Wireless surround speaker options?

[Jamester23]

Hi all. I bought a Marantz SR6011 receiver. Thanks to all the great people on here, I have it setup and it sounds great through my B&W 683 s2s and matching center channel and Velodyne sub.

I don't currently run rear speakers due to the wiring being a project I don't feel like enduring. Getting the wire in the wall then up the wall then to the exact location just is a deal breaker for me regarding the amount of work I want to put in. Call me lazy but it'll be a dy of swearing, yelling, sweating and I just have better time uses.

Now that I've somewhat validated the reason to not have rears, I'm interested in having them in a less stress inducing manner. The MArantz supports HEOS. No idea what that is but is that a way to have good wireless rears that I would assume would be bluetooth?

What are the best options for two surrounds that will look good, sound, good be wireless, work with my Marantz and hopefully be able to not have to have power wires to them?

 

[BMXTRIX]

No power wires? Like, they run on magic? Or on batteries you have to recharge all the time?

It really isn't an unusual desire, but it just has a bunch of very real issues associated with it.

1. While Denon/Marantz allows for some wireless options, they are based upon packaged systems with surround bars. Nothing that touches what B&W delivers really. Polk makes one which has everything kind of integrated together, but will not be B&W quality, and can't operate with them.

2. So, you will need a transmitter/receiver unit, or find (somewhere) some active (self-powered) speakers which suit your needs. Wireless surround transmitters/receivers are out there and pretty easy to find.

3. Almost all of the receivers require an outlet and provide power for the surround speakers. So, yes, a wire to the speakers to make them produce sound.

4. From there, you can choose any appropriate speakers of your choosing. They will be powered by the wireless receiver, so the quality will be limited to the quality of the wireless transmitter/receiver pair.

I don't think wireless surrounds have really been figured out in a way which satisfies end users. I would love to have a good answer, but the best answer is still 'run the wires'. Yes, you lose one day, but you never have to do it again. Hopefully some other responses will be more useful than mine.

 

[slipperybidness]

I use the Rocketfish wireless kits from Best Buy. They are serviceable, but not great or anything.

 

[lovinthehd]

Heos would probably be easiest for you to implement. https://usa.denon.com/us/heos

 

[KenM10759]

Speaker wires are generally smaller than power wires and really not all that hard to run. Bothered by it? Hire an electrical apprentice. It's pretty basic stuff...and you get a lot more (matching?) speakers to choose from.

 

[Jamester23]

Thanks all. My thought as only 10% goes through them you don't need something profound. I don't want the sound to be bad though. There is also some solid wireless charging tech out there I would imagine some company would have integrated. I know that back when I was more audio enlightened that all of the wireless speakers sucked ('99) and ran on radio frequencies so until 2017 I wouldn't even think there might be an option.

 

[slipperybidness]

Heos would probably be easiest for you to implement. https://usa.denon.com/us/heos

Have you looked into exactly how Denon implements Heos?

So, could you have your front 3 speakers all hardwired, then have your Surround Left be a dedicated Heos speaker, and another dedicated Heos for the Surround Right?

All integrated and controlled through the AVR? And apply the Room Correction too?

If Heos and Denon can do all that in an elegant integrated package, then that is a game changer! That gives Denon a huge competitive advantage IMO.

I have been curious if it can work like that. I just haven't bothered to research it yet.

 

[lovinthehd]

Have you looked into exactly how Denon implements Heos?

So, could you have your front 3 speakers all hardwired, then have your Surround Left be a dedicated Heos speaker, and another dedicated Heos for the Surround Right?

All integrated and controlled through the AVR? And apply the Room Correction too?

If Heos and Denon can do all that in an elegant integrated package, then that is a game changer! That gives Denon a huge competitive advantage IMO.

I have been curious if it can work like that. I just haven't bothered to research it yet.

A couple brief searches indicated as much as did something I'd read a while ago, found this http://denon-uk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5673/~/heos-surround-speaker-setup-for-heos-avr

 

[BMXTRIX]

Yes, it's pretty specific that the Heos speakers offer some options. The HEOS-1 in particular can be set to the surround speakers on a HEOS receiver and can run for up to 6 hours on a rechargeable battery.

https://usa.denon.com/us/heos-1-portable-wireless-speaker

I would expect reasonable operation and sound from them, and if you wanted more, you would have to go to the HEOS amplifier and a set of wired speakers of your own choosing at that point:
https://usa.denon.com/us/heos-amp

Frankly, I think this technology is long overdue, and really is cool. No 'wireless charging' of the speakers though. 6 hours from a full charge is all that can be delivered, so I would probably go for the Amp unit and just run some speaker wires up to some decent speakers of my own choosing instead, but that is entirely up to you.

 

[MR.MAGOO]

I use the Rocketfish wireless kits from Best Buy. They are serviceable, but not great or anything.

If I can't get the wires under the door threshold I may give Rocketfish a try.