I wasn't exactly sure where to post this. It isn't an effect, atleast it's not supposed to be and technically since it is housed in my amplifier rack case it should be in the Amps forum. If I'm incorrect in my assumption, I apologize and say 43 Hail Bootsy's.
Here is a bit of a write up about my experience with the XDR95 wireless instrument system from Line 6 (X2). I recently saw quite a few of these topics asking for recommendations and haven't really seen help to those questions in a proper editorial format.
First off, X2 recently was acquired by Line 6. Which in inspection of my close friends older "X2" XDR95 and my own, there is no difference minus a new graphic on the fancy pants box. So, in essence when Line 6 bought the company it left things alone and as they were, but, they dropped they price dramatically from 500.00 US to 369.99 US. A change that favors the consumer is always a good one in my opinion.
I'll start off with saying that I've owned a Senheiser unit in the past and liked it's basic function, but not it's form. I found myself quickly unplugging it, plugging up with a chord, and back and forth while noticing a pretty large gap in sound, specifically on the low end (40hz). So, I sold it down the river like a heathen never again to be cast in with the swine of wireless users that threatened the basis of bass tone by ripping it's guts out in the sake of not having a leash to their amps. That was atleast 6-7 years ago and let me say that things have changed for better.
As far as sound goes, I've done testing between chord and wireless on my amp while changing nothing else with a hand held DB meter and came up of an average of .3 DB loss of signal in both soft picking, strumming, slap and pop, and finger style. So, I have to take back my chastisement of wireless users so many years ago and say that finally a wireless can not be the excuse to the sucking of my tone. That is a plus for the XDR95. The collapsible antenna are great and fit inside the lid of my rack case without having to remove them. The LED's are bright and accurate and must I again mention that there isn't a loss of tone??
There are minus' to the XDR95. It's plastic. Yes, plastic. Which compared to everything else in my shock proof road case is very out of place. It's probably less than 2lbs fully assembled and is definitely a piece of gear that you would hold with a velvet pillow. It feels sort of cheap with plastic flexing and the rack ears not exactly lining up with the holes in the rails. So now there is about a 10th of an inch that the screw holes in my rack are off of kilter which makes it a pain in the ass to rack anything else unless I find a way to pound it with a feather into submission as not to break it. The antenna are huge and for a reason. You have 300ft. of movement around the device in line of site. I went outside and walked until I had no more room to walk without being in the street without line of site and never had signal breakup. But, you may as well be walking outside testing the system and stop by the store because the XDR95 goes through batteries like I devour Korean BBQ! I put it through it's paces for the better part of an hour and a half and the battery in the belt pack was down below the halfway mark. So I'll be stocking up on batteries.
All of that brings me to the beltpack. Which again, is plastic. Yes, plastic. Most wireless beltpacks are plastic yet it still doesn't feel very sturdy such as my Senheiser setup did. The 1/8"th mini plug does have a screw on sleeve that keeps the chord connected but a better, more sturdy end on the 1/4" side would be better as well. Once again, the LEDs are bright and let you know what channels you are on.
To wrap up the Line 6 X2 XDR95 is a great product that performs it's function without screwing with the performance of the rest of your gear. Though I would like to see it clad in some type of metal casing instead of plastic I can deal with that since it will be well protected in my rack case. Overall, if you're looking to go wireless I would say that the XDR95 will suite you quite well if you're on a budget yet want the quality of your sound to come through.
/fin
Hopes this helps some of you fellers that were looking for some reviews on the X2.
Here is a bit of a write up about my experience with the XDR95 wireless instrument system from Line 6 (X2). I recently saw quite a few of these topics asking for recommendations and haven't really seen help to those questions in a proper editorial format.
First off, X2 recently was acquired by Line 6. Which in inspection of my close friends older "X2" XDR95 and my own, there is no difference minus a new graphic on the fancy pants box. So, in essence when Line 6 bought the company it left things alone and as they were, but, they dropped they price dramatically from 500.00 US to 369.99 US. A change that favors the consumer is always a good one in my opinion.
I'll start off with saying that I've owned a Senheiser unit in the past and liked it's basic function, but not it's form. I found myself quickly unplugging it, plugging up with a chord, and back and forth while noticing a pretty large gap in sound, specifically on the low end (40hz). So, I sold it down the river like a heathen never again to be cast in with the swine of wireless users that threatened the basis of bass tone by ripping it's guts out in the sake of not having a leash to their amps. That was atleast 6-7 years ago and let me say that things have changed for better.
As far as sound goes, I've done testing between chord and wireless on my amp while changing nothing else with a hand held DB meter and came up of an average of .3 DB loss of signal in both soft picking, strumming, slap and pop, and finger style. So, I have to take back my chastisement of wireless users so many years ago and say that finally a wireless can not be the excuse to the sucking of my tone. That is a plus for the XDR95. The collapsible antenna are great and fit inside the lid of my rack case without having to remove them. The LED's are bright and accurate and must I again mention that there isn't a loss of tone??
There are minus' to the XDR95. It's plastic. Yes, plastic. Which compared to everything else in my shock proof road case is very out of place. It's probably less than 2lbs fully assembled and is definitely a piece of gear that you would hold with a velvet pillow. It feels sort of cheap with plastic flexing and the rack ears not exactly lining up with the holes in the rails. So now there is about a 10th of an inch that the screw holes in my rack are off of kilter which makes it a pain in the ass to rack anything else unless I find a way to pound it with a feather into submission as not to break it. The antenna are huge and for a reason. You have 300ft. of movement around the device in line of site. I went outside and walked until I had no more room to walk without being in the street without line of site and never had signal breakup. But, you may as well be walking outside testing the system and stop by the store because the XDR95 goes through batteries like I devour Korean BBQ! I put it through it's paces for the better part of an hour and a half and the battery in the belt pack was down below the halfway mark. So I'll be stocking up on batteries.
All of that brings me to the beltpack. Which again, is plastic. Yes, plastic. Most wireless beltpacks are plastic yet it still doesn't feel very sturdy such as my Senheiser setup did. The 1/8"th mini plug does have a screw on sleeve that keeps the chord connected but a better, more sturdy end on the 1/4" side would be better as well. Once again, the LEDs are bright and let you know what channels you are on.
To wrap up the Line 6 X2 XDR95 is a great product that performs it's function without screwing with the performance of the rest of your gear. Though I would like to see it clad in some type of metal casing instead of plastic I can deal with that since it will be well protected in my rack case. Overall, if you're looking to go wireless I would say that the XDR95 will suite you quite well if you're on a budget yet want the quality of your sound to come through.
/fin
Hopes this helps some of you fellers that were looking for some reviews on the X2.
