Wireless speaker system

kung fu guykung fu guy
Posted:
in AppleOutsider edited January 2014
Anyone familar with Acoustic Research wireless speakers systems? They use a 2.4 ghz transmission hub and wireless AR speaker/receiver. The prduct reviews I've found seem to be a mixed bag. I want to build a 5.1 home theater system. Wires are ugly and a pain in the butt. I've seen the box. Looks cheap and underwhelming. They claim to have tower speakers as well. Haven't seen any. Nor is there a website? This would be great if they had a complete 5.1 system.



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...&s=electronics



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...&s=electronics

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    rufusswanrufusswan Posts: 132member
    I have no experience with AR speakers, nor wireless speakers, but have wondered why ALL speakers are not wireless today. My guess is that the size of the 'signal' required to achieve decent audio cannot be supported by a simple 2.4 ghz pathway. (It could also be that 5.1,6.1,7.1 surround sound is far more complex than standard audio) I think that's why most of the products mention how well they play MP3 which sounds OK (sort of), but is certainly not consider "high end" by audio snobs. However, to contradict myself, when I broadcast from my Mac to Airport, my stereo sounds absolutely great. So there, a lot of unhelpful opinion. Good Luck.



    By the way, if you want to hear an absolutely killer home theater system, visit BestBuy and look at the Q-Line Gold system by SLS Audio. (slsaudio.com) It will make you salivate.



    Paz
  • Reply 2 of 8
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,326moderator
    They need to figure out a way to run speakers without power before wireless sound systems will be worthwhile. Either that or start marketing really long lasting batteries.
  • Reply 3 of 8
    rufusswanrufusswan Posts: 132member
    Marvin is correct, not my blithering about 'size of signal'. You're stuck with a wire either way.
  • Reply 4 of 8
    gongon Posts: 2,437member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by rufusswan

    You're stuck with a wire either way.



    Wires, yes, but less and in different locations. Most significantly, no cords need to go from the front of the room to the back of the room, and no cords need to go to the computer (just a transmitter dongle). Wireless is much easier to make modular. I'm picturing a speaker set which you can buy with transmitter and two speakers, add a third speaker, add fourth and fifth speakers. You just set the speaker location in software and the correction for the speaker amount and placement is done either in software or in hardware in the transmitter dongle.



    I have no idea of the current quality of wireless speaker technology, but wireless has a lot to offer even when you still need power cords.
  • Reply 5 of 8
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,326moderator
    I've always wondered why we needed multiple speakers anyway. We only have two ears and we determine the sound direction by judging the variations between what reaches each ear. So technically all you need to do is pre-process multi-channel information to simulate that. Et voila, Trusurround sound is born:



    http://www.1388.com/articles/srs-eng...ge4/page4.html
  • Reply 6 of 8
    rufusswanrufusswan Posts: 132member
    Trusurround sounds kinda neat.



    I sure miss the old stereo selling days were we had listening rooms setup so we could show customers how ampX sounded with 10+ different speaker setups, or 10 amps thru the same speakers.



    We had a tent sale one year and some of us had to sleep there to watch all the equip, so one night we took 20 sets of speakers out of box and ganged enough amps together to drive'em. {yea, we were a little tipsy} Really blew the customers away that weekend with our Phil Specter "wall of sound"! They Genisis5 bookshelf speakers, but 20 pair kicks ass.



    Paz
  • Reply 7 of 8
    skatmanskatman Posts: 609member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Marvin

    I've always wondered why we needed multiple speakers anyway. We only have two ears and we determine the sound direction by judging the variations between what reaches each ear. So technically all you need to do is pre-process multi-channel information to simulate that. Et voila, Trusurround sound is born:



    http://www.1388.com/articles/srs-eng...ge4/page4.html



    This would only be possible of the system is able to track the orientation of the ears in real time as well.
  • Reply 8 of 8
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,326moderator
    Quote:

    Originally posted by skatman

    This would only be possible of the system is able to track the orientation of the ears in real time as well.



    My guess is they make the assumption you are facing the TV screen but you're right it won't work all the time. Reviews suggest it's not as good as true surround sound but better than stereo without the hassle:



    http://www.boston.com/business/perso...eakers?mode=PF
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