Bob Leonard wrote on Tue, 09 December 2008 22:01 |
OK, I get the message. I have also heard very good thing about the X2 systems, but just like Gene it's tough to break old school habits. Tone is sacred and I won't give it up to a wireless unit. So now that the X2 appears to be the answer other than the obvious that I can see on the web site, what's the real differences between the models. Tone? |
dustin Bradley wrote on Wed, 10 December 2008 15:36 |
AKG has (or used to have) a system called "guitar bug". it was a small transmitter, a little larger than the 1/4" plug itself, that plugged into the guitar and the reciever was about the size of a small foot-pedal that would fit nicely on the pedal board -- very cool and works great! the price is very good also. |
Matt Duncan wrote on Wed, 10 December 2008 16:29 | ||
The lead vocalist in my band had one of those for his acoustic guitar. It was not frequency agile & frequently had problems with interference. It didn't sound anywhere near as good as the cable & IMP2 DI he's using now. I haven't used one on guitar, but, if its anything like the rest of the lineup, the ew172g2 system would be something to look into. |
Bob Leonard wrote on Thu, 11 December 2008 18:05 |
Looks like I'll try the X2. $500 seems to be a good price for anything that won't suck the tone out of my system. |
Ian Auger wrote on Thu, 11 December 2008 22:08 | ||
Hey Bob, if you try out an X2 please post your observations. I’m in the boonies so I can’t easily check one out. (And if it don’t do the chime, it ain’t worth my time.) Ian |
Bob Leonard wrote on Fri, 12 December 2008 00:16 |
On the 19th my band puts on our annual christmas party. We rent a hall, invite the people, provide the food, and have a great time. This year we introduce our new vocalist and if I get hold of an X2 in time I'll use it then. That will be the acid test simply because the room will be full of club owners, musicians, family and friends who will let me know if my tone has gone south. We'll see, but I am being led to believe the X2 can do what I want, and if it can it will be the only wireless unit I have ever tried that has been able to do the job without tone lost. |
Walter Wright wrote on Thu, 25 December 2008 22:00 | ||
so how does this story end? were you able to wrangle one in time? |
Steve Hurt wrote on Mon, 29 December 2008 08:09 |
Hey Bob, I've been looking for a better wireless and have been reading up on the X2 myself. I've read a lot of online reviews on the X2 and a lot of people say things like "it sounds the same as a short cord" which makes me want one. However, I've also read about some issues. The ones I saw mentioned were: 1) Short battery life in the transmitter - 3 hours max 2) In the cheaper model - the one that goes for 299 - people are saying range may be as short as 30-35' even though the specs say 150' 3) A number of people mentioned that the 1/8" plug that plugs into the transmitter does not seat well and can become intermittent. If you could comment on these areas when you try it out, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks! |
Steve Hurt wrote on Mon, 29 December 2008 08:09 |
Hey Bob, I've been looking for a better wireless and have been reading up on the X2 myself. I've read a lot of online reviews on the X2 and a lot of people say things like "it sounds the same as a short cord" which makes me want one. However, I've also read about some issues. The ones I saw mentioned were: 1) Short battery life in the transmitter - 3 hours max 2) In the cheaper model - the one that goes for 299 - people are saying range may be as short as 30-35' even though the specs say 150' 3) A number of people mentioned that the 1/8" plug that plugs into the transmitter does not seat well and can become intermittent. If you could comment on these areas when you try it out, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks! |
Steve Hurt wrote on Mon, 29 December 2008 13:09 |
Hey Bob, I've been looking for a better wireless and have been reading up on the X2 myself. I've read a lot of online reviews on the X2 and a lot of people say things like "it sounds the same as a short cord" which makes me want one. However, I've also read about some issues. The ones I saw mentioned were: 1) Short battery life in the transmitter - 3 hours max 2) In the cheaper model - the one that goes for 299 - people are saying range may be as short as 30-35' even though the specs say 150' 3) A number of people mentioned that the 1/8" plug that plugs into the transmitter does not seat well and can become intermittent. If you could comment on these areas when you try it out, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks! |
David Kaiser wrote on Fri, 02 January 2009 08:51 |
