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Wireless Speakers
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If you've ever had to deal with a tangled mess of speaker wires or had to run wires through a crawl space or through a hot attic. Or if you ever had to drill holes through a hardwood floor to conceal wires to the rear surround speakers you are sure to appreciate the convenience of wire-free speakers. Wireless technology is relatively new for Home Theater Audio Systems. Ranging from small, low powered stand alone rear-surround models to moderately powered (yet high priced) complete 7.1 systems including sub-woofers from audiophile quality manufacturers - they may fit into your budget.
While there's actually no such thing as totally wireless speakers (except for very low powered rear surrounds) several manufacturers now offer wireless equipped rear surround systems or offer an option with selected receivers to add a module that allows for eliminating running wires to at least the rear surround speakers. Such modules are modestly priced and can eliminate the need to conceal the associated connecting wires which can sometimes entail crawling thru some tight areas. In order to have really good quality sound and power levels the enclosed onboard amplifiers will need an A/C power cord run to them - but at least you won't have to bother with stringing speaker wires to those speakers.
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Other manufacturers offer systems which connect to your receiver and transmit sound via RF signals to rear speakers which can even be battery operated. The battery systems seem somewhat odd as you may need to replace the cells in the middle of a viewing. Sony offers a wireless speaker system with a rechargeable battery system that is quite convenient. Strides have been made however to turn what started as a wireless system for computer sound into a high quality audio experience for your Home Theater. You may find more sources for wireless home theater speakers here where you will find a wide variety of information and retail outlets. Also you can find info on all types of home theater audio systems here.
An Interesting Universal Rear Wireless System from RocketFish
I recently was sent a rear speaker system from RocketFish (a Best Buy in-house brand) for evaluation. I was skeptical at first that such a small unit would produce quality audio. But to say my first impression was mistaken would be an understatement. The unit actually performs VERY well. I connected it and sat back to enjoy a PBS presentation of Huey Lewis and The News: Live at 25. My rear surround speakers actually sounded better than they did wired with more presence, plenty of punch/power and I was surprised with what seemed like a better rear surround field presence.
The RocketFish system is again not totally wireless but does not need bothersome batteries as do some units. There is a transmitter with a power supply that you connect to your rear speaker leads at your receiver and a receiving unit that you place at the rear of your room near your speakers. The receiver has a power cord, volume control for matching rear to front levels, and can be horizontally or vertically mounted as well as wall mounted via the unit's mounting holes. The receiver is then connected to your rear surround speakers via two speaker wires. The convenient factor of course is that you do not have to run wires all the way across your room.
The specs say there it has a 25W output with .10 harmonic distortion factor but the unit had plenty of power and every note was clear and distortion free. Later my wife and I screened the latest Grudge2 horror flick and the rear surround effects were clear and chilling. I give the RocketFish Universal Wireless Rear Speaker Kit a big "thumbs up". It's available from Best Buy and has an MSRP of $99.99.
An additional note on the RocketFish unit is that although it is billed as a Rear Wireless speaker kit it could also be used as a "B side speakers" extender kit and you could use it to place stereo speakers outside on a patio without having to run the wires to that location as well -- just food for thought.
Here's news from Acoustic Research
Acoustic Research Introduces the First High-Performance Wireless Home Theater SystemMonday January 8, 2007
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. and LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Audiovox Corporation (Nasdaq: VOXX - News). In what could be an industry breakthrough, Acoustic Research has developed and is introducing what they are calling the industry's first high-performance wireless 5.1 speaker package that includes a state-of-the-art, ultra-robust wireless rear channel system. The speaker package includes five voice-matched satellite speakers that utilize dual 3-inch drivers and a 1/2-inch tweeter in a high rigidity aluminum extruded cabinet.
"This is your classic AR-Quality system that finally answers the problems that have plagued wireless speaker systems from the very beginning of their origin," says Tom Malone, Senior VP Sales. Malone explained that after years of researching the wireless speakers market, the Company set out to design and sell what would be a no-compromise, high-performance wireless speaker system. "Our marketing philosophy was to deliver to the consumer a wireless speaker system that was virtually free of the problems and defects of past systems; a system that would reinforce the reputation of the Acoustic Research legacy."
For years consumers have searched for ways to enjoy the experience of a home theater surround sound system without the hassle of running wires to the back of their room. Up until now, the only choices were low-quality systems consisting of sub-par speakers, weak amplifiers, and noisy, interference- prone, wireless transmissions. Now, says Malone, that is all about to change.
AR's new WHT6024 Wireless Home Theater System is an audiophile's dream. The subwoofer is a high output 10-inch, 125-watt amplifier designed to deliver the full impact of any performance. The wireless system employs highly- advanced digital spread spectrum 2.4 GHz circuitry with a Quality of Service (QOS) channel that continuously and seamlessly avoids any potential interference.
"This system," says Malone, "is ideal for operating in classic hostile environments such as cordless phones, 802.11 computer networks and the dreaded microwave oven. And the sound quality is outstanding, thanks to a superior wireless design that delivers uncompressed, 20Hz to 20KHz, wide-separation "CD" performance. To top it off, AR has designed a no-nonsense, 50-watt RMS power amplifier into each rear channel, delivering the true impact that is essential to a serious home theater system. And the best news of all ... it's easy for the average consumer to install! Just plug in the transceiver, connect it to the rear speaker outputs of your home theater receiver, plug in the rear channels into any nearby outlet, and you are done."
The AR WHT6024 is the first home theater wireless system to offer true high-quality audio speakers, and a reliable, interference-free "CD" quality, wireless solution. The system will be available staring in April 2007 with an MSRP of $799.
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