Line 6 G10 vs. Line 6 G30 vs. Line 6 G50: Full Breakdown & Reviews

Which wireless guitar system is better? Line 6 G10, Line 6 G30, Line 6 G50 are all some of the most popular wireless instrument systems on the market. However, each has its ups and downs. As a previous owner of all of these systems, I’ve got some skin in the game for the most accurate review I can provide.

Depending on what you’re looking for in a wireless instrument system will determine which of these three units may be your best bet. May the battle commence!

But first…

What Makes A Wireless Guitar System Good? (Top 5)

1. Reliability -Signal strength, little to no dropouts 
2. Durability- Able to last long/withstand touring conditions
3. Tone- Does it negatively affect the tone of your instrument compared to a quality cable
4. Convenience- Battery life, setup simplicity, easier instrument change, pedalboard attachable 
5. Range- Able to have a strong signal to cover a big stage, or perform in the crowd 

We compared and contrasted each of these factors for the Line 6 G10, Line 6 G30, & Line 6 G50

Reliability And Signal Strength

Reliability and signal strength is probably the most critical factor when determining a good wireless system. In my experience, all of these systems have lost signal for half a second before. However, the line 6 G50 loses signal much less.

Line 6 G10
I owned this system for about one year as I toured throughout the southeast. In that year, cutouts did occur about 3-4 times per three-hour gig. Some gigs more, some less. Each drop out will only last about a second. The reason why dropouts were so rare with the G10, compared to other systems in this low price, was that the system automatically locates the clearest channel. It uses an auto encoded Digital Channel Lock, which helps to lower the risk from frequency interference. For the price range, the Line 6 G10 is very dependable. Unfortunately, it cuts out more often than the other two.

Line 6 G30
The Line 6 G30 is the number 1 selling wireless guitar system in the United States. I used to be an owner of this wireless unit for about one year as I traveled the entire east coast with this system. In that year, I have experienced cutouts due to signal interference. However, they were rare and only lasted half a second. I experienced a signal dropout on average once per 3-hour show. You are also able to switch between 6 channels in case of interference.

Line 6 G50
This system has rare occurrences of dropouts as well. However, dropouts are much less than the other two. I experienced maybe one dropout per three shows with this system. It’s the most dependable of the three.

Overall, the Line 6 G50 is the most reliable of the three. It cuts out much less often. (Average one dropout per three shows)

Durability + Longevity

Metal units are significantly more “roadworthy” than plastic units. Your music equipment is consistently being tossed around when you are touring from state to state whether it is from the van/bus, back into the van/bus, or being thrown around dancing on stage.

Line 6 G10
The line 6 G10 receiver and transmitter are made of plastic. I actually had an instance where the USB plug of my G10’s receiver broke. Unfortunately, I had to buy a new receiver. Later on, my transmitter ended up breaking mid-show by sweat/water damage. That will only affect you if your an extreme sweater like me while performing. To best keep this system from breaking, be careful with the receiver’s USB port and bring a towel if you sweat a lot.

Line 6 G30
While both the receiver and transmitter are made of plastic, the Line 6 G30 is overall much more durable than the G10. The transmitter’s shell is made up of rugged polycarbonate for increased durability. The part that’s most susceptible to damage is the battery compartment on the transmitter. It is quite flimsy. If you were to purchase this unit, it’s best to add a Neotech wireless pouch for transmitter protection. The battery door is a bit flimsy, as well.

Line 6 G50
Both the transmitter and receiver are made of metal. However, this system does have a durability flaw. (1) The Line 6 G50’s transmitter has a weak battery door that flies open a bit too easily. I have had the battery door fly open while performing, which lost power mid-show. I ended up taping it, which became a hassle every time I changed batteries. There were also many other reviews of customers saying the same thing. (2) The receiver’s antennas are weak and susceptible to damage.

Overall, the Line 6 G50 is much more durable than the G10 and G30. Both parts are made of metal and able to last a long time while touring.

Tone

A wireless system must be able to capture the full and accurate tone of your instrument compared to using a quality cable. A few crucial elements for a wireless systems tone is its frequency response, digital transmission, and the dynamic range.

Line 6 G10
First of all, the line 6 G10 is not compatible with active pickups. You’re better off with the other two systems if your instruments have them. Aside from that, this unit produces very clear sound quality. There is no added fuzz, distortion, or hum in your sound. However, there is a minor difference in tone between a cable and this unit. The difference is relatively subtle, though. It has over 110dB of dynamic range, as well. It’s also worth mentioning that the G10 has much better sound quality than most wireless guitar systems in its price range.

