Wireless is the future of every piece of technology we use in our daily and professional lives. That is why the rise in the use of bass guitar wireless systems should not be a surprise to anyone.
Although the wide use of wireless systems in other areas continues to rise, the knowledge of how they work and what they bring to the table is still in its infancy of understanding. Even if you do understand these pieces of musical tech, there are so many options that choosing one can be difficult and time-consuming.
In this guide, we will be getting down to the nitty-gritty of what, how, and why bass guitar wireless systems are such a great tool to add to your arsenal. Plus, we will be dissecting some of the best bass guitar wireless systems currently on the market, in the hopes that we can help you out just a little while you try to make this critical decision. Time to dive in, are you ready?
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Bass Guitar Wireless Systems
- OUR TOP PICK: Shure GLXD16 Digital Guitar Pedal Wireless System
- Line 6 Relay G10 Digital Wireless Guitar System
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Getaria 2.4GHZ Wireless Guitar System
Table of Contents
- How Does a Wireless Guitar System Work?
- Are Wireless Systems Important?
- How Do I Choose a Bass Guitar Wireless System?
- Comparison of the Best Bass Guitar Wireless Systems
- Review of the Best Bass Guitar Wireless Systems
- Pros and Cons of Wireless Systems
- What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Wireless System?
- Conclusion
How Does a Wireless Guitar System Work?
No matter what system you are going wireless with, they all have the same basic functionalities. There is a receiver and a transmitter that will be subsequently hooked up to both your guitar and amp. To be specific, the transmitter is connected to your guitar while the receiver is connected to your amp.
When you have it turned on, any sounds or tones you play with your guitar will be transmitted through FM signals to your amp. Your amp will take those signals and transmit them through your speaker or your pedal chain.
There are two different variations of these systems, which do something a little different with the information gathered and transferred. You have analog, which compresses and decompresses the sounds as it receives and transmits through the system. You also have digital, which doesn’t compress the sound, and that means cleaner, more accurate sound (plus, digital handles bass tones better.)
Are Wireless Systems Important?
There are a lot of reasons why many bassists suggest going with a wireless system. Knowing the benefits that you can take advantage of can help you with your beginning decision of whether to invest or not.
Several of the chief benefits have to do with the lack of a cable that is usually needed to rock out. The first benefit is generally better sound quality. As sound travels down the cable many musicians use, there is a loss of tone or degradation of the sound. Without such a cable, you will be leaving that issue behind, and instead, embracing a higher quality sound.
The second cableless benefit is maneuverability. Without being tied down or plugged in, as it were, you will have free use of the entire room or stage without the worry of multiple tripping hazards. This could improve your stage presence and help your audience enjoy the show more. Not only that, but because of this freedom, you will be able to move about as you do your sound checks and make sure you are adjusted just right for optimal sound.
Lastly, you don’t have to worry about being electrocuted. Though this is not a huge concern, it may ease your mind a bit when you are playing one of those outdoor festivals and it begins to pour.
How Do I Choose a Bass Guitar Wireless System?
When looking at technology, there are a lot of features you could use as a goal post to determine which one will work best for you. With the bass guitar wireless systems we reviewed, we only paid attention to the features below. These four features offer by far the most impact on the overall performance of any wireless system.
Analog/Digital
There are two types, as we mentioned above: analog and digital. Analog is the granddaddy and is not as feature-rich as its digital competition. Though a bit outdated, analog does have its place in the wireless system world, especially if you need to have more channels available to you. If, however, you want reliability with a budget-friendly price tag, then digital is the way to go.
Operating Range
The range of use with wireless systems varies on the model and can be affected by outside factors as well. Things like walls or objects can cause interference in the signal. You will want to look for an operating range that falls in the area you need with just a bit of room to spare. These metrics are typically stated somewhere on the box or in the manual.
Response and Dynamic Range
These are both crucial to sound quality. The response range is the measurement of the range of frequencies your unit can reproduce. A wider frequency range will give you fewer problems with the low end, which is great for a bassist.
Dynamic range is the ratio between the noise floor and where the sound begins to distort out. You will want to look for a unit that has a high dynamic range to keep from having noisy higher volumes.
Battery
There are multiple types of batteries used. You have the one time use standard alkaline/lithium batteries, and then you have the rechargeable variety. Either is good, but you may find that standard batteries offer better and more stable output.
With battery comes life, and paying attention to this can help save you from some embarrassing situations that could arise. Typically, you want to look for a battery life between 4-8 hours.
Comparison of the Best Bass Guitar Wireless Systems
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Review of the Best Bass Guitar Wireless Systems
Now that we have given you a few ideas of what to look at when sifting through our options below, we are ready to get to our choices for the best bass guitar wireless systems.
Best Overall:
Shure GLXD16 Digital Guitar Pedal Wireless System
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers talk about the fantastic total quality and the durability of this unit. The tone and timbre of this wireless system are reported to be excellent, and the battery life is very impressive. Though some dislike the lack of an attached port to the receiver, all in all, this model gets rave reviews.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit stands out to us for a lot of reasons, but the biggest is its versatility. Not only does it have a channel management system, but it gives up to 8 channels to play with.
Who Will Use This Most
This system is great for the bassist that plays small venues. The limited range will not be a problem for this musician. Its durability also makes it a solid choice for musicians who tend to have a more mobile stage presence; this system holds up well against impacts and jostling.
