Sennheiser G4 to EW-D and EW-DX: The Upgrade Guide

evolution wireless G4 is giving way to Sennheiser’s digital generation. What replaces the EW100, EW300 and EW500 tiers, which accessories carry over, what a mixed rack can and cannot share, and when keeping G4 running is still the right call.

~10 min read · Updated August 2026 · By the Stage Supply team

In this guide: Short answer · The three families · What replaces what · What carries over · Running a mixed rack · Comparison · Picks · FAQ

For two decades “a Sennheiser radio mic” meant evolution wireless — the analogue G1 through G4 line that filled UK racks from function bands to West End. That era is ending: Sennheiser’s development has moved to the digital EW-D and EW-DX platforms, and G4 stock is progressively becoming end-of-line. If you own G4 kit, or you searched for an EW300 or EW500 system and found this page, here is the honest map of where things stand and where your money should go.

The short answer

Buying fresh: EW-D replaces the EW100 G4 tier and EW-DX replaces EW300/EW500, with room to spare in both cases. Extending an existing G4 rack for one more channel: matching G4 transmitters remain available — including EW500 G4 sets while stock lasts — and that can be the economical move. What you should not do is start a new multichannel system on an analogue platform in 2026.

The three families in one paragraph each

evolution wireless G4 — the analogue incumbent

Three tiers (100 / 300 / 500) of analogue UHF with the half-rack receivers the whole industry knows. It still sounds professional and still works tomorrow — but it needs manual frequency coordination, eats AA batteries unless retrofitted, and its bands face a progressively more crowded UHF landscape. Development has stopped; stock is finite.

EW-D — digital, self-coordinating

The digital successor to the 100 tier and, honestly, beyond it: an equidistant frequency grid that the Smart Assist app coordinates for you, 134 dB input dynamic range that makes transmitter gain-setting disappear, and BA70 rechargeables with real all-day runtime. We compared it head-to-head with Shure’s rival in EW-D vs SLX-D+.

EW-DX — the professional digital tier

Everything EW-D does, plus the features 300/500-class owners actually bought those tiers for: wider switching bandwidth (S1-10 covers 606–694 MHz), mute-switch and LEMO-connector transmitter options, table-stand and gooseneck formats for conference work, encryption, and rack receivers up to the four-channel EM4 with Dante for networked installs, with cascading network chargers to match. This is where theatres, churches with big rigs and AV companies should land.

What replaces what

What carries over from your G4 investment

More than you might fear. The ASA antenna splitter explicitly serves EW-D, EW-DX and EW100–500 G4 — your RF distribution survives the transition. GA3 rack kits fit the new half-rack receivers; CC3 cases carry either generation; paddles and 50 ohm antenna cabling are generation-agnostic. Capsule owners do best of all: MMD/MME heads and Neumann capsules screw onto EW-D and EW-DX handhelds, so a drawer of 500-series capsules is a reason to choose Sennheiser again, not sunk cost.

What does not carry over: transmitters and receivers never mix across generations (a G4 transmitter cannot talk to an EW-D receiver), G4 rechargeable packs do not fit the new BA70 system, and lavalier/headset mics need checking — the 3.5 mm locking jack survives on EW-D/EW-DX bodypacks, but LEMO variants exist on EW-DX, so match termination when ordering: the same rule we flag across body-worn microphones.

Running a mixed rack during the transition

Perfectly workable, and how most venues will actually do this. The practical rules: coordinate frequencies across both generations (the analogue and digital systems share the same Channel 38 spectrum under the same Ofcom licence — see the licensing guide); share antennas through the ASA splitter; and replace whole channels at a time rather than half-pairs, because transmitter and receiver must always match generation. Budget the swap over two or three financial years, IEMs last since the G4 IEM platform continues.

G4 vs EW-D vs EW-DX

Popular picks from the shop

Frequently asked questions

Is Sennheiser EW500 G4 discontinued?

The G4 generation is end-of-line, with remaining stock still available — including our EW500 G4 sets in GBW — but no successor development. Its replacement in the range is EW-DX, which carries the 500 tier’s capsule flexibility and professional options onto the digital platform.

What replaced the SK100 G4 bodypack?

The EW-D SK bodypack transmitter — same job, same format, digital platform. If you run SK100 G4 packs today, note that the receiver must be EW-D too: transmitters and receivers never cross generations.

Will my G4 lavaliers and headsets work on EW-D?

The locking 3.5 mm jack carries over to EW-D and EW-DX bodypacks, so evolution-wired mics generally survive the move. EW-DX also offers 3-pin LEMO pack variants — match the mic’s termination to the pack you order.

Can I mix G4 and EW-D in one rack?

Yes — they share Channel 38 spectrum and the ASA splitter serves both, so a staged transition is normal. Coordinate frequencies across the whole rack and replace complete channels (transmitter plus receiver) at a time.

Should I buy EW-D or go straight to EW-DX?

EW-D for bands, schools and venues running a handful of channels — it is simpler and cheaper. EW-DX when you need the wider S1-10 band for channel density, LEMO packs, encryption, table-stand formats or Dante rack receivers. If the deciding factor is Shure vs Sennheiser instead, start with EW-D vs SLX-D+.