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IEM Receiver

Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Bodypack

The EK IEM G4 bodypack is the receiver half of Sennheiser's mainstay analog IEM system. It pairs with the SR IEM G4 transmitter and is a workhorse choice for working musicians, theaters, and houses of worship. One per performer.

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Photos

Manufacturer product photography showing the hardware, controls, and physical form.

Photo: Sennheiser1 / 2
Documented outputs
1One destination connection
Documented inputs
0Based on documented inputs
Rack space
Outside rackPlan a shelf, tray, or stage position
Power draw
UnverifiedPower requirement is not verified in the catalog
Catalog estimate
~$475Use retailer rows for current price and stock

01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.

Product overview

Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.

The payoff

IEM Receiver decisions, organized around the whole rig.

The EK IEM G4 is the performer-side half of Sennheiser's EW IEM G4 system — the bodypack receiver that clips to a belt or slips into a pocket and puts the mix in the ears. It does exactly one job: receive the RF signal from the SR IEM G4 rack transmitter and convert it to headphone-level audio on a 3.5mm TRS jack. That simplicity is the point. For working musicians, theater performers, and worship teams who need a reliable analog IEM system without a steep learning curve or a steep price, the G4 platform has been the default answer for years.

Documented outputs
1One destination connection
Documented inputs
0Based on documented inputs
Rack space
Outside rackPlan a shelf, tray, or stage position
Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Bodypack — bodypack receiver with earphones
Photo: SennheiserOutside rack · Unverified
Function

How it works in the path

At 110 grams, the bodypack is light enough that performers genuinely forget it's there. The 3.5mm output feeds any standard in-ear monitors or earbuds — though in a professional context you'll nearly always see it paired with a proper IEM driver via a 3.5mm-to-MMCX or 3.5mm-to-2-pin adapter cable. The unit draws no power from your rack because it runs on AA batteries on the performer's body; your rack budget and power planning only needs to account for the SR transmitter. The bodypack itself has an onboard volume wheel, which lets performers trim their own level — a blessing for monitor engineers and a minor headache if you need volume locked.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the system

This is the right choice when you're building a straightforward analog IEM rig and performers need a trusted, road-proven receiver at a reasonable per-unit cost. Where it falls short: if your venue or tour has significant RF congestion, the G4's fixed frequency bank structure demands careful coordination, and digital systems like the Sennheiser EW-DX or Shure PSM 300 offer tighter spectrum management. Also, if performers need true stereo isolation with a wet/dry mix blend on the body, this system does not offer that — it's stereo-capable when paired correctly, but the onboard controls are minimal.

In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

  • Buy spare AA batteries in bulk and tape a two-pack to each transmitter channel in the rack — a dead bodypack battery mid-show is avoidable and embarrassing.
  • Label every bodypack with the performer's name and the matching transmitter channel using colored gaff tape or a label maker; in a six-person IEM rig they are visually identical and swaps cause chaos at changeover.
  • If a performer reports intermittent dropouts, check the 3.5mm jack first — it's the most mechanically stressed point on the unit and a bent plug from a cable tug is the most common culprit before you start suspecting RF.
  • Coordinate frequencies for all G4 bodypacks together with any G4 wireless mic receivers in the same rack; they share the same band and Sennheiser's free Wireless Systems Manager software will find a clean multi-channel plan faster than manual scanning.

02 · Know the whole path before you buy.

Signal path

Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.

Interactive block diagramAuto-looping · hover, focus, or tap to hold a stage
Port-type signalProduct functionSystem boundary
Follow one signal from source to destination

Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.

01 · This unit · selected
01 · This unit

Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Bodypack

Power requirements are not yet verified in the catalog.

Arrives through
No documented input
This stage
Performs the documented product role
Power
Unverified

03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.

Compatibility

Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.

Best fit · IEM Receiver

Use it as iem receiver tracked outside rack rails; follow the manufacturer’s mounting and form-factor guidance.

Plan the companion path

Complete the path with upstream and downstream gear that matches connector, direction, signal type, protocol, and wiring standard.

Connector boundary

Documented connectors: trs eighth. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.

04 · Every connector, grouped by job.

I/O ports

Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.

Every connector, grouped by job.

Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.

Front panel
front connector map for Sennheiser EW IEM G4 BodypackEXTERNAL UNIT · FRONTNo documented front ports
Rear panel
rear connector map for Sennheiser EW IEM G4 BodypackEXTERNAL UNIT · REARtrs eighthoutput
All documented ports for Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Bodypack
PortPanelConnectorDirectionSignalChannels
Headphone Out (3.5mm)reartrs eighth outputanalog audio—

Showing 1 of 1 documented physical ports.

05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.

Alternatives

The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.

Compare
Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Bodypack — bodypack receiver front
Shure P10R+ diversity bodypack receiver — front view with twin antennas and LCD
Shure ADXR Bodypack Receiver — front view
Shure P9RA+ Bodypack Receiver — front view
Fit📐 Outside rack📐 Outside rack📐 Outside rack📐 Outside rack
Power⚡ Unverified⚡ Unverified⚡ Unverified⚡ Unverified
Weight⚖️ 0.2 lb⚖️ 0.3 lb⚖️ 0.4 lb⚖️ 0.3 lb
I/O🔌 1🔌 1🔌 1🔌 1
Estimate💵 ~$475💵 ~$1,530💵 ~$1,837💵 ~$725
Deep diveCurrent selectionFull comparison →Full comparison →Full comparison →

06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.

Planning questions

Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.

Where does the Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Bodypack live in a complete rig?

The catalog assigns it no rack units. Builder tracks it as non-rack gear; follow the manufacturer’s mounting, case, and form-factor guidance.

How much power does the Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Bodypack draw?

Its power requirement is not yet verified in the catalog.

What connections does the Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Bodypack have?

1 documented physical ports, including Headphone Out (3.5mm).

07 · See this gear inside a complete system plan.

Builder preview

Builder keeps non-rack gear in the same bill of materials, budget, dependency, and connection plan as the rack-mounted system around it.Open in Builder
EW IEM G4 Bodypack tracked in a complete system planA simplified plan shows the gear tracked outside rack rails, with its documented connection path continuing to a planned destination.Tracked outside rack railsSennheiserEK IEM G4CONNECTED GEARnext signal destinationExternal system gear · no rack units assigned

08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.

Shure P10R+ diversity bodypack receiver — front view with twin antennas and LCD

IEM Receiver

Shure PSM1000 Bodypack Receiver

Outside rack · 1 ports · ~$1,530
Shure ADXR Bodypack Receiver — front view

IEM Receiver

Shure ADXR Bodypack Receiver

Outside rack · 1 ports · ~$1,837
Shure P9RA+ Bodypack Receiver — front view

IEM Receiver

Shure P9RA+ Bodypack Receiver

Outside rack · 1 ports · ~$725
Shure PSM300 Bodypack Receiver — front view

IEM Receiver

Shure PSM300 Bodypack Receiver

Outside rack · 1 ports · ~$549
Wisycom MPR50-IEM Bodypack

IEM Receiver

Wisycom MPR50-IEM Bodypack

Outside rack · 1 ports · ~$1,799
Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Transmitter — front panel with antenna

IEM Transmitter

Sennheiser EW IEM G4 Transmitter

1U · half-rack · 8 ports · ~$649

Planning guides for iem receiver systems.

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