Boss Waza-Air Headphones Review: Two Weeks Later!

[@patsysmith8030]

Another excellent and very helpful video Aaron. Thank you very much and have a very Happy Christmas.

[@michaelmodla5294]

Thanks for the useful update. I got my Waza-Airs 2 weeks ago and I'm very impressed. For me, the onboard effects are best for noodling or travelling. Like most, I guess we need to practise with our own guitar and amp's sound settings - mine is a Katana 100 mk2. Being able to hear through headphones without latency is superb. So, just to be sure I won't break my new gizmo, do i plug it into the Line Out of my Katana amp? P.S. pity the Boss Tone Central app doesn’t have a log in (like Blackstar), so settings on tablet and phone aren't synced. Moreover, BTS doesn't seem to allow landscape display on a tablet so you can't use it propped up. And BTS on a PC doesn’t work with Waza-Air. Gripe over! Grrr

[@edwarschilka8411]

These seem like a really exciting product, I would love to sit and play while my wife is watching TV or on a phone call. What none of these reviews are talking about is the lithium batteries in these headsets are permanent, non-replaceable. So after $400 and 2 years ( typical life expectancy of these type of batteries) they become household hazardous waste? Have I got this right? Sure it may vary slightly with your usage, mine would be every day. I honestly would like to be wrong about this.

[@aaronshortmusic]

This is the case with many products now. I have seen someone on Facebook that is looking inside to see if there may be a way to replace the battery once they are out of warranty. It would be nice if Boss offered to replace the battery for a small fee.

[@A.D.D.O.C.D.T]

Excellent point ! Non replaceable batteries are a major issue in the long run.

[@tonymediati8274]

@@aaronshortmusic totally agree , I would definitely pay for the replacement battery , no replacement battery and these become expensive paperweights, that’s why I’m in no rush to order right now, who knows maybe in 2022 a similar product will surface at a competitive price, fingers crossed 🤞🏻

[@Prof_Sox]

Thanks for the review. I'm thinking of getting these. Though I've read a bunch of low rating reviews due to the bluetooth connectivity cutting out, app response. etc...

[@aaronshortmusic]

That probably depends on whether you have a device with the latest Bluetooth or not. I have the latest iPhone and had no issues aside from the drifting that I mentioned in the video.

[@rogerYT69]

@@aaronshortmusic Also no problems with the samsung galaxy s10! what waza air settings you use with the Helix? thx in advance!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Roger Stucki Yes that is a recent cell phone. I use the Waza Air on flat mode and do everything from either my Kemper or Helix etc.

[@rogerYT69]

@@aaronshortmusic thank you Aaron! so far i use Beyerdynamic dt770 pro with the helix. now with the waza air the sound is a little bit different ...more ambient but i like it ;) greetings from switzerland!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Roger Stucki Yea but I do prefer it. You can turn the effect down a little as well. It feels like I am playing on a large stage. All I am missing is the applause! Lol!

[@JJR3991]

Hi Aaron, Great video, thanks! I was looking at both the the Two Notes Cab m+ and waza air headphone for my amp. I have not demo'd yet either products but have been looking on KZbin so far. But just to give some context. I have a pair of sony MDR-7506 headphones which I could use with the TN cab m+. I mostly play sitting down in a static position and from the demos I have heard of the Waza Airs I would either use surround or stage and not bother with the static mode with the gyro. Is there a point of considering the Waza's if I don't use the gyro or are the price of them worth getting for the sound experience and the amp in the room feel? From my understanding the waza's give you a stereo spatial effect even with the surround and the cab m+ headphone out is only mono. Or would the best of both worlds be use the cab m+ for the different power amp and cabinet choices combined with the waza headphones? Thanks in advanced.

[@felipefenton]

I wish they would add the same backing track “ambient” processing that they use in the “Stage” mode to the “Surround” mode. That’s the only thing about the stage mode that I like more. Then I wouldn’t care about the drift and would just use the “Surround” mode.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes I agree that would be cool.

