Comments on: Wireless speakers: Sound at last?

Early attempts have been marred by high cost and low performance. Now, Avnera thinks it has the answer.
Photos: Cutting the speaker cord

[norval]

Wireless Speaker

Can think of numerous applications, one is on motorcycles; communication between passenger and driver; receiving F/M, Satellite radio, ipod, CB, GPS, radar detectors, etc. at a reasonable price with and an extended and rechargeable battery service.

[Stormspace]

It's good

I'd like to see these in inexpensive surround speakers and stereos. Cool.

[NazTech]

Addresses only one facet of the wireless speaker challenge

A chip that handles the data is a good first step, but only one part of the puzzle. Speakers require power (and lots of it) to sound good. Look at your average home-theater receiver: most of it is amplifier. And most of the weight of a amp is in it's power supply. Good amps need a good supply of power, much more than a set of rechargeable batteries can supply. You have you use AC power to get sufficient current. You need to fit the amplifier into the speaker; now you have a heavier and larger speaker with a power cord snaking out of it. Who will make the speaker? Who will make the amp? Home theater sounds best with matched speakers all 'round. Few speaker makers are amp makers. One solution is to have a remote amp, with speaker cable connecting to the speaker of your choice. Ah, but wait, you have that darn cable you can see.

[norval]

Wireless speakers

The solution: Mix-It! Of course! The Mix-It allows the user to plug in up to 4 devices simultaneously and keeps them electrically isolated so they cannot damage one another. It has been tested and is compatible with many devices: MP3 players, CD players, cassette players, AM/FM radios, satellite radio receivers, essentially ANY device with a headphone output! It also has a built-in amplifier and volume control to boost audio levels so they can be heard above road noise, which itself is a great benefit to the user.

[Olifrench]

turn into audio crackling and pixilated images

Never realised pixies were involved in big pixels showing on images :-P.

[zgreenwell]

How will they be powered?

The problem I have with wireless speakers is that no matter how good they get they still need to be powered by something. That means you have an even more unsightly power cable or they run on batteries which run down a must be regularly replaced/recharged. Its annoying and until its overcome wired speakers will always be the choice for home audio systems.

[norval]

Wireless Speakers

Could be by an internial 9v battery or a 12 volt accessory connector, or both.

[jm808]

wireless for rear home theater speakers

I bought a product by RocketFish that works pretty well for my rear speakers. It has a transmitter that connects to my HT receiver. There is a small box with a receiver and amp that plugs in to the wall for power and then I run my speakers wires to that. Works for my setup since wires are hidden behind sofa, but if speakers are spread too far you'd still see the wires. Don't remember the power rating off the top of my head.

[cnet1970]

There are some nice wireless speakers available these days, I found a nice shortlist on www.speakers-wireless.com, all high end material.