mic, or by plugging a headset or lavalier mic into the TA4M connector and wearing it as a bodypack. If you want to pass the mic around quickly, the MXW2X handheld is a terrific choice and is available with 4 different microphones to choose from with varying capsule types and polar patterns, so you can tailor the pickup to your requirements.
For desktop conferencing participants, the MXW6X boundary mic is available with an omnidirectional polar pattern that will pick up everyone in a 360° circle around the mic or with a cardioid pattern that focuses capture on the person in front of the mic. The boundary mic and the bodypack also offer 3.5mm earphone jacks for cueing and translation. The system offers a 150’ range, and the batteries in the transmitters power them for 17 to 28 hours, depending on the mic. Like all the Microflex systems, the next 2 sports a powerful DSP feature set with automixing, acoustic noise cancellation, noise reduction, and gain control capabilities to deliver clear, intelligible audio. You can purchase the neXt 2 components individually or in kits that include the access point and mics.
While the next 2 is well suited for quick setups and smaller spaces, for larger rooms, corporate facilities, and installations, you’ll want to scale up a bit to the Microflex Wireless family which includes wireless microphones and speakers, networked charging stations, access point transceivers, and audio interfaces. These systems are scalable in 2-, 4-, and 8-channel groupings; for every additional group of microphones, simply add another access point, charger, and network interface.
All the Microflex MXW components connect using Cat-5e or Cat-6 cables, which carry both the control data and the Dante digital audio. This allows the system to incorporate into your existing corporate data network or operate as a standalone system. Like the neXt 2 systems, the MXW systems offer several microphone transceivers to choose from including the MXW2 handheld mic (with multiple mic capsule options), the MXW6 boundary mic, and the MXW1 bodypack with built-in mic, all very similar to the neXt 2 models. In addition, Shure also offers the MXW8 transceiver base, which is compatible with select MX415, 410, and 405 gooseneck mics.
MXWAPT Access Point Transceiver functions both as an antenna and a multichannel receiver and can support 2, 4, or 8 microphones, depending on the model, and one or two channels of return audio are transmitted back to the mics. The access point connects using only a single Ethernet cable and the unit requires PoE (power over Ethernet) from an Ethernet switch. System set up and monitoring is made easy via the embedded browser-based user interface which is compatible with command strings sent over IP for integration with room control systems. Shure’s ANI audio networking interfaces connect the access point to your network, converting the Dante digital audio signal to analog, and are available with different channel configurations and connectors ranging from XLR to USB and block connectors. Audio inputs are also provided to send signal to the headphone jacks on the bodypack, boundary, and gooseneck base transceivers.
The P300 IntelliMix Audio Conferencing Processor supports the wireless mics and delivers eight channels of acoustic echo cancellation, DSP-processing, and level control for conference rooms and meeting spaces. It also offers versatile input and output connectivity options that allows users to incorporate loudspeakers, computers, mobile devices, and other audio components. Networked charging stations are also required, these both charge the transmitters when not in use and link the microphones into the system as part of the configuration process.
For permanent installations, Shure’s Microflex Advanced ecosystem offers several table, wall, and ceiling microphone and speaker options that you can mix and match to perfectly cover your environment and connect with a single Ethernet cable. The MXA310 is a tabletop conferencing mic that can be placed on a table or flush mounted to the desktop surface. It offers Steerable Coverage technology delivering precise pickup over 4 independent lobes and multiple pickup patterns—including a toroid option that captures only table-level sound, helping to reduce distracting fan and HVAC noise.
For wall mounting, Shure offers the MXA710 in a 2’ size with 50 built-in mics providing 4 lobes of coverage as well as a 4’ size with 100 mics and 8 lobes for larger rooms. Elegant and powerful ceiling-based mics and speakers are also a smart choice for meeting spaces and classrooms. The MXA920 is available in round and square versions and can easily mic up a 30 x 30’ room with no setup required, but of course it also offers 8 steerable coverage lobes for more precise pickup.
For speaker coverage, the MXN5W features a two-way driver with a 5.25” woofer in a low-profile design optimized for easy installation in drop ceilings. Or, combine the mic and speaker in a single unit with the MXA902, which provides single-zone automatic coverage technology that captures every talker combined with an integrated 2.5” wide-dispersion, high-output loudspeaker optimized for voice reproduction.
Finally, Shure’s Microflex Complete series provides a powerful set of features for advanced users centered around the MXCW640 Wireless Conference Unit which combines a mic, loudspeaker, and multifunction 4.3” touchscreen that allow you to tailor the unit to the individual needs of every meeting attendee. The unit can be configured for Chairman, Delegate, Listener, or Ambient Mic operation and features a 10-pin lockable connection for MXC-series gooseneck microphones. It’s powered by a smart rechargeable battery that will last for up to 11 hours. Use the MXCWAPT Access Point Receiver to incorporate up to 125 wireless conference units into the system and manage audio, routing, and frequencies with Dante support for up to 10 inputs and 10 outputs.
So, whether you’re looking for a small portable solution for a huddle room, a medium to large system for conference spaces and classrooms, or a massive configuration fit for a United Nations panel, Shure’s Microflex series has a conferencing solution that’s just right for you. For more information, give us a call, chat with us online, and check out our detailed product information pages.
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