Posted by Boss on 23rd Jul 2022
BOSS WL-Series Wireless System: Wireless Freedom for Every Musician
BOSS WL-Series Wireless System: Wireless Freedom for Every Musician
Enjoy Pro Tone with Zero Hassle Using BOSS’s New “Virtual Cable” Technology
BOSS WL-60 Wireless System with MS-3 Multi Effects Switcher.
When working with music gear, the simplest approach usually provides the most satisfying and inspiring experience. Unfortunately, going wireless and maintaining great tone has historically been rife with complications and expense, putting untethered freedom out of the reach of the average musician. But BOSS has changed all that with the affordable WL series, a product line that makes it easy and convenient for every musician to enjoy wireless independence wherever they play. Sounds pretty cool, right? Read on to learn more about this latest game changer from BOSS and discover which WL wireless system is right for you.
Video Playlist: BOSS WL-Series Wireless System
Wireless Made Easy with BOSS Innovation
From the beginning, all BOSS products have been designed to provide outstanding sound, easy operation, and rugged “always works” reliability for every level of musician. The WL series is no different, delivering the legendary performance players have come to expect from BOSS over the last four-plus decades.
While the products in the WL series are filled with cutting-edge tech and advanced engineering, the user experience is fast, fluid, and frustration-free. Unlike other systems, you never need to worry about fussy adjustments and manual fine-tuning. All of the complicated processes are handled automatically, taking all the guesswork out of setting up the wireless connection.
BOSS WL-series wireless systems:WL-20, WL-20L, WL-50, WL-60, and WL-30XLR (left to right).
Working in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, a WL system seeks out the clearest of 14 different channels for rock-solid audio performance with absolutely no drop-outs. Additionally, communication is established at two frequencies in the channel, providing an instant fallback in case any interference is introduced. Going even further, BOSS employs a number of unique underlying technologies to ensure connection stability at all times.
The best news of all is that these high-tech details are completely invisible to you—all you have to do is plug in and enjoy the cable-free liberation that wireless provides. And isn’t that the way it should be?
The transmitters in WL-series products are compact, streamlined, and simple to use.
Superior Tone and Inspiring Feel
Easy operation is great, but it means nothing if the sound isn’t any good. But don’t worry, the WL series sounds more than good—it sounds exceptional. Thanks to the many real-time BOSS innovations going on under the hood, the WL series’ top-level audio performance remains ultra-stable and perfectly consistent, just like using a premium instrument cable.
When you plug in with your BOSS “virtual cable,” you’ll find that your tone is round, clear, and punchy, and perhaps even a little better than that traditional cable tether you’ve been using all these years. The dynamic range is an impressive 110 dB or greater, providing ultra-clear and quiet performance with zero compression.
Just as importantly, the WL series feels great to play, with class-leading 2.3 ms latency for lightning-fast performance. In real-world usage, this level of latency is basically imperceptible—the equivalent delay of hearing sound less than one meter away from your amp.
Invite the Band
Other wireless systems utilize fixed assignments that restrict access to unused channels. A huge benefit of BOSS’s auto-connecting wireless technology is that it searches for all unused channels, maximizing the available connection options. Up to 14 BOSS wireless systems can be used simultaneously in one space, allowing you and all your bandmates to enjoy easy wireless freedom at the same time. Note that certain environmental conditions may limit bandwidth and affect the actual number of simultaneous systems available. But you shouldn’t encounter any problems in the most common jamming, rehearsal, and gig situations.
In addition to electric guitars and basses, the BOSS WL series also works great with electronic instruments like Roland’s Aerophone (left), acoustic-electric guitars, keytars, synths, drum machines, and more.
Built-In Cable Tone Simulation
When playing a guitar or bass with passive pickups (the type found in most instruments), the cable you use actually has a subtle effect on your overall tone. This is heard as a roll-off in the treble frequencies, which is caused by the passive instrument’s high output impedance and its interaction with the electronic capacitance characteristics of the materials used in the cable. This capacitive effect is magnified with cable length, becoming more and more pronounced as the length is increased.
