AKG HT420 Handheld Wireless Transmitter

The HT420 is the handheld transmitter for AKG's WMS420 system, and it is a working vocal microphone first. Its dynamic capsule is cardioid, which is what buys you gain before feedback when the wedge is close and loud, and a spring-steel wire-mesh grille takes the abuse that a stage handheld actually gets. Add one to an existing WMS420 rig when a second singer or a roving host joins the channel count.

A gain control on the body sets input level to the source rather than making the receiver do the work, and the on/off/mute switch is silent, so nothing thumps the PA between announcements. A battery status indicator turns red before the cell dies, and charging contacts on the housing let it live in the optional CU400 charging unit instead of eating alkalines. One AA cell runs it up to eight hours.