Sennheiser XS-IEM Wireless In-Ear Monitor & FCS-H3 3-Way Hybrid Earphones

This package deal comes with the new Sennheiser XS-IEM System and the FCS-H3 Hybrid In Ear Monitors. The Sennheiser is the A Range which operates in the 476-500MHz range.

                 Sennheiser performance 45 Hz to 15 kHz / FCS-H3 Performance 20Hz to 20Hz

About the wireless System:
Hear yourself better, so you can perform better with the Sennheiser XSW IEM SET, a complete starter set for wireless in-ear monitoring aimed at musicians rehearsing or performing live on a club stage or in a house of worship. It delivers the renowned Sennheiser sound and solid wireless reliability packaged into a convenient, entry-level system that's simple to use, right out of the box. Create your own stereo mix with EQ, limiter, panning, and Focus mode and hear yourself clearly along with everyone else in the band, while moving freely on stage.

The all-in-one XSW IEM SET includes the XSW IEM SR stereo transmitter, XSW IEM EK stereo receiver, IE 4 in-ear headphones, external power supply, and a rackmount kit. The system provides up to 6 hours of continuous use with two AA batteries in the receiver—at a range up to 330'. The transmitter can send signal to as many receivers as you want (additional receivers available separately). Up to 12 transmitters can operate simultaneously in the same frequency band.

Your Easy Entry into Personal Wireless Monitoring

• The rugged XSW IEM SR stereo transmitter features a metal housing designed for extended use in small clubs and can be used as part of a rack mounted system or standalone on a tabletop. Two combo XLR-1/4" inputs enable you to send either a stereo or two different mono audio sources at the same time, from either 1/4" or XLR connections. A backlit LCD screen on the front panel allows for easy setups, even on dark stages. You can preview your in-ear mix locally with the headphone output on the front. Setting up gain, mono or stereo options, input sensitivity, or frequency channels takes just a matter of seconds thanks to the clear, simple menu.
• The lightweight XSW IEM EK stereo bodypack receiver clips on your clothing or belt and is easy to conceal and comfortable for the talent to wear. A standard 3.5mm jack lets you plug in the included IE 4 earphones or optional earphones of your choice. The top LED shows battery and link status at a glance, while the front LCD panel allows for individual fine-tuning of your personal mix, from balance and Focus modes to EQ and Limiter.
• The IE 4 earphones reproduce accurate audio with a wide dynamic range and increased bass response. They are equipped with exchangeable ear sleeves designed to provide a comfortable fit.

Full Control over Your Mix with Flexible Audio Modes

• On the bodypack receiver, musicians can design their individual mix with Mono, Stereo, and Focus Mode settings. Simple controls enable them to dial in the volume and panning for both left/right signals and get the balance that works best—for example the singer can turn up the vocal feed to hear herself better, while the band may prefer more of the instrumental mix to help ensure they stay in the pocket.
• Alternatively, performers can engage the Focus mode, which mixes both left/right signals and allows you to balance what you want to hear more of in the foreground and push the other instruments in the background.
• Advanced features include an EQ that provides a 10 dB boost at 13 kHz with high shelf for more air and extra brightness. Protect your ears with the Limiter that caps the output volume at the receiver by -10 dB.

Reliable Wireless Performance

• The stereo transmitter is equipped with 960 frequencies and has 8 banks with 12 aligned and precalculated frequencies each, enabling you to automatically find a clean wireless channel at your location for a reliable transmission up to 330'.
• The system transmits in the UHF frequency range, making it immune to the cell phone and Wi-Fi interference that can plague 2.4 GHz systems.
• The infrared sensors allow you to quickly sync multiple receivers to one transmitter at the press of a button.

Features at a Glance

• Complete starter set for in-ear monitoring
• Reliable, easy-to-manage wireless connection in the professional UHF range
• Full control over your personal mix with flexible Mono, Stereo, and Focus modes
• Advanced features like EQ and limiter
• 960 frequencies organized in 8 banks
• Easy frequency presets or detailed manual control
• Infrared sensor to easily sync multiple receivers to one transmitter
• LCD screens with clearly arranged menu
• Two combo XLR-1/4" jack inputs on transmitter
• Headphone jack on transmitter
• Detachable antenna on transmitter
• 3.5mm jack output with adjustable volume on receiver
• Pair of IE 4 in-ear headphones
• Receiver operates up to 6 hours on 2 AA batteries
• Operate up to 12 transmitters simultaneously in the same frequency band
• Reliable transmission up to 300'
• Max 4 single transmitters stacked without a proper combiner
• Set includes rackmount kit, antenna, and external power supply

About the Earphones

The FCS-H3 (Hybrid Three-Way) is designed for specifically as a live stage in-ear monitor.  As a result, the sound will remain consistent and clear at any volume level to compete with live amplified stage instruments.

