Wireless???

[grumpyjfc]

Does anybody have any experience with wireless instrument systems? I'm looking at the Line 6 xdr95 digital systems, any opinions would be helpful!

[fokof]

Yes I have.

Very usefull if you have to move around alot but all systems will degrade your sound , even broadcast ( $$$$ ) ones.
A cable will always sound better.

I sold mine after one gig.

[Dogsferatu]

I have the xds95 (stompbox) version. I love it. I used the day after I got it at a live outdoor gig and the sound was fantastic, no dropouts no pops, no static or interference.
Since what i got was the lower end of the Line 6 series, I'm sure the rackmount is just a good. I highly recommend it and stand by most Line 6 products.

now i'm just waiting for my endorsement deal!

[keepclam]

I've got the X2 (now Line6) xds95. I've had it for almost two years. It rules. I don't notice any degradation of the tone & the range is righteous. Many people complain about the battery life of the transmitter - I haven't had any problems playing 3 to 4 hour gigs with it, but I do put in a fresh battery before every show. I guess I should consider investing in some rechargeables... I would heartily recommend this line of wireless systems.

[JimmyM]

With all due respect to fokof, the X2 sounds identical to a cable in every way. Best wireless ever.

EDIT: Mine is the XDS95, for those of you scoring.

[bnutz]

I'm sort of a freak about my tone and love the Line 6 (X2) XDS Plus. It's the 1/2 single rack space version of stompbox unit. I borrowed a friend's for a gig where I needed to move around alot and loved it so much I went right out and bought one. Very reasonably priced, too.

The only drawback is that I go through one 9 volt battery every 5 sets, or so.

I recorded samples playing with a cable and then with the X2 and it may even (gulp) have sounded better.

-b

[seanm]

I have the XDS95 and am thinking of upgrading to the XDS PRO.

The one feature the PRO has that I would really like is the TX battery indication on the RX. I have the TX strapped behind me, I can't see the battery level.

The extra range would be nice too. I once was checking sound by walking around the even outdoors and I lost the signal when the crowd got between me and the RX. The RX was on top of the amp. But that was probably 50 feet. It was really cool walking around off the stage

[jambassist]

First off, the wireless threads have been consolidated into the miscellaneous section so please check there where you'll find all sorts of grand information. That being said, the X2 systems are really great. I've got the rack mount version and really like it. Unless you're going to spend thousands of dollars on the suprer pro systems, you're not going to get anything better than this.

[Double Agent]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

With all due respect to fokof, the X2 sounds identical to a cable in every way. Best wireless ever.

EDIT: Mine is the XDS95, for those of you scoring.

+1000

Never had any issues with mine. Can't tell the difference between the X2 and a cable. Best wireless on the market IMO.

[AxtoOx]

I just got my Sennheiser unit and I love it. I was steered away from the Line6 unit because it's still technology in the works. With the new FCC rules selling off the 700hrz bands, this will actually open more space for the rest of us on analog.

I would reccomend one, Sure or Sennheiser. Line 6 is probably OK, but the people I have just been checking w/ don't trust it yet.

Just 1 opinion.

Edit:
I worded that wrong. With everything going digital, that's what will open up our analog freqs. Be careful when you buy one because I have heard the FCC is selling off the 700mhz bands. This could cause a disruption if you have one in that freq. range.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

With all due respect to fokof, the X2 sounds identical to a cable in every way. Best wireless ever.

EDIT: Mine is the XDS95, for those of you scoring.

Agreed 100% - I have the XDR-95, and like it very much...



- georgestrings

[mrokern]

Originally Posted by AxtoOx

I just got my Sennheiser unit and I love it. I was steered away from the Line6 unit because it's still technology in the works. With the new FCC rules selling off the 700hrz bands, this will actually open more space for the rest of us on analog.

I would reccomend one, Sure or Sennheiser. Line 6 is probably OK, but the people I have just been checking w/ don't trust it yet.

Just 1 opinion.

Edit:
I worded that wrong. With everything going digital, that's what will open up our analog freqs. Be careful when you buy one because I have heard the FCC is selling off the 700mhz bands. This could cause a disruption if you have one in that freq. range.