Line 6 G30
The Line 6 G30 has a full frequency response from 10 Hz-20kHz and an incredible dynamic range of 118dB. I recognized a very minimal difference in tone between a regular instrument cable and this system for my bass. It uses 2.4GHz digital transmission with the encrypted data stream for signal protection. With its 24-bit delta-sigma, 128 times oversampling, and the remainder of the tech specs listed earlier; The Line 6 G30 will not hurt the tone of your instrument. Unlike the G10, the Line 6 G30 is compatible with active pickups and active electronics. Lastly, the receiver gives you the option of cable tone between 30 ft, 15 ft, or bypass.  

Line 6 G50
Like the others, it has a frequency response of 10Hz-20kHz. This system has a higher dynamic range of 120dB of dynamic range. On the receiver, you have the option to use the cable tone simulator up to 50 feet. To my ears, this wireless has zero noticeable tone loss. I believe it has the best sound quality compared to the others. This system is compatible with active pickups, as well.

Overall, according to my ears, the Line 6 G50 produces slightly better sound quality than the others. You will not hear a difference in tone or latency compared to a quality cable.

Convenience

Convenience is not a common thought when first purchasing a wireless guitar system. In terms of battery life, how to charge or change the batteries, setting up the system before gigs, etc. an inconvenient wireless guitar system gets annoying fast. Not to mention, consistent battery purchases increase the annual overhead at a much faster pace than expected.

Line 6 G10
The Line 6 G10 is the most convenient wireless guitar system on the planet. The receiver is small enough to be attached to your pedalboard. The transmitter is charged by simply plugging directly into your receiver. The transmitter also lasts 8-hours of continuous playtime. The G10 is abnormally suitable to change instruments considering there are no menus, settings, on and off buttons, or channel settings. Back when I used the G10 during my 4-hour gigs, I loved the fact that I could recharge the transmitter at the break by a simple unplug from my bass to plugging it into the receiver.

Line 6 G30
The receiver can sit on top of your amp, but it is small enough to fit in a pedal board as well (which is how I used it). Considering it’s compact enough to fit in your pedalboard adds a tremendous amount of convenience while eliminating a setup step. Unfortunately, the transmitter takes 2 AA batteries with 8 hours of battery life.

Line 6 G50
Of the three systems, the Line 6 G50 is the least convenient of them all. Like the G30, it too uses AA disposable batteries. However, it has a table-top receiver that’s too big for a pedalboard. You must manually set the table-top receiver on top of your amp before every show.

Overall, the Line 6 G10 is not only the most convenient on this list, but it’s also possibly the most convenient and easy to use wireless on the market.

Range

Although the wireless “technically” covers 100 ft hypothetically, it may not have the strongest signal or increased latency at 80 ft. If your the musician that dances across the entire big stage or takes the solo into the crowd, the range becomes an essential factor.

Line 6 G10
This unit provides 50 feet of range. However, I believe I got more than 50 feet of range a few times.

Line 6 G30
The Line 6 G30 gives you a true 100ft of range. When I would walk to the other side of the stage (bigger stages), the signal will remain clear and strong.

Line 6 G50
The line 6 G50 gives you 200 feet of range which is remarkable for a digital wireless guitar system. 200 feet gives you significantly more than enough to go well into the crowd whether you decide to crowd surf, walk the crowd, etc.

Overall, the Line 6 G50 provides the furthest range by far.

If Your Instrument Has Active Pickups Or
Active Boost

The only wireless guitar system on this list that’s not compatible with active pickups is the ling 6 G10. However, both the G30 and G50 are compatible with bass or guitars with active pickups/electronics.

Similarities Between The Line 6 G10, Line 6 G30, & Line 6 G50

• All use digital transmission
• All operate on the globally unlicensed and globally unrestricted 2.4GHz frequency band
• All have the same frequency response

Our Winner

Keep in mind that our opinion is not the end all be all. Like mentioned earlier, everyone has different needs, requirements, and budgets for their wireless guitar system. However, our winner is the Line 6 G50 since it has the best sound quality, most robust durability, it’s the most reliable, and provides the furthest range. Whether it’s worth the extra amount of money compared to the others is entirely up to you.