Just how good is the X2?

GearHeadBassMan · #1 12-15-2008, 12:39 PM

So there might be one under my tree this christmas, should I expect a simply amazing wireless experience? I had a sennheiser freeport for about a week before i returned it due to massive tone and volume suck.

Is the x2 the second coming of less than $600 wireless systems or just simply the lesser demon of the cheaper ones?

edit: I'm terrible at searching and I know this might have been discussed before but I can't get the darn search feature to find anything

bassninja7 · #2 12-15-2008, 12:47 PM

ive heard they are really cool.

im tempted to get one myself....grr gas...

GearHeadBassMan · #3 12-15-2008, 12:48 PM

rather hear from straight up players, guys who gig one on the weekly if I could.

read some harmony central reviews, no one seems to have much bad things to say about it.

Anyone have any experience with the wifi antenna mod?

Oh! Henry · #4 12-15-2008, 02:34 PM

I have no experience with other wireless systems, but I'm very happy with mine, I have the older version (without the antennas).

It's got pretty good range, (100 feet) I've tested this a few times during sound check and I could go out quite far befor it dropped out. Line of sight issues are not a big problem. I've past behind obstacles and it didn't cut out, although it doesn't transmit through glass!

There is no noticable tone suck or change in volume that I can hear. The transmitter eats batteries like crazy though! If I use a new battery during sound check, it will not last the entire 3rd set.

I had a problem once where it cut out a few times during sound check with a loud pop. But then figured out that they may have had an older cordless phone that operate in the same frequency range and every time the phone rang, it caused the unit to wig out temporarly. I was too preoccupied with other problems to try another channel. Other than this one incident, I never had problems with it.

Ror the price, I'd say you can't get a better unit.

CliftonBonney · #5 12-15-2008, 11:42 PM

I love mine, but like O'Henry I can't compare it to anything else. I have the XDR95 and feel there is no need to compare it to anything else. It's that good.

You should go check out the video demo at www.bassplayer.tv. Go to this site. Then, choose "Basses & Gear" then "Gear Preview" then "X2 Digital Wireless." The demo is of the one like mine (rack mount) and the older version of the pedal one.

I honestly can't tell a difference between being plugged in and using the wireless. It's a fantastic unit.

afroman · #6 12-16-2008, 12:20 AM

I used an $600 Shure ULXS system which was great, never let me down, great sound, 300' range. Never failed me.

I tried the X2 XDS and it was very good. Decided to sell it and keep the Shure because it had worked so well for me that I felt I shouldn't get rid of it.

Now I have the XDS-Plus. Great range, it's in my pedalboard, sounds incredible. No tone suck, no headroom loss, no problems. The battery lasts about 6-7 hours, my Shure lasted about 8-9 hours.

Anyways, I have in my pedalboard and I adore it. Works perfectly and is dumb-proof. I did get a custom made Neutrik cable, cause the stock one is utter crap.

I think you'll be very happy.
Any of the 3 X2 units you get will give you super simple great sound.
And the price is right!

JimmyM · #7 12-16-2008, 12:28 AM

I use two of the small $300 X2's regularly. Sounds great, no tone suck, but they do use batteries fairly quickly, and occasionally I have line of sight issues, though not very often. I'm totally happy with it except for the batteries.

Bluesbob · #8 12-16-2008, 08:57 PM

I just sprung for the rack-mount X2, the XDR-95. I'm afraid there might be a run on non-white-space wireless equipment on Feb. 17th.
Here's my question:
Can I mount the antennae on the back of the receiver if it's in a (plastic) rack case, or do I have to use the front rack mounts and the extensions. Does line-of-sight apply when I'm right next to the unit? Any info gratefully accepted.

Shane Carter · #9 12-16-2008, 09:16 PM

I have the X2 XDS95 and it works great. I've used mine for a few weeks and I have not had any issue with the cord that came with it, so I think they must have started using a better quality cable on the newer units. Mine is a straight 1/4" metal plug with a stress reliever and from what I have seen in the pictures of the older units, it looks like a 1/4" molded plug was used. I use the power adapter for the receiver and I was getting almost 5 hours on an alkaline in the transmitter.

I just received today the iPowerUS Li-Polymer 9V 520mAh combo pack with 4 batteries and the charger. Normally rechargables don't perform very well, but from my search on the net, these batteries perform as well or better than alkaline 9V's. They are each supposed to last for 100 charges, charge in as little as an hour, without memory retention. They are the exact size of a regular 9 volt, I just finished charging them in less than an hour and they did not even get the slightest bit warm in the charger. I'll report back on how they perform once I have a chance to test them.

bassninja7 · #10 12-16-2008, 09:21 PM

both.^

awakefie · #11 12-16-2008, 09:38 PM

I had an X2 and loved it. Sold it when times got tight.

