Going wireless from using a regular guitar cable is a daunting proposition. I've debated over it for many years before finally making the switch after having a bad experience with a cheaper system, but now I've been using one for the last year or so, I can honestly say adding one of the best guitar wireless systems to your setup can be a total gamechanger.
My fears were the same as many guitarists, the idea of interference, and the quality of the battery. The last thing anyone wants, especially while playing live, is extraneous noises or just no signal at all, and these are the main barriers between guitarists like myself and wireless guitar systems. The thing is, those problems are largely an issue of the past, as the quality of wireless systems has gone up massively in recent years.
They're also a lot more accessible than they have been, so if you're after something on a budget then you should check out the XVive A58, which is a reliable and great value-for-money system. If you want the best overall, I think the king is still the Line 6 Relay G10S, which hits that nice 'prosumer' balance of top-end features without the gigantic price point.
If you're not sure how to go about selecting the best wireless guitar system for your needs, go check out my how to choose section which will guide you through everything you need to know. If you have any burning questions I've got an FAQ section for that, and I've put together a handy spec comparison of all my top choices to help make your life easier.
My top picks
The Line 6 Relay G10S has been around for a while now, but it's still my favorite guitar wireless system overall. For me, it combines the best of all worlds in terms of durability, its ability to be mounted to a pedalboard, and flexibility in terms of setup. With an 8-hour transmitter life, it's more than capable of being used for live players too.
The recently released XVive A58 has usurped the best-selling U2 system as my favorite wireless guitar system if you want great value for money. Packed full of features and with a redesigned housing that looks a lot more modern, six channels plus a handy active/passive switch make it a great choice for the budget-conscious.
Buying your first guitar wireless system can be a daunting prospect, which is why I highly recommend the Fender Telepath system which puts ease of use at its heart. I love the easily distinguishable transmitter and receiver, the sound quality is excellent, and it delivers excellent battery life.
If you're regularly playing live you're going to need a wireless system that's rugged and long-lasting, which is exactly why I'd recommend the Shure GLX-D16 system. Providing a huge 12-hour transmitter life and easily mounted to a pedalboard, it's a great system for the regularly gigging guitar player.
As you might demand of a Boss unit, the WL-50 has a receiver that’s at home on your pedalboard, offering a convenient but excellent sound-quality performance. In my experience, the WL-50 offers ultra-low latency, excellent dynamics, full frequency response, and a very respectable 65-foot range.
With a robust connection and near instantaneous pairing, the Positive Grid Spark Link is my top choice for players who are mainly playing at home. I use one in my own home setup alongside a PG Spark Mini practice amp and it's durably built, lightweight, and fits every guitar in my collection.
Best overall
✅ Buy if you want a great all-around wireless system: Combining a great selection of features, durable build quality, and the ability to mount it on your pedalboard, the GS10S covers a huge array of guitarists' needs whether you only play at home or are regularly gigging.
❌ Avoid if you use active pickups: Unfortunately there are some compatibility issues with this unit and active pickups, which may mean your guitar won't work with it.
Designed for use with guitar or bass, the Line 6 Relay G10S can be housed on a pedalboard or beside your guitar amp as a standalone unit. It uses a transmitter with a 1/4-inch connector that attaches to your guitar’s output, much as a Wi-Fi dongle would for a laptop or TV.
I love the fact that you can use it as a DI box thanks to the XLR direct out, and there's a little micro switch on the transmitter that engages it and enables silent plugging in and out, great if you want to switch guitars mid-session.
With a full frequency response, a wide dynamic range to ensure your signal does not get compressed en route to your amplifier, 24-bit lossless digital audio quality, and Line 6’s Cable Tone tech to emulate the capacitance of a regular guitar cable, the G10S is an excellent system for the price, and offers fuss-free setup.
Best budget
✅ Buy if you're on a tight budget: This wireless system is dirt cheap compared to some of the others on this list, so perfect for those who have less cash to splash.
❌ Avoid if you care about the look: The dongles here are quite bulky and some dislike the look of them when plugged into their guitars.
