XVive U3 - thoughts?

[Baker69]

I recently bought an XVive U3 wireless setup which most will know is an XLR connected wireless unit, I bought mine to connect my pedalboard to our stage-positioned Behringer X32 rack-mounted unit.

First gig was fine, brilliant in fact with no drop-outs or artefacts. Second gig last night during sound check I had signal break-up even though the units were only about 15 feet apart, although the 2 units didn’t have visible line of sight connection as the receiver is fitted into the rear of the unit which was facing away from me, but this is exactly how it was in the last gig.

We only had time to do a very quick sound check and rather than trying to swap to a different channel I decided to quickly connect a long cable instead.

I still have a small amount of time to return the XVive, do you think I should persevere with this or am I always going to struggle with the XVive in the situation I’ve described and would be better getting my money back? It has great reviews but I think in most cases people will have used them with line of sight connection.

 

[Roland GR 88]

These work well enough for most but I wouldn’t use one on a professional gig. They’re ok for small rooms where distance and interference from a room full of digital devices is not an issue.
I see no advantage to wirelessly connect a DI to a mixer when xlr cables are cheap and reliable.

 

[Baker69]

These work well enough for most but I wouldn't use one on a professional gig. They're ok for small rooms where distance and interference from a room full of digital devices is not an issue.
I see no advantage to wirelessly connect a DI to a mixer when xlr cables are cheap and reliable

One advantage is not having to try and lay cables behind a drummer on tight stages who crushes and damages them by treading all over them and trapping/damaging them with his drum stool!

 

[drpepper]

Take this with the grain of salt that comes with my not having experience with the XVive or direct, hands-on with any of the other wireless systems in this range of the market, but if you're returning that set, you might consider taking a swing at the Donner CV-2.

I got these about 6 weeks ago. Because St Patrick's weekend was busy, they've gotten more of a workout in the field than they would have otherwise, including 3 days back to back giving me a chance to check out daily use charging. I'm running 4 sets and using them for vocal mics. As someone who has gone back and forth over time on the value I find in wireless vs wired, I've kind of been feeling the want to reduce cable clutter and decided to give these a shot.

So far, they're performing brilliantly with no hint operationally that we're using anything other than cables (in silence, the noise floor is noticable...any din covers it). The main band's circuit includes small/medium/large (in my def - 400 capacity), dock bars, and events and festival stages and whether we're providing sound, hiring or production is provided, we're using our in-ear rig/splitter. Last night was at an event facility with about 500 in the room and a wedding on one side and some other big event on the other. I'd think that these represent at least somewhat challenging signal traffic scenarios.

I like the appearance (with mics) and the automatic channel selection and pairing. The battery life is supposed to be 8 hours with fast charging, and so far, I have no reason to doubt that. With the exception of yesterday (where there was afternoon setup/sound check), I've been setting them up at sound check and leaving them on until tear down, so they've done ~5 hours powered on without getting a low battery warning...which they should even be approaching anyway.

They supposedly are using some new tech in "channel hopping" and other transmission aspects that are given the credit for how well they work...all I can say, again without direct comparison to similar products, is that so far, they do work as advertised.

I have some minor gripes about the documentation not matching the actual charging behavior and conflicting on how many sets can be used (some places say 6 and some 8). I assume there was a firmware change after the copy was written...I have a charging routine that works and as of now I have 4 sets, so my gripes aren't in the forefront.

 

[Baker69]

Take this with the grain of salt that comes with my not having experience with the XVive or direct, hands-on with any of the other wireless systems in this range of the market, but if you're returning that set, you might consider taking a swing at the Donner CV-2.

I got these about 6 weeks ago. Because St Patrick's weekend was busy, they've gotten more of a workout in the field than they would have otherwise, including 3 days back to back giving me a chance to check out daily use charging. I'm running 4 sets and using them for vocal mics. As someone who has gone back and forth over time on the value I find in wireless vs wired, I've kind of been feeling the want to reduce cable clutter and decided to give these a shot.

So far, they're performing brilliantly with no hint operationally that we're using anything other than cables (in silence, the noise floor is noticable...any din covers it). The main band's circuit includes small/medium/large (in my def - 400 capacity), dock bars, and events and festival stages and whether we're providing sound, hiring or production is provided, we're using our in-ear rig/splitter. Last night was at an event facility with about 500 in the room and a wedding on one side and some other big event on the other. I'd think that these represent at least somewhat challenging signal traffic scenarios.

I like the appearance (with mics) and the automatic channel selection and pairing. The battery life is supposed to be 8 hours with fast charging, and so far, I have no reason to doubt that. With the exception of yesterday (where there was afternoon setup/sound check), I've been setting them up at sound check and leaving them on until tear down, so they've done ~5 hours powered on without getting a low battery warning...which they should even be approaching anyway.

They supposedly are using some new tech in "channel hopping" and other transmission aspects that are given the credit for how well they work...all I can say, again without direct comparison to similar products, is that so far, they do work as advertised.

