Completely wireless surrounds?

R

robman

Enthusiast
I know that wireless surrounds are heretical. But my dad, who would like to install his very first HT system, is in a bind. On the one hand, he lives in a log-walled house, so he cannot run wires through the walls. On the other hand, he must work within a most restrictive WAF: there can be no wires running up the walls, or speakers on stands (other than those next to the TV cabinet). This leaves no feasible option other than wireless surrounds--and, to make matters worse, they must be REALLY wireless--no speaker OR power wires.

So, my question: Can anyone recommend (even halfheartedly, with grave misgivings, and against acoustic advice) a pair of half-decent (or even quarter-decent) completely wireless surround speakers?

Oh yeah, one more thing. The room is huge, cathedral ceiling and all. Naturally. :rolleyes:

Thanks!
 
jaxvon

jaxvon

Audioholic Ninja
Can't you get away with rugs? I know you can find flat speaker wire that is basically undetectable under a rug. Then you can get speaker stands that hide the wire...

Basically what I'm saying is no, I can't even think of quarter-decent. Sorry :(
 
av-man

av-man

Audioholic
The only wireless rears I've seen have a reciever that hooks up to the speakers and a xmitter at the AVR unit. So even then he will need to hide the wires from the reciever to the speaker
 
RLA

RLA

Audioholic Chief
Hi All
Wireless may be a good solution for outside speakers or background music
But I would not recommend them in a permanent Home Theater installation.
I am currently looking at a relatively new product for wireless subwoofer installation that may be a viable solution for low frequencies. You may need to get creative for hardwiring but there is always a solution
Happy Listening
Ray
 
Tom Andry

Tom Andry

Speaker of the House
Ray, I've recently had to relocate my sub behind my couch and have been agonizing over whether or not I want to venture into the attic during the 107 degree Florida summer. I'd be interested in knowing which product you are referring to. I figure with a powered sub like mine, sending the signal shouldn't cause to much of a problem.
 
R

robman

Enthusiast
Thanks for the feedback. I can't say that I was surprised by your lack of enthusiasm--that was my response as well. As it happens, I visited Best Buy today to pick up some CDRs, and they had the "really wireless" Acoustic Research speakers in stock. I didn't have time to give them a listen, but they looked fairly inadequate to the task, especially given the size of the room. Still, they may be better than nothing, if that is indeed the only alternative (but I will try to talk up stand-mounted surrounds with wires through the floor).
 
jaxvon

jaxvon

Audioholic Ninja
You could also try going for wall-mounted speakers with wiring in the wall. Also, try to get the wife involved and let her choose colors and such (after you pick out a few GOOD options). There are plenty of speakers out there that look really pretty and sound good to boot. Have you looked at the Rockets? You might also want to check out Anthony Gallor.
 
RLA

RLA

Audioholic Chief
Hello
Mr. mrnomas
I'll make you a deal I will PM the product name. I don’t want to post it because I have not had the time to evaluate it But it looks promising for frequency's 10-300 Hz. I’ll be in Florida in a month or two so don’t break our agreement or I'll hunt you down
:D
 
Tom Andry

Tom Andry

Speaker of the House
I’ll be in Florida in a month or two so don’t break our agreement or I'll hunt you down
Hunt me down?! Hell, I'll invite you over! Just be careful of my old sub...it eats children and by the time you get here, it may have moved up to adults!

Being a Claremont Graduate University grad, I know a little about the Inland Empire. Too bad I didn't know about you before I moved all the way out to BFE Florida!
 
mulester7

mulester7

Audioholic Samurai
.....and it might be time to say, "Darlin', I love you, but I live here too".....
 
RLA

RLA

Audioholic Chief
Hunt me down?! Hell, I'll invite you over! Just be careful of my old sub...it eats children and by the time you get here, it may have moved up to adults!
:D :D :D :D


and it might be time to say, "Darlin', I love you, but I live here too"..... :D :D :D :D

LOL
I can always count on at least one good laugh from you jokers each night Thanks
 
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mulester7

mulester7

Audioholic Samurai
.....RLA, I'm going to have to be honest and say I fell butt-deep into that one and deserve no credit....I was thinking about the situation this thread started on, of a guy being told he could run no speaker wire whatsoever or have speakers on display stands....

.....boys, here's the trick to dealing with the vile woman-creature....they seek being involved, and recognition, more than anything....let her make the final decision on adornments....to simply be asked, "Darlin' Precious, the only woman I could ever even look at, what color do you want the speaker wire painted?, and Baby, I'll go outside and stretch it on saw horses and paint it, but only because I love you soooo much"....(get the picture?)...."and Precious Darlin', (now insert the private one), do you want the speaker wire painted the color of the carpet, or the color of the baseboard?, and keep in mind my love for you will only grow"....(she'll be tied up in thought at this point)....(we'll hope it's over the colors).....