Don’t be fooled – for the money and the unassuming dongle construction, XVive’s A58 has a very respectable range, a full frequency response, and transfers excellent-quality audio. Considering many guitar wireless systems can cost well over the $200 mark, the XVive A58 delivers for much less.
The precursor system the XVive U2 was much maligned for its bulbous and slightly tacky look, but thankfully that's been taken care of with this latest iteration, which has much more in common with other wireless systems available nowadays. It's also been upgraded from the single channel of the U2 to six channels, and it automatically picks the best channel based on signal strength.
It can be quite hard to tell the transmitter and receiver apart, particularly on a dark stage, but for an easily configurable wireless system offering this performance and change from 150 bucks, we can live with that.
"While I didn’t get to play a venue large enough to allow me to judge the 100ft range, I did conduct the obligatory ‘play guitar downstairs into an amp upstairs’ test, which introduced only a tiny bit of latency, despite two floors and numerous Wi-Fi signals in between."
Read more: XVive A58 review
Best for beginners
✅ Buy if you want your first wireless system: It's super easy to set up and use the Fender Telepath, and it has loads of useful features, making it our top pick for those who are new to guitar wireless systems.
❌ Avoid if you want adjustable cable tone: The Telepath only has one cable setting unlike some others in this guide, so look elsewhere if you like the sound of a particular cable length.
I ummed and ahhed over my first guitar wireless system for a lot of reasons, but mainly it was because when I started playing guitar there weren't all that many options aimed at beginners. It's a very different world though nowadays, so if you're looking for ease of use then the Fender Telepath is my top choice.
While using it I found my tone was completely unaffected despite it being wireless, and I couldn't tell any difference between using it and using my regular guitar cable. It's a small detail, but the fact that the transmitter and receiver are different colors is actually really useful, as most wireless systems don't tend to differentiate all that well. It's fine if you're at home but if you're at a gig on a dark stage and need to move in a hurry it becomes a lot more useful.
The units themselves are nice and lightweight, so you won't fell them at all when they're plugged into your guitar. The active/passive switch lowers the output which is great for hot humbuckers like EMGs, and is easily accessible making it great if you're swapping guitars a lot.
"Sonically, I found my guitar just as dynamic and punchy as with a cable, but it should be noted that Fender’s promised cable tone simulation is very subtle. In fact, I found my tone was slightly brighter compared to using my regular 15ft cable, or even a rival wireless system from Xvive – but to my surprise, I actually preferred it."
Read more: Fender Telepath review
Best for live performance
✅ Buy if you need a tough wireless system for playing live: Ruggedly built and packed full of features like auto frequency management, the GLX-D16 is perfect for those looking for a more professional wireless system.
❌ Avoid if you're on a budget: This is one of the more expensive wireless systems here, so not for those on a tight budget.
For those players who are regularly gigging or touring, you'll need a tough guitar wireless system with a nice long range for those festival stages. Enter the Shure GLX-D16, which is designed for professional guitar players.
This system ships with Shure’s first pedalboard receiver, the GLX-D6, the GLX-D1 transmitter pack, and the WA305 Premium 1/4-inch to TA4F guitar cable that has a locking thread for secure connections between the transmitter and your guitar. We have to say, everything feels secure here and super-tough.
The GLX-D6 has a metal enclosure and is built to be positioned where it may get stepped on, and its bright LED tuner (strobe and needle) is a huge bonus. The unit features Shure’s LINKFREQ Automatic Frequency Management, so it will always find you a solid signal. If there’s interference, the unit will simply switch to another so that you can keep on playing.
Best for pedalboards
✅ Buy if you need a wireless system for your pedalboard: Similar in size to a regular Boss stompbox, the WL-50 is perfect for pedalboard users who don't want too much space taken up on their 'board.
❌ Avoid if you have active pickups: Much like the Line 6 G10S, this unit isn't compatible with some active pickups, which is due to the way some active pickup-equipped guitars are wired.
As you might demand of a Boss unit, the WL-50 has a receiver that’s at home on your pedalboard, offering a convenient but excellent sound-quality performance. In my experience, the WL-50 offers ultra-low latency, excellent dynamics, full frequency response, and a very respectable 65-foot range.
