X2 XDR95 & XDS95
When I added a wireless transmitter to my home Internet connection a few years ago, I experienced a “this is what technology is for” moment. Free from being tethered to the wall with a cable, I could now lurk forums at the kitchen table or answer e-mails while sprawled on the couch. To borrow a marketing catchphrase, I was now free to roam.
Going wireless on bass may not change my day-to-day life as much, but man, is it cool to be free. I tried two of X2’s wireless instrument systems, the stompbox-size XDS95 and the rackmount XDR95 systems. Both X2s are unlike any other wireless out there. While other wireless units use analog transmissions, requiring compression and expansion of the signal, X2 eliminates those steps by converting your bass signal into a flood of ones and zeros using analog-to-digital conversion (AD) in their transmitters and digital-to-analog (DA) in the receivers.
A wireless unit is one of those pieces of gear that is at its best when you don’t notice it’s there. Both systems use X2’s 24-bit/128x oversampling for glassy-smooth AD/DA translation. X2 claims that its technology is impervious to outside interference or added noise, and I believe it. I didn’t experience any interference or noise while using the X2s. Both units were quiet until I got to the extremes of their reception ranges.The X2s share an interesting feature: a trs output jack that allows connection to an amp with either mono 1/4" instrument cable or a trs-to-dual mono Y-cable. The Y-cable offers a parallel output for connection to a tuner, but more important, it takes advantage of the X2s’ full-bandwidth capabilities. With a mono 1/4" cable, the X2 adds capacitance to the outgoing signal to mimic the high-frequency attenuation characteristic of medium-length instrument cable. But the “ring” conductor of the trs cable produces a full-bandwidth signal, which to picky audiophiles may be audible as increased high-frequency presence. In practice, I couldn’t perceive an audible difference, but in a hi-fi recording context, the extra sheen may be desirable.
XDR95 Digital UHF
The rackmountable XDR receiver is housed in a polycarbonate shell. It felt a bit chintzy for a $500 unit, but since it’s the same material used in police riot shields and laptop shells, the receiver will probably be okay even if a riot breaks out at your next gig. For rackmounting ease, the antennas can be mounted in the unit’s front or back.
The XDR’s greatest strength is its Q-DiversityPLUS broadcast system. This system is unique; it broadcasts on two separate radio frequencies received by four receivers. The system acts as two separate true-diversity receivers operating simultaneously, with one focused on low frequencies and the other focused on highs. Common in radio receivers, true diversity uses a comparison circuit to constantly select the stronger incoming signal from a pair of receivers, ideally creating a stable signal free of dropouts or interference.
Operating the X2 is caveman-easy: Switch on both receiver and transmitter, make sure they’re on the same channel, and play. I compared the X2 to a high-quality cable using both active and passive basses. The wireless’s sound was impressively transparent and dynamic, with only slightly less high-frequency detail than the cable. The lack of audible compression or processed vibe made it sound more like I switched to a different cable, not a wireless unit.
With the help of BP Editorial Intern Marty Fowler, I found the XDR’s long-distance reception and sound were remarkably stable. While Marty was walking around our office building playing a bass with an XDR transmitter, I monitored the sound and the XDR’s signal-strength display. He went up four stories in an elevator before the signal crackled. When the XDR stopped receiving, the sound garbled for an instant before going silent. Until then, the X2’s sound didn’t change—it remained solid and transparent.
The XDR receiver also showed the transmitter’s battery level and signal strength, which were easy to read with quick glances. This was helpful, because the transmitter uses more energy than you may be accustomed to with effect pedals. It’s worth commending the X2 for having enough headroom that it doesn’t need a signal-clip warning light. No amount of ham-handed slapping overwhelmed the X2.
List price $900
Street price $500
Pros Nearly transparent sound; great signal tracking; easy to use
Cons None
Bottom line A wireless unit that sounds good; just make sure to have spare batteries.
XDS95 Digital UHF
The two stompbox-size units of the XDS wireless make it the more portable of the two systems. The XDS transmitter is about the same size as the XDR’s, but it has a shorter range and a narrower frequency response. I never noticed the latter; when compared to a cable, the XDS had a barely noticeable amount of high-end detail loss that was similar to the XDR’s.
The XDS’s receiver easily fits on a pedalboard or in your gig bag. Its foam bottom grabs onto almost any surface and keeps the light pedal from sliding around. The receiver uses a simplified system, called Q-Diversity, which uses four antennas but doesn’t include the XDR’s high/low frequency split.
If there’s a hitch to the XDS, it’s battery consumption. The receiver uses a lot of juice; relying on battery power for both pieces will soon have you buying 9-volts in bulk. Compounding this inconvenience is the battery compartment’s screwed-down hatch. I’d recommend using an ac adapter—which isn’t included—or putting a fresh 9-volt in before every gig. If you didn’t, you could lose your signal midway through a song, which happened to one staffer at a rehearsal. Initially the battery-level light indicated that the battery was full, but it wasn’t. (Let’s just say the drummer suddenly found that she had plenty of space.)
I was impressed with both X2 systems’ sound quality. While most great gear makes you sound better, the X2s excelled because they didn’t tamper with my tone. By spending the extra $200 on the XDR, you can feel confident in the unit’s longer range, signal stability, and full-bandwidth signal. But in most live situations, the smaller, lower-priced XDS would be great for any bassist who wants to be free. If you’re looking for a wireless unit, bump the X2 to the top of your queue. The technology is waiting for you.
List price $528
Street price $300
Pros Nearly transparent sound; great signal tracking; easy to use
Cons Battery consumption
Bottom line A wireless unit that sounds good; just make sure to have spare batteries.
Contact (916) 779-1040 www.x2digitalwireless.com
TECH SPECS
XDR95
Frequency response 10Hz–20kHz
Audio dynamic range >118dB
THD <0.03%
RF carrier frequency 902MHz–928MHz
Number of channels 5
RF output power 15mW
AD/DA conversion 24-bit delta sigma, 128x oversampling
Input impedance 1.2MΩ
Outputs xlr, 1/4"
Operating distance Max. 300 feet with receiver in sight
Battery life Q-DiversityPLUS mode, 5.5 hours (dual frequency); Q-Diversity mode, 6.5 hours in standard (single frequency)
Weight Transmitter, 0.25 lbs with battery; receiver, 2.5 lbs
XDS95
Frequency response 20Hz–12kHz
Audio dynamic range >117dB
THD <0.03%
RF carrier frequency 902MHz–928MHz
Number of channels 5
RF output power 10mW
AD/DA conversion 24-bit delta sigma, 128x oversampling
Input impedance 1.3MΩ
Output 1/4"
Operating distance Max. 150 feet with receiver in sight
Battery life Transmitter, 12 hours (9-volt battery); receiver, 8 hours (9-volt battery)
Weight Transmitter, 0.25 lbs with battery; receiver, 0.45 lbs with battery
Made in U.S.A.
Warranty Two years
