Glad you guys are enjoying the video and finding it useful 🤘I did just upload a new video about a $50-$60 wireless that does NOT transmit on 2.4ghz or 5.8ghz. It's pretty cool, and you can watch that video here: th-cam.com/video/DSqdd--06hQ/w-d-xo.html
I really think I’d use this for a live show. Unnoticeable tone quality drop out, has never dropped the signal, never runs outta juice if you play up to 4.5 hours. Not sure how much longer it will go!
@@Arcturian1111 would you spend $1200 on a MacBook Pro? How bout an iPhone 12 Max Pro? The myth of cheap chinese goods is over. The quality is as good as anything made in Detroit these days.
Hey Scott, thanks for all the info. So I have the $40 Getaria and it worked fine but the in about a year and not using them very many times at all, the batteries died and wouldn’t hold a charge anymore. They didn’t come with a charger, only the duel USB cable so maybe I used an inappropriate charger and shortened the battery life. I did accidentally leave them on charge overnight once so maybe that’s what ruined the batteries. I only play at home so if they cut out every now and then it’s not a big deal. Any thoughts on over charging? Also which one for home use only? By the way I split one open and got the number off the battery and found it online but it seemed more trouble than it was worth so I’m ready to buy another one. I also have a set that takes AAA batteries that works fine but I want another rechargeable set. Thanks again!
I don’t know how to replace the batteries on this, but other people claim to know how. But getting a wireless to work for over a year for $40 is a great deal. It really is. And I charge mine overnight all the time and have never had a problem with that, so I don’t think that would be an issue. As for what is the best one to just play around the house with, I would definitely say the cheapest one 😁
I used the Xvive for years in cover and original bands on bass and guitar and I never had any issues. My bandmates used them too and we never had any issues.
Only two I’ve had over last 4 yrs are Nuix and Xvive. I recommend Xvive. I will never use Nuix again unless it’s free. The casing broke for no reason on both Nuix I had… it’s more cheaply made to me. You need 3 good units if you are playing gigs, so that you have at least 2 if one goes out on you. I have 2 pair of Xvive, and am considering buying a 3rd because I would hate to be stuck without a backup.
Great review. You are spot on about the psychoacoustics and how our brains interpret comparative audio. I’ve been an audio engineer since the 1980s and this was one of the things driven into me in my college courses. And I’m a firm believer in “if it sounds good, it is good”.
There's a bit of a problem with this though. The issue isn't how comparing both might make you pick the one that has your preference in that very moment (a very subjective thing), instead of which has the best sound (objectively). The issue is recognizing _why_ something is different. Some older people can't hear the higher frequency ranges as well as younger people can. So in general, an older audience might actually prefer a sharper higher frequency heavy tone, over something more balanced not even realizing it's a bit out of whack. But... the more balanced sound is probably the 'best' quality more objectively seen. Our brain also can quite quickly get used to a certain sound and won't hate it for long lol. Last but not least, anything that goes from analogue to digital and ends up thin in sound, probably _always_ is a worse quality sound. It's just factually true, as it directly reflects lower bitrate and lower resolution audio. Same goes for the old 16-bit 14.1kHz CD quality that's simply never going to be superior to audio with a much larger overall range, and higher bitrate depth (assuming it got recorded in that higher quality). From a practical point of view one instrument is only one piece within an entire composition of music. But... I'd still pick the highest quality signal whenever you can. Long story short, it might take a bit of a trained ear to really figure out which one sounds best overall. It's like comparing fine wine and feeling like everything tastes the same. It probably doesn't all taste the same.
@@PHeMoX I agree. And I’m one of those older guys where above 16k is gone now. So if something is messed up in that range I’ll never know. One thing though is that most of the tone high end overtones come at the amp stage and get added after the wireless stage. I find I can compensate for the tone difference at the amp input pretty close.
I have the Getaria. It's really nice that they're different colors, makes it super easy to keep track of which is which. I am actually going to order a second set so that I always have a pair charged and ready to go.
I second this comment, and I'll add that I've used mine frequently for almost 2 years without a single dropout ever (unless I break line-of-sight by wandering around a corner). Mine is the Getaria 5.8ghz that I got on Amazon Prime Day for about $40, range over 100 feet.
I also have a Getaria GWS-8.... sad to say the cheap power switch on the receiver failed on mine.... I'm looking for another brand to replace the receiver but also can be used with the Getaria transmitter... anyone know?
In my opinion, the best option for a plug and play wireless system for guitar is the get one which is a UHF system. Because it's analog, you get zero latency. Unfortunately ALL digital systems have a slight latency, which might not be noticeable on its own, but adds up if you're plugging into an interface and using guitar amp VST on your computer, or if you're using a digital mixer (all of which add further latency. I'd recommend a UHF plug and play system such as the A8 original sound transmitter & receiver, or the Phenyx Pro PTG-12.
I definitely do like the Phenyx Pro for sure! I did a video on the 11. And you are correct that there will be latency, but when I plug into my HX stomp which is my normal rig, I do not notice any latency. Same with direct or into my Apollo interface. However.... when I plug into my iPad for looping you are correct that I do notice if. Because the iPad has latency, and then it’s compounded with the latency of digital. So it’s unnoticeable by itself, but if you add multiple latency together, it becomes noticeable.
Yeah, the analog stuff sucks for bass though. I've used several of various brands and the analogs just lose all the low end. Don't notice that with the digitals
Great video! Thanks for posting. For what it's worth, I've been using the Xvive U2 for 3+ years in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues and it's never cut out. I get 3-4 hours of battery life consistently. I recommend it as a budget alternative to the more expensive Shure systems.
My Transmitter battery is starting to die in my Xvive sadly...It's been a few years, but man...getting just the transmitter is 125 bucks Canadian, but if you buy the set, it's 199. :\ China can suck it.
I have been using the Getaria 5.8ghz with the 4 channel selector consistently (16-20hrs a week) for about a year now and have had zero issues yet. Seriously great value especially as you can get the 5.8ghz for under $50 when they are on sale. I only paid $40 for mine and seriously regret not buying a second set when the sale was still going on. I believe a new set of the latest 5.8ghz model with the 4 channel selector are going for $55 USD as of this comment.
@@ScottUhlMusic . I was able to get it on sale for $169.00. Yes, it’s rather expensive compared to the $40 and $60 ones, but it’s built like a tank and I really like the features on it. Nice review btw👍🏼
The BOSS WL-20 and WL-50 are fantastic and they are interchangeable. You can recharge them together or each piece separately. LED indicators are simple to understand. They are tough. I have physically dropped them several times with no worries. All those others with a moving hinge would not survive. The audio difference from a quality cable is imperceptible. They are not dorky looking like the others. They look smaller in size. They "feel" solid and sturdy. The "nub" is an on/off switch. You can depress it manually to get LED indication of battery life. Here is an undocumented tip: The receivers "remember" the last transmitter that was plugged into it. So, if you only have one transmitter, you don't need to "join" it to the receiver every time you are going to use it (even though it is not stated in the manual/user guide), just once. It's really stupid simple. I bought an open box WL-20 for $150. It is just like a guitar cable that has 2 chunky ends and the wire is invisible. When I realized how beneficial it would be to have a permanent receiver mounted to my pedalboard, I bought a WL-50 ($130 used). The transmitters are interchangeable with both different receivers. I also realized that the WL-50 receiver is powered directly to 9 Volts. It won't wear out like a batteried receiver will eventually. Brand new transmitters cost $90. So, if you have the WL-50, you would only ever need to replace a single transmitter if ever the rechargeable batteries inside it eventually fail. That's just $90.
I have both the Xvive and the Getaria... Have done many, many shows with the Xvive. Never 1 single hiccup. The Getaria I would never, ever do a show with.( I should say 'MY' Getaria because obviously some work well, some don't) . It will drop connection constantly. Plus it lasts 1.5-2 hours at the most. I still use it all the time for practice and it was a good 30$ spent. Good info here. Thanks!
So strange because my XVive just never works anymore. But like I mention in the video, my friend gets it to work at every single show. That's part of what you get when you buy cheap! They go for quantity over quality, so always test it out right away. Thanks for the comment!
What you said about A/B comparisons is so true in so many different products. Often people are convinced to buy something more expensive over something cheaper and usable, because of the direct comparison. In reality, like you mentioned, unless you have those two same products and are using them both at the same time you're not even going to notice the difference. To quote JHS, if it sounds good, it is good.
I've got 2 sets of the xvive, one silver, one black, while on stage one set on charge to swap between sets, never had a problem, no tone or volume loss, bought them when they first came out, maybe they made them better at first...
I got them right when they came out and it worked about 85-90% of the time at first, but now it hardly ever works. It’s definitely the one I have the most trouble with. But my friend uses it all the time and has no problems except at one venue. Very strange
I use the xvive for about 3-4 years now... never failed... never had problems... sounds great in my setup... very reliable system imo... if the battery dies one day (and if i'm not able to solder in a new one) i'll buy it again... sorry for my bad english :) I should say that my band uses 3 of those xvive units and none of them failed once... maybe just luck
Just to add some spice to the goulash - did you know that, if you plug the transmitter into the 'Line Out' on your amp (I use a Fishman LoudBox Artist), you can plug the receiver into another amp - up to 50 or 100 feet away - and drench your room in sound without having a hotspot in one place and quiet/dead spots elsewhere. It's an awesome way to play!
I almost never successfully used Boss WL20 in live show without any problem....I encountered countless time of audio dropout issue even tried matching channel many times but still not work as expected. and finally I realize probably the best way to solve this problem is get a cheap transmitter which works on uhf freq and it worked!