.....you might be surprised what saying those exact words might accomplish were it delivered with laughter but actually deep-down meaning it....and yes, lawyers are buried at a depth of 12 feet instead of 6, because deep-down, they're actually good people....I'm not trying to start any trouble here, but if my wife told me I absolutely COULD NOT "tastefully", there's the key, run smaller speaker wire in ANY room, she would be reminded I am an adult also, and a supposedly equal co-owner of the home....

.....then the wireless in-wall speakers would be ordered, haha....

.....no, we'd have trouble indeed, were she telling me I absolutely could not do about anything as long as it were honorable and not entirely stupid, and if need be, she could be reminded she is not my Mom, nor do I need her to be....I think it all boils down to how it's presented, though, and if it's governed by caring....

.....guys, here's a tip from experience....do everything you can to keep things light....you need the friends element more than you realize when problems come into play....

.....last time I worked was May 9th, and a check for road pay has shown up twice since....I'm confused, but remaining focused.....

....I'm thinking about opening a restaurant for real....."Leg Quarters"....grilled chicken, dark and white, inside grill with huge vent....rib-smoker out the backdoor delivering ribs, briskets, and shoulders....twice-baked potatoes steaming, and potato salad that is killer in huge pots refrigerated....a section of cobbler with every meal....

.....if it happens, I will go into the venture with a woman in her 60's who was raised by restaurant owners and can turn out smothered chicken-fried steak in milk gravy MEALS for 50 in 17 seconds, haha....we will be relying on her heavily at first as we hit the ground running with an 11-2 plate lunch college try....of course bbq chicken and ribs and pulled pork sandwiches from 11 on also....

.....I know a restaurant is hard work....but if your customers form a line to a 15-20 foot tray-slide where their money is taken and food and drink is placed on their trays, and they then go eat at indoor picnic tables with bright red and white, Razorbacks, plastic table cloths, which are awaiting them to promote a picnic attitude, your work just got a lot easier in more than one area....I hope....could be a few tables outdoors too with roof on concrete slab.....

.....some people have an attitude about paying/tiping a waitress no matter what she does for them....we'll only need an hourly kid, hopefully two or three, to bus and clean the dining room, which will have how many tables I don't have a clue, but my son-in-law does construction work, and lives fairly well in the stereo and motorcycle areas if you get my drift....

.....we'll probably use decent paper plates/boats/cups and plastic utensils and all of it goes into huge plastic bags in a couple of holders....anybody can grill chicken and smoke ribs....my sauce will take it from there....the woman in her 60's is my EX-Mother-in-law....my ex-wife is involved also....damndest workers you've ever seen....just like me....get up off the floor....

.....proud to be an American, guys....sorry to have rattled like this....to bed....am night owl....trains run at night....I've heard, haha....been awhile....with pay.....friends share fair....she needs her turn too, for new stuff....and everybody's toys go up in price when they grow up....over.....
 
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Buckeyefan 1

Buckeyefan 1

Audioholic Ninja
robman said:
I know that wireless surrounds are heretical. But my dad, who would like to install his very first HT system, is in a bind. On the one hand, he lives in a log-walled house, so he cannot run wires through the walls. On the other hand, he must work within a most restrictive WAF: there can be no wires running up the walls, or speakers on stands (other than those next to the TV cabinet). This leaves no feasible option other than wireless surrounds--and, to make matters worse, they must be REALLY wireless--no speaker OR power wires.

So, my question: Can anyone recommend (even halfheartedly, with grave misgivings, and against acoustic advice) a pair of half-decent (or even quarter-decent) completely wireless surround speakers?

Oh yeah, one more thing. The room is huge, cathedral ceiling and all. Naturally. :rolleyes:

Thanks!
Rob,

(by the way, Mule, thanks for the restaurant lesson)

This "log" home of your fathers - I assume it's a fairly expensive home, right? I would assume he and his wife (mom?) have money. If I were him, I would get an electrician out and have him professionally wire that room for sourround sound, including a sub cable. It can be done along baseboards with a quarter round stained to match the log walls. "Mom" should not have a problem with a custom banana type outlet behind each surround speaker. I think mounting surround speakers on the walls is probably out of the question due to the logs. I'd then give the job to her to pick out the rear stands. She can shop on line at Ikea, Pier one, Google speaker stands, etc... I would find some pictures of some amazing installs on line and show her how good a HT system can look if it's done tastefully. When she hears the results of some real speakers with a good chick flick, she'll thank your father for not buying those plastic AR 900mHz speakers with the Star Trek transmitter.
 
RLA

RLA

Audioholic Chief
....I'm thinking about opening a restaurant for real....."Leg Quarters"....grilled chicken, dark and white, inside grill with huge vent....rib-smoker out the backdoor delivering ribs, briskets, and shoulders....twice-baked potatoes steaming, and potato salad that is killer in huge pots refrigerated....a section of cobbler with every meal....
Well my diet is shot for the weekend,Yummy :)
Good luck in all your endeavors ;)
 
jaxvon

jaxvon

Audioholic Ninja
Well, while it's not cheap, and it's a lot more than a wireless amp, a Sonos unit might be what you're looking for Ben.
 
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