Ambient QP-5150 Series 5 Review - Sound Speeds

The Quickpole was the line of boom produced by Ambient. Traditionally they have been 4 segment booms with the option of an extension piece that fits around the outside of the boom giving it a 5th extendable section. Now Ambient has changed their game by producing a 5 section Quickpole boom filled with innovations to make an already great pole even better.
In this video I dive deep and test the new series 5 QP-5150 boom the way it should be. It's one thing to talk about a boom, it's another to test it and I do test it heavily in this video. I also test the QP5EST flow thru with straight cable option.
To purchase Ambient booms, you can follow these affiliate links:
QP-5150 (21 footer): geni.us/QP-5150
QP-5130 (17 footer): geni.us/QP-5130
QP-5100 (13 footer): geni.us/QP-5100
QP-580 (10 footer): geni.us/QP-580
QP-565 (8 footer): geni.us/QP-565
QP-550 (6 footer): geni.us/QP-550
QS (17 footer): geni.us/QSboom
QP-120 (5th section/extension): geni.us/QP-120
To watch me repair an Ambient boom:
• An Ambient Boom Repair...
To download Ambient's Repair and maintenance guide:
ambient.de/wp-content/uploads/...
Full Disclosure:
Ambient did send me the Series 5, QP-5150 and QP5EST straight cable option in exchange for this fair review. I get to keep them following the review but I'm not going to allow that to affect my option so you can expect this to be a fair and honest review.
To Ask A Question For The Sound Support Podcast, email: [e-mail]
Gear Commonly Used In My Videos:
Panasonic Lumix FZ-80: geni.us/SoundSpeedsLumixFZ80
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7: geni.us/SoundSpeedsLumixDMCG7
Aputure Amaran AL-MX LED Video Light: geni.us/AputureLight
Tascam DR-40: geni.us/TascamDR40
Sound Devices MixPre-6: geni.us/SoundDevicesMP6
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links and if you purchase something using one of these links, you'll pay the same price that you'd find on Amazon if you looked it up yourself but Amazon will pay me a small referral fee for sending you there to make a purchase.
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[@curtisjudd]

Solid review from the guy who works with these poles every day - thanks Allen!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you Curtis.

[@pingpongowo]

You're the only person that can keep me engaged for 19 minutes for a video about a stick I will never own.

[@SoundSpeeds]

LOL. Mission accomplished! Thank you. Watch for my upcoming 16 hour LIVE stream about this one boom. ;-)

[@pingpongowo]

@@SoundSpeeds You know I wouldn't miss it (unless I'm sleeping).

[@SoundSpeeds]

I know. You're crazy like that. :-)

[@tallguytrav]

I got updated that this was uploaded 28 seconds ago. Now I am here. Best seats in the house.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yep, just dropped. 1st comment award goes to you.

[@tallguytrav]

@@SoundSpeeds I'm honored.

[@SoundSpeeds]

:-)

[@00solman]

Great deep dive!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you sir

[@soundhobo]

That Sir is a fair review...boy oh boy you know your stuff 👍

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. :-) Thanks for watching.

[@imark7777777]

This is a boom channel! 0:20 I think you're referring to Ambien the drug.... Calm & relaxing.

[@SoundSpeeds]

👍

[@alercottle]

Thanks for the review Allen!! as always very good a great chanel!! :). I was wondering which sizes of boom poles do you use more often

[@SoundSpeeds]

11-12' about 90% indoors 9.99% 17-18' footer Outdoors: 99.99% 17-18'

[@alercottle]

@@SoundSpeeds Thanks!!! :)

[@RobertLinthicum]

Should hold a "pole joke" contest.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I would if boom ops got the joke. It's our reality.

[@34Kuro]

Nice review, I just bought a QP5130

[@SoundSpeeds]

Excellent. Tell me what you think.

[@34Kuro]

@@SoundSpeeds will do so when it is delivered to me.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Cool!

[@themaccaMCM]

I love all your videos and how accurated they are. Thank you! I’m using the QP5150 since one year and onestly i’m disappointed by the performance. The pole is not straight like the old “purple” from 75% open to 100. The fast lock is very bad. Often the sections unscrew on their own during the take while you are moving between actors dialogue.so you screw harder and so begin the hell. I also noticed that the hands noise while you chance position is a matter that i never discovered on the old versions. I don’t know…am i the only one?

