Wireless tone tech is now so reliable that many players won’t be able to tell the difference, tonally. These days, it’s the ease of operation, size and functionality that are the most crucial considerations for players.
This is where NUX’s flagship wireless system, the B-8, thrives. The firm has thought carefully about how to both take the headache out of wireless tech and how to make the B-8 way more than a simple cable replacement.
As such, pairing the transmitter and receiver takes a matter of seconds: simply power up the pedal unit, press the power button on the transmitter and it will automatically find and connect to the receiver.
This is done using a pairing algorithm, unique to each set, but the main thing to note is that it is fast. You can see how swift the process is in the clip above.
Likewise, the screen – often an afterthought on wireless units – has a bright and powerful display.
You can adjust the brightness level and, using NUX’s GIF Customizer, even select your own custom boot-up picture to display as the unit switches on. As you can see in the clip, our intrepid host Paul, picked an image of… himself.
The B-8 uses the standard 2.4GHz frequency but offers a massive range – up to 50 meters (160ft) – at the outer limit, ensuring you’re able to cover the biggest stages. Latency is also minimal: clocking in as low as 2.5ms.
What’s more, you can also easily specify the ideal balance for each show, with the display allowing you to select your preferred point on a sliding scale between low latency and signal stability.
There is a chunky 6.5 hours of battery life available from the transmitter pack. Another feature we love is that , while you can charge the transmitter separately via USB, you can also use the magnetic strip on the rear of the transmitter to quickly dock it and charge on the receiver pedal.
Elsewhere, having a proper full-color display means that you can also make the most of the pedalboard receiver’s other built-in functions.
A clear, easy-to-read meter shows your signal level at all times, while your connection strength is indicated in a bar on the left and, on the right, is a battery display – ensuring you can easily see the exact status of the system at a glance, even on a dark stage.
Then there’s a bright four-mode tuner, offering Chromatic, Guitar Standard, Guitar Compensated and Bass mode. You can even alter the way the tuner displays, for instance, opting for a strobe-like interface, or a wheel.
The footswitch controls the boost and the tuner. A short press kicks in the boost function (and, again, you can set that to your preference – with up to 12dB of gain on tap), while pressing and holding it engages the tuner. Prefer the tuner as your short-press option? Simply swap the footswitch functions around using the B-8’s menu screen.
Finally, the B-8 offers an array of handy routing options from the pedal/receiver itself, with an XLR out, an effects loop send/return, plus a regular quarter-inch jack in/out, should you want to plug-in. It’s the sort of problem solving box that for many players, will justify the price of entry, alone.
Ultimately, the B-8 will earn its place on your pedalboard in a multitude of ways.
As Paul notes in the video demo: “NUX has hit it out of the park… considering its beautiful design, the simple and seamless pairing of the transmitter and receiver, its tuner and boost and the astonishing low latency and range… it’s a must-have. Definitely check it out.”
To learn more about the B-8 Professional Wireless System, head to NUX.
