the t.bone free2b

Use: Gigging band for microphones - live and rehearsal use.
Pros: the sound is transparent and uncoloured. They pair quickly. They are small enough to be used used by side in a mixer with standard XLR input spacing. Signal has been reliable over the distances we have used them on stage (microphone to stage box). 2.4ghz means they are much more reliable than 5.8ghz wireless, but not as good as UHF systems.
Cons: almost inaudible hiss that you have to be very sensitive to hear - disappears without trace in the mix. The deal breaker - auto power off. Our keyboard player doubles as a guitar player on some songs, and does backing vocals. The last two gigs the keyboard transmitter has auto powered off while he was playing guitar so his vocals were completely missing from the last few songs. Due to stage lighting it was not obvious that this had happened. I'm afraid this means we can no longer use them for live performance, they are now consigned to the rehearsal room. The socket for charging is USB micro - old fashioned now that everything else uses USB C.

Dead simple to use, I didn't read any manuals. Good, reliable signal. The only downside is that the receiver generates some background noise. There's some audiable hiss from the receiver plugged into the audio interface even when the transmitter is turned off and disconnected from the mic. The noise is very obvious in headphones (DT 770 Pro), so I was on edge whether to try to ignore it or return the item for a refund. However, I'm glad that I tried connecting it to the speakers (Yamaha HS8) and there the hiss is virtually non-existent, plus HS8 have some of their own inherent noise (when your ear is right next to them), so it's not really that clear which noise I was hearing, and from two meters away it's inaudiable. In the end, I think it's a great item for the price.

I will add to this review after the system has been gigged. Only then will I get any indication as to whether 2.4gHz is a safe frequency to use in a crowded venue full of Wi-Fi, cellphones and a 2.4gHz PA mixer, and how long the internal batteries last.

It is about as complicated to use as a normal plug and socket. In a quite room or studio there is discernible background hiss, but certainly nothing that would ever be heard on a stage.

There is no discernible colouration to the sound when using it with a typical dynamic microphone (Beta SM58).

I selected to try this unit over other similar plug-in systems because the receiver has such a narrow diameter - barely more than a standard XLR plug - and therefore with less risk of touching or interfering with the next XLR on a mixer input panel.