Scott, great video, as usual... you are very thorough and on point. I have the Boss, Xvive, and Ammoon and have had issues with all at different times. What I like about the Boss, that I use with my Katana Air and Waza, is that I can leave it connected to the guitar, and it goes to sleep (due to a motion sensor) when I am not using the guitar, and then I can wake it up (and the Amp), and just start playing!
Thanks for the product reviews. You were right, I thought the corded demo was "dark". Actually , I wish you would have started with the cord so we could hear how the wireless units "altered" the sound. I liked 1,3 and 5. Based on your recommendation from the other video I went shopping for the ammoons, but neither were available at amazon. I had already bought the U12U and it's being returned tomorrow as the getaria 5.8 will be arriving the day after. It took off way too much high end for me to consider using it. I will be using two identical JTV 89fs. One with VDI cord and the other one wireless. Having two identical guitars made it easy to compare and realize right away that it sounded like the tone control was rolled off.
I've been using the getaria ones for about a year just around the house and it works great. Can jam all they way to the fridge for another beer and never miss a beat.
I have two different Lekato sets and they're superb, especially for the money. I did a cable test when I first got them and couldn't hear any loss at all but same as your findings they are slightly brighter, had them 2 years and still get 5 hours plus battery life.
Cables - coaxial guitar cables - have a certain amount of capacitance which will tend to 'filter out' or attenuate the higher frequencies. That is why the cable sounded 'darker'.
i have - Getaria and i never had a problem with even when i put though harmonizer pedal no lag in my vocal i still use my nady 200 foot rang good old stuff back in 80s that was the best you can buy
FWIW, I use the XVive U2. Got the first set (in silver) when they first came out. Later I got a second set (in black) and an extra transmitter. The only issue I ever had was the blue light on the first receiver unit stopped working, although it still received the signal fine. So I got another set in silver. So now I have 2 sets to take to the gig, one with 2 transmitters, and one with 3, because I often run multiple guitars. The receiver with the inop blue light lives in my practice amp at home where I don't need the light to tell if it is receiving.
The tone test takes me back - great idea to compare a cable ! The digital sound of CD players when they came out was often considered harsh in comparison with vinyl. You had to pick the CD sound you liked best. It's all a consequence of digitising an analogue signal - unless you go high end. In the tone test you get the brighter / harsher digital sound compared with the analogue cable sound. Since we want to lose the cable - as per the advice, choose the wireless kit with the sound you like. I am a Boss fan - so the WL20L (for active pickups) might do it.
I’m glad you liked it. However, since this video I have decided NOT to compare to cables. I think we spend too much time a/b comparing with headphones on, and instead we should just focus on if it’s useable. Not “oh, the 1k is a little brighter.” That’s just me personally. Thanks for the comment!
I get what you're saying Slackster56, however a CD does objectively sound much worse than a vinyl that plays back at the correct speed on a high end record player with an LP that is not warped or too worn down. It's not even a debate, even when a CD has a more reliable playback (for around 10 or so years, after that, it can actually start to fail. An LP mostly depends on how often it was played back.).
@@PHeMoX what BS lol. There is no such thing as "objectively sounds better". It's completely subjective. People have been saying that "CDs degrade" for years and years. I have CDs that are 20 years old or more, and not once has one failed. And even then, I have them ripped on my computer. However, I do have many vinyls that skip. I'm not saying one is better than the other. I'm just saying you're not correct.
I bought a Xvive system - because I could. I already use a Shure GLX D guitar system, had it for years and it has never failed, always rock solid. But - I also really like TC Electronic pedals, though I'm not a effects-heavy player, less is more in my book. The TC Electronic 'TonePrint' system simply does not work through the radio. If you are not familiar with tone print, it's a system where you hold your phone near your pickups and a patch gets sent to your pedals. This allows for far more parameter changes that with just the knobs on the pedal. It's a good system if you like that sort of thing. I haven't tried it with the Xvive, but I am willing to bet that tone print won't work with those either.
I bought an XVive a few years back. Used it in my home studio, practice outside of house, church (100’+). Never had a problem. It has worked 100% of the time. This brings up the question of environmental factors. What’s good for me may be the pits for someone else because he lives next to an electric substation or there is quite a bit of commercial travel on the lines. It’s a "crap shoot". Don’t buy something that is influenced by the environment just because I said it works at my house. You may like some features one has to offer but the bottom line is does it work in your area or environment and that you don’t know until you get it, plug it in and use it. Give it a good workout. Play at your house or studio, friend’s house nearby and across town, band rehearsal area, whatever area you can think of to give it the opportunity to perform in places where electricity and frequencies are varied. Good luck. 😷🤘
Exactly... environment is different everywhere. Xvive gives me nothing but problems about 50% of the time. Also, I literally played with another guitar player who used the Xvive. Same stage... same time... his worked and mine didn’t. Even with his off mine didn’t work. This is why I recommend for $100 ($50 off of the Xvive) to get 2 different wireless. One on 2.4 and one on 5.8 👍
And also... keep in mind that a $40-$150 wireless system is NOT never going to fail you. Realize it’s still a great product for the price point... but it’s not perfect
I've been using xvive with an active bass for a while now, never had any problems with it. Only one occasion I started to get a little humming out of nowhere, but changing the frequency completely solved it. It's quite strange for me that others experience so much trouble with it.
To me, I would say “did any of those other ones sound bad?” Or were they still useable? IMO they all sounded completely fine and useable. Cable was warmer for sure, but to me they all sound great
Something else you didn't mention about the cables is that they darken per foot. This is something that I discovered years ago by accident while I was testing and designing a solid core guitar cable that was very high-end for an audio company. When we played it against a 10-ft guitar cable the guitar cable was darker. When we played it against a 25-ft guitar
I pick BOSS. (1) battery life is IMMENSE and I don't experience any noteworthy degradation after 1.5 years of use and weekly recharging. (2) In those 1.5 years, it never cut out. (3) It sounds very close to the cable. I even guessed 4 and 5 correctly as cable and BOSS. Just like the cable's resistance darkens the tone a little bit (and we got used to that), the BOSS does something similar. The others sound too hi-fi for what I play. If you want your tone to be closer to a ~10ft cable and something REALLY reliable, take the BOSS. :)
I've tried a lot of these too and the best one for me was the Boss, its more reliable signal and dosnet interfere with other wireless like the wireless mic, the Boss battery built in lasts for a good few hours before a recharge is needed. The Boss is also more robust compared to the others. I still have the number one ones but I dont use them much only for back up.
The boss is definitely the best one on 2.4ghz for sure! No question, because it’s very well built and it scans for the best frequency. But I still think the price point is a little high for something on 2.4ghz. Just my personal opinion
I really appreciate that you eliminated tone bias. Gave me a whole new perspective on economising my search for "my" tone. Personally, I preferred the Getaria and Boss over the rest only because the added brightness now compliments the limitations in tone that my guitar, pedals, amp, and cabinet have to offer. I'd go even further to say that it depends on other tonal characteristics like your genre, PA preamps, what environments you play the most in. I play in a modern worship band and my usual setup is a cabronita tele and an orange terror (with other pedals ofc), so I like the darker warmth from the amp but I reckon I would be able to sit better in the mix if I had a brighter tone going through. I know most of us love to geek out on the best gear for tone out there (just as I do for hours on end), but the truth is that we don't realistically have the budget for all of what we want and just get disappointed when what we own lacks the expectation. But hey, as they all say "there's no right or wrong when it comes to music" right? haha
You got it so appreciably informative, as a lot o’ work you’ve obviously put into this, that everyone can easily agree and give your review two thumbs up!
i use the cheap Getaria off amazon, and it works good. i used both active and passive, and no issues. fits my Vs, bass, and regular shaped guitars. for real the cheap one has been great to me.
You're sense on the tone debate is extremely helpful dude. I'd find myself dialing and adjusting my tone all the time and being so damn tangled and confused as to what's good or bad. Then I realize after my ears adjust that anything I dial is the best thing ever. I lose practice but at least I learn about tone XD.
Got the Boss about a year ago. I love it. I'm a bassist, a 1980 BC Rich Eagle Deluxe. No cables to get tangled in, less clutter and sounds great. I'll never go back. When the Boss dies, I'm going to just get another.
I use the Xvive $150 and Lekato $40 at church with no problems, always have cables ready just in case. With either system I can walk the church 65-70 feet no problem. The $40 Lekato I use it on active and passive bass and the $150 Xvive on guitar. Take this for what is worth. Another piece of info if interested, we use three different wireless mics and wireless translation system all at the same time with no problems also three guitarists all use the Xvive at the same time. It all works fine! I love no cables to step on or trip over.
My Xvive worked for years with my old active bass (9volt system) but with my new active bass (18volt system) it does the occasional pop. Xvive support say the active ouput level is too high :( The bass does have a trim pot which I have turned down as much as possible which has improved things a lot but there is still the odd pop which is not cool during a gig so only use the Xvive for sound checking now.
I'm using the Getaria 2.4 GHz system in my home. I can literally go three rooms away on different floors and there are no issues. I have a Wi Fi network in my home running both 2.4 and 5.8 bands and over 20 devices that are connected (Amazon Echo, Ring, Tablets and cell phones)..
My harmonica mic has 1/4 in adapter and I use the U2 xvive , to great effect! Also plugged in to 3 pedals, as the charge fades, The first indicator is that the pedals not quite enough power to push the signal, but other than that they're big fun!
