“What I will say is the Cable Tone feature is too good to turn off”: Blackstar AirWire i58 guitar wireless system review review

What is it?

From pocket-sized amps like the Quad Cortex Mini to chocolate bars, we’re in an age of shrinkflation; things are getting smaller by the minute. Wireless guitar systems are not exempt from this trend, and many now boast a footprint small enough to hide down the back of the sofa.

In recent years, the wireless market has heated up considerably; with historical heavyweights Line 6 and Boss now challenged by fresh faces a la the Positive Grid Spark Link and Fender’s debut foray into the market, the Telepath.

All these systems look like toys in comparison to the once-industry-standard offerings from Audio-Technica, Sennheiser, and AKG, which required a larger box and a whole lot of cabling to get grooving.

The differences are night and day, and though Blackstar is a little slow in entering the ring, it does so with fair confidence. Several manufacturers have pivoted from the arguably overcrowded 2.4 GHz bandwidth to 5.8 GHz of late, and Blackstar has done likewise to try and gain the upper hand, but it takes things a step further; its built-in anti-interference algorithm automatically switches frequencies should its turf get encroached upon. Peace of mind is at its core.

Beyond that is a nine-hour battery life (with a 2.5 hour charging time via USB-C), bolstered by a self-powering down feature that kicks in after 10-minutes of inactivity to avoid wasted juice. It can beam a signal 100 feet with a minuscule <6ms latency, and there's a Cable Tone feature to appease the purists who feel that ditching the cable comes at an aural cost.

And with this being Blackstar, it remains in an accessible price range with its £149/€159/$169 price tag, undercutting many of its competitors.

Specs

Launch price: $169 | £149 | €159 |

Type: Guitar wireless system

Controls: Power, Pair, Cable Tone (receiver only)

Connectivity: 1/4" mono jack, USB-C 5V port

Range: 100 feet

Battery life: 9 hours from a 2.5-hour charge (via USB-C)

Contact: Blackstar Amps

Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★★½

Easily mistaken for a vape, the two devices – transmitter and receiver – are unassuming, with the hinged jack folding in for easy transport. But its plastic housing doesn’t strike me as being quite as sturdy as some systems I've tried, especially given that it arrives in a velvet pouch. It could certainly be a little vulnerable with a finish that's quite susceptible to scratching.

There are four channels on offer, meaning four band members could use the devices simultaneously without issues, and hitting the Pair button simply changes the channel number, cycling back to 1 after 4. In all, it makes for a sleek, no-nonsense approach to matters; it’s as plug-and-play as you can get.

Being colourblind, I do personally find that the colour differences between the channel lights being on/off to be a little unclear, especially glancing down to my guitar's jack, but it's a minor grievance.

Usability

Usability rating: ★★★★☆

Save for the very easy-to-miss markings on their sides, the two units are identical – and those labels are not only easy to miss, but only useful in a well-lit space. On stage, it could be a very different story. I would like a more foolproof way to differentiate between the two, but that aside, getting moving couldn’t be simpler.

Plugging into my Focusrite interface, hooked up to Reaper and various Neural DSP plugins, I'm able to walk around my house with no signal dips or latency. Walls are no object, and recording some chugs as I walk around, there is a small dip in signal strength – and therefore the volume coming out the other end – the further I travel, and one unexpected screech of feedback which quickly subsides, ultimately conks out at around 50 feet, which isn’t too bad considered the amount of material that stood between my computer and Charvel. Your average gig space doesn't tend to have those issues, of course!

It’s worth noting that there is no spluttering as I reach the cut-off point; it works until it doesn’t. Operation is as silent as your rig, meaning it doesn’t give off any extra buzz or hiss, and feedback is minimal, even when the two devices are centimetres apart.

Moreover, the generous battery life means I can play without dread – I even spend a few hours writing and recording on my computer without thinking twice about needing to charge. So there are plenty of benefits here, but it’s not flawless. Its lack of an active/passive switch may irk some, especially those who gig with several electric guitars, meaning that, for a small upcharge, the Telepath might edge it out for that user case.

Sounds

Sounds rating: ★★★★☆

Compared to playing and recording with a cable, the output I get is slightly lower, though not enough to be particularly noticeable unless you're analysing waveforms. The Cable Tone switch also slightly boosts the signal.

I find that with the Cable Tone feature the signal becomes a little warmer and a little less scratchy than without it engaged, but neither is quite as full-bodied as playing with a cable. In a live environment, I don't see it as a major issue, and it's not something that minor EQing couldn't fix.

Even then, I’m splitting hairs, looking at the minute differences; nothing here is unexpected. Honing in though, what I will say is the Cable Tone feature is too good to turn off, otherwise, the signal tends to sound a little too digital for my liking.

Verdict

It’s hard to criticise what the AirWire i58 offers for the price; it’s easy to use, packs a tiny footprint, and, through the Cable Tone feature and its anti-interference algorithm, looks to counter two of the biggest drawbacks of going sans cable.

There are a few minor gripes, like the difficulty of telling the transmitter from the receiver, and casing that I feel could be more robust in case of mishaps, but there is nothing overly crucial here – save for the lack of an active/passive switch, which lets down its otherwise commendable spec sheet, especially for the price. That might sway some players to shop elsewhere.

However, to add one more small negative: When plugged directly into my Quad Cortex, the receiver tended to fall to the ground rather than sit upright. It’s not the end of the world, but I’d have liked it to be hinged upright at all times

MusicRadar verdict: The Blackstar AirWire i58 is incredibly easy to use, packs a tiny footprint in an era of super-compact gig rigs, and tries to offer solutions to two of the biggest drawbacks of wireless systems.

The Cable Tone feature prevents the signal from sounding too scratchy or digital, and the anti-interference algorithm adds greater peace of mind to its performance.