Only rated it a 9 due to the weak manual and I'm even nit picking there. The microphone sounds great, looks great, has very good initial build quality and I expect it will hold up in the field.

Sound
Like the XDR955 before it, the sound is indistinguishable from a hard wired microphone. The XD-V70 is a better microphone though with much less handling noise and and improved capsule. This microphone has a modeling feature that is meant to approximate the EQ of other well known microphones - 6 total. I played around with them and they do indeed make the microphone sound different. In the end though I liked the "L6", or unmodelled setting the best.

Features
Can't think of a microphone with more features. It accepts capsules from Shure, Heil and Audix (the Audix requires an adapter ring, available from Rat Sound). While there is an LED display on the receiver, the battery indicator on the microphone actually counts down in real time in 20 minute increments. It also has 2 power modes. In "power save mode", the microphone will register 9 hours with fresh batteries and it really lasts that long. I tested it with fresh batteries and left them on until they died. There is a setting that allows different "environments" to be set. I believe. You can set it up for speech or music for instance. I'm not exactly sure what changes are made and the manual isn't very helpful. Although it may not appeal to the largest of production… read more companies, 12 channels make it more versatile than previous offerings. Whether you use it or not, the modeling feature, described above, is unique to wireless microphones.

Ease of Use
It works out of the box by just turning it on and going. That said, the manuals, yes I said manuals as there are 2, one for the transmitter and another for the receiver, are pretty thin and don't explain everything. There is a reference to a more in depth manual that is available on line. At the time of this review this manual was not yet on the Line 6 site.

Quality
The quality is excellent. Unlike the all plastic XDR 955, the XD-V70 is almost entirely metal. The only exterior plastic used is on the battery cover of the microphone. It is explained that this was done for performance reasons as the antenna is down there and can't transmit well through metal. The aesthetics and design are more professional than the XDR 955, which is twice as big and flashier with multiple color lights that flicker. The XD-V70 will attract more of the pro market. Ability to use up to 12 units is great to as its 7 more than the older microphone.

Value
While I've only used this microphone for one show so far, I absolutely love it. I've used many wired and wireless microphones from just about all the major players, and this is the best of all worlds. A quality microphone capsule on a body that has good handling noise, all metal construction, long battery life, and best of all, a signal path that you would never know isn't hard wired.

Manufacturer Support
I've not used the avenues of "official support". Via an online live sound forum I frequent, I do know someone within the organization. He's answered questions and been very helpful.

The Wow Factor
I wanted it and I bought it. Honestly, unless you'll need more than 12 wireless units, I don't see anything beating it (at any price).

Musical Background:
active musician

Musical Style:
rock and pop read less