Sennheiser XSW 1-ME3-B

Sennheiser XSW 1-ME3-B Wireless Headset System — Hands-Free UHF Performance

The Sennheiser XSW 1-ME3-B is a complete wireless headset microphone package designed for singers and presenters who want to focus on their performance rather than their gear. The system combines a permanently-polarized condenser headset mic, a compact SK-XSW bodypack transmitter, and an EM-XSW 1 rack-mountable receiver in a single ready-to-go bundle. Operating in the 614–638 MHz UHF band with up to 10 compatible channels, the XSW 1-ME3-B delivers solid wireless transmission that stays reliable across active stage work, worship services, and conference presentations.

What Sets This Wireless Headset Apart

Built around Sennheiser's antenna-switching diversity reception and integrated internal antennas, this system keeps dropouts at bay without the visual clutter of external paddle antennas. Automatic frequency management scans the UHF band, finds a clean channel, and pushes it to the bodypack via a 2.4 GHz sync link — so the operator spends less time tuning and more time mixing. The included ME 3-II headset uses a cardioid condenser capsule that rejects ambient stage noise while keeping vocals clear and present.

Wireless Performance and Signal Quality — Clear, Stable UHF Transmission

Wireless reliability is the headline feature for any headset system, and the XSW 1-ME3-B is engineered to deliver it across a wide tuning range. The receiver's double superheterodyne design with antenna-switching diversity keeps the audio stream intact even when the performer turns away from the receiver.

• Frequency Range: 614–638 MHz (B range) — a stable UHF window with up to 10 compatible channels per bank
• Switching Bandwidth: up to 24 MHz — room to find a clean frequency in congested RF environments
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: ≥ 103 dB(A) — low-noise floor for clean vocal capture
• Total Harmonic Distortion: ≤ 0.9% — keeps the vocal signal faithful to the source

Headset Microphone and Capsule — Comfortable, Cardioid, Condenser

The ME 3-II headset is the on-stage interface, and its design choices directly affect how the performer sounds and feels during a set. A cardioid polar pattern focuses on the mouth while rejecting stage bleed from monitors and instruments, and the lightweight frame stays comfortable through long rehearsals or services.

• Transducer Type: Permanently-polarized condenser — detailed vocal response with a smooth top end
• Pickup Pattern: Cardioid — focused on-axis pickup that rejects off-axis noise
• Input Sensitivity: 1.5 mV / Pa — efficient vocal capture without aggressive gain staging
• SPL for Peak Deviation: 150 dB — handles loud vocalists without distortion

Power, Connectivity, and Build — Battery-Powered and Gig-Ready

For working performers, the practical side of a wireless system matters as much as the audio specs. The bodypack runs on two AA batteries for roughly 10 hours, the receiver is powered by the included NT 12-5 CW supply, and both halves use a rugged ABS housing that survives regular transport.

• Battery Powered: Yes — 2 × AA batteries, approx. 10 hours of operating time
• Receiver Outputs: 1/4" (6.3 mm) jack unbalanced (+6 dBu) and XLR balanced (+12 dBu)
• Receiver Dimensions: approx. 200 × 42 × 127 mm — slim 1U half-rack footprint
• Receiver Weight: approx. 340 g — light enough for mobile racks and small stages
• Modulation: Wideband FM — clean audio transmission across the UHF band

Who Is the XSW 1-ME3-B Built For

The Sennheiser XSW 1-ME3-B is the right choice for active vocalists, worship leaders, fitness instructors, and presenters who need a hands-free wireless microphone that disappears into the performance. Singers who dance or move across the stage benefit from the secure headset fit and the cardioid rejection of monitor bleed. Houses of worship, school theater programs, and corporate presenters get a system that sets up in minutes and runs an entire service or event on a single set of AA batteries. Home and project studio users can also rely on it for vocal recording sessions where a handheld mic would get in the way of the performance.

The Sennheiser XS Wireless 1 Story

The XS Wireless 1 series sits at the entry point of Sennheiser's professional wireless lineup, designed to bring the brand's broadcast-grade engineering to a price tier that working musicians and presenters can actually afford. Sennheiser's reputation for rigorous equipment testing carries through to this series, so users get the same quality control expected from higher-end evolution wireless systems in a more accessible package. The XSW 1-ME3-B continues that philosophy by packaging a true-diversity receiver, a UHF bodypack, and the proven ME 3-II headset into one ready-to-perform bundle.