Wireless Recommendations - Nady vs. Line 6

[Doth]

Hey guys,

I think this fits best in this forum because one of these fits in a pedal board. I currently have a Nady UHF 4 and the instrument cable has started to short out. A replacement from Nady is only $10, but I also started looking at some new technology, specifically the Line 6 G30 and G50. Has the technology changed enough to warrant an upgrade?

I mostly play at home or at friends houses, never really gig. What are your recommendations?

Don

[honeycreek]

I LOVE my Line 6 G30. Although I can't compare it to what you have, I would guess that it is quite a bit better than a UHF based wireless. If you are happy with what you have, I'm not sure it would be worth the cost though for home playing.

[Doth]

Thanks honeycreek. What system does the Line 6 run on? It seems like it would be the same frequency as my home wifi. Is there any interference?

[JoshuaCLS]

I'm sorry just can't rock a wireless unless I were to drop some serious dough. I've had some crappy ones in the past (even at the $500 range) and just wasn't the same as cable into amp.

[studio1087]

The G30 is really nice.

I have one and I've walked out of my house (it's brick), shut the sliding glass door and walked 3 acres across the back field and my friends say that the sound remains perfect in the basement rehearsal space.

Most of the really cheap wireless units sound horrible because of the compander that squeezes the signal before it is transmitted. The Line 6 Relay is is compander-free. It's different.

Line 6 has this goofy diagram on their website. I believe this.....

[tazzboy]

If I was going to go wireless I would go with Line6

[Doth]

Studio1087,

That is goofy diagram gives a good explanation of the differences. It's like a compressor then, I assume. I am tempted to get the $10 cable, and see if I can hear compression going on. It has been over five years since I used the Nady, and I was a heavy drinker at the time, so who knows what it sounds like.

The guys at the shop couldn't really tell me difference in a way that I would understand. Although they spoke highly of the G30, they did say that the G50 is a better unit because it has metal casing instead of plastic and exterior antennas, but since I don't gig, I don't think that would be an issue.

I am open to hearing more opinions while I wait for the $10 cable!

Don

[studio1087]

The box that houses the G30 feels like a very durable composite material.

I work in packaging engineering and I spend a lot of time with unique plastics. I don't think that you would ever have to worry about the housing on the G30. It's designed very well.

I'm sold.

[Doth]

John,

I like a lot about the G30:
1. Receiver can be added to pedal board
2. Receiver can be powered by One Spot
3. Transmitter powered by AA batteries, not 9V
4. No Compression (per your diagram)
5. YouTube clips sounds very good, don't see any latency issues
6. Instrument cable is a standard guitar cable rather than proprietary cable

The only con is that I already have the Nady and only need a $10 cable and the Nady receiver has an XLR out (which I don't use).

I will probably end up getting one, but I just keep thinking of the pedals I could buy with $250!

Don

[honeycreek]

Originally Posted by Doth

Thanks honeycreek. What system does the Line 6 run on? It seems like it would be the same frequency as my home wifi. Is there any interference?

It can use different bands. I do not have any issue with interference at home. In fact, I've used it in a lot of places and have never had an issue with interference.

[Mad Kiwi]

I too have the g30 and love it. I hate tripping over cables and them constantly banging my leg and getting trod on etc...

The g30 is perfect, no wifi interference, no appreciable change in tone and it also has a cable length switch that seems to work quite well.

[Doth]

Thanks guys,

I am so appreciative of the TDPRI for getting honest opinions on equipment.

Don

[Wayne Alexander]

The only wireless I've used is the Line 6 line - I have a G30, which is very good, no detectable sonic difference between that and a cable, and there's a cable simulation option that darkens the tone some, or more, depending on where you set the knob.

The G30 is fine, the G50 is very much worth the extra $100. The G50 has 12channels, the G30 has 6 (the first six channels are the same, so either transmitter can work with either receiver). The G50 has a METAL case on the transmitter unit with a better battery door than the G30. That alone has relegated my G30 to the "spare" pile. The G50 has a 200 foot range, the G30 has a 100 foot range. The G50 has better signaling of battery level than the G30, though I think battery life is the same.

Overall, the two units seem to be pretty much the same sonically, the G50 is more durable with a few more features, the big selling point to me was the better case and battery door on the G50. To be clear, the G30 is very, very good, you just have to be more careful with the transmitter, and it takes more concentration/attention to make sure the battery door is closed so your batteries don't fall out at an unfortunate time.

[Doth]

Wayne,

Thank you for the information. Lots of things to consider. Might be wise to save up just a little and get the G50.

Don

[Doth]

Here is an update.

I called Nady to order the $10 cable to make due while I decided that to pursue. The tech support rep would not sell me the cable because the UHF4 is now out of compliance with the FCC rules, but offered to do a trade in for a new system at about $85 with tax and shipping. I asked how it compares to the Line 6 to help me decide which is a better system for me. The rep was extremely rude and didn't seem to understand why I would consider switching brands. I started to explain that if I was going to have to upgrade to a new unit, then I want to make sure it will be future-proof, but it was falling on deaf ears. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and really try to support local companies, but the customer support was inexcusable.

I will be buying a Line 6 this week. Now I guess the decision is between the G30 and the G50.


BTW, the rep did say that all of Nady's products are analog and all of the signals are compressed for transmission.

[donh]

Doth,

Now you know about Nady. I did the go-'round about 3 decades back. eu.

[Doth]

donh,

Yes, I now know about Nady first hand. It wasn't like I was asking a complicated question. I just wanted to know why I should spend my money with them, and their answer wasn't very strong. They said because I have used them before and I liked them. I had to try to explain that I was calling them because their proprietary cable was a POS and now my unit is illegal, so my past experience wasn't a great reason to purchase again. I was hoping they would explain their new technology and why it has improved. Unfortunately, either I wasn't expressing my question well or they did not have a great answer. Either way, I cannot spend more money with them.

On the flip side, I get to try a new product that many here rave about.

Don

[Al Watsky]

I have a line 6 G50
It has worked perfectly thus far.
Folks I work for say they can't hear any difference between wireless and hard wired sound.
Thats pretty good right there.
The housing is sturdy.
The transmitter runs on 2 AA's.
I voted yes on the Line 6.
The only thing better seemed to run close to double the price, if not more, and was a full rack space receiver. Not an option for the way I travel. I jam econo.

[Thighbanez]

Originally Posted by tazzboy

If I was going to go wireless I would go with Line6

Based on the information here and on youtube, I'm getting one of these and taking my wah out of my pedalcase. It will be nice to go wireless and not have to worry about people tripping over my guitar cable when they come into the musicians pit. I will have to get my old AA-recharger and rechargables out of the garage and put them to use.

The great thing about this system is that the receiver will run off of my One-Spot!! And with the purity in passing the signal/tone I will get all of my highs back and I can reduce the highs on the amp and on my guitar tone knob.