Review of New Enya X4 Pro

rjames1973 · #1 05-08-2023, 06:17 PM

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to give a review of the Enya X4 Pro. I got this guitar from Amazon several days ago, so I've had plenty of time to form a good opinion on it.

I have read some reviews that this guitar is heavy, but I find it to be a very comfortable weight. It is as comfortable a weight as any other acoustic guitar I have owned. Out of the box, I did not care for the phosphor bronze strings on it. They gave the guitar too much of a low/mid-range bass tone and made it sound a bit muddy. Also, the action was too high. I took the guitar to a local luthier here in West Palm Beach, FL, for a setup. After he shaved a bit off the bridge, did a minor adjustment to the bridge and did a change of strings to Martin Retro .11-gauge strings, the guitar is an absolute joy to play. I had read some reviews that the action was too high, so I was prepared for that. Still, for a guitar with such great reviews on YouTube and at this price range, I was hoping that I wouldn't have to deal with a setup.

The built-in actuator is quite nice. I have the latest model, which has a built-in tuner. I suspect that Enya did this after watching reviews of the guitar on YouTube, since this was a common gripe with the earlier model. IMHO, the hall reverb is what shines on this guitar, when it is played unplugged. The room reverb, chorus and delay are difficult to pick up while playing, until you stop playing. When you do that, you can hear these particular effects. Plugged in, this is a completely different scenario, and you can hear every built-in effect with no issues. Still, I think Enya should work on improving the actuator for playing without an amp.

Overall, I am happy with this purchase--especially with a guitar that I purchased on Amazon below $1,000.00. I'm no expert on carbon fiber guitars, but I think the Enya X4 Pro is a solid introduction into the world of carbon fiber guitars. I love mine, now that it is setup just right, and I anticipate a long and enjoyable relationship with it.

rjames1973 · #2 05-08-2023, 06:53 PM

https://flic.kr/p/2oz4MR8

Some pictures.

SpruceTop · #3 05-09-2023, 03:38 PM

I'm So Happy To Hear You're Diggin' Your New Enya X4 Pro AcousticPlus. I don't think there's a better value out there in a guitar that sounds great and is pretty much maintenance-free. Enjoy!

jplee3 · #4 09-18-2023, 04:25 PM

Wow, I wish I would have waited on this for the new electronics pad! I have the original X4 Pro (with the annoying low-visibility notches and no tuner) and haven't change the strings just yet but probably will (as well as shave down the bridge too). Not a huge deal but I did get it for $719 and no tax assessed (direct from Enya) so I guess that's not too bad.

brainfertilizer · #5 09-18-2023, 06:33 PM

I returned mine after a few weeks.

It was heavier than other carbon fiber guitars, and the electronics added nothing for me. The top was clearly carbon fiber, but the back might as well be plastic for all I can tell.

That being said:
1) I messed with the truss rod and got the action down low enough be very nice. If there's one thing I don't like about Composite Acoustics, it's that they assume everyone likes the same string height and same string weight, which is not true at all.
2) they are an innovative company, and the more I play the Enya NexG 2, the more I love the sound and feel.

There is nothing wrong with their products at all. I prefer Composite Acoustics for a number of reasons and for the specific models I own, but I can absolutely see where someone would love Enya. If you can't afford an Emerald, Enya is a much greater reduction in price than in quality, tone, or playability.

OnTheFidele · #6 10-10-2023, 10:15 AM

The Enya X4 Pro and Pro Mini are currently on sale on Amazon if anyone was thinking of buying one

jplee3 · #7 10-10-2023, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheFidele

The Enya X4 Pro and Pro Mini are currently on sale on Amazon if anyone was thinking of buying one

This is very tempting

I have the older X4 Pro and paid more for it too

I do wish they made the preamp modular in the sense that I could swap it out for the newer one. I'm thinking it's probably not possible to do...

OnTheFidele · #8 10-10-2023, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplee3

This is very tempting

I have the older X4 Pro and paid more for it too

I do wish they made the preamp modular in the sense that I could swap it out for the newer one. I'm thinking it's probably not possible to do...

I was tempted too, but saw that nut width is 1-11/16", which is a tad narrow for my preferences. I'll save my money for an Emerald, Rainsong, or McPherson...

Aspiring · #9 10-10-2023, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheFidele

I was tempted too, but saw that nut width is 1-11/16", which is a tad narrow for my preferences. I'll save my money for an Emerald, Rainsong, or McPherson...

I have an x4 pro that I made a new nut for that pushed the string to string spacing out at the nut to 38.5mm which is on the wider side of some of my 1 3/4 nuts. I've been happy with that change.

brainfertilizer · #10 10-11-2023, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplee3

This is very tempting

I have the older X4 Pro and paid more for it too

I do wish they made the preamp modular in the sense that I could swap it out for the newer one. I'm thinking it's probably not possible to do...

Maybe not modular.

But there is an Enya Go on Music Go Round that someone upgraded the pickups with what looks aftermarket SE-5N 5-band equalizer/tuner.
No idea if it they replaced the control button on a powered/speaker version, or just cut through the plastic to add it to a plain-jane version.
https://www.musicgoround.com/product...osite-acoustic

So no reason you couldn't do that on yours. Either by yourself, or by a decent luthier.

https://www.amazon.com/Equalizer-Pic.../dp/B07JF8G2SF

JackB1 · #11 10-11-2023, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheFidele

The Enya X4 Pro and Pro Mini are currently on sale on Amazon if anyone was thinking of buying one

I don't see any X4 Pro's on Amazon

OnTheFidele · #12 10-11-2023, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aspiring

I have an x4 pro that I made a new nut for that pushed the string to string spacing out at the nut to 38.5mm which is on the wider side of some of my 1 3/4 nuts. I've been happy with that change.

Thanks for the tip! Now I'm back to deliberating...

OnTheFidele · #13 10-11-2023, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackB1

I don't see any X4 Pro's on Amazon

Sometimes Amazon doesn't list it for some odd reason. What works for me is to click the link for the X4 Pro Mini, then click to the X4 Pro option on the Mini's page.

Aspiring · #14 10-11-2023, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheFidele

Thanks for the tip! Now I'm back to deliberating...

Note that is for the full size the mini is likely narrower given what people have reported so far but I haven't seen one in person to confirm.

Per Burström · #15 11-11-2023, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjames1973

The built-in actuator is quite nice. I have the latest model, which has a built-in tuner. I suspect that Enya did this after watching reviews of the guitar on YouTube, since this was a common gripe with the earlier model. IMHO, the hall reverb is what shines on this guitar, when it is played unplugged. The room reverb, chorus and delay are difficult to pick up while playing, until you stop playing. When you do that, you can hear these particular effects. Plugged in, this is a completely different scenario, and you can hear every built-in effect with no issues. Still, I think Enya should work on improving the actuator for playing without an amp.

Is it a single actuator on the back? That's how it is in my Nova Go SP1. Probably it would be better having it on the top of the guitar, that's how it is in LAG HyVibe I have (and that has two actuators). The effect from the actuator in the Nova Go SP1 is very subtle.

BTW, there's a new updated X3 Pro Mini with the SP1 (single knob for effects, no tuner, as in the Nova Go SP1) available. I'm a bit tempted getting one (the Mini) as the normal soundhole allows installing a magnetic pickup. Other than that the X4 looks "cooler".

I hope to see some reviews comparing the new X3 Pro (Mini) with the X4 Pro (Mini) soon.

The weight issue is a bit of a "shop-stopper" for me though. Not really a problem with the Nova Go (which is much heavier than my Cort AD Mini), but for a bigger guitar it might be...

Per