Xwire x905 Digital Wireless

The only controls are to select the channel from 1 to 5 on both the receiver and the transmitter. Power on, plug in, perfection...

This product digitizes the sound at your guitar using a 20 bit A/D converter, transmits the digital data without compression/expansion and converts the signal back to analog at the receiver. There are two other wireless systems I have seen that utilize this technology. One is a new version of the Xwire technology that uses a battery powered receiver that is meant to connect to a set of pedals or stomp boxes at the feet of the guitarist. The other is a high end professional system that would require a second mortgage and a degree in Electrical Engineering to use.
Because it uses no compression and expansion, the sound is pure and accurate. Every compansion system colors the sound. This may not bother you in a performance situation, but the purity of the sound with Xwire is why some people use them in recording studios. They are that good.

So far so good. I have heard the antenna wires on the transmitters are fragile but so far neither of my two Xwire systems has had a single hiccup. Dropouts are nonexistent withing 200 feet. What else can I say.

I have never had to seek support. Sennheiser bought out Xwire so you would have to try and get service from them.

I am a bass player who has been playing over 35 years. I love my Xwire. One of the guitarists in my band uses my second Xwire. Nobody is pickier than me about sound, at least no one I know. These are the bomb.

I play direct through either a Demeter preamp or an SWR Interstellar Overdrive. The guitarists use Lexicon Signature 284's or ART SGX 2000's. The sound system is a Mackie board run through Crown Macrotech power amps with all electronic crossovers into a custom built three way PA with 18" subs, 10" mids and 2" compression horns. When running a CD throught the system it sounds better than 80% of the home stereos I have heard. When we play it sounds like a studio recording.

The Xwires are perfect because the sound it perfect.

Would I replace them if lost or stolen, absolutely. There is no product in this price range with this performance on the market today.

Very easy to use. Put batteries in the transmitter, plug the receiver in, turn it on. RAWK!

Lakland basses through Ampeg SVT Classic head & 8x10 bottom. All monster cables. Sounds great - been using it for about 5 years now with very few problems.

Had problems twice - both times it was the antenna for the transmitter.

When Xwire was in business, they were awesome. First time the antenna broke I sent it in and got a repaired unit FAST & at NO cost. This year when it broke again there was NO support to be had, I took it to a local guy. Doesn't seem like there's anyone left who cares about taking care of them anymore.

I play 135+ shows/yr in a festival rock cover band. This thing has been with me every show for about 5 years now with only two small breakdowns. Would be great if they were still being made, I highly recommend them. GREAT product.

Easiest piece of gear to use WHEN its working....unfortunately, tech support is poor to non-existent!

Mic system is crap; bass/guitar system is better than anything out there WHEN it's working....arghh!!! if only Guy from xWire would answer his phone so I can schedule a repair.

No equipment is ever problem free and that's why I've got 2 backups (all 3 purchased at local Guitar Center for $50 each during their annual inventory sale), but what good is a wireless equipment if you can only use it as a paper weight? Transmitter more likely to go bad than receiver.

For crying out loud....answer the freakin' phone, Guy! We know you sold your digital wireless technology to Senheisser, and you now have sole ownership of xWire. We know you still fix the older xWire wireless systems and you have holdover stacks of these system almost clear to the celing in your warehouse at Sacramento (we know 'cause we have seen 'em!!!) We love this stuff, they're the best there is, blah, blah, blah, BUT they're useless when they ain't working....got it?

Best wireless ever made as long as it works! So, do all of us xWire owners a big favor, Guy. Answer the damn phone and repair our bad systems! Also, a lot of us would like to purchase a 2nd transmitter!!

I bought the Xwire unit like 4 years ago and it is still the best investment i have ever made.I use an Acoustic guitar set-up and it sounds clean (It keep that THICK,CLEAN,NATURAL sound that i like.
I was dissapointed when i found out they were bought out by another company, and lost there quality of performance and sound. I am looking for a wireless mic and i was hoping in purchasing an Xwire,
but i guess i have to start testing other units.

Our band was sent some of the first beta units to try out on the road. Never had any problems! You really can't get any easier when it comes to a wireless. Plug and play. No squelch to dial in (it's a wireless, not a CB people!!) You could always tell when the batteries were low by the readout on front. The unit is very light. I have an SKB 3-space shallow rack with a Korg DTR-1 Tuner and the Xwire (very easy to lug around)

Sound quality was excellent. No compression or sound coloration to worry about. If anything, without any cable to run through which normally sucks up some of the higher frequencies, you would notice maybe a little more high end in your sound. I haven't noticed it since I have never gone back to a cable and never really taken the time to A/B the two. Past set ups have been a Yamaha Pacifica USA 1 with Mesa/Boogie Triaxis rig, then went to Line6. I've heard of many an artist using this in the studio!

Never had any problems with the transmitter or receiver. I did melt a wallwart. In my opinion, the wallwarts heat up a little too much for my liking. When not in active use, I shut the thing down just to be safe.

Never had any problems so that is a good thing.

I know that Sennheiser bought out Xwire. I have had no experience with their version of the Xwire. It is much smaller being only 1/2 space, whereas the Xwire took up 2, so if space was/is a premium, it may be tough to put to fit it in somewhere. If you can find one for a good price, I don't think you can go wrong.

Just plug in and go. No squelch, no external antennas, no B.S. Very easy to hook up and operate!