Most players have become used to cable capacitance and the slight warming effect it has on their tone. To reproduce this, most WL-series products include integrated cable tone simulation. BOSS has carefully analyzed a wide variety instrument cables and tuned the simulation to replicate the average of the best tonal characteristics among them.
The WL-60 (above) and WL-50 include two selectable cable tone simulation options.
Extra-Long Battery Life and Auto Sleep
The WL-20, WL-20L, and WL-50 systems use the WL-T transmitter, which comes equipped with a built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to 12 hours of continuous playing time. If you leave the transmitter plugged into your instrument when taking a break, it automatically goes to sleep after about an hour to conserve the charge. When you’re ready to play again, simply pick up your instrument and play for a second or two to wake the transmitter. The WL-T is also available separately, allowing you to purchase a spare if your original transmitter is lost or damaged.
The WL-60 and WL-30XLR systems run on standard alkaline batteries, a power source that can be swapped in seconds on the gig. This is ideal for serious stage performers who need to keep their wireless rig constantly running at all times. The WL-60T, the transmitter component of the WL-60 system, provides best-in-class runtime up to 25 hours with two AA alkaline batteries. It’s also available separately for backup and outfitting multiple stage instruments. The WL-60’s pedal-sized receiver can be powered continuously with an AC adaptor, or up to 7 hours with two AA alkaline batteries. The WL-30XLR’s receiver and transmitter each use a single AA alkaline battery, with total runtime up to 11 hours.
Which BOSS Wireless System is Right for Me?
WL-20: COMPACT AND CONVENIENT
BOSS WL-20 Wireless System.
For electric guitarists and bassists looking for the very easiest wireless experience, the WL-20 is the best choice. It features the built-in cable-tone simulation mentioned earlier, delivering the slightly warm tone you’re used to hearing with a standard cable.
Amazingly compact and simple to use, the WL-20 consists of a transmitter that plugs into your instrument and a matching receiver that plugs into a pedal or amp. To establish the wireless connection, just dock the two components together for about 10 seconds and you're ready to rock!
When docked, the built-in batteries in the transmitter and receiver can be charged together with a standard USB adaptor (5 V/500 mA or higher), the same type used with smartphones and tablets. The transmitter can also be charged separately, and a micro USB cable is included for charging.
WL-20L: FOR ACTIVE PICKUPS, ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC GUITARS, AND LINE-LEVEL INSTRUMENTS
BOSS WL-20L Wireless System. In this image, the transmitter and receiver are docked for charging and wireless connection setup.
The WL-20L model is identical to the WL-20, with the exception that it does not include cable tone simulation. This makes it the best choice for instruments with a low-impedance output, as cable capacitance has little or no effect on the tone with this type of instrument.
How do you know if you have a low-impedance output? In most cases, it’s pretty simple: if your instrument has an onboard battery or requires power from an external source, then its output is nearly always low impedance. Common instruments like this would include an acoustic/electric guitar with an onboard preamp, a guitar or bass with active pickups, or a line-level device like a keytar or Roland’s Aerophone digital wind instrument.
By the way, the WL-20L also works fine with passive pickups—the sound will just be a little brighter than the WL-20. The tonal differences between the two are actually quite subtle, and you might even find you prefer the WL-20L's sound. In effect, it’s basically like adding a high-quality onboard signal buffer to your passive instrument, which many players like to do.
WL-50: A STOMPBOX-SIZE SYSTEM FOR YOUR PEDALBOARD
BOSS WL-50 Wireless System. In the right image, you can how conveniently the transmitter connects to the receiver’s dock for charging and wireless setup without adding any height to the receiver.
With its stompbox-size footprint, the WL-50 Wireless System is ideally suited for pedalboards. It’s about the same size and height as a standard BOSS compact pedal, so it fits easily alongside the other stomps on your board. Just place it at the beginning of your effects chain and connect the receiver’s output to the first pedal. The receiver even includes a standard ¼-inch input jack, so you can always plug in with a regular guitar cable if you ever need to.