This System sounds like it would be a good candidate for a high capacity 9 volt rechargeable battery. Something like this http://cgi.ebay.com/TWO-325mAh-9-VOLT-9V-9-V-RECHARGEABLE-BA TTERY-Charger_W0QQitemZ110332358003QQihZ001QQcategoryZ50603Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem or this http://cgi.ebay.com/Smart-Parts-Lithium-Ion-9-Volt-Rechargea ble-Battery_W0QQitemZ130278997956QQihZ003QQcategoryZ36285QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |
Quote: |
As to range, at the first practice she wasn't 100% happy with it's sound until she remembered to attach the antennas..... Rolling Eyes It worked, but the response wasn't very clean. I'm not too worried about range on the stages we play. |
Mark Anderson wrote on Fri, 02 January 2009 17:51 |
I was told by X2 that the rechargeables don't work well with the transmitter. I'm getting 4+ hours out of each Duracell procell that I use. Not bad IMO. I'd prefer the rechargables environmentally so let me know how they work for you. The receiver really eats batteries and I use a plug for that. Why they don't make a wireless transmitter with a place to plug in a power cord I'll never know. |
Ted Morgan wrote on Tue, 20 January 2009 16:14 |
Been engineering for a while and have toured with many wireless guitar units and hands down the best sounding/quality unit is the lectrosonics IS400 system. The beltpack is extremely rugged and will hold up to any abuse you send its way. Bang for buck the best system I own. That and it sounds just like a cable, can't beat it... Just my 2 cents. http://www.lectrosonics.com/wireless/400/is400.htm |
Bob Leonard wrote on Tue, 20 January 2009 16:56 | ||
Ted, The IS400 is the only other unit I have found that does not degrade the tone of your instrument. Having used one for a while I can say that I was impressed with the sound and the construction. I'll also note that the IS400 is also a digital system and not compounder dependent. Now that I've said that I'm still not sure I'm willing to pay upwards of $1600 per unit knowing I can have the same performance in a $400 unit and carry 3 spares for use as needed. But all in all, the IS400 IS a great unit. |
Bob Leonard wrote on Tue, 20 January 2009 16:56 |
I'll also note that the IS400 is also a digital system and not compounder dependent. |
Henry Cohen wrote on Tue, 20 January 2009 16:07 | ||
Just to clarify, the Lectro is not really a digital system: The RF and the transmitted audio are completely analog. The audio however goes through a DSP prior to transmission (A/D/A), then again after reception (A/D/A), negating the need for a compander. |
Karl Winkler wrote on Tue, 20 January 2009 18:29 | ||||
Just to add to this, I want to point out that what we are doing is NOT a DSP compandor. Instead, it is a quadrature mirror filter arrangement, and it can only be done in the digital domain. What is transmitter over the air is only the error signal from a predictive algorithm. |
Henry Cohen wrote on Tue, 20 January 2009 17:07 | ||
Just to clarify, the Lectro is not really a digital system: The RF and the transmitted audio are completely analog. The audio however goes through a DSP prior to transmission (A/D/A), then again after reception (A/D/A), negating the need for a compander. |
Ted Morgan wrote on Tue, 20 January 2009 18:34 | ||||||
D*mn Karl, gotta get all technical on him eh? lol The man is just looking for a wireless guitar rig so he can do this... But you are right! |
Bob Leonard wrote on Wed, 21 January 2009 06:47 |
I see he's being held down with a cable. Also, compandor is not spelled compounder, unless you're very old, and the IS400 transmits and receives using smoke and mirrors. |
Karl Winkler wrote on Wed, 21 January 2009 09:47 | ||
I think that's a "stage dive bungee cord" so just when he's about to land in the crowd, he'll rebound and snap back to the stage Oh yeah - the age old debate about the spelling of "compandor". As it turns out, it's an old way to spell it, and was used by some of the companies that manufactured the parts in the 1980s. It's one of two ways to spell it, along with "compander". Last I checked, the latter is used about 90% of the time... we're one of the few holdouts. |
Bob Leonard wrote on Wed, 21 January 2009 23:35 |
Here's a short clip of me jumping when I was about 40 years younger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZaxCXZgKaM |
Ted Morgan wrote on Thu, 22 January 2009 05:51 |
Quote: |
OK - I've used my newfangled rechargeable 9 volt batteries in the transmitter a few times now and they work! However they don't last very long and you might need to change a battery at the end of your 2nd set. I did get one to last a full 3 sets one time. |
Mark Anderson wrote on Sat, 24 January 2009 23:31 | ||
Gene, what exactly are you using? |
Gene Hardage wrote on Sun, 25 January 2009 15:20 |
They are called POWEREX and the package says NiMH 230 mAh... |