The low end of the H2 is a powerful titanium diaphragm 10mm dynamic subwoofer. It’s tuned and ported to deliver a balanced tight punchy low end.

The mid-high frequencies are covered by dual driver balanced armatures. We went through dozens of drivers and tuning mesh adjustments to find the perfect seamless compliment to the H3’s sub section.

Included in the package is a waterproof hard-shell IEM case and a plethora of tips to make sure you get the proper seating or seal.

·         Bass Driver                         10mm Dynamic

·         Mid/High Driver                Dual High-Performance Balanced Armatures

·         Frequency Response:       20Hz to 20KHz

·         Impedance:                        16 Ω ±20％ at 1KHz 1mW(0.102V)

·         Sensitivity:                         105dB±3dB/1mW

·         Rated Power:                     3mW

·         Maximum power:             5mW

·         THD                                      <= 5% @1kHz, 0.01m, 1mW

·         Cable                                   64” with Glide

·         Warranty                            1 Year

Let’s start out discussing the drivers in the FCS-H3 (hybrid three-way). In a nutshell, you have a 10mm titanium dynamic bass driver same size as the Future Sonics G10 which is known for great bass response. In addition, there’s a dual driver armature driver like in the Westone UM20Pro & Shure SE425. Best of both worlds. You get the massive low end of the Future Sonics with the high-end clarity of the Westone & Shure products. The low-end driver portion on the FCS-H3 is ported which will provide a slight ambient introduction to your mix.

Tunable EQ possibilities of the FCS-H3. 

Every good (expensive) earphone I’ve purchased, even the ones I considered great, I’ve had to EQ to my liking on stage. We all have different desires as to what is perfect.

With my sound company, Freq City Sound, we have a warehouse full of active line arrays, wedges and center-fill speaker boxes. They all have built-in DSP (Digital Speaker Processing). When I first started out in the sound business my idea was to EQ them to sound perfect. The thing is, we all hear differently. Perfect for me may not be for you. You’ve heard guys mixing a band and it sounded too bright or too much low end etc. To the guy at the board – it was perfect. We need the ability to tune to our liking the speakers in our ear monitors. The way we set up our speaker boxes now, is a flat EQ. It gives the engineer a good starting point when he arrives at the console to tune the system the way he wants to hear it.

Earphone manufactures tune their earphones to sound good to listeners using no EQ. Way more than half of their clients are personal listening dudes and the other half live sound. Plug them into your phone on the subway and they sound damned good. I maintain that a stage may have different challenges over a subway.

The FCS-H3 hybrid three-way earphones do sound good right out of the shoot (it’s what I listen too on my riding lawn mower) however, I’ve designed them with a huge sweep of EQ tunable capability.  

Over the years I’ve sold and used Shure, Westone, Future Sonics & Aurisonics IEMs. I have pretty much taken what I was given because back then, we didn’t have all the EQ-ing possibilities we do now.

Most players are now using systems that allow them to EQ their ears. Ever said to yourself, “my earphones sound good but if they had just a bit more…….” if this is your situation, you’re going to really like these earphones.

You can make the low-end stupid or the high-end painful. You will not be limited to what our regular go to manufacturers determines perfect. We all have different desires as to what is “perfect.”

Freq City Sound performed the following tests on the FCS11D, FCS11B and the FCS-H3 Hybrid

HEAT / HUMIDITY We cooked the earphones at 103 degrees with 95% humidity for 48 hours (you’ve played that show). No change in the earphone’s performance or issues with resins and/or adhesives.

DROP TESTS We dropped the earphones from 5’ (belt pack or table height from where they usually fall) a dozen times to a concrete floor. No change in the earphone’s performance.

COLD Low temp test 25 degrees for 6 hours then room temp for 2 hours - No change in the earphone’s performance.

Emails from FCS-H3 Owners

Hey Mike, 
I received the FCS-H3 yesterday, Thanks for the fast shipping. 
I ordered these because my ultimate ears custom molded IEM’s are corroded where the cable connects and cut out when I move my head. I have to say that I did a side-by-side comparison and there really is no comparison. The FCS-H3 IEM’s blow away the Ultimate Ears I spent $500 plus on about 10 years back. The ultimate ears are harsh and midrange heavy the FCS-H3 are warm and smooth sounding. I can’t wait to use them at the gig this weekend Thank you!!Ken / Bare Bones Acoustic Band

Mike,
OMFG! Got my shipment of the FCS-H3’s today. Plugged them into my iPad and went through a bunch of tunes I have, switching tips till I found the most comfortable and best sealing. As you know, I’ve purchased several of your various low to mid-priced IEM’s. As a drummer, I like “feeling” the thump of the kick drum and bass guitar. Well, I have definitely found “MY” IEM’s. The FCS-H3 delivers that low punch I’ve been looking for. Any drummer, bass player or anyone looking for a set of buds that gives crystal clear mids and highs with a solid low end owes it to themselves to grab a pair of these IEM’s. Hands down the BEST purchase I’ve made through you. Thank you!
Dean Roussel

Hi Mike,

FCS-H3 arrived today, and I just plugged them in and listened to that audio track you emailed. All I can say is WOW! I’m coming from Westone IEMs to the H3. Massive improvement. It’s hard to believe all this sound is coming from an earphone. It’s unreal.

