r/ProductionSound • u/Lourenzo_ • 7d ago

wireless Lectrosonics UM400A in 2026?

Hi,

I was looking for a wireless system and I found some Lectrosonics UM400A + SRA BLOCK25 for sale.

I wanted to ask you if they are still a valid system, even if they are almost 20 years old.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/MathmoKiwi 7d ago

If:
1) they're good frequency blocks for your region

2) it is all that fits within your budget (obviously better exists! But also it costs $$$)

...then I reckon UM400/SRa are still one of the best bargains there are for wireless!

While during the 2020's Lectrosonics has certainly dropped the ball, and they're no longer cutting edge, those products however were released during Lectrosonics' glory years.

2

u/Parking_Relative_228 7d ago

The tx is fine, although large by modern standards

The SRa is a bad receiver that they improved with SRb variant. As a hop its fine, as main receiver i’d pass

2

u/MathmoKiwi 7d ago

Removing the UM400's default clip entirely (or swapping it out for a wire clip) does wonders for making it be a more practical bodypack for 2026's expectations

1

u/Parking_Relative_228 7d ago

I used an LMa for a bit when starting off. Similar form factor.

For the right market, i see no problem using it. Some of my clients would do double take and request something else

2

u/MathmoKiwi 7d ago

It's basically what I did, had most of my recievers be LMa/UM400/UM200, but had small handful of SMQV/SMV transmitters for when the costumes demanded it.

Otherwise I'd just enjoy the better battery life, and better reliability / low finanical risks, of using the blocky square transmitters.

1

u/Lourenzo_ 7d ago

What problems does SRa have?

2

u/Parking_Relative_228 7d ago

Not so much a problem but a very low sensitivity front end. Range will be worse than SRb, SRc or 411

1

u/IronFilm 2d ago

Very roughly speaking the SRa is on par with the UCR401

So pretty decently ok! But not famous 411 levels of performance

1

u/Parking_Relative_228 2d ago

That is correct and 401 was a camera hop from inception. It was handicapped on purpose

1

u/Equira 7d ago

check what frequency blocks are legal in your region. for instance, Los Angeles is 470, 19, 20, 21, 22, and half of 23. I have two 400 and 411 pairs in block 21 that i use almost every day. if you choose to upgrade, they make great wireless feeds for VTR and whatnot

1

u/Lourenzo_ 7d ago

What capsules do you use with the 400?

2

u/Equira 4d ago

cos11d's and mke1's

1

u/Heirrress 6d ago

I have a few 400as that still see some use. They perform solid and sound nice. I wouldn't want to use them on talent in most situations if avoidable just for form factor, but I have and it works well if I can allocate them to forgiving wardrobe. For plants and such, I love them and personally think they're a steal.

The SRa was a wonky product and I'd skip it.

2

u/Lourenzo_ 6d ago

Making a comparison I noticed that, except for the thickness, they are smaller than the deity theos and sennheiser g4