Since the WL-50 receiver is designed to be mounted on the floor, it features a sophisticated diversity antenna system. This maintains a secure and stable wireless connection no matter where your pedalboard is set up.
A transmitter dock is built into the WL-50 receiver, and it’s used for charging and establishing the wireless connection. Like the WL-20/WL-20L, the optimum connection is set up in seconds. Selectable long and short cable tone simulation options are also available, along with a bypass mode for turning off the simulation.
The WL-50 receiver is powered via a PSA-series adapter or two standard alkaline batteries. With adapter power, the receiver’s DC output can distribute power to one or more pedals.
The BOSS WL-50 Wireless System mounts easily right alongside other stompboxes on any pedalboard.
WL-60: EXTENDED CONTROL WITH EASY VISUAL SET UP
In more demanding stage situations, having a little more hands-on control of your wireless system can be really beneficial. The WL-60 is the ideal solution for this scenario, offering fast user-guided set up while retaining much of the automated simplicity found in other WL series systems.
The WL-60’s compact receiver is tailor-made for pedalboards, and features a large visual display and direct-access buttons to automatically scan and select the best wireless channel. The comparative strength of all 14 channels is shown after scanning, providing a complete overview of the current wireless conditions. This makes it quick and simple to choose the optimum channel for any stage situation, and also provides ultra-speedy set up when multiple band members are using WL-60 systems.
BOSS WL-60 Wireless System. In the images, all 14 channels are shown at one time during the scan process and the large LCD also provides constant visual feedback on channel selection, wireless strength, and other parameters.
Like the WL-50, the WL-60’s receiver features two cable-tone simulation options, a DC output for providing power to other pedals, and a 1⁄4-inch input for using a traditional cable in a pinch.
Rounding out the WL-60 system is the rugged WL-60T bodypack transmitter, which connects to your guitar or bass via a short standard cable. An integrated clip securely mounts to your strap or belt, and its orientation can be reversed to suit your playing preference. And as mentioned earlier, the transmitter provides extra-long runtime and support for instant power refresh with regular AA alkaline batteries.
BOSS WL-60T Wireless Transmitter. In the right image, since the WL-60T connects to your instrument via a short standard cable, so the WL-60 works with nearly any guitar or bass.
WL-30XLR: WIRELESS FREEDOM FOR STAGE MICROPHONES
From singers, speakers, and beatboxers to DJs, MCs, video producers, and beyond, the WL-30XLR makes it easy for microphone users to embrace wireless freedom. The WL-30XLR works with most common XLR dynamic mics, and offers quick and streamlined set up like other WL-series products. Performance is rock solid, with automatic 14-channel scanning and long transmission range up to 230 feet/70 meters. Common AA alkaline batteries provide long-lasting operation, plus fast change-out to keep the show rolling.
WL SERIES COMPARISON
| RECEIVER |  WL-T | OFF/SHORT/LONG | 15 m/50 feet | 20 m/65 feet | 70 m/230 feet | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LATENCY | 2.3 ms | |||||||||
| POWER SUPPLY TRANSMITTER(Expected battery life under continuous use) | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (Approximately 12 hours) | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (Approximately 7 hours) | Alkaline battery: AA, LR6 x 2 (Approximately 7 hours) AC adaptor PSA-S series (sold separately) | Alkaline battery: AA, LR6 x 1 (Approximately 11 hours) | ||||||
* The figures of battery life will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.
Katana-Air: A Wireless Guitar Amp Solution
BOSS Katana-Air Wireless Guitar Amplifier.
The innovative BOSS wireless technology in the WL series is also found in the Katana-Air, a fully wireless battery-powered guitar amp designed for home playing and jamming with friends. Equipped with the same sound-shaping features found in the Katana Version 2 stage amplifiers, the Katana-Air delivers premium tones for all styles of music. Five channels provide a wide range of sounds, and there’s also integrated access to over 50 BOSS effects. It’s even possible to play along with audio streamed via Bluetooth® from an iOS or Android smartphone and remotely edit tones and effects from the dedicated BOSS Tone Studio app.