FLdb1966 I would now, too. I have the guitera 5mghz version. It kills. And it never cuts out. Lasts as long as I've ever needed it. Check prices. These are high. Maybe because the vid is older? I paid just over $50 on Amazon. Finally, mine has 4 pairing channels, selectable by a push button.
The drop outs are likely because of band steering on your wireless router. Band steering is exactly what it sounds like. Your devices usually mobile devices like cell phones are moving through your house environment while you move around. When you get within a specific distance or signal strength on 5ghz your router will automatically switch your wifi connection to your device to 2.4ghz. Say you are in a spot were the signal strength is borderline out of spec for band steering to kick in your router will fluctuate between switching your device between bands. Even more likely that your signal is hampered in a studio with soundproofed walls and electronic devices that have their own interference.
I'm a singer and a guitarist. Ihad the idea to start my own show with backing tracks a week ago. I bought all the equipment 3 days ago and I bump into your channel today. You've been sent from heaven. Thank you 🙏
Great no BS overview! Thorough, impartial, and you highlighted several relevant pieces of info that would be easy to gloss over, or sweep under the rug, i appreciate that quite a bit. Solid video. Throwin a sub your way.
I would have bet that tone 1 was the cable. I did hear the problems with 2 and 6. Great video! For me, a cable would be the backup for any system, I wouldn't use one wireless to backup the other wireless. Cable is always option 2.
I'm surprised you didn't address the frequency loss on the cable more. This could well be a significant advantage to using the (better) wireless models. Be interesting to see both frequency response and dynamic range response via cable vs wireless.
Like I mention in the video.... I can hear the difference when I sit down and A/B them... but I don’t really believe that for tone. My philosophy is “does it sound good? If so... use it.” When I plug these in, I never go “oh this is awful.” It sounds good, and I adjust my tone accordingly, I think that is definitely a better way to focus on tone personally.
All guitar cables have distributed capacitance which, combined with the impedance mismatch between the pickups (around 10k ohms) and the cable (around .07 k ohms) causes a loss in upper midrange and high audio frequencies. When you place one of these transmitters on the guitar, it's equivalent to making the cable very short. The higher audio frequencies will be louder since the cable isn't filtering the signal any more. The brighter tone is not a bug, it's a feature. You can get the same effect by putting a buffer amplifier at the guitar.
Per your comments I had bought the Lekato WS-50 model from a review I saw. It is 5.8ghz and can transmit in 4 different ranges so you can find a frequency that is not affected.
I could tell the Boss and the cable straight away. I have the Boss unit. I got it used, except it had hardly been used at all for about $100. I'm ver familiar with the sound. I built an unbuffer device (basically a small transformer, a pot and a capacitor to make it behave and sound more like my cable, especially into my fuzz face. I love my Boss WL20
I bought a NUX Mighty Plug Pro from Thomann for €99 and €15 shipping from Germany to Ireland. For a hobbyist like myself it's ideal. I don't need space for an amp and speaker. I can plug it directly into the guitar, plug my headphones into the device and away I go. I can use the app on my phone to edit and quickly change between patches. And I also don't need to worry about disturbing the neighbours.
I am from Brazil. I didn't find any review in Portuguese that offered me as much information as in your videos. Congratulations and thank you very much.
Thanks for the analysis (and warnings) for these systems. I really had no idea that a cheaper system was worth the purchase and since I am trying to 'uncable,' I think the ammoon 5.8 will be what I will pick up. Thanks again! BTW - sounds like you have had quite a touring career. Hopefully the world will continue to move towards 'normal' and you can get back out there.
I just picked up the Lekato brand ones tonight, same day shipping. Plugged them in out of the box to see how well they work. Tried on my Martin and they worked pretty good! Unfortunately it’s late at night here currently, so can’t try it out on the Les Paul until tomorrow!
I’ve had the Xvive for a few years and never had a problem. Couple gigs a week, at church, home and practices. Think I’ll pick up something on a different frequency for back up after hearing your experiences, but the Xvive has held up well over time and are solid units. My two cents.
Me too. I have 2 sets and I’ve been using them for years! I always take 2 guitars to a gig and I just put a transmitter in each guitar. It makes guitar changes very fast!
Same. I've had my Xvive for about three years and have had no issues in clubs, outdoor shows, etc. It really blew my mind in the tone test - totally unexpected to me.
Thank you for a great comparison. My notes from the sound demos (from worst to best): 2 (Ammoon Red) and 6 (Xvive): ✗ (i.e., these were totally unacceptable); 3 (Ammoon Black): nails on a chalkboard; 1 (Getaria): thin; 5 (Boss): nice, usable; 4 (Cable): rich, detailed. Went back and played the Boss, then the cable. Still preferred the cable, but not by the same margin. I'll be sticking with a wired connection for the time being.
I'm impressed sir. This is a fantastic review. And I agree with you on the frequencies used. 5.8 is much less crowded than the 2.4. But even then it will matter which channel in the 5.8 range the device is using. I'd love to see a manual channel switching option on these things. Also, we have to remember that these are "inexpensive" electronic devices made in a factory with little quality control. You can bet on a 10% failure rate as well as another 10% that just sucks for whatever reason. BUT....like you said, even at a $100 price range to have two different devices on two different frequencies that work well 90% of the time is hard to beat. Once again, well done on the review. I like your style.
Nailed it completely! These are inexpensive.... they are meant to be produced in a high quantity for a low price. Sennheiser or Shure want high quality for a higher price. You get what you pay for. If they don’t work, you can return it, or you are out $40-$60. It’s not the end of the world. But when they DO work (and most of them do), it’s well worth it for sure!
I have 4 of the red woodgrained Ammoons and 2 Xvives and both brands support 4 channels within their basic frequency range (5.8ghz for the Ammoon & 2.4ghz for the Xvive). I have no problems using all 4 Ammoons at the same time even with multiple WIFI devices in use in the same room. I now no longer use cables at open mic events I host!
Isn’t this sort of WiFi theory.. 5.8 RF wave length is longer so technically it’s better for distance…with latency. 2.4 wave length being shorter is what?? A more saturated compressed signal wave and nearly immediate signal transmission.. does anyone have a better take on this?
@@johnmahoney4841 Sounds about right. Higher frequencies can carry more data (this being an analog signal converted to digital and sent as packets of binary code) but they are more subject to interference. The water content of your body can disrupt the signal, whereas ow frequency signals have little trouble passing through whatever but cannot carry as much data. This hold true even if we stay with the realm of analog. Look at the differences in fidelity and, for instance, the capacity for stereo transmission across the broadcast radio spectrum - which is why talk radio dominates the low fidelity, monaural transmissions of AM radio. That signal travels far with little power pushing it. FM, on the other hand, can send hi-fi stereo (and more, with certain innovations over the last decade or two) but you'll notice that limited range very quickly as you drive away from its tower, despite there often being an inordinate amount of wattage blasting through the radio transmitter antennae.
@@johnmahoney4841 At any rate, it's a good bit more complicated when we're dealing with packets of data. There's a channel call Branch Education you should look up. Excellent animations and narration explaining how all sorts of complex things work, and one of their videos explains this stuff far better than I ever could.
I love how, in music, there are standards that weed out the bs products, beyond that, it’s all about what works best FOR YOU, the musician. Because we like things to be a specific way.
I bought a couple pair of the Getaria GW-8 systems for experimentation purposes. I have only used them in my practice studio, but I haven't had any issue at all with them. I even used them make a wireless FX loop. worked out great. I'm looking for a high end and/or UHF system for playing live. My days of tripping over my guitar cord and jerking the cord out of the input jack are over. I have no complaints with Getaria. They've exceeded my expectations for $40 a set.
I've had a Xvive for a few years, playing reasonably small venues in the UK and I've not had any problems with it. One big consideration for people who play Telecasters, Les Pauls etc is that they cannot take the weight of a guitar landing on it if your strap malfunctions - I'm onto my 3rd transmitter (and new straplocks). It would be interesting to see how the price of additional transmitters compares between brands as the Xvive ones are almost as much as buying a pair.
I build networks for a living - wifi being part of it. In general, 2.4g has better penetration and range where 5.8g has more bandwidth available per channel, but doesn't penetrate or carry as far. Use that to your advantage. Small club with brick / cinder block walls? 5.8g will probably be fine as the walls block out a lot of the outside interference. Another trick you can use is loading a wifi analyzer app on your phone and just look at what sort of SSID's are showing up on each of the two bands. If you see a bunch on 5.8 and few on 2.4, use the 2.4. Whatever your case may be. Bottom line is you are effectively sharing the air with computer wifi. Compared to a computer, you're not using much, but because you're sharing, your usage may not be what's causing the issues.
Thanks for commenting! Definitely hope it helps some people out. I did do an in-depth video on 2.4Ghz for wireless gear here: th-cam.com/video/RCrFKKr8WUA/w-d-xo.html
Scott, that was probably the best review of any product I have ever seen! Very nice job and thank you. As soon as the Covid scare is over, I'll probably follow your advice!
Here's my thoughts on the cable being darker. When you sent the signal from the guitar though the cable into the amp, all the cable will attenuate the signal more than the transmitters will, The transmitter picks up the signal after it travels a few inches. Capture that signal, protects it and sends it over the air to the receiver that's an inch away from the amp. All of the frequencies will be attenuated to some degree, but high frequencies, just like in telcom, will attenuate the same at shorter lengths, or more over similar length. So with the cable, the volume is a little lower and the higher frequencies drop off quicker while even the cheapest wireless units will result in less attenuation. I would argue that they are closer to the natural sound of the instrument over even the most expensive gold plated cables.