I have some minor gripes about the documentation not matching the actual charging behavior and conflicting on how many sets can be used (some places say 6 and some 8). I assume there was a firmware change after the copy was written...I have a charging routine that works and as of now I have 4 sets, so my gripes aren't in the forefront.

Apart from the 8 hour battery capacity the specification seems to be pretty much the same as the Lekato, Joyo and XVive equivalents. I'm going to hang on to my Lekato WS-1's as I bought them quite cheap used, I think I'm sending back the XVive U3's though as I can't afford to use anything that's potentially going to create issues on a gig by gig basis.

 

[drpepper]

I certainly wouldn't press in either direction, but I would say that specs that "seem to be pretty much the same" aren't necessarily the end of the story between two given items

 

[tshapiro]

I use a lot of XVive units as my band has been running them for our in ears for 3 years, and we occasionally use their wireless XLR set as well. A couple of things to keep in mind, the WiFi channels are limited, so, you will occasionally run into inference so a sound check is important so you can try an alternative channel if needed. Offer a change in channel will resolve the issue. That being said, we limit the wireless WiFi items to those that are critical to be wireless to keep the WiFi ecosystem as clear as possible. If it were me, for the use you describe, I would be running a cable. But, if you’re set on it being wireless, the XVive brand has been solid for us.

 

[s0c9]

I will add - since it hasn’t been mentioned - is that the U3 runs on the 2.4G band which is EXTREMELY cluttered in most venues and IIRC, only lets you choose between 4 channels.
The dropouts the OP experienced were probably NOT related to the U3 but to the working environment.
It’s a common problem with devices that are on the 2.4G band.
While these units are pretty much plug-n-play, it’s important to remember that they are wireless, run on the busy 2.4G band and need channel babysitting at each venue, as one might be great, the next being full of interference.

Again, it’s [usually] the frequency range, NOT the unit.
It’s why all my wireless stuff is (Sennheiser) in the 450-608 MHz band - at least until the FCC sells that off and I have to move into the 5.8, 900 or ISM bands.

 

[evs]

XVive do now have 5.8 wireless systems available.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

XVive do now have 5.8 wireless systems available.

At best that is if any a short term solution, 5.8 would put it into the area of channels 157, 161 & 165 in the 5g WIFI band.

Couple years ago a band was using some of the XVive wireless pieces and when they fired them up I started dropping my WIFI connection
and they were having issues with their connectivity.
I changed my router to a lower channel and all the issues cleared up, I resisted telling them to buy real wireless equipment.

 

[Baker69]

XVive do now have 5.8 wireless systems available.

Yes, I think they’re called U35?

 

[Baker69]

I did return the U3’s I bought for a full refund without issue.

If I do go down that route again I’ll go for the Xvive U35 5.8ghz variant. I’ve never had any issues with my Lekato MW-1’s which are also 5.8ghz units but they don’t have the Line/Mic switch like the Xvive’s have.

I’ve read reviews by some guys who use their U3’s for wireless mixer to speaker use quite successfully, however when I contacted Xvive’s Technical Support they said the U3 should be used for microphones only.

 

[s0c9]

I did return the U3’s I bought for a full refund without issue.

If I do go down that route again I’ll go for the Xvive U35 5.8ghz variant. I’ve never had any issues with my Lekato MW-1’s which are also 5.8ghz units but they don’t have the Line/Mic switch like the Xvive’s have.

I’ve read reviews by some guys who use their U3’s for wireless mixer to speaker use quite successfully, however when I contacted Xvive’s Technical Support they said the U3 should be used for microphones only.

Probably doesn't "officially" support the whole 20 Hz -> 20 Khz that some systems do and tuned for voice? idk.

 

[Baker69]

Probably doesn't "officially" support the whole 20 Hz -> 20 Khz that some systems do and tuned for voice? idk.

According to the specs it does.

I don’t think any of them are “tuned” for vocals, the switch on the U3 & U35 makes a 10db cut on the Line Level signal setting.

 

[s0c9]

According to the specs it does.

I don’t think any of them are “tuned” for vocals, the switch on the U3 & U35 makes a 10db cut on the Line Level signal setting.

I (well, small soundco I freelance for) did try the U3's going from mixer to satellite speakers (delayed signal) last year for a OUTDOOR college bowl game pre-game campus Party (at SMU to be precise) and the results were not good. Intermittent signal, dropouts, etc. once people showed up. Worked fine during setup + soundcheck.
It WAS a VERY crowded, but we "assumed" that range + people and their many phones was the issue.

 

[Baker69]

I (well, small soundco I freelance for) did try the U3's going from mixer to satellite speakers (delayed signal) last year for a OUTDOOR college bowl game pre-game campus Party (at SMU to be precise) and the results were not good. Intermittent signal, dropouts, etc. once people showed up. Worked fine during setup + soundcheck.
It WAS a VERY crowded, but we "assumed" that range + people and their many phones was the issue.

That is the issue really with 2.4ghz items in busy environments. The U35 should be a better option on 5.8ghz.