I use very high quality basses and amps, so a cheap cord or wireless is detrimental to my tone. I actually get a clearer signal through the Xwire than a Monster cable! I don't even use a cord in the studio anymore. The studio engineers couldn't believe the difference.

Been using it for over a year now, so far it's performed flawlessly.

I don't see how a company can build the best of a particular product and not stay in business. I've noticed a lot of famous, touring pros who use these, some replacing wirelesses that cost three times what an Xwire costs. Xwire still has their service department running, but they sold the technology to Sennheiser. Word on the street is the Sennheisers are giving a lot of trouble. I also hear that Xwire service will be ending soon. That's the only downside to this awesome product. Hopefully there will be some trained ex-Xwire (pun intended) service people out there who will be willing to help anyone who needs to have their 905 worked on. Note to Xwire: I'll change my rating in this category if you don't leave me and my fellow Xwire users hung out to dry! (Worth a try, anyway!)

I play 4 & 5-string G&L basses loaded with EMG's, SWR Bass 750 amp with SWR Goliath Sr. 6x10 cab. I use EBS effects and Korg/Toneworks tuners. Everyone I've talked to who is serious about tone hates the mention of a wireless. After they hear and see what the Xwire does, they start hunting for one. 'Nuff said.

SIMPLE! AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS ON 5 WIRELESS UNITS , THIS IS IT !
I HAVE HAD IT FOR 3 YEARS & HAVEN'T HAD A DROP OUT - NOT 1.

TRANSPARENT SOUND; JUST LIKE PLUGGING RIGHT INTO YOUR AMP. 4 INTERNAL ANTENNAS ELIMINATE DROP OUT.

VERY RELIABLE !

THE PEOPLE AT X WIRE ARE VERY COOL ! LOTS OF INFORMATION IN THE MANUAL.

I PLAY IN A POWER TRIO, AN ACOUSTIC SOLOIST , & A HORN BAND. I HAVE BEEN GIGGING SINCE I WAS 13 (I'M 45), & HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF PRODUCTS (IT NEVER ENDS FOR GEAR SLUTS!).IN EVERY SITUATION THE 905 WORKS FLAWLWSSLY. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I DON'T SEE THEM ADVERTISE ANYMORE & I WONDER WHY, WHEN THEY HAVE THE BEST WIRELESS AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. OH WELL , THEY MIGHT WANT TO STAY A SECRET. TOO BAD.
A +++++++

Very easy to use. All you have to is plug the transmitter into your guitar and plug the output of the receiver into your amp. Simple.

The sound quality is pristine. It is really what they advertise. It sounds like having the cord between you and your amp. There is no companding circuity squashing your tone or any coloration of tone. I haven't had to test this beyond a range of 100 feet. I have used it for a few months now and I have never had any interference or drop outs ever.

I have not had any problems with it. It it failed it would be a matter of just plugging my cord back in. The transmitter uses 4 AA batteries. Battery life is 11 hours.

Never had to deal with them.

I play rock, R & B, Funk and Jazz. This is good for any kind of music where you need the freedom to move around on stage. I use this with my guitar rack which is loaded with Mesa preamps and power amp, among other things. I did an A/B comparison with the Sony, Shure and Audio Technica models. I still wish batteries lasted longer but all wireless units share this problem. If it were stolen or lost, I would try to get another. It is pretty expensive. $700 is a lot for the average musician....thank god for day jobs.

A high quality DIGITAL WIRELESS SYSTEM. Cake to use. No knobs, just channel and power switches. There is a green lit panel with signal in db's, and battery time. It also indicates what % channel A and B are oporating at. Also, lets you know how much time is left on the battery in the bodypack!!!! Very simple.

What goes in comes out. My tone, noise from the single coils...it's all there. I was floored by its clean quiet sound. ABSOLUTLY NO TONE ALTERATIONS. I even hooked this to a vohm meter to measure impeadance and milivolt output and was shocked it was the same as the guitar direct. I always steered away from wireless systems because of the noise, dropouts, and tone changes. Not to mention the squelch and input levels which hinder ones godly tone. the system is based on digital signal simular to CD players. The analog to digital converter is in the body pack. It takes the guitar signal at its sourse (the guitar!!!!) and converts it to digital information, then sends it to the reciever and converts it back to analog then to your amp. Sooooo, what goes in comes out. It sits comfortably in my SKB 16u rack on the lower shelf! I spent an hour switching from going straight to the Marshall and going xwireless. You have to try it.

It's a fairly new product and I'm unsure. I would have to say I could depend on it. Iv'e had it for a week. Absoluty no dropouts and his...etc. I have it in my basement and had a freind take a guitar and go upstairs and head outside. He went to a baseball field about 1/4 of a mile and I sat in the basement and DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT HE WAS PLAYING!!!! I swear he could have kept walking. They say it can handle 200-300 feet under the most adverse conditions. How many of us have our gear in the basement and play a 1/4 of a mile away???

Haven't dealt with them.

Just increadable. I've been playing for 25 years and hated wireless systems due to their obvious problems. This thing is a winner. Also, the unit came with a cord which attaches the body pack to the guitar and simulates the sound (resistance) of a ten foot cord. Since most musicians know that the cable has a effect on your tone???!!! You can order various lengths. The reciver has four antennas built into a tough plastic case. I had it on the secong to last space in my rack. Closest to the floor, while in the basement!!! The unit has a green display screen and lets you know how much time the battery in the body pack has!!!!! Just a great unit.