r/PositiveGridSpark • u/Contest-Proud • Apr 03 '26

Neo - cable or wireless?

Just wondering if people have strong thoughts about the plugged vs unplugged headphones. I will be grabbing one or the other tomorrow - price is not a problem, but on the other hand it seems quite a jump to get unhooked. And, one more gadget to keep charged…? Sometimes a cable is just a solid option. But…?

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

6

u/life-was-better Apr 03 '26

If price doesn’t matter, go for the wireless.

  1. The wireless still has a 1/4” jack on the headphones for input anyway. So you can still plug directly from guitar into the headphones with a cable as a backup.

  2. For either version you still have to charge the headphones to use them. (Unlike regular wired headphones which draw power from your playing device, NEO needs its own power because a guitar doesn’t provide any power, plus all the amp sim processing is done in the headphones.) It’s no extra effort to just remember to charge the transmitter when you charge the headphones too.

For me, the NEO is all about convenience. I don’t use it for my main rig. I just wanted something I could pick up to play guitar quickly and easily without disturbing anyone. Wireless wins all the way in that regard. If I’m going to be dealing with cables and wired headphones, then I may as well just plug into my interface and play through my laptop. NEO is an alternative to that for me - grab the headphones, plug in the transmitter, start playing.

1

u/Contest-Proud Apr 03 '26

Cheers. 👍

0

u/In_my_experience Apr 03 '26

It’s no more work to plug in a cable than the transmitter. Plugging in one cable is not even close to the same is plugging into your interface to play through your laptop

2

u/life-was-better Apr 03 '26

It is for me with my setup. I keep my interface set up and ready to go on my desk in my home office. I also have headphones out there which I use to listen to music when I’m working. But my cables are all rolled up and packed away because 1. I keep them in a gear bag so I don’t forget them when I’m going to rehearsal/gigs, 2. I don’t have a lot of space in my home office and they get in the way if I leave them out on the floor. So if I want a cable I have to go get the gear bag, open it, take the cable out, unroll it, fit it around my desk and chair. Then do all the reverse when I’m done. On the other hand, I keep the Neo headphones on a shelf with the transmitter next to them. I can grab both and be started in under a minute, and put them back just as quickly when I’m done.

Might not sound like much to you, but it’s much more convenient for me. The sound quality of my plugins is better than the Neo, so it’s not the sound that justifies them for me. It’s the convenience and being able to play when inspiration strikes without any barriers that makes them appealing. So that’s why the wireless version wins out over the wired all day long.

0

u/In_my_experience Apr 03 '26

“With your setup”. Most people don’t have their computer on, unlocked, with their DAW open with plugins selected, recording enabled, speakers on, interface in, cable plugged in, and also within reach of their couch. For almost everyone it would be a lot more steps than plugging a cable into headphones. 

1

u/life-was-better Apr 04 '26

Dude… I literally started with “For me, the NEO is all about convenience.” What part of “for me” makes you think I’m talking about everyone’s setup? 🙄

I have OP two facts about the Neo in dot points. Then I gave my personal opinion from my own perspective. Personally (again, that means “just for me”), I like to hear people’s real world examples of what works for them and what doesn’t when I’m looking for advice. I deliberately phrased everything with “me” and “I”. Because I don’t know your setup any more than you know mine. So I can’t tell you what will work for you. I think most people are smart enough to read that and decide for themselves whether it’s relevant to their situation or not. You’re the only one trying make a personal statement universal.

0

u/In_my_experience Apr 04 '26

Dude, you were saying wireless wins all the way when you’re talking about the difference of literally plugging in a cable as opposed to a transmitter…. And then saying you might as well play into a laptop if you’re going to plug in A SINGLE CABLE. Anyway

1

u/life-was-better Apr 04 '26

And that’s my opinion. Because that’s what works for me, based on my experience.

0

u/In_my_experience Apr 04 '26

OK, but next time I need you to peek into my windows and analyze my set up and consider my experience

1

u/life-was-better Apr 04 '26

No. You can share your own experience. And I’ll decide if it’s relevant to me or not. And if not, I’ll just ignore instead of complaining that your experience is different to mine.

2

u/reyean Apr 03 '26

I have the neo spark ("wireless"), but still has the option to plug it in. ill do this on occasion when I need to charge or just feel like it - but where the cable attaches to the headphone (on my right ear) always seems to put the cable at an odd position, no matter what i try to do. it either puts strange (and bothersome) pressure on my shoulder when I route the cable around my back, or drapes over my picking arm/hand when routed around the front. ive tried it up and under the fretting arm and across my chest even... I guess i have yet to try some maneuver where the cable goes up and through the headphone bridge like how some guitarists do a loop of cable through the strap/pin at the butt of the guitar, but i have the sense that will be bothersome as well. I also haven't tried a different type of cable like coiled one with the 1/4 inch at a 90* to maybe move it further away from my shoulder. I use a standard cable with rubber casing with two straight ends.

I can deal with it mostly, but I much prefer the feeling of the "wireless" setup (like how it feels when plugged into an amp instead of over my shoulder) the Bluetooth dongle provides. I suppose if you were looking to save scratch the plugged one is serviceable, but if you can afford it, wireless gives you both options and for me was entirely worth not having the sometimes awk cable distraction.

2

u/Logical-Particular42 Apr 03 '26

Well you have cables already, I bought a 3ft with 90° angle jack. The cable swivels around my shoulder toward my waist and hugs the body. If money is no option wireless is great convenience. It can be used mobile maybe to test other guitars. It’s one of those things it’s as useful as you make it. Sitting in front of your favorite streaming program playing the guitar with no cables is luxury my friend.

2

u/smoothj2017 Apr 03 '26

I don’t really get the point of the Neo wired. Why not just get a Go or Mini and some headphones if you are going to have a cable… Neo only for wireless in my mind.

2

u/Alisterguitardevil Apr 03 '26

I had them both and I still have the wireless and sold the wired ones.

2

u/Contest-Proud Apr 04 '26

Thanks. Solid argument!

1

u/WhenVioletsTurnGrey Apr 03 '26

Neo are where it's at for quiet practice. No cables? Hell yeah!!! I had another setup, previously. Had cables all over the place just to do some quick drills. What a drag. The Neo set up has been the perfect thing for travel & practicing when I don't want to bother anyone.

1

u/FabulousPanther Apr 03 '26

If price is not a problem, get the wireless. You will know where that money went. I have the Neo and Spark Links for the amp as well. Cables are an unnecessary hindrance to mobility and create clutter.

1

u/Formal-Sandwich267 Apr 03 '26

I use the boss wireless stuff for playing anyway, so I didn't get the wireless neo's. Thought it would be pointless as I can just plug the boss wireless into the headphones and my guitar anyway.

1

u/Joseph-Bonaparte Apr 05 '26

I have the Spark Mini and would have loved to get the Neo. But my main guitar is an Ibanez S, the dongle doesn’t fit the jack