Mike, the package was received and the H3’s is definitely punching above their weight class. Above that however, your directions and emailed audio track were exactly what I needed to get the best sound from them. Thank you for your time and customer service. In March/April retuning for the MI-58 transmitter/receiver set.   Beau

Hi Mike, I rec’d the shipment in good order and found some tips and have been listening to recordings that I have made and have been involved with mastering reviews.  The FCS-H3 is a very nice portable headset.  At first blush, the reproduction of my recorded music is very familiar as are many of my recorded favorites. Saying that ‘I sound like me’ is a good complement. Saying that I can tell which of my trumpets was used on a recording, a big tip of the hat. Sound is not colorized, not predominating in any predominating part of the frequency spectrum.   Any criticism is by comparison to other headsets, and that would need to be qualified by saying that the FCS-H3 is at the higher end of my experience of quality of sound, particularly with an in-ear set. There are modest mid and upper-mid attributes/driver slightly more efficiently transmitted than low end (acoustic bass), and extreme high end (snare crispiness, cymbal sizzle) that are more noticeable with the higher energy levels pieces. Trumpet/sax/flute sounds very good. I anticipate that this set will suit me well on the stage; as a wind player, I often contend with stage volume issues, (typically guitarists and bass players) who often dominate both the mix, as well as stage volume and also the low and low mid volume spectrums. I also have occasion to work with orchestras in pop settings which opens a whole raft of challenges, and I think these will be great for balance in the mix.Best regards, Rex

Hey Mike, 
I received the FCS-H3 yesterday, Thanks for the fast shipping. 
I ordered these because my ultimate ears custom molded IEM’s are corroded where the cable connects and cut out when I move my head. I have to say that I did a side-by-side comparison and there really is no comparison. The FCS-H3 IEM’s blow away the Ultimate Ears I spent $500 plus on about 10 years back. The ultimate ears are harsh and midrange heavy the FCS-H3 are warm and smooth sounding. I can’t wait to use them at the gig this weekend Thank you!!Ken / Bare Bones Acoustic Band

Mike,
OMFG! Got my shipment of the FCS-H3’s today. Plugged them into my iPad and went through a bunch of tunes I have, switching tips till I found the most comfortable and best sealing. As you know, I’ve purchased several of your various low to mid-priced IEM’s. As a drummer, I like “feeling” the thump of the kick drum and bass guitar. Well, I have definitely found “MY” IEM’s. The FCS-H3 delivers that low punch I’ve been looking for. Any drummer, bass player or anyone looking for a set of buds that gives crystal clear mids and highs with a solid low end owes it to themselves to grab a pair of these IEM’s. Hands down the BEST purchase I’ve made through you. Thank you! Dean Roussel

Hi Mike, FCS-H3 arrived today, and I just plugged them in and listened to that audio track you emailed. All I can say is WOW! I’m coming from Westone IEMs to the H3. Massive improvement. It’s hard to believe all this sound is coming from an earphone. It’s unreal.

Hi Mike, I rec’d the shipment in good order and found some tips and have been listening to recordings that I have made and have been involved with mastering reviews.  The FCS-H3 is a very nice portable headset.  At first blush, the reproduction of my recorded music is very familiar as are many of my recorded favorites. Saying that ‘I sound like me’ is a good complement. Saying that I can tell which of my trumpets was used on a recording, a big tip of the hat. Sound is not colorized, not predominating in any predominating part of the frequency spectrum.   Any criticism is by comparison to other headsets, and that would need to be qualified by saying that the FCS-H3 is at the higher end of my experience of quality of sound, particularly with an in-ear set. There are modest mid and upper-mid attributes/driver slightly more efficiently transmitted than low end (acoustic bass), and extreme high end (snare crispiness, cymbal sizzle) that are more noticeable with the higher energy levels pieces. Trumpet/sax/flute sounds very good. I anticipate that this set will suit me well on the stage; as a wind player, I often contend with stage volume issues, (typically guitarists and bass players) who often dominate both the mix, as well as stage volume and the low and low mid volume spectrums. I also have occasion to work with orchestras in pop settings which opens a whole raft of challenges, and I think these will be great for balance in the mix.  Best regards, Rex

Hey Mike, There's definitely a big sonic improvement over my Shure IEMs. I can actually hear the depth of the reverb and delay from a guitar tone. The hard-shell case is also a nice touch and I have zero worries about taking these on the road. Thanks again!   Blade Geer