So I'm going to jump in with a bit of detail around wireless frequency ect. This is coming from a engineer with some background in wireless product design. While you are right that congestion is an issue, and can be a big one at both 2.4 and 5.8 as are both heavily used this should not be an issue with the low volume data stream from these units. Even on channels, sub bands within those frequencies, that are shared they should do fine (They can not share a channel with a device with the same digital hand shake, this is a different use of the term channel) The main difference is 2.4, better penetration and coverage, 5.8 higher data load but limited range and object penetration. On your home router with means 5.8 faster but 2.4 further. 5.8 can have problems getting through a human body at the strength these small transmitters work at so keep that in mind. I would always choose 2.4 at this low wattage transmission. The other thing with these no base station devices is both transmission and receiver are power and antenna limited. The plug in base stations will have much better aerials and will be able to expend a lot more electrical energy finding, cleaning and boasting the signal they receive. If you can upgrade the receiver to a base station system do so. On Tone, removing a cable that can be effected by loads of electrical interference should give you the truest tone. Its not really possible to fully shield a 10 meter guitar cable.
Thank you for this explanation! I appreciate it. I’m can only share my personal experience with these (which I’ve used for over 100 gigs), but it’s great to have a more detailed explanation. Having the base receiver is definitely nice, and I have that with my Shure units. But the portability of these things are so nice. Especially for me since I have so many groups that I play with and different configurations. Thanks again 🤘
I agree with if it sounds good do it. I use a Mooer ge200 with IRs and everyone tells me to turn the IRs off live, and it just sounds trash, everyone I show admits it. So I leave Catharsis IRs on while going into an amps effects return, then into my cab. It kinda blows peoples mind that it sounds so big and chunky. Live not a single person has ever noticed. I have even gotten compliments on my tone. with Wireless systems. People really forget how bad effects and stuff were in the early 2000s and before. Todays cheap electronics are just above and beyond what we used to have. Great video, great info.
My band uses a wi-fi router in our set-up. I have used the Xvive pair (2.4ghz-$150) with some cut-out issues. I've also used a Lekato pair (5.8ghz-$30 used from a bandmate/$50-$60 new) with excellent results and no cut-out. I'm also using a Lekato wireless ear monitor with excellent results. Your mileage may vary.
This is one of the most honest and frank reviews I’ve ever came across 👏🏼👏🏼 I wish more people would create similar style of review videos. Hats 🎩 off to you buddy 🤘🏼
Yup! My babicz acoustic. That’s my baby (along with my PRS). Babicz has a really cool design with the strings, and also has an adjustable neck that’s really cool.
@@DanHomeAtLast Yup! That's correct. When my wife and I went to see Steven Wilson back in 2015, she took notice of how much I loved that guitar..... and bought it for me as a wedding gift! She's a keeper for sure!
I really appreciate this review. I just stumbled upon your channel. I liked the way you did the comparisons. You’re right on about the psychology behind tone. The idea of getting two units on different frequencies is a good idea. I’d never thought of that.
If your using an active instrument stay away from the ones that use the 1/4 plug to charge with the trrs cable form factor including the boss system in this video the reason being as it breaks the ground circuit in the instrument stopping power supply to the pickups and or preamp on say a active bass
So what I gather, buy all of them. And just play your show from your couch. But in all seriousness, do you think that nowadays everyone has their cell phones out and affect the signal? Also, I’m subscribing. Thank you!
I also have the Line 6 G10, great unit but you still need a wall socket to plug the reciever/charger unit into. I do take it to gigs as a spare. But my WS 70's do the job I need.
16:29 I've been using the Xvive on all my basses for the last 2 years (close to 100 gigs) & never had an issue, although, like you, I've heard of others that do. I guess I've just been lucky.....
Well, that was the very best review! I bought the Getaria last week on Amazon for $63.00 Canadian and it does exactly what I bought it for. Your review was excellent!!! Nova Scotia thanks you!!!!
Scott, thanks for a thoughtful overview of these reasonably priced wireless systems. Please note that your Ammoon links to Amazon no longer work. Further, all the links to Amazon from Ammoon's site are also broken. Based on this, it looks like Ammoon is no longer in business.
I have two of the Boss systems. Never had an issue playing in the UK, Europe, and Middle East. After watching this, though, I will get a 5.8ghz system as well. Thanks for the informative video.
I recently got a pair of LEKATO units with which I'm very happy. The batteries go for hours, I've never had any interference or other artifacts and most importantly, the transmitter has a very high input impedance which means you can plug a guitar with a passive piezo pickup in and you won't lose all the bass. My Yamaha LL6 never makes it to the stage for that reason but now I can use it as a backup to my Taylor which has an active pickup system.
Regarding battery life: I bought an el-cheapo 2.4 GHz Muslady set and ripped out the transmitter electronics then hot-glued it to the inside of the guitar cavity - along with a bigger 18650 lithium battery (in a battery holder) and a tiny USB battery charger module from AliExpress. There was some soldering required, but you don't have to be an expert at it. That improved the battery life a lot - and you can still recharge it using a USB cable. When the battery eventually dies (years from now) I'll just replace the battery. I also replaced one of the tone control pots with a push/pull switched pot - so the transmitter can be turned on by pulling the tone pot. It'll work wirelessly even with the guitar cable plugged in - which may be useful for some people I guess.
I have owned the Lekato for 4 months and I love it. I am a sessions musician, (guitar,keys) and I use it on all my work. Just remember to charge periodically and never use cables again. I would not use them for live performance as I prefer cables for tone to amp.
@@ScottUhlMusic thanks for the review of these products, I broke my ammoon woody so i am looking for a new one, also to confim the woody also works on Active, I used it on my emg loaded LP and Luke iii, i think ill get the newer black ammooon.
Glad you guys are enjoying the video and finding it useful 🤘I did just upload a new video about a $50-$60 wireless that does NOT transmit on 2.4ghz or 5.8ghz. It's pretty cool, and you can watch that video here: th-cam.com/video/DSqdd--06hQ/w-d-xo.html
I really think I’d use this for a live show. Unnoticeable tone quality drop out, has never dropped the signal, never runs outta juice if you play up to 4.5 hours. Not sure how much longer it will go!
I won't spend more than $40 bucks on a chinese wireless. However that wooden Ammoon looks nice.
@@Arcturian1111 would you spend $1200 on a MacBook Pro? How bout an iPhone 12 Max Pro? The myth of cheap chinese goods is over.
The quality is as good as anything made in Detroit these days.
Hey Scott, thanks for all the info. So I have the $40 Getaria and it worked fine but the in about a year and not using them very many times at all, the batteries died and wouldn’t hold a charge anymore. They didn’t come with a charger, only the duel USB cable so maybe I used an inappropriate charger and shortened the battery life. I did accidentally leave them on charge overnight once so maybe that’s what ruined the batteries. I only play at home so if they cut out every now and then it’s not a big deal. Any thoughts on over charging? Also which one for home use only? By the way I split one open and got the number off the battery and found it online but it seemed more trouble than it was worth so I’m ready to buy another one. I also have a set that takes AAA batteries that works fine but I want another rechargeable set. Thanks again!
I don’t know how to replace the batteries on this, but other people claim to know how. But getting a wireless to work for over a year for $40 is a great deal. It really is. And I charge mine overnight all the time and have never had a problem with that, so I don’t think that would be an issue. As for what is the best one to just play around the house with, I would definitely say the cheapest one 😁
8:15 cable (the best for me)
8:29 my preferred wireless (Boss)
To me… they all sounded completely useable. I could hear slight differences… but to me, they all are completely useable
I used the Xvive for years in cover and original bands on bass and guitar and I never had any issues. My bandmates used them too and we never had any issues.
Nice! Glad it’s worked well for you guys 🤘
Only two I’ve had over last 4 yrs are Nuix and Xvive. I recommend Xvive. I will never use Nuix again unless it’s free. The casing broke for no reason on both Nuix I had… it’s more cheaply made to me. You need 3 good units if you are playing gigs, so that you have at least 2 if one goes out on you. I have 2 pair of Xvive, and am considering buying a 3rd because I would hate to be stuck without a backup.
Great review. You are spot on about the psychoacoustics and how our brains interpret comparative audio. I’ve been an audio engineer since the 1980s and this was one of the things driven into me in my college courses.
And I’m a firm believer in “if it sounds good, it is good”.
Thank you! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who thinks this way 😊
There's a bit of a problem with this though. The issue isn't how comparing both might make you pick the one that has your preference in that very moment (a very subjective thing), instead of which has the best sound (objectively). The issue is recognizing _why_ something is different. Some older people can't hear the higher frequency ranges as well as younger people can. So in general, an older audience might actually prefer a sharper higher frequency heavy tone, over something more balanced not even realizing it's a bit out of whack. But... the more balanced sound is probably the 'best' quality more objectively seen. Our brain also can quite quickly get used to a certain sound and won't hate it for long lol. Last but not least, anything that goes from analogue to digital and ends up thin in sound, probably _always_ is a worse quality sound. It's just factually true, as it directly reflects lower bitrate and lower resolution audio. Same goes for the old 16-bit 14.1kHz CD quality that's simply never going to be superior to audio with a much larger overall range, and higher bitrate depth (assuming it got recorded in that higher quality). From a practical point of view one instrument is only one piece within an entire composition of music. But... I'd still pick the highest quality signal whenever you can. Long story short, it might take a bit of a trained ear to really figure out which one sounds best overall. It's like comparing fine wine and feeling like everything tastes the same. It probably doesn't all taste the same.
