Wireless for bass - State of the Art

Slowgypsy · #1 08-12-2010, 05:31 AM

Used cords all these years. Thinking seriously about going wireless. What brand/model can you recommend as being the current state-of-the-art? Important things for me are (1) battery life (2) tone quality (3) ease of use. I think anything will get be more distance from my amp than I'll need.

elocke2009 · #2 08-12-2010, 05:38 AM

In the same situation right now! Looking to see where this thread leads.

deekay911 · #3 08-12-2010, 05:51 AM

Line 6 G50 (the old X2 XDS95 range). It has the bottom frequencies most others don't have and is ideal for bass - I have been using mine for several gigs now and it is flawless.

spywebco · #4 08-12-2010, 05:54 AM

Have been wireless for about 8 years. Had a great experience with an analog AKG system that I had to give up due to the Federal takeover of frequencies. I checked out a lot of options, and decided that the Line6 XDS X2, many of which are available pre-owned here on TB. I got mine with a couple nice extra for under $150 shipped, could help out a fellow TB member and get a world class wireless unit at a good price. I've used this unit for about a month so far. It works wonderfully, though I will likely purchase a DC powersource for the base. I am using it with rechargeable batteries now, and they don't give much warning when they're crapping out. I think with the DC powersource for the base, and three rechargeable 9V's for the remote unit, it will go through the longest of gigs with ease.

DWBass · #5 08-12-2010, 06:03 AM

I have a nice Audio Technica unit wth a transmitter that uses AA batteries instead of 9V (thank ya jebus)! I pop a couple of Lithium's in there and I'm good for the night! No loss of bass frequencies. It can also be used (switchable) with a headset mic.

I also have a Samson Stage 55 which is nice but it does lose low frequencies. Gonna let the guitarist use it. The Line6 units seem to the standard these days.

rockstarbassist · #6 08-12-2010, 02:13 PM

I have an X2 XDS-Plus and love it.

If I replace it or buy new, it'll be the Relay G50. It's the X2 stuff in a new house + few new features, basically.
The G30 is a good cheaper option.

Slowgypsy · #7 08-12-2010, 04:44 PM

Thanks all for the replies. Seems like Line 6 has a lot of love here. A friend of mine works for Sennheiser, and has recommended the wireless unit they make. Anyone have any opinions on that?

DWBass · #8 08-12-2010, 05:44 PM

Most of the top of the line units from most brands work well. It's the cheap units you don't want to mess with. Try it out first if you can.

OlSkewl56 · #9 08-12-2010, 05:51 PM

Bought a Line6 G30, and have done 1 gig with it.
This was my first time into wireless.
Tone was great. Wireless freedom, greater!
Had no static, interference, very clean sounding unit.

walterw · #10 08-12-2010, 08:58 PM

the whole thing with the line 6 stuff is that, being digital instead of analog, there's no "companding" the signal's dynamic and frequency range to squeeze it down the analog wireless frequencies.

what comes out of the guitar is what comes out of the receiver full bandwidth (so much so that they add a "cable tone" knob to adjust the sound to match the slight roll-off of a real cable).

i just got a relay g50, and the best thing i can say about it is that even though it's the first wireless i've ever used, a couple songs in i forgot all about it and just played enjoying my normal tone.

i was a little worried about any delay caused by digital latency, but from what i could tell, there was more of a delay while standing 20' away from my amp vs. 6' than there was from the unit.

Prodigal Son · #11 08-12-2010, 09:03 PM

Have a Line6 G50. Soundwise can't really tell the difference between it and a standard cord. Uses 2AA batteries which easily last a 4 hour gig. The biggest problem I had was finding one to buy. Maybe they are in better supply now.

pbass62 · #12 08-14-2010, 08:30 PM

for bass I have had all the brands but nady. I absolutely love my x2 xds plus. Its got the range and performance I want. I built my own custom cable but have had no problem out of the original cable. It will be my last system I will need

John Bigboote · #13 08-14-2010, 08:47 PM

Have been using a Sennheiser for past three years. Works flawlessly, but that part of the spectrum has been reallocated by the FCC (not a "government takeover" really), so I'm living on borrowed time...

Would get the Line6 G30 in a heartbeat. Uses AA batteries (rechargeable, yay! that's why I wouldn't have an X2), and a standard 1/4" cord (yay!). Stone-simple, out-of-the-box operation. At only $300, it's a no-brainer.

-jb

deekay911 · #14 08-14-2010, 08:48 PM

I played two three-hour gigs now on my G50 with one set of batteries (2 x AA) and it still has more than half power left. Don't even think about another system...

bigtexashonk · #15 08-14-2010, 09:16 PM

I've just started using the Brace DWG1000x and am finding it transparent with no compression/expansion that many other wireless units have. I can't tell the difference between a George L cable and this unit. Affordable and as simple as can be to use. Worth checking out.

www.braceaudio.com

thumbs3000 · #16 08-14-2010, 09:18 PM

I have a Line 6 X2 and it is awesome. Great frequency response, no interference. Sits on my pedalboard. Awesome.

I previously owned an EV RE-2 and I reckon the Line 6 is way better and way cheaper..

JimmyM · #17 08-15-2010, 12:11 AM

line 6/x2 fan here, too. not a big fan of the sennheiser. it's good but i always feel like it's compressing. and for what the line 6 does at the price point it does it at, no way i'd go sennheiser. there was a time it was considered the best, but those days are gone imho.

CashBass · #18 08-15-2010, 12:22 AM

X2 XDS units (now Line6). Hands down the best digital wireless unit. You don't loose anything and it gives a ton of great feedback (like how much juice is left). Great unit but not sure if Line6 has screwed it up their version of it yet...

MusserMusic · #19 08-15-2010, 01:09 AM

I used Sennheiser for years and loved the freedom but at some point it wasn't worth the tone suck so I went back to cords and missed the freedom of wireless.
Enter Line 6 X2!!! Heard great things tone wise but concerned about construction because I can be a spas on stage at times. I waited out for the G50. Great tone, construction, battery life, ease of use...I'm free again without compromising my tone. For me, Line 6 delivered with the G50!! And I'm not looking back!

vince a · #20 09-03-2010, 04:47 PM

Been using an older Brand S, and recently picked up a Line 6 G30. Had it about three months now. The G30 is superior in every way. Two AA batteries last a very long time, no signal or sound loss. Extremely simple to use. Cost me $180 . . . I've learned how to deal!