It was pre-Line 6. I loved the tone and range. It did eat batteries (about 1 each gig) and the cable was the suck (it crapped out after only a few months).

I'm using a FreePort now. I get fair performance from it but will definitely get another X2 soon. Hopefully the cable issue is fixed.

mrkreuzschlitz · #12 12-16-2008, 09:57 PM

Do rechargable batteries work well with the x2?

GearHeadBassMan · #13 12-16-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkreuzschlitz

Do rechargable batteries work well with the x2?

+1, since i'll hopefully use rechargeable batteries with mine cause 9v are expensive!!!

doctec · #14 12-16-2008, 11:06 PM

I've been using an XDR-95 (the rackmount version) for about a year now on a more-or-less weekly basis with a classic rock band. Prior to buying this system, I'd used an older Nady wireless. I started shopping around for a new system when I did an A/B comparison between the Nady and a wire, and discovered there was a noticeable loss of lows with the Nady.

The X2 is clean as a whistle and solid as a rock. You'll need to make (or buy) a special cable to get the best performance from the rack-mount unit. The 'hi-fi' output is on the 'ring' of the output connector. This is discussed in the manual. The 'tip' signal you get with a normal cable has the highs rolled off somewhat. Also, as others have mentioned, the transmitter burns through batteries rather quickly. I budget one alkaline battery per 4-hour gig and haven't come up short so far. Duracells and Energizers do fine. Recently I bought some (cheap) Ray-O-Vac alkalines and they are marginal. If I turn off the transmitter between sets, I can make it through a 4-hour gig, but just barely. The manual says decent alkalines will run for 5-hours and I think that's probably accurate. Honestly, I figure a battery per gig is a fair price to pay for the quality and convenience of the X2.

Sound quality is excellent with the X2 -- it's a digital system and is entirely different than the Shure/Nady/etc. FM systems out there. The X2 doesn't have any issues with digital TV channel assignments or low-frequency response -- While most older FM systems roll off the low around 40-50 Hz, the X2 is flat down to ~10Hz. No problem with the 'low B' string :-)

Bottom line is that to me, the X2 system is worth every penny of the $500 I spent for it. If you're looking for a bass wireless system, IMO, this is the one to get.

seanm · #15 12-16-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane Carter

I just received today the iPowerUS Li-Polymer 9V 520mAh combo pack with 4 batteries and the charger. Normally rechargables don't perform very well, but from my search on the net, these batteries perform as well or better than alkaline 9V's. They are each supposed to last for 100 charges, charge in as little as an hour, without memory retention. They are the exact size of a regular 9 volt, I just finished charging them in less than an hour and they did not even get the slightest bit warm in the charger. I'll report back on how they perform once I have a chance to test them.

I am interested. I looked into those, but they are so expensive. I don't use the X2 enough to make it worth it. Has anybody tried the pro-cells?

I can get 6 hours from a Duracell, a lot less from a Shoppers Drug Mart branded battery. I only use the wireless on paid gigs and consider the battery a gig expense.

I really wish the pro model had been out. I would love the extended range and the fact that the battery indicator is on the RX side..... I can't see the TX when I am playing.

I had initial noise problems with the X2, but changed the channel and have not had a problem since. I have had dropout problems when 50' or more from the unit with a lot of people between me and the RX.

When I first starting using the X2, I noticed I would reach down to flick the cord out of my way

Shane Carter · #16 12-17-2008, 07:56 AM

I went with the non-rack version for the flexibility I have to use with different bass and guitar amps, depending on the gig. It's great to buy a product that exceeds your expectations, the X2 really delivers.

**NOLA Bass** · #17 12-18-2008, 11:07 AM

Love mine (non rack mount version, pre Line6)!!!! It fits on the pedal board which is amazing for me at least and can be powered up with the pedals, plus not all that low end cut you get with some wireless units in this price range. I think it is a big time winner.

guy n. cognito · #18 12-18-2008, 11:12 AM

I've had one for over a year and gigged with it regularly. No tone suck or volume drop. I've had some line of sight issue, but they are minimal.

Bluesbob · #19 12-18-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesbob

Here's my question:
Can I mount the antennae on the back of the receiver if it's in a (plastic) rack case, or do I have to use the front rack mounts and the extensions. Does line-of-sight apply when I'm right next to the unit? Any info gratefully accepted.

So... ? Can I? I want to use one of the holes in the X2's rack-ear to run out to my amp.

doctec · #20 12-21-2008, 02:28 PM

I'd say you can probably mount them on the back with no problem. The X2 receiver has two internal antennas in addition to the two external ones and scans all of them to find the best signal(s). Given that, you could probably get by with *no* external antennas, although I've never tried that myself. Or you could use one of the front panel holes for cables, as you suggested and put an antenna in the other one.

Worst case, you'd lose some range -- which shouldn't be a problem if you're within 10 feet of the receiver :-) But you won't break anything. Try it and see!