Qbox Audio Line Tester/Cable Tester/Test Tone Generator

I received Revision 3 of the Qbox, though the packaging and listing say Revision 2. They added a loose page to the Rev2 manual to describe what's new. This is the same excellent item with two changes from Revision 2. First, the headphone jack on top is no longer 1/4 inch; it is now 3.5mm. That's the same as most headphones these days, and you can get a 1/4 to 3.5mm adapter if you need a new Qbox and rely on headphones with a 1/4 inch plug. Second, a new jack had been added at the top, wired in parallel with the female XLR input. It is a TT (tiny telephone) Bantam jack. These look like a mid-sized headphone jack, smaller than 1/4 inch and larger than 3.5mm, but with a slightly different tip and ring shape. Some older patch panel wires used the larger Telephone plug, and this is a smaller version of that. I have not come across any TT Bantam wiring before this, but if Whirlwind added it to the Qbox it must be in use somewhere. The Qbox is fantastic for pro audio testing and troubleshooting, and other reviews cover that pretty well. The best feature worth highlighting is the ability to monitor either a single channel balanced audio source or switch between monitoring left and right channels of an unbalanced stereo source.

If you're a plug and play guy or a professional broadcast engineer, this is a must have. I got 2 one for each end. Only way to find audio signals, and test cables on site. Every sports on site engineer has one. It's a little pricey for the parts in the box, but it works great.

Buy this box.You can listen to audio signal at any point in the signal path nuff said.500' runs to vocalist in the middle of no where not passing signal. Check signal with this box. Guitar God being a prick insisting that your monitor rig is broken. Instantly shut him up by testing his rig with your box. My stuff works yours doesn't. Coms line sent to other end of giant mansion for outdoor wedding gig not working. Test coms line with box. This box has payed for its self in saved aggravation many times over and Ive only had it a month. A well build product (Everything Whirlwind is well built tho). My buddy has had his for over 15 years and it still works. Any stagehand type that deals with audio troubleshooting should buy one. Money well spent

My company installs specialized audio equipment at conferences. We have 4 of these, they are incredibly useful! We mainly use them when we are arguing with other AV suppliers who tell us they are sending us a good signal, so if it isn't sounding good it must be our gear. With a Qbox we can usually prove that the problem is at their end! Without a Qbox we can be arguing about it for hours.These can also be used as an emergency preamp, signal generator, line monitor, and to add a way to speak to people further down the audio line.

Its an industry standard, mainly because there isn’t a better alternative. I always wanted a HIFI version with a super clean micpre and headphone amp but they never bothered to come up with that. You can only really tell if audio is passing. No way to know if the quality is any good. But hey, you gotta have it. I managed to have my A2s carry them for 15 years. It was time I got one when I had to do a few shows with locals that didn’t bring tools. Companies do not seem to properly supply workboxes anymore.

I find the QBox to be a usefully tool when setting up a stage from performance. It helps speed up the process by quickly identifying all the XLR and other connections.

I work as an audio mixer on location, working in different production trucks, studios, and location environments. This QBox is a major help always, helping me track audio on snakes, and figuring out my signal flow, when audio snakes aren't always labeled. Easy to use. Battery life of 9v battery is top-notch. Has a clip, so you can strap it to your belt or waist. Speaker and headphone jack for monitoring.

For $200 I expected a more robust product from Whirlwind. Does it do what is advertised? Mostly, which is why I didn’t give it less than three stars.The case is plastic and feels cheap to me. The speaker is wimpy. It is powered by a 9V battery connected to a wimpy snap clip on loose wires; to me the absolute worst physical power connection ever devised for personal electronics. The worst, though, is the tiny power switch / volume control knob. It looks and feels like something one might find on a child’s toy. It does not appear at all robust. On my second gig with this box I couldn’t get the thing to turn off. The knob just kept spinning - regardless of direction!. I finally had to remove that 9V battery I mentioned earlier. Then, on the next gig, it started working again! I have no explanation for that behavior.I know Whirlwind can do better. The electronics inside the box have to be simple. For $200 I expect a road-worthy device I don’t have to treat with kid gloves. Big fail with this one.