Whether you tear up the stage like Flea or hold steady in a John Entwistle-like pose, going wireless gives you more than mere mobility. Your stage will look cleaner without cables all over the floor, and clearing the area will also have the benefit of making it safer. Beyond that, you’ll eliminate the grounding issues that can cause noises and electrical shocks. But with the vast array of wireless bass systems available, where do you start? First of all, go digital. Analog has its place, but you’ll need a digital system’s wide frequency response to preserve your low end. Also, what kind of player are you? A beginner? A weekend warrior? A pro? At Sweetwater, we carry everything from small entry-level setups to full-blown professional rigs from top brands like Shure, Line 6, Sennheiser, and Audio-Technica. So what’s the best bass wireless system for you? Read on!
Shure GLX-D Series
Shure’s wireless systems have been popular with bassists for a long time, and their GLX-D series is one of Sweetwater’s top sellers. Acclaimed for its amazing audio clarity, ease of use, and bang for your buck, the GLXD14 features Shure’s sophisticated LINKFREQ automatic frequency management and bidirectional communication. These technologies link your transmitter and receiver and prevent dropouts by automatically jumping to a clear channel when interference rears its ugly head. A 200-foot operating range and up to 16 hours of continuous use make the GLXD14 an appealing option for onstage use. The GLXD16 packs the same performance into a pedalboard-friendly enclosure.
Shure PGXD14 Digital Wireless Guitar System
For players on a budget, look no further than Shure’s PGXD14. Its rugged, stage-ready transmitter makes short work of feedback while providing excellent 24-bit/48kHz sound quality. Dual antennas give you the stability of true diversity reception, and one-touch scanning instantly finds a clear frequency to ensure a reliable connection between its transmitter and receiver. You get up to 10 hours of battery life and a 200-foot operating range. Add to that all the frequency response a bassist could ask for, and you’ve got a rock-solid wireless bass system for not a lot of moola.
Shure Axient Series
If you’re reaching for a premium, money-is-no-object bass wireless system, the Shure Axient series should be at the top of your list. These systems are truly on the cutting edge – a Frequency Diversity mode offers unparalleled signal reliability, along with a wide tuning range up to 184MHz for maximum spectrum coverage. Benefit from advanced frequency scanning of your entire venue, thanks to Axient’s Spectrum manager, which supplies you with optimal performance in every corner of the room. You always know the status of your batteries, by virtue of smart batteries and networked charging. And you’ll enjoy 11 hours of continuous use and a 330-foot operating range. Loaded with comprehensive remote capabilities, Shure’s Axient series is top-shelf all the way.
Line 6 Relay Series
Line 6’s Relay series provides a full frequency response – all the way down to a rumbling 10Hz – making these systems especially suitable for bass guitar. If you’re on the lookout for affordability and ease of use, you can’t go wrong with the Line 6 Relay G10. This bass wireless system gives you a 50-foot operating range, plug-and-play simplicity, and up to eight hours of continuous use. If you want more, the Relay G30 ups your range to 100 feet and features Line 6’s Virtual Wire Transmission technology, which delivers the full-frequency sound and response you’d expect from a high-quality instrument cable. You can also match your Relay system to the sound of your favorite cable using Line 6’s Cable Tone Simulator. The Relay G50 increases your range to 200 feet and doubles its compatible channels. The Relay G55 increases your range to 300 feet, while the Relay G70 fits on your pedalboard. And the Relay G90 is a pro-quality rackmount wireless bass system.
Sennheiser EW D1-CI1
If you’re in a band with other musicians who are using wireless systems, the Sennheiser EW D1-CI1 is a great choice. Its Automatic Frequency Management continuously scans for interference and changes frequencies if needed for up to eight systems – on the fly! These systems also detect each other and work seamlessly together to assign and manage frequencies. In essence, the EW D1-CI1 takes a complicated setup and makes it simple. Beyond that, you get ample frequency response and dynamic range, up to six hours of continuous use, and an operating range of more than 200 feet.
Audio-Technica System 10 Series
Audio-Technica’s System 10 series is acclaimed for its bulletproof performance, and the ATW-1101/G is no exception. Frequency Diversity sends the signal on two dynamically allocated frequencies for clear, interference-free performance. Time Diversity sends the signal in multiple time slots, which maximizes immunity to multipath interference. And Space Diversity employs two antennas on each transmitter and receiver, providing the utmost in signal integrity. The ATW-1101/G provides up to seven hours of battery life and a 100-foot operating range. And if you want the same quality performance on your pedalboard, try the ATW-1501. You can toggle between different outputs and amplifiers and mute or unmute each output independently, all with the tap of your foot. Beyond that, you can pair your receiver with up to eight transmitters, making it easy to switch between basses without moving a bodypack from one instrument to the next. The ATW-1501 gives you up to seven hours of continuous use and a 60-foot operating range.
If you’ve been holding out because you thought a wireless system couldn’t handle your bass’s low end, think again. Modern digital wireless bass systems deliver sound quality that rivals a cable, without any of the cable’s shortcomings. So what bass wireless system belongs in your rig? Give your Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700. They’ll find the perfect system for your needs and budget.