Bottom Line
Shure is a name any musician knows, and with this unit, you get the same quality they deliver with all their other products, as well as some superb features that will enhance your performance.
Runner-up:
Line 6 Relay G10 Digital Wireless Guitar System
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
When you talk to users or read musicians’ reviews that have recently purchased this wireless system, they all say the same thing about it: they love the ease of use and set-up. Plug and play is the way to go. That said, you may have to find a special adapter if you don’t have the right bass, as it is not good with right angle jacks.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The feature that impressed us to no end, and the reason why this unit from Line 6 made it to our list, is the exceptional sound quality. Built with a high-quality 24-bit sound capability, you can not go wrong with this system.
Who Will Use This Most
This system is great for the traveling bassist that plays gigs in poorly lit venues. The bright LED light on the dongle will make it easy to set up and get to playing. It is also recommended for those who hold sound quality to a high standard.
Bottom Line
Optimal sound and a great design make this unit an excellent choice for any bassist. Built to run in 24-bit sound and an easy system to set up, the Line 6 G10 is easily one of the best on the market today.
Best for the Money:
Getaria 2.4GHZ Wireless Guitar System
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Though some may find an issue with distortion at higher volumes, in the end, most recent buyers love this unit's budget-friendly price tag and the features included to elevate its performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
When we looked at this unit from Getaria, all we saw was value. Everything from the versatility of instrument compatibility brought by the adjustable head of the jack, to the almost nonexistent latency. Then when you look at the price tag, you truly know this is the best wireless system for the money.
Who Will Use This Most
This is great for the bassist who switches it up during their set. The versatility of the head will allow you to go from your 4-string to your 5-string without fear of having to reset everything.
Bottom Line
The Getaria offers so much sound quality and is built with such excellence that you would expect a hefty price tag, but such an expectation will be shattered for sure. This unit gives you high-end quality for a wallet-friendly price.
4. Shure PGXD14 Digital Wireless System for Guitar/Bass
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Though most agree that the plastic body leaves something to be desired, when considered with all the features that enhance its performance, most recent customers give this unit a big thumbs up.
Why it Stands Out to Us
When we began researching, the thing that first caught our eye with this model from Shure was the quality of performance regarding active pickups. Then when you add in the excellent range of coverage, we knew for sure that this wireless system had to be on our best-of list.
Who Will Use This Most
This wireless system is great for the beginning bassist. It is easy to use and offers quick, easy channel set up that will leave you more time to practice.
Bottom Line
Once again, we have another unit from Shure, and once again the team over there outdoes themselves. The 24-bit sound quality and decreased dropout will help improve your overall stage performance.
5. Xvive U2 Guitar Wireless System
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This model has a lot of 5-star reviews to its name, and what those reviewers tend to mention most is the build. Players love this easy to use, lightweight system; with its long battery life, you never have to worry about the wireless unit dying in the middle of your performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
When you are slapping that bass, you want to make sure you have full access to those low tones, and with this unit’s wide range of frequencies, you will have just that. The lack of sound quality loss is something that is not always a given, so we loved that this one was true to that.
Who Will Use This Most
This wireless system is great for the bassist that plays in small indoor venues. The decreased interference will allow them to not worry about structures impeding their playing ability. Also, if you are a home player who enjoys playing along to backing tracks or you have a small band, this system should be great for you.
Bottom Line
The Xvive U2 is one wireless system that offers an enhanced level of both durability and functionality, and that means it is simply one of the best available today. It is ideal for just about any bass guitar player, and it is so easy to use that you will be wondering what you did before.
Pros and Cons of Wireless Systems
With all those options and info, you may simply want to know what the advantages and disadvantages of going with a wireless system can bring you. Here’s a quick list of some of those you may want to think about as you make your decision.
Pros
Below are the main pros:
Maneuverability
You need to be able to take the system from one place to another in order for the system to make sense. A wireless system is small, lightweight, and easy to transport.
Better Sound Quality
Using a wireless system is not meant to make your sound worse. Luckily, these little systems pack quite a punch.
Less Equipment
You need less cabling (so no more tripping), and you can move quite freely without having to cart around heaps of equipment when performing.
Battery Powered
No more plugging into electric sockets!
Cons
Below are the main cons:
Interference
When it comes to any wireless system, a major concern is always interference when frequencies cross each other.
Price
Because these systems come with some excellent technology, you will have to pay more. The price is justified depending on how you use the system. If you don’t use it much, though, you may feel that a wireless system is expensive compared to a wired alternative.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Wireless System?
There are a lot of things that you may want to know or consider when looking into a wireless system. Here are a few:
Performance Enhancement
You will want to really think about maintaining or boosting the performance of whatever piece you decide on. Things like line of sight and interference are an issue. You will want to really pay attention to where you intend to play and then choose a range in accordance. Also, it is critical that you always make sure you have extra batteries.
Budget
Budget is something you need to know, going into your research. By knowing how much you are willing to spend, you will be able to whittle your choices down to a manageable few. There is a wide range of price points, and each of those ranges has pros and cons that you may have to decide if you can live with.
Radio Frequency
You will have to choose from UHF or VHF when it comes to radio frequencies if dealing with an analog option. Though these are fine for normal guitars, when dealing with a bass you will want to go with a digital option as they handle the low tones better.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide has helped in your decision-making process, and you feel better able to make the right choice for you and your musical needs. We wish you all the best in your soon-to-be wireless exploits!
