StageClix wireless - competition for all others to live up to?

Akami · #1 07-17-2008, 04:17 PM

This link was in the X-wire is back thread and looks worth having one of it's own.

I'm including my post from that thread here and hope we can hear more about this more than interesting unit soon!

Quote:

I went through the checkout process and came up with a price of € 489,00 = $775.43!

I'm still very interested but I really want to hear a bit of consumer feedback before making that kind of commitment. Really like the long transmitter battery life and the recharging method is pure genius!

http://www.stageclix.com/Press_Release

Everyone should go look at this site and post your opinions, especially if you have any updates!

Taustin Powers · #2 07-18-2008, 03:43 AM

Maybe some background info for everyone:

The Line6 X2 wireless units are illegal to use in most European countries due to the frequencies they operate on. The Stageclix seems to be a great (and legal!) alternative, as it is also operating digitally, therefore without signal loss. Should have the same sound quality as the X2, but I guess it's too new, so no details are really known about it yet, and no reviews are available.

I am considering taking the plunge, if they will ship to Germany. Do some extensive testing for a few days, and just send it back if it disappoints. (They give you 5 days to return it.)

I like the design a lot, the small transmitter looks awesome. Also, the battery life looks great.

synaesthesia · #3 07-18-2008, 04:45 AM

Well, my interest is piqued.
I've ordered one and we will see.

Taustin Powers · #4 07-18-2008, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synaesthesia

Well, my interest is piqued.
I've ordered one and we will see.

Cool, please let us know how it works out!

synaesthesia · #5 07-18-2008, 05:59 AM

They are Dutch you know, and incredibly forthright and alarmingly honest people they are. The latency specs published are <3ms. Not the best.

I don't recall X2 publishing their latency specs - anyone?

Taustin Powers · #6 07-18-2008, 06:27 AM

From what I have read (please correct me), the distance that sound travels within 3 milliseconds is about 3 feet.

So basically, the latency will be equal to the difference you hear between standing right next to a speaker and standing 3 feet away from it. Virtually unnoticeable.

EDIT: I went back and did the math: speed of sound is 1129 ft/s, so therefore 1.129 ft/ms. Ergo, sound travels 3.39 feet within 3 milliseconds. So if someone is clapping his hands 3.39 feet away from you, the difference between when you see his hands connect and when you hear it - that's approximately the latency you can expect.

synaesthesia · #7 07-18-2008, 06:39 AM

With the X2, standing next to your rig you do not notice latency. Sound checking out in the audience area, you can most certainly hear it. I only talking about 50 - 75 feet away. Of course this is compounded by audio thru air, but at least you know. Not enough to get nervous about, but many digiital audio systems have got specs down to at least <1ms.

The true test is what your ear tells you, and not published specs., so it's wait and see for me at the moment.

Taustin Powers · #8 07-18-2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synaesthesia

The true test is what your ear tells you, and not published specs., so it's wait and see for me at the moment.

Agreed.

I'll be anxious to hear your report. Also, please let us know how the ordering process goes for you. I couldn't find anything on payment options on their website?

synaesthesia · #9 07-18-2008, 07:13 AM

After ordering you'll get this message:

==== extra note ====
This is the confirmation of your order, you will receive payment instructions shortly. These instructions contain a number of payment options you can use.
If you have any questions concerning the shipment, quality or others about the product you can contact the support department of stageClix.
You will have to specify your questions or wishes and contact information in your request, we will then contact you as soon as possible.
The support department can be reached by e-mail: stageclix@stageclix.com
==========================================

Taustin Powers · #10 07-21-2008, 01:44 AM

I just read in another forum that the X2's latency is 3.9ms.

Any feedback on the payment options yet?

I submitted some questions on their contact page last week, and have not received a response yet.

synaesthesia · #11 07-21-2008, 08:54 AM

No news from Stageclix! Makes me wonder if they are actually ready to roll tese units out.

Akami · #12 07-21-2008, 10:25 AM

I got the feeling from looking at their site that they were still gearing up.

Taustin Powers · #13 07-22-2008, 06:14 AM

I received the following email today:

"Thanks for your interest in stageClix. At this very moment stageClix is evaluated by a group of 25 (semi)-professional musicians. After this period is over we will come with a definite price.
But for your imagination the price will be in the bandwith of XXX-YYY euro's.
I hope this information is sufficient for you at this moment."

EDIT: I took out the price estimate, because he offered a fairly big range, and I don't know if he would like that to be posted publicly on the internet until the final price is determined. But, the range he gave me was lower than the price you see on the website so far.