[@hersheybell8444]

@Aaron Short Music .. so, again, naive question (but I'm not that sophisticated a user) .. I have an Apogee Element 46 .. and I run that into my MacBook and use Logic. SO .. would I put plug the guitar into the Apogee (as I always do) and then place the wireless device for the Waza's in the headphone jack? That would let me hear everything from Logic in the Waza Airs? Also SECOND QUESTION: (has to do with your review) - would the difference in what I hear be substantially different (in your opinion) to what I hear through my headphones now (I use ATH mastering headphones)? I was originally just thinking of using these for travel (as you mention), but to use them in the way you describe seems awesome if the sound is really something. Thanks for doing the video man.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes to both. The sound ‘improvement’ is subjective but was enough for me to keep them! You may need the adapter cable that I mention in my Waza Follow Up review (there’s a link to it in the description of the video).

[@inquisitor4635]

I am totally interested in this tech. But I am likely to wait until third generation release with less bugs and more features before spending that kind of cash on them. Very likely this can and will be integrated with virtual reality headpiece for a totally immersive experience. VR is now making a slight comeback with a resurgence of interest. This is just the beginning. Thanks for this review.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you for watching!

[@TidesOnEarth]

This is such a needed follow up review! I loved that you could turn off the standby mode for the very same reasons you mention here! Also, I was dying for a drift-gate update! No one had actually confirmed that it didn’t drift in surround so I’m happy to hear that. Although it’s disappointing to know that two of the other modes that they advertise so much are experiencing this fault! Come on #boss

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you. I feel it’s important to make an initial impressions review and then one or two follow up reviews since our opinions can change for the better (or worse) after some use!

[@stratslinger3921]

Tides On Earth Totally agree with you!

[@eagle1845]

Thank you for the video, I bought this about 2 years ago and it works great on all my electric guitars except for this cool Traveler Guitar, I'm pretty inept when it come to technology, have you any idea why it won't work on the Traveler guitar? New subscriber.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks. You may need to use a short adapter cable with the transmitter. The TRS connector may be confusing it.

[@peterjones4621]

@@aaronshortmusic Thank you! I will try that, I really appreciate your answering my question! New subscriber.

[@gil123bonsai]

Got mine about two months ago and haven't used my practice amp since! Only problem is, as you say the gyro drift, but also the battery. More than 3 hours is not possible. Of course that's probably to long anyway but I get so immersed in the sound its easy to loose track of time. Also, it would have been nice if Boss would have provided at split cable to charge both units at the same time.

[@aaronshortmusic]

If you are playing for three hours straight then that’s definitely a good sign!

[@stratslinger3921]

Great update thanks Aaron. Appreciate it. I’m surprised though that Boss didn’t give you some more info or clues on what they’re intending to do re the Gyro Drift in Stage mode?? Would’ve been the perfect opportunity to get the word out to us all. Makes me think they don’t even know themselves.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes it would be good to know. I may find out more at the NAMM show in January.

[@ikealamp53]

Hi Aaron, great honest review. I'm thinking of buying this headphone. I have the boss katana MK2 now but i'm looking for something to use at all hours of the day. I live in an apartment and my "studio" is right above someones bedroom. So far, I like all my BOSS/Roland stuff. One quick question about the waza headphones. Can they be used as regular studio headphones too? Can I wirelessly connect to my phone or plug it in to an interface etc? Thx.

[@olivierravoux9155]

Have you got the answer ?

[@ikealamp53]

@@olivierravoux9155 no, and i've decided not to buy them. I already have some minor eardamage so headphones wouldnt be the best choice.

[@kenmasters007]

Can you explain how you hook up to your helix and beat buddy... sorry not to obvious... are you then cabling into the guitar?

[@aaronshortmusic]

I’m running them both into a mixer but you could route the Beat Buddy through the Helix...

[@MclovinJr117]

Hi you mentioned a Facebook group where people are discussing this thing. Would you happen to know if anyone is experiencing issues with not getting Bluetooth audio from your phone to playthrough the headphones? To clarify, I can get connected up almost fine, I hear my guitar and amp coming through fine. It's when I want to play along to a track where playback doesn't occur on the headphones but through my phone speaker. I just bought them two days ago for reference by the way. Thanks.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I haven’t heard anything. Check the manual and also restart all of the devices and try again. The audio and guitar Bluetooth have to be added separately.

[@kotysh]

Hi Aaron, can you play along to a track through these headphones? How does this work? Thanks

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes you can stream the audio via your phones Bluetooth connection and play guitar over the top. They are perfect for that.

