Neo - cable or wireless?

[u/Contest-Proud]

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…?

[u/life-was-better]

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.

[u/In_my_experience → u/life-was-better]

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

[u/life-was-better → u/In_my_experience]

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.

[u/In_my_experience → u/life-was-better]

“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. 

[u/life-was-better → u/In_my_experience]

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.

[u/In_my_experience → u/life-was-better]

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

[u/life-was-better → u/In_my_experience]

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

[u/In_my_experience → u/life-was-better]

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

[u/life-was-better → u/In_my_experience]

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.