[@Denolc]

love the detailed review! since in europe we mostly use uncabled booms (you only see it on ENG shoots) I am curious if you ever had the cable somehow become faulty at any other place than at the connector ends? seems pretty unlikely to me but then again it could become damaged inside through the bunching up you mentioned maybe? anywho, great review as always, your experience with a history of boompoles really conveys the important features!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. I only really use the L-4E6S Canare starquad and it doesn't fail. Sorry but I can't speak to the thin cable Ambient uses.

[@andreaswinter7430]

Interesting review! Any chance you could do reviews of the Rode boom poles? Would be interested to hear your thoughts.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm working my way there.

[@WORTHITORNOT]

So amazed at all the tech that goes into a boom pole. How does the TA3 connector adapter sound regarding interference etc?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It's not RF shielded like an EMC but it should be fine. Personally I'd replace the female XLR with a female EMC if I were going to be doing a lot if cabled booming though. I love the EMC connectors.

[@ilyakurtov9515]

Where is snowwwww?:) green trees... I won't see it till April at least! Big thanks for the review!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Snow? Not normally in Atlanta.

[@villavillavillavilla]

where do you get your inventory stickers made? love your content! never stop please.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. Inventory stickers?

[@villavillavillavilla]

@@SoundSpeeds thought I saw yellow stickers on the boom poles, figured it was your inventory labeling for your equipment. I usually just get a label maker and write name and email etc - but seeing the stickers on the poles gave me the idea of getting custom stickers made with logo name email phone number etc for gear.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Oh, no. Those come on the poles.

[@tomfama9763]

Thanks for the review, Allen! I tried to get my hands on one of the QXS poles before they discontinued them but was too late :( do you know if there is a way to get this pole internally cabled with a bottom exit? I was surprised that Ambient seemed to silently discontinue that as an option as well.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I was very surprised at that! Couldn't believe the QXS series was gone so quickly. What was it? Only 3 years or something? Maybe 4. I'd try various vendors from Trew Audio and Gotham Sound to B&H and Audio Department to see if anyone has one. If not, call Redding Audio and see if they have any in supply.

[@AmbientRecording]

Hi Tom, is there any particular reason you would opt for the QXS over the QP S5 given they both actually run for the same list price? Bottom exit we surely can do as the "old" butt ends fit with no problem.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Personally, I'd get the Series 5 over the QSX if the flow thru was the OXS style. Just saying.

[@SunriseWaterMedia]

Boom! 💥

[@SoundSpeeds]

You called?

[@SunriseWaterMedia]

@@SoundSpeeds Yes, I ran out of Zipfizz. Can you boom some over to me please? 😜

[@SoundSpeeds]

I have a pole long enough so yes.

[@SunriseWaterMedia]

@@SoundSpeeds Ok boomer. 🤣 Sorry, I couldn't resist. You're awesome, Allen.

[@SoundSpeeds]

😐😑🤨

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

I think for a beginner these would be better than the slim because these can come coiled which is easier for a single boom Operator to operate. What is your take? Slim has option for very long internal straight cable not coiled

[@SoundSpeeds]

Behavior can be trained and muscle memory formed so no, I disagree. Many people worldwide still externally wrap booms which is annoying and takes s while to get the hang of yet it doesn't stop people from doing it.

[@creativegreatsvisuals]

@@SoundSpeeds but isn’t coiled much easier for a beginner or less experienced boom operator ? The slim has only straight internal cable that hangs out. What are the advantages of this model pole qp 5130 17 inches with the slim locks kit , over the qp slim 17 inch ?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It's easier in some ways but you hear boom swings easier as the cable rolls in the boom. If you allow the coil to get kinked up, it'll get really bad and make a lot of noise. Many times you toss a TX on the mic end of the boom anyway so it doesn't matter.

[@RobertLinthicum]

Which would be best for wireless only?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Personal preference. There's a lot of factors to consider. Watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4XFk3yYos-Xd80

[@dannepedersen]

My Ambient friend…. 😊 Do ambient have any counterweights for boompoles or are the any universal of them at the market?

[@SoundSpeeds]

No

[@bizarreban4598]

what is the purple piece at the top called. i know its a quick release for mic heads. but i forget what the name of that piece is

[@SoundSpeeds]

Ambient QuickLok