This is a very worthwhile video overview of the Stem Audio ecosystem of products.  Easy to install and simple to use.

Check out the product HERE

The Realities and Their Ripple Effects:

• Back orders are rampant.
• Lead times are VERY long
• Sometimes there are no available substitutes

We are currently seeing products with ETAs as far out as May, 2022.  And those will push further out as companies place orders for those products and allocations get eaten up long before they arrive.  So today, it could be November, 2021, but if you don't order and get in line, in two weeks that ETA could be months later.

Why is this happening?  Many reasons.  And not all of them are related to the pandemic.

Chip manufacturing has been running on the edge of full capacity for at least a year BEFORE the pandemic.

Companies that produce chips basically build to order.  But with lead times approaching 18 weeks: 12 weeks to build a chip; 4 to 6 weeks to test and then package them.  Once a run of chips for Company A is out of manufacturing, tooling is changed to run chips for Company B, and so on.  When there is a surge in demand, lead times increase and there are back orders.  But modern forecasting and just in time manufacturing worked OK for a long time.  Until...

When Covid hit, many manufacturers halted or slowed production radically.  Some had to because of Covid outbreaks.  Some because their products weren't selling.  MANY cancelled orders for parts (chips and such).  Then came the surge in demand a few months ago.  Chip manufacturers were inundated with new orders.  But they did not have capacity to build all of these products immediately.  So orders were put in line to be produced as fast as possible.  But that meant that many companies were waiting for 18 weeks, 24 weeks or many more for their orders.

Then there were the fires.

A chip plant in Japan (AKM Audio) burned (for 3 days) in October of 2020.  And they made most of the DAC and ADC chips used in pro-audio and high end consumer audio products.  Which means that anything that has a digital component in it, is probably on back order.

Shipping and trucking and customs.  Oh my.

There is also the logistics side.  Shipping is a mess!  Containers are difficult to come by, ports are backed up, meaning ships are waiting a long time to dock and get emptied, slowing their return to get more product.  Customs is backed up.  There are many instances of products getting off of the ship only to sit weeks to get processed by Customs.

All of this means that it is getting very difficult to get products.  Just when things are getting moving again.

What can Audio Supply do?

With access to so many suppliers, we can work for you to find products that can be substituted for those hard to get items.  Or help you redesign to get a functional system whenever possible.  There will be times that there just isn't a substitute available - like digital mixers.  Those are virtually impossible to come by.

But if there are any to be found, we WILL find them.  Just give us a call.

Whether it’s a high-school theater production, corporate meeting, or a Sunday service, live events need to deliver flawless audio and require products that are straightforward to setup and use. Wireless microphones face additional challenges in today’s increasingly crowded RF environment. To help address these needs, the SLX-D Digital Wireless System is the newest addition to the Shure digital wireless portfolio. The new offering is the digital replacement of the Company’s popular SLX system, complete with new mechanical designs, exceptional audio quality, more reliable RF performance, streamlined setup, and more. 

The multi-faceted SLX-D Digital Wireless System provides end users with greater channel count than SLX, smart rechargeable options, and simplified ease-of-use for moments that matter most – in the classroom, Houses of Worship, corporate facilities, the hospitality sector, local governments, and more. The new system is offered in single and dual channel options. Transmitters run on standard AA batteries or an optional lithium-ion rechargeable battery solution with a dual-docking charging station. SLX-D is a state-of-the-art system with several notable features and user-friendly benefits, including:

• Reliable RF—with outstanding signal quality and digital modulation, SLX-D lets users navigate crowded environments with high spectral efficiency and dependable RF. The system enables operation of up to 32 channels per frequency band without worrying about dropouts or signal fades.
• Excellent Audio Quality—to ensure every performance, lecture, and speech is delivered flawlessly, SLX-D delivers crystal clear sound. With a wide dynamic range, it can handle a variety of inputs while preventing distortion – ultimately enabling clean, natural instrument and vocal sound.
• Ease of Use—knowing that personnel in various institutions and facilities need a simple and straightforward solution, SLX-D is equipped with Guided Frequency Setup and a Group Scan feature that lets users set up multiple channels more efficiently by assigning frequencies to all receivers automatically via ethernet connections. Even for a 30+ channel system, the entire Group Scan can be completed within a few seconds.

“As we support customers in education, Houses of Worship, corporate facilities and theaters, we recognize the need for an easy-to-use digital wireless system with rock-solid RF performance that can scale as the needs of the venue or spectrum environment change,“ said Nick Wood, Senior Wireless Category Director at Shure. “With SLX-D, we can offer a solution that is both state-of-the-art and a great value.”

Legendary JBL Professional Sound - The EON ONE Compact may be small enough to carry in one hand, but its sound is big enough to fill the room. You’ll be amazed at the 112 decibels of rich, crystal-clear sound produced across the entire range of this ultra-compact system, with deep, uncompressed bass even at high output levels. Its 8-inch woofer extends low-end response to 37.5 Hz—nearly an octave lower than other PAs in its class

Pro Mixer Features

With your loudspeaker, amp, mixer, and effects all rolled up in one easy-to-carry package, you’ll lighten your load-in while maximizing the value of your gear investment.

Long-Lasting Battery Life

Play more sets or teach more classes, confident in EON ONE Compact’s 12-hour battery life. Swap out batteries in seconds—no tools necessary—and quick-charge batteries in just 2.5 hours. You can even charge while the system is in use. (Additional batteries available separately.)

Class-Leading Connectivity

The EON ONE Compact offers more inputs than any system in its class. Two XLR/TRS combo jacks, one 1/4-inch hi-Z guitar input and one 1/8-inch aux input connect microphones, line-level instruments and audio playback sources; phantom power supports condenser microphones, and pro-grade preamps deliver full, rich sound from any microphone. Plus, a 1/4-inch passthrough lets you expand your system with additional EON ONE Compact units. Use the built-in headphone jack to rehearse privately or dial in presets before performances. Two high-power USB 3.0 ports allow high-speed charging of tablets, phones and select DJ devices.

Total Control at Your Fingertips

The EON ONE Compact offers more inputs than any system in its class. Two XLR/TRS combo jacks, one 1/4-inch hi-Z guitar input and one 1/8-inch aux input connect microphones, line-level instruments and audio playback sources; phantom power supports condenser microphones, and pro-grade preamps deliver full, rich sound from any microphone. Plus, a 1/4-inch passthrough lets you expand your system with additional EON ONE Compact units. Use the built-in headphone jack to rehearse privately or dial in presets before performances. Two high-power USB 3.0 ports allow high-speed charging of tablets, phones and select DJ devices.

Buy it HERE.