@@PHeMoX I agree. And I’m one of those older guys where above 16k is gone now. So if something is messed up in that range I’ll never know.
One thing though is that most of the tone high end overtones come at the amp stage and get added after the wireless stage. I find I can compensate for the tone difference at the amp input pretty close.
@@Cre8tvMG I suppose that is a fair point, yes.
I'm just a retired electronics tech, but I've never trusted my ears...or anyone else's, that's what a good spectrum analyzer is for. :)
I have the Getaria. It's really nice that they're different colors, makes it super easy to keep track of which is which. I am actually going to order a second set so that I always have a pair charged and ready to go.
I second this comment, and I'll add that I've used mine frequently for almost 2 years without a single dropout ever (unless I break line-of-sight by wandering around a corner). Mine is the Getaria 5.8ghz that I got on Amazon Prime Day for about $40, range over 100 feet.
I use them too. Working fine without any dropouts since 4 years.
I also have a Getaria GWS-8.... sad to say the cheap power switch on the receiver failed on mine.... I'm looking for another brand to replace the receiver but also can be used with the Getaria transmitter... anyone know?
In my opinion, the best option for a plug and play wireless system for guitar is the get one which is a UHF system. Because it's analog, you get zero latency. Unfortunately ALL digital systems have a slight latency, which might not be noticeable on its own, but adds up if you're plugging into an interface and using guitar amp VST on your computer, or if you're using a digital mixer (all of which add further latency. I'd recommend a UHF plug and play system such as the A8 original sound transmitter & receiver, or the Phenyx Pro PTG-12.
I definitely do like the Phenyx Pro for sure! I did a video on the 11. And you are correct that there will be latency, but when I plug into my HX stomp which is my normal rig, I do not notice any latency. Same with direct or into my Apollo interface. However.... when I plug into my iPad for looping you are correct that I do notice if. Because the iPad has latency, and then it’s compounded with the latency of digital. So it’s unnoticeable by itself, but if you add multiple latency together, it becomes noticeable.
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Yeah, the analog stuff sucks for bass though. I've used several of various brands and the analogs just lose all the low end. Don't notice that with the digitals
I went this route last week and bought a BLX14 guitar system, works great can't even tell a difference between cable and wireless
I just bought a A8 set. Does not work well in Holland :(
Great video! Thanks for posting. For what it's worth, I've been using the Xvive U2 for 3+ years in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues and it's never cut out. I get 3-4 hours of battery life consistently. I recommend it as a budget alternative to the more expensive Shure systems.
My Transmitter battery is starting to die in my Xvive sadly...It's been a few years, but man...getting just the transmitter is 125 bucks Canadian, but if you buy the set, it's 199. :\ China can suck it.
Same here I also have the one for microphones 100 % recommended
Depending on your router, you can use a wifi analyzer and tune your wifi channels so they don't interfere with your wireless or your neighbors.
Yeah, I actually just found out about this a few days ago haha. My singer told me about that. I had no idea
I have been using the Getaria 5.8ghz with the 4 channel selector consistently (16-20hrs a week) for about a year now and have had zero issues yet. Seriously great value especially as you can get the 5.8ghz for under $50 when they are on sale. I only paid $40 for mine and seriously regret not buying a second set when the sale was still going on. I believe a new set of the latest 5.8ghz model with the 4 channel selector are going for $55 USD as of this comment.
Yeah, these really are insanely good for the price!
Same here.
I got the Boss WL-20 about a year and a half ago and it works flawlessly. No drop outs, great tone, great battery life and so simple to use.👍🏼👍🏼
It’s a great unit for sure! A little pricy but really nice
@@ScottUhlMusic . I was able to get it on sale for $169.00. Yes, it’s rather expensive compared to the $40 and $60 ones, but it’s built like a tank and I really like the features on it. Nice review btw👍🏼
The BOSS WL-20 and WL-50 are fantastic and they are interchangeable. You can recharge them together or each piece separately. LED indicators are simple to understand. They are tough. I have physically dropped them several times with no worries. All those others with a moving hinge would not survive. The audio difference from a quality cable is imperceptible. They are not dorky looking like the others. They look smaller in size. They "feel" solid and sturdy. The "nub" is an on/off switch. You can depress it manually to get LED indication of battery life. Here is an undocumented tip: The receivers "remember" the last transmitter that was plugged into it. So, if you only have one transmitter, you don't need to "join" it to the receiver every time you are going to use it (even though it is not stated in the manual/user guide), just once.
It's really stupid simple.
I bought an open box WL-20 for $150. It is just like a guitar cable that has 2 chunky ends and the wire is invisible. When I realized how beneficial it would be to have a permanent receiver mounted to my pedalboard, I bought a WL-50 ($130 used). The transmitters are interchangeable with both different receivers. I also realized that the WL-50 receiver is powered directly to 9 Volts. It won't wear out like a batteried receiver will eventually. Brand new transmitters cost $90. So, if you have the WL-50, you would only ever need to replace a single transmitter if ever the rechargeable batteries inside it eventually fail. That's just $90.
I have both the Xvive and the Getaria... Have done many, many shows with the Xvive. Never 1 single hiccup. The Getaria I would never, ever do a show with.( I should say 'MY' Getaria because obviously some work well, some don't) . It will drop connection constantly. Plus it lasts 1.5-2 hours at the most. I still use it all the time for practice and it was a good 30$ spent. Good info here. Thanks!
So strange because my XVive just never works anymore. But like I mention in the video, my friend gets it to work at every single show. That's part of what you get when you buy cheap! They go for quantity over quality, so always test it out right away. Thanks for the comment!
What you said about A/B comparisons is so true in so many different products. Often people are convinced to buy something more expensive over something cheaper and usable, because of the direct comparison. In reality, like you mentioned, unless you have those two same products and are using them both at the same time you're not even going to notice the difference. To quote JHS, if it sounds good, it is good.
Exactly! If it sounds good... use it!
I've got 2 sets of the xvive, one silver, one black, while on stage one set on charge to swap between sets, never had a problem, no tone or volume loss, bought them when they first came out, maybe they made them better at first...
I got them right when they came out and it worked about 85-90% of the time at first, but now it hardly ever works. It’s definitely the one I have the most trouble with. But my friend uses it all the time and has no problems except at one venue. Very strange
I use the xvive for about 3-4 years now... never failed... never had problems... sounds great in my setup... very reliable system imo... if the battery dies one day (and if i'm not able to solder in a new one) i'll buy it again... sorry for my bad english :)
I should say that my band uses 3 of those xvive units and none of them failed once... maybe just luck
@@andreassattig1188 Hey, if you got that much luck, it was 100% worth it even at $150 a piece! I personally was not so lucky with the Xvive ones.
Just to add some spice to the goulash - did you know that, if you plug the transmitter into the 'Line Out' on your amp (I use a Fishman LoudBox Artist), you can plug the receiver into another amp - up to 50 or 100 feet away - and drench your room in sound without having a hotspot in one place and quiet/dead spots elsewhere. It's an awesome way to play!
Yup! These can replace anything that takes a cable :) I’ve used them to run from mixer to speaker wirelessly as well
At the risk of stating the obvious, DON'T plug into a speaker output. Ever.
I almost never successfully used Boss WL20 in live show without any problem....I encountered countless time of audio dropout issue even tried matching channel many times but still not work as expected. and finally I realize probably the best way to solve this problem is get a cheap transmitter which works on uhf freq and it worked!
Scott, great video, as usual... you are very thorough and on point. I have the Boss, Xvive, and Ammoon and have had issues with all at different times. What I like about the Boss, that I use with my Katana Air and Waza, is that I can leave it connected to the guitar, and it goes to sleep (due to a motion sensor) when I am not using the guitar, and then I can wake it up (and the Amp), and just start playing!
I have a Blackstar Fly sitting on my mantle with the Boss WL-20. It makes it easy to play guitar during commercials while watching TV.
Nice 🤘
Thanks for the product reviews. You were right, I thought the corded demo was "dark". Actually , I wish you would have started with the cord so we could hear how the wireless units "altered" the sound. I liked 1,3 and 5. Based on your recommendation from the other video I went shopping for the ammoons, but neither were available at amazon. I had already bought the U12U and it's being returned tomorrow as the getaria 5.8 will be arriving the day after. It took off way too much high end for me to consider using it. I will be using two identical JTV 89fs. One with VDI cord and the other one wireless. Having two identical guitars made it easy to compare and realize right away that it sounded like the tone control was rolled off.
I've been using the getaria ones for about a year just around the house and it works great. Can jam all they way to the fridge for another beer and never miss a beat.
That’s one of the main ones I use around the house too 🤘
I have two different Lekato sets and they're superb, especially for the money. I did a cable test when I first got them and couldn't hear any loss at all but same as your findings they are slightly brighter, had them 2 years and still get 5 hours plus battery life.
Yeah man, especially for the price you just can’t beat them! 🤘🤘
I tested my Lekatos yesterday and they went for 10.5 hours on a charge!
