Wireless systems

[Joey Joe Joe]

Originally posted by Jon Hiller I would think it would sound fine for bass, I've seen them used for guitar and they sounded good. HERE is a link to the official Samson technical spec sheet on this product in .pdf format.

 

 

It looks like it has the same frequency response as the Samson Airline Bass wireless unit.

 

I like the look of the Airline system because of the small transmitter, and the receiver would fit perfectly on my pedalboard. The Synth 32 however, would fit nicely in my rack. Too many decisions!!

 

Would you recommend one of these units over the other?

[lowkey]

Well, not sure about the truth in "a decent unit has to be costly". What about the Shure Vocal Artist Wireless Diversity System with SM58? I read a lot of good reviews about it and it's price is about 250,- USD. Any opinions on that? Maybe it's just a decent set for beginners?

[madjack]

I personally have been using two Samson Airline units for several years now, since they first hit the market. I have had very few problems. One is a channel 6 and the other is a channel 5. If I get the channel 5 transmitter too close to the channel 6 receiver it begins to intermittently break squelch; with at least 2' of separation there is no problem. The only other problem is the channel 6 which I use for my acoustics. One acoustic is a Takamine with active electronics, the other is a Yamaha with a Duncan woodie pup. I have to engage the 15db pad for the Takamine to sound right and disengage for the Yamaha to sound right, which means changing the input sensitivity on the receiver for each guitar. By doing that, though, both guitars sound very good through it.
Personally, if the units are set up and adjusted correctly, I can't hear any difference between the wireless and a cable.
Battery life for both transmitters is approx. 14 hours on a AAA battery, and has consistenly stayed there. Also, when the little red led on the transmitter lights showing a dying battery, it has enough left to play for at least another 30-45 minutes, which leaves plenty of time to change the battery without interrupting the show.
I am a very satisfied customer of these units.

[Joey Joe Joe]

Thanks for the review Madjack, very helpful!

I'll be checking out the Airline Bass and Synth 32 units today, maybe I'll be coming home with one! I'll keep y'all posted!

[Joey Joe Joe]

Here's my review of the Airline Bass wireless from Samson:

So I got to try out the wireless with the band tonight at practice. It's easy enough to setup, it just sits on your pedalboard, you turn everything on, adjust your levels and away you go. I wandered all through the house, up 2 stories, into all the rooms, never had any signal dropout. The receiver is solid, seems like it could withstand lots of gigging as long as you don't step on the antennae. The transmitter, although tiny and made of plastic, is surprisingly sturdy. I think as long as you took care of it, it should last. On the surface, looks like quality stuff.

I'm using an Ibanez BTB 5-string, with active electronics. I guess the output on this thing is pretty hot, I had to engage the -15db pad on the transmitter so that the receiver wasn't peaking. It takes some tinkering to get the levels adjusted between your bass, wireless and amp... I had to tweak everything to find my normal practice level.

With everything running, my tone was gone. I tweaked everything to get it back, but everything in the lower register was compressed. The wireless cuts out at 50hz, so everything on the B and some notes on the E string were compressed and seemed very lacking in life. We tune down a 1/2 step as well, so that doesn't help any. Those bottom notes were missing their thickness that I'm used to, and it was really bothering me. I tried tweaking my EQ, but you can't really boost what isn't there, nothing sounded right. I tried my 4 string which I keep in standard tuning, and it sounded much better. Unfortunately, I never use that bass, so I don't think this wireless unit is for me.

So, if you're using a 4 string in standard tuning, I think this is a great unit, especially for the price. If you like using a low B string, then I think you're out of luck here. I think I'll be returning this and saving my money.

[crisis]

Originally posted by Joey Joe Joe Here's my review of the Airline Bass wireless from Samson: So I got to try out the wireless with the band tonight at practice. It's easy enough to setup, it just sits on your pedalboard, you turn everything on, adjust your levels and away you go. I wandered all through the house, up 2 stories, into all the rooms, never had any signal dropout. The receiver is solid, seems like it could withstand lots of gigging as long as you don't step on the antennae. The transmitter, although tiny and made of plastic, is surprisingly sturdy. I think as long as you took care of it, it should last. On the surface, looks like quality stuff. I'm using an Ibanez BTB 5-string, with active electronics. I guess the output on this thing is pretty hot, I had to engage the -15db pad on the transmitter so that the receiver wasn't peaking. It takes some tinkering to get the levels adjusted between your bass, wireless and amp... I had to tweak everything to find my normal practice level. With everything running, my tone was gone. I tweaked everything to get it back, but everything in the lower register was compressed. The wireless cuts out at 50hz, so everything on the B and some notes on the E string were compressed and seemed very lacking in life. We tune down a 1/2 step as well, so that doesn't help any. Those bottom notes were missing their thickness that I'm used to, and it was really bothering me. I tried tweaking my EQ, but you can't really boost what isn't there, nothing sounded right. I tried my 4 string which I keep in standard tuning, and it sounded much better. Unfortunately, I never use that bass, so I don't think this wireless unit is for me. So, if you're using a 4 string in standard tuning, I think this is a great unit, especially for the price. If you like using a low B string, then I think you're out of luck here. I think I'll be returning this and saving my money.