It also has two onboard cable simulations to mimic the capacitance of a cable - It's exactly what we are looking for in a wireless system. It's important to note that although the transmitter charges when placed in the receiver, if there's no power going to your 'board it will drain the battery. I found this out the hard way when I brought it to practice and the transmitter immediately went to red when I plugged it in, so you'll need to make sure you don't push it in all the way in between sessions.
Despite that small issue, I found myself playing for well over 5 hours before the light changed color, so I wouldn't have any qualms about using it live. I also love that you can power an additional pedal with the unit, so essentially you're not taking up a precious pedalboard power supply slot when using it.
"I've oft-debated whether or not to go completely wireless for shows and the WL-50 makes a compelling argument for me. There’s plenty of great functionality to make your life easier and assuage any fears of signal or battery loss, and the sound is simply fantastic."
Read more: Boss WL-50 review
Best for home use
✅ Buy if you want something easy to set up: Pairing the Positive Grid Spark Link took us less than a minute, making it perfect for first-timers or those who want a fuss-free experience.
❌ Avoid if you want to play live: There's no pedalboard-mounted charging facility, so you'll need a separate phone charger if you want to use them live and prevent any mishaps.
A new offering from everyone’s favorite smart amp manufacturer, the Positive Grid Spark Link is a wireless guitar system that pairs perfectly with the company’s smart amps, making it an excellent choice for guitarists playing at home.
Nearly instantaneous pairing makes it easy to get off the mark, and it's easily one of the simplest wireless units to set up I've ever had. There was some slight confusion at first as to which was the receiver and which was the transmitter, but once you see the gold band on the input and the different direction of the arrows it's immediately obvious which is which.
The sound quality is phenomenal, and I managed to walk around our entire house whilst maintaining a signal and even placed it near my WiFi router with no noticeable interference. The only downside for me is that there’s no dedicated charger for mounting on a pedalboard, which could limit some of its potential as a live wireless guitar system.
Read the full Positive Grid Spark Link review
"Simply switch them on, plug them in and away you go. If you are in a band and there are multiple LINKs in the room, you can switch the channels to ensure there is no interference. This is done by pressing the discrete button on each of the units – the color of the LED will change to indicate which channel you are using."
Read more: Positive Grid Spark Link review
Spec comparison
If you're struggling to decide between some of the options here, my handy spec comparison table should help you narrow down your choices. It features all the key specs of the wireless guitar systems side by side to help you make a better buying decision.
Model | Range | Battery life | Latency | Freq. Response | Dynamic range | Band | Sample rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Line 6 Relay G10S | 130ft | 7 hours | N/A | 10Hz-20kHz | >112dB | 2.4GHz | 24-bit |
XVive A58 | 70ft | 5 hours | 6ms | 20Hz-20kHz | >103dB | 2.4GHz | 24-bit/48kHz |
Fender Telepath | 70ft | 8 hours | 4ms | 20Hz-20kHz | 100dB | 5.8GHz | N/A |
Shure GLX-D16 | 100ft | 12 hours | N/A | 20Hz-20kHz | 120dB | 2.4GHz | N/A |
Boss WL-50 | 65ft | 7 hours | 2.3ms | 20Hz-20kHz | >110dB | 2.4GHz | N/A |
Positive Grid Spark Link | 70ft | 6 hours | >3ms | 20Hz-20kHz | 96dB | 2.4GHz | 24-bit/48kHz |
Also consider
For me, the wireless systems above are the best in the business, but I do appreciate that every guitarist has a different need. If you didn't find what you were looking for above, then here are some more great options to consider.
How to choose
When looking to invest in one of the best guitar wireless systems, there's one main thing you should consider before buying. Most of today’s best wireless guitar systems are very easy to use with many offering a 'plug in and play' experience, so you won’t need a background in audio-engineering to set yourself up - but you will need to ask yourself a few questions before taking the plunge.