Cables - coaxial guitar cables - have a certain amount of capacitance which will tend to 'filter out' or attenuate the higher frequencies. That is why the cable sounded 'darker'.
i have - Getaria and i never had a problem with even when i put though harmonizer pedal no lag in my vocal i still use my nady 200 foot rang good old stuff back in 80s that was the best you can buy
FWIW, I use the XVive U2. Got the first set (in silver) when they first came out. Later I got a second set (in black) and an extra transmitter. The only issue I ever had was the blue light on the first receiver unit stopped working, although it still received the signal fine. So I got another set in silver. So now I have 2 sets to take to the gig, one with 2 transmitters, and one with 3, because I often run multiple guitars. The receiver with the inop blue light lives in my practice amp at home where I don't need the light to tell if it is receiving.
The tone test takes me back - great idea to compare a cable ! The digital sound of CD players when they came out was often considered harsh in comparison with vinyl. You had to pick the CD sound you liked best. It's all a consequence of digitising an analogue signal - unless you go high end. In the tone test you get the brighter / harsher digital sound compared with the analogue cable sound. Since we want to lose the cable - as per the advice, choose the wireless kit with the sound you like. I am a Boss fan - so the WL20L (for active pickups) might do it.
I’m glad you liked it. However, since this video I have decided NOT to compare to cables. I think we spend too much time a/b comparing with headphones on, and instead we should just focus on if it’s useable. Not “oh, the 1k is a little brighter.” That’s just me personally. Thanks for the comment!
I get what you're saying Slackster56, however a CD does objectively sound much worse than a vinyl that plays back at the correct speed on a high end record player with an LP that is not warped or too worn down. It's not even a debate, even when a CD has a more reliable playback (for around 10 or so years, after that, it can actually start to fail. An LP mostly depends on how often it was played back.).
@@PHeMoX what BS lol. There is no such thing as "objectively sounds better". It's completely subjective.
People have been saying that "CDs degrade" for years and years. I have CDs that are 20 years old or more, and not once has one failed. And even then, I have them ripped on my computer. However, I do have many vinyls that skip.
I'm not saying one is better than the other. I'm just saying you're not correct.
I bought a Xvive system - because I could. I already use a Shure GLX D guitar system, had it for years and it has never failed, always rock solid. But - I also really like TC Electronic pedals, though I'm not a effects-heavy player, less is more in my book. The TC Electronic 'TonePrint' system simply does not work through the radio. If you are not familiar with tone print, it's a system where you hold your phone near your pickups and a patch gets sent to your pedals. This allows for far more parameter changes that with just the knobs on the pedal. It's a good system if you like that sort of thing. I haven't tried it with the Xvive, but I am willing to bet that tone print won't work with those either.
I bought an XVive a few years back. Used it in my home studio, practice outside of house, church (100’+). Never had a problem. It has worked 100% of the time. This brings up the question of environmental factors. What’s good for me may be the pits for someone else because he lives next to an electric substation or there is quite a bit of commercial travel on the lines. It’s a "crap shoot". Don’t buy something that is influenced by the environment just because I said it works at my house. You may like some features one has to offer but the bottom line is does it work in your area or environment and that you don’t know until you get it, plug it in and use it. Give it a good workout. Play at your house or studio, friend’s house nearby and across town, band rehearsal area, whatever area you can think of to give it the opportunity to perform in places where electricity and frequencies are varied. Good luck. 😷🤘
Exactly... environment is different everywhere. Xvive gives me nothing but problems about 50% of the time. Also, I literally played with another guitar player who used the Xvive. Same stage... same time... his worked and mine didn’t. Even with his off mine didn’t work. This is why I recommend for $100 ($50 off of the Xvive) to get 2 different wireless. One on 2.4 and one on 5.8 👍
And also... keep in mind that a $40-$150 wireless system is NOT never going to fail you. Realize it’s still a great product for the price point... but it’s not perfect
I've been using xvive with an active bass for a while now, never had any problems with it. Only one occasion I started to get a little humming out of nowhere, but changing the frequency completely solved it. It's quite strange for me that others experience so much trouble with it.
No 4 was my choice for the best sound. I’m glad I passed the test. Thanks for sharing!
To me, I would say “did any of those other ones sound bad?” Or were they still useable? IMO they all sounded completely fine and useable. Cable was warmer for sure, but to me they all sound great
Something else you didn't mention about the cables is that they darken per foot. This is something that I discovered years ago by accident while I was testing and designing a solid core guitar cable that was very high-end for an audio company. When we played it against a 10-ft guitar cable the guitar cable was darker. When we played it against a 25-ft guitar
Are you talking about attenuation per foot?
dude your the boss at reviews! if only all reviews were at this level
Thank you!
I bought one under $45 on Amazon that works well. Joyo JW-03. I enjoyed your review, even though i switched from my cell to television. Thank you
You know how to create precise informative content.
Thanks! I appreciate that!
I pick BOSS. (1) battery life is IMMENSE and I don't experience any noteworthy degradation after 1.5 years of use and weekly recharging. (2) In those 1.5 years, it never cut out. (3) It sounds very close to the cable. I even guessed 4 and 5 correctly as cable and BOSS. Just like the cable's resistance darkens the tone a little bit (and we got used to that), the BOSS does something similar. The others sound too hi-fi for what I play.
If you want your tone to be closer to a ~10ft cable and something REALLY reliable, take the BOSS. :)
I've tried a lot of these too and the best one for me was the Boss, its more reliable signal and dosnet interfere with other wireless like the wireless mic, the Boss battery built in lasts for a good few hours before a recharge is needed. The Boss is also more robust compared to the others. I still have the number one ones but I dont use them much only for back up.
The boss is definitely the best one on 2.4ghz for sure! No question, because it’s very well built and it scans for the best frequency. But I still think the price point is a little high for something on 2.4ghz. Just my personal opinion
But only 50 feet or 15meters?..... is it not too short?
It's like i want to try the boss but the only thing is the distance and its not foldable..... for that, im considering shehansein brand
I really appreciate that you eliminated tone bias. Gave me a whole new perspective on economising my search for "my" tone. Personally, I preferred the Getaria and Boss over the rest only because the added brightness now compliments the limitations in tone that my guitar, pedals, amp, and cabinet have to offer.
I'd go even further to say that it depends on other tonal characteristics like your genre, PA preamps, what environments you play the most in. I play in a modern worship band and my usual setup is a cabronita tele and an orange terror (with other pedals ofc), so I like the darker warmth from the amp but I reckon I would be able to sit better in the mix if I had a brighter tone going through.
I know most of us love to geek out on the best gear for tone out there (just as I do for hours on end), but the truth is that we don't realistically have the budget for all of what we want and just get disappointed when what we own lacks the expectation. But hey, as they all say "there's no right or wrong when it comes to music" right? haha
You got it so appreciably informative, as a lot o’ work you’ve obviously put into this, that everyone can easily agree and give your review two thumbs up!
Thank you! Glad you found it useful
i use the cheap Getaria off amazon, and it works good. i used both active and passive, and no issues. fits my Vs, bass, and regular shaped guitars. for real the cheap one has been great to me.
You're sense on the tone debate is extremely helpful dude. I'd find myself dialing and adjusting my tone all the time and being so damn tangled and confused as to what's good or bad. Then I realize after my ears adjust that anything I dial is the best thing ever. I lose practice but at least I learn about tone XD.
Thanks! Glad to hear I’m not alone with it. I plan to do a full video on this with a lot of examples. But I want to make sure it’s done right 👍
Got the Boss about a year ago. I love it. I'm a bassist, a 1980 BC Rich Eagle Deluxe. No cables to get tangled in, less clutter and sounds great. I'll never go back. When the Boss dies, I'm going to just get another.
Really appreciate your detailed explanation. Thank you!
I use the Xvive $150 and Lekato $40 at church with no problems, always have cables ready just in case. With either system I can walk the church 65-70 feet no problem. The $40 Lekato I use it on active and passive bass and the $150 Xvive on guitar. Take this for what is worth. Another piece of info if interested, we use three different wireless mics and wireless translation system all at the same time with no problems also three guitarists all use the Xvive at the same time. It all works fine! I love no cables to step on or trip over.
Awesome! Glad they’ve worked out well for you 🤘
I've had the Xvive from when they first came out and it works flawlessly. Never had an issue.
Awesome! Glad it’s worked for you! Mine gives me quite a bit of trouble. Just goes to show the randomness of these types of systems
Not a single issue here with Xvive too
Same I’ve had mine for about 2 years works great 👍🏻
My Xvive worked for years with my old active bass (9volt system) but with my new active bass (18volt system) it does the occasional pop. Xvive support say the active ouput level is too high :( The bass does have a trim pot which I have turned down as much as possible which has improved things a lot but there is still the odd pop which is not cool during a gig so only use the Xvive for sound checking now.
I'm using the Getaria 2.4 GHz system in my home. I can literally go three rooms away on different floors and there are no issues. I have a Wi Fi network in my home running both 2.4 and 5.8 bands and over 20 devices that are connected (Amazon Echo, Ring, Tablets and cell phones)..
Nice! Yeah the getaria one works great in my house as well too 🤘
My harmonica mic has 1/4 in adapter and I use the U2 xvive , to great effect! Also plugged in to 3 pedals, as the charge fades, The first indicator is that the pedals not quite enough power to push the signal, but other than that they're big fun!
I'm sill in shock that you used one of these cheap wireless in front of 60k people.
I would trust the Ammoon one today for it. But that was on the banjo which I only played for a few songs. I used my expensive wireless with my guitar.
FLdb1966 I would now, too. I have the guitera 5mghz version. It kills. And it never cuts out. Lasts as long as I've ever needed it. Check prices. These are high. Maybe because the vid is older? I paid just over $50 on Amazon. Finally, mine has 4 pairing channels, selectable by a push button.