[@DeeEfSea]

@@aaronshortmusic can the audio be from any sauce/app or is it only things like Spotify?

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@DeeEfSea Anything.

[@cc22079]

Thanks for the update. I just received my friday. The sound is great. Today I finally figured out to to bluetooth sound stream music. That info is not in manual or on videos. I also tested it with my gear. I have three amps that I A,b,c on and had them connected through headphones amplifier so I could use one headset, so when I finally saw wireless I jumped on them. I now plug the transmitter to the out of the headphone out, and can play around with the amps but the transmitter does drop out quite a bit. I would like to see a better video from boss on these items instead of the gyroscope

[@aaronshortmusic]

I think there is a more detailed user guide on their website...

[@jessesmith2906]

Does it drop out because of the transmitter not moving on the amp so it goes to sleep or does it just drop connection still?

[@cc22079]

@@jessesmith2906 probably

[@wolverine3344]

I really wish they had a line out to record the mixed backing track.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I think that may cut into sales of the other amps which is why they don’t.

[@jessesmith2906]

I don’t have a helix but would these work well if i plugged the wazas into my boss katana artist phones rec out, or line out? And i guess katanas are only mono so would that affect the surround sound of the wazas?

[@aaronshortmusic]

If the headphone out sends effects in stereo then it will work the same.

[@stevensnowdon6270]

Thanks for the review, does the effects/amps fx in the headphones alter your sound/patches coming from the helix/GT-1000?. Is there anyway of turning settings off in the headphones so that the tone doesn’t change from say using the helix with a pa speaker?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes there is and I’m actually working on a video about it. Coming soon!

[@moodiej91]

I am looking for a wireless headphone set so I can practise with my pedalboard in my apartment. But I want to be able to listen to my own experimentation without having to sit at my amp using wired headphones (Aka I want to move around). Could I plug the transmitter into my amps, and listen to my own sound? Am I confused? Or have I stumbled onto the solution?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes you can use it like that but you will also need a wireless system for your guitar as well.

[@58icarus]

I wonder what the price point would've been on these if Boss hadn't put so much into the gyro system and psycho-acoustic modeling feature that they're pushing. It doesn't really seem to be all that necessary, more a gimmick than a tool, and doesn't appear to work very well (if at all, really). It's the central complaint against an otherwise positive experience most have had, and becomes the low point in otherwise rave reviews.

[@michaelandmelanieasby4378]

Yeah really....i wouldnt even want my sound changing everytime i move my head....

[@corzakkzakkcor3309]

Hi Aaron, would these work on an electric piano as I play guitar and keyboards, or is that a stupid question?

[@aaronshortmusic]

There’s no reason why not!

[@stewartingram7279]

Hi - thanks for a great review- I bought a pair on the back of this and I am not disappointed. I have a Bias Rack and it works really well with that but I can’t for the life of me work out how to turn off the motion standby! I know where to find it in the app but when I set it to sound sensing and auto standby off it still goes to sleep! Can you give some steps on how to do it? Thanks!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hi Stewart! That got me as well. You have to make the change in the app and then plug the transmitter into the headphones for it to confirm the change!

[@stewartingram7279]

@@aaronshortmusic excellent! That got it! Many thanks for such a quick response. Are you still enjoying yours?

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@stewartingram7279 I sold mine when we locked down and I switched to using In Ear Monitors full time but I really loved the sound of the Waza.

[@stewartingram7279]

@@aaronshortmusic fair enough. I use mine mainly as wireless headphones with my Bias and the ability to get good audio jam tracks is great. Expensive but worth it for me!

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@stewartingram7279 It’s a great product. My only issue was the drifting but I just turned that feature off.

[@fabianvasquezjr8852]

Hey I'm subbing because you got good taste, you have a Helix and the same rug as I do in my studio!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Love that rug!!

[@pdw1977]

What settings do you have on the waza’s when plugging into your Helix? Flat mode or just a clean setting? Cheers 😊

[@aaronshortmusic]

I would use the flat setting.

[@pdw1977]

@@aaronshortmusic how would you set the eq? All at 12 o’clock….sorry for all the questions! 😊

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@pdw1977 Yes exactly.

[@lewisburley5229]

Great Review! I'm looking into buying a pair of these. how do the effects sound coming out of your helix into the waza? and also what do you think you've been getting out of the battery life?

