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Wireless Mic

Sennheiser XSW IEM Set A · SR transmitter

Sennheiser XSW IEM Wireless In-ear Monitoring System - A Band. Plan its source-defined physical connections and placement in your rig.

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Photos

Manufacturer product photography — the drawn faceplate stays true to panel layout; these show the hardware itself.

Photo: Sennheiser1 / 3
Documented outputs
22 destination connections
Documented inputs
3Based on documented inputs
Rack space
1U · half-rackBuilder checks available rail space
Power draw
UnverifiedPower requirement is not verified in the catalog
Catalog estimate
~$379Use 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

Wireless Mic decisions, organized around the whole rig.

The XSW IEM SR is Sennheiser's entry point into rack-mounted in-ear monitoring — a half-rack stereo transmitter that sits at $379 and fills the space between consumer belt-pack systems and the more capable Evolution Wireless tier. Its job is simple: take a stereo mix from your console or monitor desk, broadcast it cleanly to a receiver pack on the performer's belt, and do it reliably enough that nobody is thinking about the wireless link mid-show. For a band buying their first proper ears rig, or a rental company building a low-cost IEM package, that's exactly the role that needs filling.

Documented outputs
22 destination connections
Documented inputs
3Based on documented inputs
Rack space
1U · half-rackBuilder checks available rail space
Sennheiser XSW IEM SR — rear panel with combo XLR inputs, DC in and antenna BNC
Photo: Sennheiser1U · half-rack · Unverified
Function

How it works in the path

The dual combo XLR/TRS inputs accept a stereo feed straight from an aux send or mix output without any adapter gymnastics, and the stereo loop outputs mean you can pass that same signal downstream to a wedge, a second transmitter, or a recording feed without breaking the chain. One BNC antenna output keeps the RF side simple — this is a single-antenna transmitter, not a diversity unit, so placement matters more than it would on a higher-tier system. Power draw sits between 10 and 20 watts, well within a single outlet's budget, and at 2 kg in a 240 mm-deep half-rack shell it won't stress a shallow tour case.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the rack

This transmitter is the right call if you're equipping a club band, a house of worship ensemble, or a regional touring act that needs reliable ears without committing to Evolution Wireless pricing. It is not the answer if you're running a dense RF environment with multiple IEM systems on stage — single-antenna performance and the entry-tier frequency coordination tools will show their limits there. Engineers managing six or more IEM systems in a festival or theater context should be looking at G4 or G5 hardware with proper antenna distribution. But for one or two systems in a straightforward venue, the XSW IEM SR punches where it needs to.

Sennheiser XSW IEM SR — front panel with antenna fitted
Sennheiser XSW IEM SR — front panel with antenna fittedPhoto: Sennheiser
In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

  • Pair it with a half-rack blank on the adjacent bay and use a single rack shelf — this keeps it rackmounted without buying a second half-rack unit to fill the space, and the shelf gives you somewhere to set a frequency coordination sheet.
  • The single BNC antenna output means you're relying on the transmitter's built-in antenna or a single passive antenna — mount the antenna as high and as line-of-sight to the performer as your rig position allows, and keep it away from power supplies and ethernet switches in the same rack.
  • Feed the loop outputs to a small headphone amp or a second destination rather than leaving them unterminated; having a direct monitor path from the same stereo mix gives you a quick sanity check on the signal before you troubleshoot the RF link.
  • Use the combo inputs with a balanced TRS cable from an aux send rather than XLR if your console's aux outputs are on a TRS patchbay — less cable bulk at the back of the rack, and the signal integrity is identical.

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 · Source · selected
01 · Source

3 documented inputs

dc barrel + XLR/TRS combo

Arrives as
3 documented inputs
Connector
dc barrel + XLR/TRS combo
Signal
power

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 · Wireless Mic

Use it when 1U · half-rack and 128 mm of depth fit the case.

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: ¼-inch TRS, dc barrel, XLR/TRS combo, bnc. 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
Rear panel
All documented ports for Sennheiser XSW IEM Set A · SR transmitter
PortPanelConnectorDirectionSignalChannels
PHONES · 6.3 mm STEREOfront¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
DC IN · 12V TIP POSITIVEreardc barrel inputpower—
BAL AF IN · LEFT / MONOrearXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
BAL AF IN · RIGHT INPUTrearXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
ANTENNA · RF OUT / REMOTE FEED INrearbnc outputantenna—

Showing 5 of 5 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 XSW IEM SR — front panel
Sennheiser EW-D 835-S Digital Wireless Mic
Sennheiser EW-D EM Receiver — front panel
Sennheiser XSW 1-835 Receiver — receiver with handheld transmitter
Fit📐 1U · half-rack📐 1U · half-rack📐 1U · half-rack📐 1U · half-rack
Power⚡ Unverified⚡ 5W⚡ 4W⚡ 5W
Weight⚖️ 1.5 lb⚖️ 1.3 lb⚖️ 2.2 lb⚖️ 1.8 lb
I/O🔌 5🔌 5🔌 5🔌 3
Estimate💵 ~$379💵 ~$549💵 ~$399💵 ~$349
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.

How will the Sennheiser XSW IEM Set A · SR transmitter affect rack fit and case depth?

It occupies 1U · half-rack. Its documented depth is 128 mm.

How much power does the Sennheiser XSW IEM Set A · SR transmitter draw?

Its power requirement is not yet verified in the catalog.

What connections does the Sennheiser XSW IEM Set A · SR transmitter have?

5 documented physical ports, including PHONES · 6.3 mm STEREO, DC IN · 12V TIP POSITIVE, BAL AF IN · LEFT / MONO, BAL AF IN · RIGHT INPUT, ANTENNA · RF OUT / REMOTE FEED IN.

07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.

Builder preview

Placement is only the start. Builder checks space · depth · weight, power headroom, dependencies, and compatible signal paths around this exact catalog item.Open in Builder
XSW IEM Set A · SR transmitter positioned in a rack planA simplified plan shows the unit taking 1 rack units, with its documented connection path continuing to a planned destination.SennheiserXSW IEM Set A · SR transmitterCONNECTED GEARnext signal destination1U · 128 mm deep

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

Planning guides for wireless mic systems.