The drop outs are likely because of band steering on your wireless router. Band steering is exactly what it sounds like. Your devices usually mobile devices like cell phones are moving through your house environment while you move around. When you get within a specific distance or signal strength on 5ghz your router will automatically switch your wifi connection to your device to 2.4ghz. Say you are in a spot were the signal strength is borderline out of spec for band steering to kick in your router will fluctuate between switching your device between bands. Even more likely that your signal is hampered in a studio with soundproofed walls and electronic devices that have their own interference.
loved all the great info and comparisons, stuck around for the on point memes haha
Gotta have the memes! 🤘
I'm a singer and a guitarist. Ihad the idea to start my own show with backing tracks a week ago.
I bought all the equipment 3 days ago and I bump into your channel today.
You've been sent from heaven.
Thank you 🙏
Awesome! Glad to hear that! 🤘🤘
Great no BS overview! Thorough, impartial, and you highlighted several relevant pieces of info that would be easy to gloss over, or sweep under the rug, i appreciate that quite a bit. Solid video. Throwin a sub your way.
Thanks! I appreciate it
I would have bet that tone 1 was the cable. I did hear the problems with 2 and 6. Great video! For me, a cable would be the backup for any system, I wouldn't use one wireless to backup the other wireless. Cable is always option 2.
I'm surprised you didn't address the frequency loss on the cable more. This could well be a significant advantage to using the (better) wireless models. Be interesting to see both frequency response and dynamic range response via cable vs wireless.
Like I mention in the video.... I can hear the difference when I sit down and A/B them... but I don’t really believe that for tone. My philosophy is “does it sound good? If so... use it.” When I plug these in, I never go “oh this is awful.” It sounds good, and I adjust my tone accordingly, I think that is definitely a better way to focus on tone personally.
The cable doesn't have frequency loss though.
All guitar cables have distributed capacitance which, combined with the impedance mismatch between the pickups (around 10k ohms) and the cable (around .07 k ohms) causes a loss in upper midrange and high audio frequencies. When you place one of these transmitters on the guitar, it's equivalent to making the cable very short. The higher audio frequencies will be louder since the cable isn't filtering the signal any more. The brighter tone is not a bug, it's a feature. You can get the same effect by putting a buffer amplifier at the guitar.
Per your comments I had bought the Lekato WS-50 model from a review I saw. It is 5.8ghz and can transmit in 4 different ranges so you can find a frequency that is not affected.
Lekato is a good one 👍
I could tell the Boss and the cable straight away. I have the Boss unit. I got it used, except it had hardly been used at all for about $100. I'm ver familiar with the sound. I built an unbuffer device (basically a small transformer, a pot and a capacitor to make it behave and sound more like my cable, especially into my fuzz face. I love my Boss WL20
WOW!!!! GREAT REVIEW/COMPARISON!!! THANKS!!!! MUCH APPRECIATED!!!
Such a well-organised film. Really appreciate this 👍
Thanks 🤘
I got a Getaria based on a recommendation from someone on AGF. I didn't expect it to work, but it works just fine. I was surprised.
I have the Amoon set and I have 5.8 and very happy.
I bought a NUX Mighty Plug Pro from Thomann for €99 and €15 shipping from Germany to Ireland. For a hobbyist like myself it's ideal. I don't need space for an amp and speaker. I can plug it directly into the guitar, plug my headphones into the device and away I go. I can use the app on my phone to edit and quickly change between patches. And I also don't need to worry about disturbing the neighbours.
Thank you for this. Great info!!!
I am from Brazil. I didn't find any review in Portuguese that offered me as much information as in your videos. Congratulations and thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you
Thanks for the analysis (and warnings) for these systems. I really had no idea that a cheaper system was worth the purchase and since I am trying to 'uncable,' I think the ammoon 5.8 will be what I will pick up. Thanks again!
BTW - sounds like you have had quite a touring career. Hopefully the world will continue to move towards 'normal' and you can get back out there.
Thanks, I definitely hope so too! And enjoy the Ammoon system 🤘
I just picked up the Lekato brand ones tonight, same day shipping. Plugged them in out of the box to see how well they work. Tried on my Martin and they worked pretty good! Unfortunately it’s late at night here currently, so can’t try it out on the Les Paul until tomorrow!
I’ve had the Xvive for a few years and never had a problem. Couple gigs a week, at church, home and practices. Think I’ll pick up something on a different frequency for back up after hearing your experiences, but the Xvive has held up well over time and are solid units. My two cents.
As long as you found a good one, that’s what’s important!
Me too. I have 2 sets and I’ve been using them for years! I always take 2 guitars to a gig and I just put a transmitter in each guitar. It makes guitar changes very fast!
Same. I've had my Xvive for about three years and have had no issues in clubs, outdoor shows, etc. It really blew my mind in the tone test - totally unexpected to me.
Thank you for a great comparison.
My notes from the sound demos (from worst to best):
2 (Ammoon Red) and 6 (Xvive): ✗ (i.e., these were totally unacceptable);
3 (Ammoon Black): nails on a chalkboard;
1 (Getaria): thin;
5 (Boss): nice, usable;
4 (Cable): rich, detailed.
Went back and played the Boss, then the cable. Still preferred the cable, but not by the same margin.
I'll be sticking with a wired connection for the time being.
I'm impressed sir. This is a fantastic review. And I agree with you on the frequencies used. 5.8 is much less crowded than the 2.4. But even then it will matter which channel in the 5.8 range the device is using. I'd love to see a manual channel switching option on these things. Also, we have to remember that these are "inexpensive" electronic devices made in a factory with little quality control. You can bet on a 10% failure rate as well as another 10% that just sucks for whatever reason. BUT....like you said, even at a $100 price range to have two different devices on two different frequencies that work well 90% of the time is hard to beat. Once again, well done on the review. I like your style.
Nailed it completely! These are inexpensive.... they are meant to be produced in a high quantity for a low price. Sennheiser or Shure want high quality for a higher price. You get what you pay for. If they don’t work, you can return it, or you are out $40-$60. It’s not the end of the world. But when they DO work (and most of them do), it’s well worth it for sure!
I have 4 of the red woodgrained Ammoons and 2 Xvives and both brands support 4 channels within their basic frequency range (5.8ghz for the Ammoon & 2.4ghz for the Xvive). I have no problems using all 4 Ammoons at the same time even with multiple WIFI devices in use in the same room. I now no longer use cables at open mic events I host!
Isn’t this sort of WiFi theory.. 5.8 RF wave length is longer so technically it’s better for distance…with latency. 2.4 wave length being shorter is what?? A more saturated compressed signal wave and nearly immediate signal transmission.. does anyone have a better take on this?
@@johnmahoney4841 Sounds about right. Higher frequencies can carry more data (this being an analog signal converted to digital and sent as packets of binary code) but they are more subject to interference. The water content of your body can disrupt the signal, whereas ow frequency signals have little trouble passing through whatever but cannot carry as much data.
This hold true even if we stay with the realm of analog. Look at the differences in fidelity and, for instance, the capacity for stereo transmission across the broadcast radio spectrum - which is why talk radio dominates the low fidelity, monaural transmissions of AM radio. That signal travels far with little power pushing it. FM, on the other hand, can send hi-fi stereo (and more, with certain innovations over the last decade or two) but you'll notice that limited range very quickly as you drive away from its tower, despite there often being an inordinate amount of wattage blasting through the radio transmitter antennae.
@@johnmahoney4841 At any rate, it's a good bit more complicated when we're dealing with packets of data. There's a channel call Branch Education you should look up. Excellent animations and narration explaining how all sorts of complex things work, and one of their videos explains this stuff far better than I ever could.
I love how, in music, there are standards that weed out the bs products, beyond that, it’s all about what works best FOR YOU, the musician. Because we like things to be a specific way.
Came for the wireless, subscribed for the memes.
That's likely how I got half of my subscribers at least!
Me too. 😅
😂😂😂
I bought a couple pair of the Getaria GW-8 systems for experimentation purposes. I have only used them in my practice studio, but I haven't had any issue at all with them. I even used them make a wireless FX loop. worked out great. I'm looking for a high end and/or UHF system for playing live. My days of tripping over my guitar cord and jerking the cord out of the input jack are over. I have no complaints with Getaria. They've exceeded my expectations for $40 a set.
Yeah, you can’t beat them for $40. I got them for $30 on sale
I've had a Xvive for a few years, playing reasonably small venues in the UK and I've not had any problems with it. One big consideration for people who play Telecasters, Les Pauls etc is that they cannot take the weight of a guitar landing on it if your strap malfunctions - I'm onto my 3rd transmitter (and new straplocks). It would be interesting to see how the price of additional transmitters compares between brands as the Xvive ones are almost as much as buying a pair.
Glad you’ve had great luck with yours. Mine worked decent for about a year, and then became basically unuseable
straplocks are cheap, really don't understand why more players don't use them. i've got them on all of my instruments.
I build networks for a living - wifi being part of it. In general, 2.4g has better penetration and range where 5.8g has more bandwidth available per channel, but doesn't penetrate or carry as far. Use that to your advantage. Small club with brick / cinder block walls? 5.8g will probably be fine as the walls block out a lot of the outside interference.
Another trick you can use is loading a wifi analyzer app on your phone and just look at what sort of SSID's are showing up on each of the two bands. If you see a bunch on 5.8 and few on 2.4, use the 2.4. Whatever your case may be.
Bottom line is you are effectively sharing the air with computer wifi. Compared to a computer, you're not using much, but because you're sharing, your usage may not be what's causing the issues.