[@aaronshortmusic]

I get several hours and the Helix sounds great through them. I just set them to flat/acoustic mode.

[@JQuadGMono]

@@aaronshortmusic Thank you for the review! I'm looking at picking up these headphones too. Using the helix - do you just wire in your guitar? or are you using another wireless transceiver to the helix from your guitar? I've got a Pod Go and don't want to drop that for boss' effects.

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@JQuadGMono Yeah I just use a cable into the pedal I’m using.

[@mailvilla]

07/24/2020: Hello, Tom from Orlando Florida. What is the dB level? I already have Tinnitus, so ai do not wish to damage my ears anymore. The following information was copied and posted here: Decibels & Damage Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). Sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after lengthy exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. However, extended or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels (approximately the level of a vacuum cleaner) can cause hearing loss.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hi Tom. I’m not a doctor but I know that these headphones can get loud if you want them too. Like all headphones I would just advise you to keep the level as low as needed.

[@randorider2801]

I'm torn...I'm afraid as soon as I buy it the mk 2 will come out with better features like the Katanas did.

[@aaronshortmusic]

That’s always a possibility with digital gear but if you keep waiting then you will never buy anything. They are an excellent headphone/practice solution.

[@SouthpawNT]

Thanks for the review, very useful and I subscribed. Would you say that the tone that comes out of the Waza airs is as good as the tone that comes out of a Kemper with expensive headphones? I usually practice at night at home with headphones but don't want to spend an extra £1000 to buy a Kemper if the Waza Airs can do more or less the same job. Thanks

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks for subscribing! I prefer the actual sound of the Waza air to regular headphones (slightly) and the actual tones are very good. BUT the Kemper is on the floor and has a looper and the tones and amount of amps are greater. The ideal solution is to have both and use them together but if that is not an option then I would suggest the Waza if you are looking for a portable solution. If not and you want something to use on stage and for recording then I would get the Kemper and some IEM’s. I have actually been using my IEM’s more than the Waza-Air’s lately as I e been recording and live streaming a lot and I enjoy them much more than I used to.

[@SouthpawNT]

@@aaronshortmusic Thanks for the quick reply, very useful. From what you're describing, Waza Air seems perfect for what I need - quiet playing at night via headphones with realistic and 'natural' sound. I'll give them a try, though I dod worry somewhat about the lifespan of the batteries. Kemper is a very attractive option, though a bit pricey for me. Plus I am very happy with my curent setup (running my strat and gretsch via pedals and 2 amps - Vox AC15 and Roland Jazz Chorus). Thanks again for the advice.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Southpaw You’re welcome and I agree that the Waza seems to be what you are looking for. The only issue right now is finding some in stock! If you’re in the USA then keep a lookout here: imp.i114863.net/c/2346231/794166/11319?prodsku=WazaAir&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sweetwater.com%2Fstore%2Fdetail%2FWazaAir--boss-waza-air-wireless-guitar-headphone-amp&intsrc=PUI1_5713

[@camillopatricelli4944]

Great review Aaron. Question for you... when you use the Helix with Waza's flat amp mode, do you disable the Helix's Cab/IR?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you and no, everything in the Helix is as normal as if I am sending to FRFR.

[@shellsjoint]

Always great videos.. Hey quick ?. I play every week at different Casino so we deal with the In ears and Packs, but you need a 1/4 jack. Can I use these for that? Is it all wireless?

[@aaronshortmusic]

You could use these on stage. You would just need a 1/4” out and I would also get the cable I linked to below as well. They are not as ‘inconspicuous’ as IEM’s though!

[@shellsjoint]

@@aaronshortmusic Thank you...

[@shellsjoint]

@@aaronshortmusic i would need Quarter inch to headphone jack..

[@aaronshortmusic]

Sheldon Fisher Yes you can find those on Amazon too.

[@shellsjoint]

@@aaronshortmusic had to edit my typing.. lol

[@yakim1]

Hi! Thanks for all the reviews for the Waza-Air, I just got my unit this week. I didn't understand what is the "Auto Wireless Connection" when you insert the transmitter into the headphones jack?

[@aaronshortmusic]

It pairs the headphones to the transmitter automatically when you do that...