Akami · #14 07-22-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taustin Powers

I received the following email today:

"Thanks for your interest in stageClix. At this very moment stageClix is evaluated by a group of 25 (semi)-professional musicians. After this period is over we will come with a definite price.
But for your imagination the price will be in the bandwith of XXX-YYY euro's.
I hope this information is sufficient for you at this moment."

EDIT: I took out the price estimate, because he offered a fairly big range, and I don't know if he would like that to be posted publicly on the internet until the final price is determined. But, the range he gave me was lower than the price you see on the website so far.

I can't wait for these to be available and I hope they'll be posting all 25 reviews.

Think you could PM me the price ranges they sent you?

EASonBass · #15 07-23-2008, 05:20 PM

This is the response I received to my inquiry on US availability:

We are currently developing and adapting our lines to conform to FCC
regulations. I do not have an estimated release date as of yet but we are hoping it will be this year. We do however have distributors ready to take the line on as soon as it is available.

Although there are other wireless systems available in The USA, none of them use the same technology as the stageClix. Good things come to those who wait.

synaesthesia · #16 07-25-2008, 07:44 AM

They have told me that they will be developing a family of products, viz. rackmount variations can be expected.

Shoesize44 · #17 09-09-2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akami

I can't wait for these to be available and I hope they'll be posting all 25 reviews.

Think you could PM me the price ranges they sent you?

Funny to read about stageclix: a friend of mine is now evaluating this system, and he is pretty impressed with the system regarding quality of sound and useability. I really wonder when they will start selling the final version. Any price yet known?

Best of luck - shoesize44

Lauryan · #18 09-09-2008, 06:03 AM

I'm Dutch. In November we've got a meeting from a Dutch bassforum. StageClix will be present there to enable all present bassplayers to testdrive the products..
So they are still working on the product i think, i'm hoping to test 'm at November 8th

afroman · #19 01-05-2009, 03:17 PM

Has anybody had the chance to try one?
Are they available?

I love my X2, but this just seems too good to be true.
Im very curious...

Taustin Powers · #20 02-05-2009, 01:03 AM

I was actually part of the test group, so I've had a prototype to play around with for a few months. Here's my quick take on it. Keep in mind that this was a prototype, and they fixed some issues in the final retail version.

Pros:
- Small size!
- Battery Life & Design: The sender has a built-in rechargeable battery, that will give you up to 15 hours of play time per charge. You charge it by simply plugging the sender into the receiver. So no buying batteries for every gig!
- Usability/Design: The whole system has only one button, and that is the "On/Off" toggle on the sender. You just plug it into your bass, press the button, and half a second later you're ready to jam. The sender is automatically paired with the receiver when you plug it in to charge. So you don't have to mess with channels, and the systems know not to interfere with each other (up to eight at the same time, supposedly; of course I haven't had a chance to test that!

).
- Sound quality: Like the X2, it's a digital system with no compander, so I would be really impressed if ANYONE could hear the difference to a cable. This was a big factor to me, and the reason I never bought an analog system in the past.

Cons:
- On my prototype, the plug did not fit in some instruments with a recessed jack (most notably the Telecaster). They redesigned the final version to fix this though, so it should not be a problem anymore.
- A faint high-pitched hum caused by the active electronics being so close to the sender. Only in certain positions though, if I rotated the sender a little (and then fixated it for gigs), it was quiet. Again, they did an electronic redesign to take care of this, so the final version should work perfectly with all active basses.
- The output jacks on all my basses are at the bottom, so the sender is "hanging down" from it. You can fix the angle against the body, but if you're very active on stage like me, it will rotate around a little. I used some tape to keep it in one position for gigs, no biggie. When I get the final version, I will probably implement some velcro solution. They also have a beltpack version, but I think I like the idea of being completely without a cable.

Bottom Line:
I will definitely get me one of these. For years I stayed away from wireless cause I didn't want to sacrifice tone in any way. And I couldn't get the X2 cause it's operating in an illegel frequency range where I live (and pretty much all of Europe!). The stageclix is the perfect solution for me. The sound is immaculate, no audible delay either. After playing a few gigs with it, I never want to go back to playing with a cable. Not having to constantly buy batteries for it is a huge plus, and it really could not be any easier to use. At 499 EUR it is not the cheapest system out there, but even if the X2 was legal to use here, I would still go for the stageclix, just for the battery and the ease of use.