Thanks for commenting! Definitely hope it helps some people out. I did do an in-depth video on 2.4Ghz for wireless gear here: th-cam.com/video/RCrFKKr8WUA/w-d-xo.html
The cable sounds darker/warmer due to the capacitance of the wire.
I bought the boss ones right before a concert a couple of years ago and they still work flawlessly! Never had any problem and i play a lot of shows.
Scott, that was probably the best review of any product I have ever seen! Very nice job and thank you. As soon as the Covid scare is over, I'll probably follow your advice!
Thank you!
Here's my thoughts on the cable being darker. When you sent the signal from the guitar though the cable into the amp, all the cable will attenuate the signal more than the transmitters will, The transmitter picks up the signal after it travels a few inches. Capture that signal, protects it and sends it over the air to the receiver that's an inch away from the amp. All of the frequencies will be attenuated to some degree, but high frequencies, just like in telcom, will attenuate the same at shorter lengths, or more over similar length. So with the cable, the volume is a little lower and the higher frequencies drop off quicker while even the cheapest wireless units will result in less attenuation. I would argue that they are closer to the natural sound of the instrument over even the most expensive gold plated cables.
So I'm going to jump in with a bit of detail around wireless frequency ect. This is coming from a engineer with some background in wireless product design.
While you are right that congestion is an issue, and can be a big one at both 2.4 and 5.8 as are both heavily used this should not be an issue with the low volume data stream from these units. Even on channels, sub bands within those frequencies, that are shared they should do fine (They can not share a channel with a device with the same digital hand shake, this is a different use of the term channel)
The main difference is 2.4, better penetration and coverage, 5.8 higher data load but limited range and object penetration. On your home router with means 5.8 faster but 2.4 further. 5.8 can have problems getting through a human body at the strength these small transmitters work at so keep that in mind. I would always choose 2.4 at this low wattage transmission.
The other thing with these no base station devices is both transmission and receiver are power and antenna limited. The plug in base stations will have much better aerials and will be able to expend a lot more electrical energy finding, cleaning and boasting the signal they receive. If you can upgrade the receiver to a base station system do so.
On Tone, removing a cable that can be effected by loads of electrical interference should give you the truest tone. Its not really possible to fully shield a 10 meter guitar cable.
Thank you for this explanation! I appreciate it. I’m can only share my personal experience with these (which I’ve used for over 100 gigs), but it’s great to have a more detailed explanation. Having the base receiver is definitely nice, and I have that with my Shure units. But the portability of these things are so nice. Especially for me since I have so many groups that I play with and different configurations. Thanks again 🤘
I agree with if it sounds good do it. I use a Mooer ge200 with IRs and everyone tells me to turn the IRs off live, and it just sounds trash, everyone I show admits it. So I leave Catharsis IRs on while going into an amps effects return, then into my cab. It kinda blows peoples mind that it sounds so big and chunky. Live not a single person has ever noticed. I have even gotten compliments on my tone. with Wireless systems. People really forget how bad effects and stuff were in the early 2000s and before. Todays cheap electronics are just above and beyond what we used to have. Great video, great info.
Nice humour in your video editing!
Come for the music tech reviews.... stay for the memes
My band uses a wi-fi router in our set-up. I have used the Xvive pair (2.4ghz-$150) with some cut-out issues. I've also used a Lekato pair (5.8ghz-$30 used from a bandmate/$50-$60 new) with excellent results and no cut-out. I'm also using a Lekato wireless ear monitor with excellent results. Your mileage may vary.
Yup! 2.4 and Wi-Fi don’t mix well. I did a video about it here: th-cam.com/video/RCrFKKr8WUA/w-d-xo.html
This is one of the most honest and frank reviews I’ve ever came across 👏🏼👏🏼 I wish more people would create similar style of review videos. Hats 🎩 off to you buddy 🤘🏼
Thanks! I appreciate it
you are 100 percent correct about tone. If it sounds good, use it.
Thank you! I'm glad I'm not the only one!
7:36 WOAH WHAT IS THAT ACOUSTIC GUITAR IN THE BACKGROUND?? :0
Yup! My babicz acoustic. That’s my baby (along with my PRS). Babicz has a really cool design with the strings, and also has an adjustable neck that’s really cool.
@@ScottUhlMusic Woah! It's super cool!
Yeah, it’s my baby! And it sounds amazing
@@ScottUhlMusic Steve Wilson used one with porcupine tree
Thanks for the great videos, subd up today😇
@@DanHomeAtLast Yup! That's correct. When my wife and I went to see Steven Wilson back in 2015, she took notice of how much I loved that guitar..... and bought it for me as a wedding gift! She's a keeper for sure!
I have the cheap Getaria ones, and they work fine for me. Need longer battery lifer - buy two.
Yeah, I’ve been gigging with the xvive for a few months now and it’s been perfect, will be picking up a 5.8ghtz soon
I really appreciate this review. I just stumbled upon your channel. I liked the way you did the comparisons. You’re right on about the psychology behind tone. The idea of getting two units on different frequencies is a good idea. I’d never thought of that.
Thank you 🤘
Seems most players are fixated on distance and not tone.
If your using an active instrument stay away from the ones that use the 1/4 plug to charge with the trrs cable form factor including the boss system in this video the reason being as it breaks the ground circuit in the instrument stopping power supply to the pickups and or preamp on say a active bass
This is the 2nd video of yours that I’ve watched.
Bro, you sound like Tom Morello! Cheers. :D
Haha I’ve heard Danny Carey and Tom Morello now, I’ll take it! Thanks man
the lekato 5.8 has worked for me for 3 years with zero issues.
Nice! 🤘
15 min ago I hit buy now on the Getaria set. Then I came across your review. Was so relieved they weren't models 2 or 6 lol
Thanks for doing this!
Enjoy! And watch my follow up video. Any of the wireless CAN do that, not just those two: th-cam.com/video/IFJrs78nd8E/w-d-xo.html
So what I gather, buy all of them. And just play your show from your couch.
But in all seriousness, do you think that nowadays everyone has their cell phones out and affect the signal? Also, I’m subscribing. Thank you!
I also have the Line 6 G10, great unit but you still need a wall socket to plug the reciever/charger unit into. I do take it to gigs as a spare. But my WS 70's do the job I need.
16:29 I've been using the Xvive on all my basses for the last 2 years (close to 100 gigs) & never had an issue, although, like you, I've heard of others that do. I guess I've just been lucky.....
Also the Boss is a stereo plug. I think I'm gonna get the Katana Air amp with this same transmitter
Boss is TRS, that’s true 👍
Well, that was the very best review! I bought the Getaria last week on Amazon for $63.00 Canadian and it does exactly what I bought it for. Your review was excellent!!! Nova Scotia thanks you!!!!
Thank you! Enjoy your new wireless 😊
You review confirms for me that I bought the right one. I have an Ammoon 5.8 ghz unit and have never had any problems with it. Thanks for the review.
It’s a great one!
Scott, thanks for a thoughtful overview of these reasonably priced wireless systems.
Please note that your Ammoon links to Amazon no longer work.
Further, all the links to Amazon from Ammoon's site are also broken.
Based on this, it looks like Ammoon is no longer in business.
Yeah they disappeared for some reason. The lekato ones are a good alternate one 👍 thanks for letting me know!
I have two of the Boss systems. Never had an issue playing in the UK, Europe, and Middle East. After watching this, though, I will get a 5.8ghz system as well. Thanks for the informative video.
Glad to help! And the important thing is that you found one that works well for you! But definitely always smart to have a backup
I recently got a pair of LEKATO units with which I'm very happy. The batteries go for hours, I've never had any interference or other artifacts and most importantly, the transmitter has a very high input impedance which means you can plug a guitar with a passive piezo pickup in and you won't lose all the bass. My Yamaha LL6 never makes it to the stage for that reason but now I can use it as a backup to my Taylor which has an active pickup system.
Regarding battery life: I bought an el-cheapo 2.4 GHz Muslady set and ripped out the transmitter electronics then hot-glued it to the inside of the guitar cavity - along with a bigger 18650 lithium battery (in a battery holder) and a tiny USB battery charger module from AliExpress. There was some soldering required, but you don't have to be an expert at it. That improved the battery life a lot - and you can still recharge it using a USB cable. When the battery eventually dies (years from now) I'll just replace the battery. I also replaced one of the tone control pots with a push/pull switched pot - so the transmitter can be turned on by pulling the tone pot. It'll work wirelessly even with the guitar cable plugged in - which may be useful for some people I guess.
Nice! If you know how to replace the battery, you definitely know more than I do about that. Haha. That’ll save some money for sure
I have owned the Lekato for 4 months and I love it. I am a sessions musician, (guitar,keys) and I use it on all my work. Just remember to charge periodically and never use cables again. I would not use them for live performance as I prefer cables for tone to amp.
Yup! Really solid product for the price 🤘
The cable was actually my favorite in the lineup. The boss was my second favorite.
My Xvives do the same thing. I’m glad you explained it to me. It bugs me enough that I can’t even use them home.
the ammoon woodlike can also select the channel, press the LED in the transmiter :)
Oh sweet, thanks for the info!
it will flash 1 if ch1 2x if ch2.. etc it has 4 channel.
@@ScottUhlMusic thanks for the review of these products, I broke my ammoon woody so i am looking for a new one, also to confim the woody also works on Active, I used it on my emg loaded LP and Luke iii, i think ill get the newer black ammooon.