Still not quite.

ATSC transmissions still use frequencies close to the old NTSC channels. Don't think that DTV means that the airwaves are gonna be clear...far from it!

The auction of the 700MHz bands is a bit of worry, but most major mic manufacturers have seen this problem coming. Sennheiser, for example, has made their "C-band" wireless units available only by special order for a couple of years now.

-Mark

[Coelho]

Just wrote this is another thread, but here we go again...

The X2 XDS95 is terrible. Bumps lows and highs, specially highs. It doesn't sound like a cable at all. The cheap A/D D/A converters are doing something funny there.

It definitely colors the sound, when I take it off and connect my bass to the cable that was connecting the receiver to the amp, it sounds completely different.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Coelho

Just wrote this is another thread, but here we go again...

The X2 XDS95 is terrible. Bumps lows and highs, specially highs. It doesn't sound like a cable at all. The cheap A/D D/A converters are doing something funny there.

It definitely colors the sound, when I take it off and connect my bass to the cable that was connecting the receiver to the amp, it sounds completely different.

Well, I guess there's a first for everything. Totally the opposite reaction that I and everyone I know has when they plug into it, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.

[Coelho]

I am very used to the sound of my quality active bass connected through a 6' high quality cable to my amp. WHen I take this cable from my bass and plug in the XDS in it, I hear a noticeable bump in lows and highs.
Even they (manufacturer) say in some places that they don't use the full range out of the tip of TRS (in the default config) because some people would be surprised with the full-range that cables would be taking of. Well, I still use that same cable to connect the unit to the amp... Should sound exactly the same, not "better"!

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Coelho

Just wrote this is another thread, but here we go again...

The X2 XDS95 is terrible. Bumps lows and highs, specially highs. It doesn't sound like a cable at all. The cheap A/D D/A converters are doing something funny there.

It definitely colors the sound, when I take it off and connect my bass to the cable that was connecting the receiver to the amp, it sounds completely different.

I am a little surprised at the high bump. With the stock cable, the X2 is supposed to have a small attenuation of the highs to mimic a 15' cable.

But to be honest, I play a P bass with flats through a tweeterless system.... I would not notice a boost to the highs

[Coelho]

Originally Posted by seanm

I am a little surprised at the high bump. With the stock cable, the X2 is supposed to have a small attenuation of the highs to mimic a 15' cable.

But to be honest, I play a P bass with flats through a tweeterless system.... I would not notice a boost to the highs

Try in a system with a tweeter (not a horn, a tweeter)... Harsh...

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Coelho

Try in a system with a tweeter (not a horn, a tweeter)... Harsh...

I've played on some giant state of the art PA's and never heard any harshness. Just sayin'...

[Coelho]

below you can see 3 graphs:
-Fodera cable against original audio (totally flat, amazing)
-XDS95 agains original audio (lower about 3db all across up to around 2K, then starts getting close to 0db all the way up to 10K, where it gets really crazy and adds A LOT of stuff. You really need equipment that can reproduce > 10Khz to hear it.
-XDS95 "full range" against original audio (similar to the above but more linear all the way up to 10 K, where it gets crazy again).

I suspect there is a limitation above around 10K and this creates audio artifacts. Maybe the higher end models don't behave like this.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Coelho

below you can see 3 graphs:
-Fodera cable against original audio (totally flat, amazing)
-XDS95 agains original audio (lower about 3db all across up to around 2K, then starts getting close to 0db all the way up to 10K, where it gets really crazy and adds A LOT of stuff. You really need equipment that can reproduce > 10Khz to hear it.
-XDS95 "full range" against original audio (similar to the above but more linear all the way up to 10 K, where it gets crazy again).

I suspect there is a limitation above around 10K and this creates audio artifacts. Maybe the higher end models don't behave like this.

Very nicely done!

I really need to get a good audio interface so I can do tests like that.

Weird that there is a slight gain at 8k rather than a slight loss. And the 10k stuff looks wild. You think that would *really* affect guitar players.

Do you have the original X2 version or the Line 6 version? Not that I think there is any difference, just wondering.