[@yakim1]

@@aaronshortmusic But when I plugged the transmitter to the guitar, it also pairs them. Any differences ?

[@aaronshortmusic]

yakim1 It’s best to always plug the transmitter into the headset before you start playing.

[@JimmySlacksack]

Hi Aaron, I'm not very tech savvy but is it possible to record what youre playing?

[@aaronshortmusic]

No. They have no line out.

[@spk1969]

I bought them and LOVE the way they sound and that I can play loud without disturbing my family. Does anyone know if there is a way to record with these? either into a mixer or directly to my iPhone etc. Sometimes I just want to record what I'm playing to save my ideas for later to work on them when I have more time.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Awesome. They do sound great but unfortunately you cannot record from them.

[@spk1969]

@@aaronshortmusic Thank you!

[@faethe000]

You can record if you get a little creative. You need to add an audio interface to the signal chain and you need another pair of wireless transmitters if you want to stay wireless. Annoying, I know. But you connect your guitar to your interface with one pair, then tweak and record on the PC, and then you put the headphones transmitter in the output/monitor jack of the interface.

[@ThomasHoffDE]

if you are using your effects, then you are plugged in via guitar. if so,what's the point for $400?

[@aaronshortmusic]

The point is that they sound much more realistic than in ear monitors and also have the built in amp and effect sounds for when I’m traveling. They are not essential if you have a modeler and good headphones/IEM’s but they are an excellent product.

[@zacharydeshazo3121]

It plugs into your strat ok?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes but I also have the adapter that I purchased from Amazon if needed.

[@davidwoodhead7109]

Nice review, thank you. I am currently using bias fx through my phone and while I really like bias I am tempted by these because of the wireless and the generally good reviews they have received. Have you used bias fx by any chance and can you compare? Thanks David

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hey David. Bias is really great. You could even use Bias WITH the Waza air. As for which is ‘better’, I have not compared them both yet but like I said you could use either of them.

[@donsuccone]

@@aaronshortmusic hi Aaron, how would you achieve this? I'm a big fan of bias fx and would like to keep using this as well as the Boss Tone Studio app.

[@aaronshortmusic]

leigh sutcliffe I meant that if you have an interface connected to your phone you could use the output to the Waza air and use them in ‘flat’ mode.

[@donsuccone]

@@aaronshortmusic thanks Aaron I'll give that a try. I have a steinberg Ur22 mk2. My waza Airs come on wednesday so I'll try a few things out! Thanks for your help! (TBC)

[@aaronshortmusic]

leigh sutcliffe You’re welcome. Enjoy!

[@ariskaraiskos8079]

anyone tried it with fishman or other active pickups? i read some issues online

[@aaronshortmusic]

It’s quite common for active pickups to have issues with a wireless transmitter. If it does then just use a short extension cable.

[@JimmySlacksack]

can you download and import user made patches from anywhere?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hi. I have only ever used my own patches but I think you can.

[@JimmySlacksack]

@@aaronshortmusic I noticed you can export to the cloud and import etc but have yet to find anywhere to share or download from..

[@aaronshortmusic]

Slack Try the Facebook group. They may know of some places to get patches.

[@BoredFOMOape]

How’s the latency?

[@aaronshortmusic]

There has to be some but I didn’t notice it which I thought was very impressive.

[@DDbass]

Anyone using this for bass? Curious to know your experience if you are.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I have not but it is possible. There is an option for flat/bass/acoustic.

[@A.D.D.O.C.D.T]

The extension for the dongle was a clever tip.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks!

[@wolverine3344]

Very informative Aaron

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you!

[@iEditStuf]

Feels slightly ironic that your audio for this video is out of sync xD

[@aaronshortmusic]

Lol!

[@Flopster2632]

Would have bought these but they’re over priced for just using surround mode seeing as the other modes drift and every KZbin video has the same issue...

[@aaronshortmusic]

I feel they are still worth it but I get what you’re saying.

[@davidyoung1962]

dude where are your shoulders

[@aaronshortmusic]

I see them...

[@robertely2635]

Seriously? THAT is what you are asking about? What a Kook.

[@musicismyreligion5213]

They just look cheap to me.

[@aaronshortmusic]

They aren’t super premium but they are very nice and it’s the sound that is most important.