1. Wireless range
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Different wireless systems offer different features and wireless ranges. A big consideration should be how far you need it to reach. If you’re playing big stages, or you like to wander around the venue, then look for something that covers a good distance. Having a big wireless range is also really handy during a soundcheck as it lets you roam around the empty venue so that you can hear how you and your band sound in different parts of the room whilst you play. If you’re only playing at home, then don’t worry about range too much, as you’ll probably only need a few meters.
2. Channels
If you’re playing big or medium-sized shows, then you’ll likely want something that’s of premium quality for reliability. It’s also worth looking for something that offers multiple channel options – if you’re on a bill with another band using wireless equipment, you might get interference if you’re all on the same channel. Having the ability to switch your system to another channel or frequency range should get rid of this.
3. Quality
Quality plays a part too of course. Generally, the more you pay, the higher the quality. Whilst cheaper stuff might work and do everything that you need it to, some of the more expensive models will likely help retain your guitar’s inherent tone. A better quality transmitter is going to keep the strength of your high and low frequencies so that you still get a really balanced sound and broad frequency range; a must if you’re precious about your tone.
FAQs
What is a guitar wireless system?
A wireless guitar system is usually made up of two parts – a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter normally consists of a jack plug leading into a small pack via a cable that then wirelessly transmits your guitar’s signal to the receiver. In some cases, the transmitter actually has a jack plug built in so this simply plugs into your guitar. The receiver then – yep, you guessed it – receives the signal and sends it on to your amp or pedal via a regular guitar cable.
If your receiver is sat on top of your amp then you’ll only need a really short cable to patch into the front of it. You can mount the receiver onto your pedalboard too – this gives you the freedom to move around as much as you want, but remember, you’ll still need a cable running from your pedalboard to your amp.
The receiver is normally powered by a mains supply – some of the more pedalboard-friendly models accept your typical 9V pedalboard power supply which makes things easier. The receiver is often powered by batteries though many of them now feature a built-in battery, so you just have to make sure you’ve charged it up before use and check out the estimated battery life offered by various models.
How much should I spend on a guitar wireless system?
This path of wireless system self-discovery starts with probably the most important question - where will you be using it? We all love buying the coolest, best, most expensive version of the product we want, but is there much point when you'll only be using it in your bedroom whilst practicing your stage moves?
Honestly, the answer is no. If you're using a wireless system for anything other than big shows, any of the cheaper or mid-range systems will suffice. The sub-$250 price bracket is packed full of killer choices like the Line 6 Relay G10S, Boss WL50 and NUX B-5RC, all of which would be plenty good enough for any practice session, jam or club show.
Obviously, if you've got more to spend and want the very best, any of the more expensive $250+ options will do you right - with increased durability, larger range and arguably a better tone - although the returns in tonal improvement will be very much diminishing.
Do guitar wireless systems work with active pickups?
Many wireless systems are not compatible with guitars with active pickups because of how the TRS jack output is configured. Always check your guitar and with the manufacturer before you get started. If you find yourself with such an issue, don’t go reversing your jack output just yet – a more simple fix might be to use a 1/4-inch adaptor or a 1/4-inch to 1/4-inch mono patch cable.
How we test
Guitar World is a leading authority in all things guitar gear, with a team of experienced musicians and experts who have tested and reviewed countless guitar products, including many guitar wireless systems. As avid guitar enthusiasts, we understand the importance of achieving the perfect tone whilst eliminating any potential issues with cables.
To create our list of the best guitar wireless systems, we combine our practical experience, user feedback, and in-depth discussions with our editorial team to arrive at a consensus. We evaluate various factors such as pricing, range, latency, battery life, and ease of use to ensure that we showcase the best guitar wireless systems currently available on the market.
As guitar players ourselves, we know that a great wireless system can make a big difference in terms of mobility and can massively enhance your stage presence. That's why we are committed to providing reliable and knowledgeable recommendations to help guitarists find the ideal wireless system to suit their specific needs and preferences. Our ultimate aim is to help guitarists unlock their full potential and deliver a flawless performance with the best guitar wireless systems out there.
Read more about how we test at Guitar World.
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