 

 

Yep, You need to check the bandwidth for bass applications. My mate found a Nady UHF 3 which covers bass.

[Joey Joe Joe]

Originally posted by crisis Yep, You need to check the bandwidth for bass applications. My mate found a Nady UHF 3 which covers bass.

 

 

Looking at the Nady specs, it goes down to 30Hz, which would be pretty good for a 5 string. The Samson goes down to 50Hz, so I knew it was doomed from the start. I just thought I'd give it a try and see if I liked wireless that much. The store I bought it from has a 30 day money back deal, so no harm is done to my wallet.

 

I'll see if I can find the Nady unit anywhere... any idea on the price for one?

[crisis]

Originally posted by Joey Joe Joe Looking at the Nady specs, it goes down to 30Hz, which would be pretty good for a 5 string. The Samson goes down to 50Hz, so I knew it was doomed from the start. I just thought I'd give it a try and see if I liked wireless that much. The store I bought it from has a 30 day money back deal, so no harm is done to my wallet. I'll see if I can find the Nady unit anywhere... any idea on the price for one?

Im in Australia where everything is twice the price. It was not at the expensive end of the market though.

[Sordid1]

I'm sorry but there are some really elitist opinions on here that have little basis in reality. I have an AKG guitar bug which was like $250 for the single diversity UHF unit and I have no issues whatsoever and if you can tell a difference between it and a cable you have better ears than anyone i know that has heard it. There are some crap units out there in the same price range but my AKG is flawless.

[Matter-Eater Lad]

Here's my take on wireless:

MUST BE DIGITAL (20 bit minimum)

since the X-Wire is no longer made, this looks to be the only digital wireless out there right now, and 24 bit:

http://www.lectrosonics.com/wireless/400/is400.htm

[Joey Joe Joe]

Originally posted by Matter-Eater Lad Here's my take on wireless: MUST BE DIGITAL (20 bit minimum) since the X-Wire is no longer made, this looks to be the only digital wireless out there right now, and 24 bit: http://www.lectrosonics.com/wireless/400/is400.htm

 

 

How much do these digital systems go for?

[Matter-Eater Lad]

I think used, if you can find them, the X-Wires around $800. The Lectrosonics MSRP is $1200, so - what? $1000 or thereabouts?

[fastplant]

The only wireless I've used that doesn't affect tone is a Shure one that I don't think they make anymore. But it was around $450.

[JacieFB]

I've rarely had cable issues on stage to need a wireless, but I need one for my practice room/office. I can't move in there without a damned cable coiling itself around a chair leg or stool post. I've done more damage to my equipment that way than in years of gigging.

[fastplant]

Originally posted by JacieFB I've rarely had cable issues on stage to need a wireless, but I need one for my practice room/office. I can't move in there without a damned cable coiling itself around a chair leg or stool post. I've done more damage to my equipment that way than in years of gigging.

 

 

The reason I use one is because a lot of the stages we play on are pretty big. And I like to move around alot. A 20' chord just won't cut it.

[Bajazz]

Originally posted by Sordid1 I'm sorry but there are some really elitist opinions on here that have little basis in reality. I have an AKG guitar bug which was like $250 for the single diversity UHF unit and I have no issues whatsoever and if you can tell a difference between it and a cable you have better ears than anyone i know that has heard it. There are some crap units out there in the same price range but my AKG is flawless.

I used to think so too. I had a AKG Guitarbug and was real happy for months. Then I bought a Sure Wireless (Shure Guitarist) beltpack and a headset mic. For some reason I tested the Sure system on my guitar and could immidiately hear a difference (acoustic guitar with real good mic) So I sold the AKG and bought another Sure unit. The AKG was nice, but had a bit more colored sound + it had some buzzing once in a while.

 

Now, the Sure also had some flaws (dropouts, plastic beltpacks, very simple), and I now have bought a Sabine SWM 7000 This operates in the 2.4 GHz band (worldwide legal, it also taks both 110 and 230 volts)) has builtin compressor, de-esser and feedback killer. I'll post a report on live sound forum when I've gigged with this system.

[JacieFB]

Originally posted by fastplant The reason I use one is because a lot of the stages we play on are pretty big. And I like to move around alot. A 20' chord just won't cut it.

 

 

I used to have one, actually. It was cheap and crappy, so I got rid of it. The stages I played on then were pretty small, anyway, so it didn't make much sense. I play on a variety of stages now, so it could be cool, I guess. But the sales guy told me that I'd need to spend upwards of $3000 (back then, 1999-2000) before you really got something that didn't cut tone. I just thought...ahh...not worth it. That's just one more thing to go wrong on stage. So I kinda forgot about it. I supposed you can get that $3000 model for a bit cheaper now, eh?