Dolby Atmos over Power Lines?

[gene]

AUDIO Cu is trying to revolutionized home theater audio by using power line technology to deliver high-resolution Dolby Atmos sound, eliminating the need for complicated wiring setups or even AVR's!

AUDIO Cu’s technology completely replaces the traditional audio-video receiver (AVR) and speaker cables to provide "a seamless solution for distributing sound to speakers and subwoofers throughout the home." The system can support up to 10 different audio channels per setup, allowing for configurations ranging from basic 2.0 stereo systems to immersive 9.1 surround sound, including Dolby Atmos setups as advanced as 7.1.2.

Will it work or is it snake oil?

Read: Dolby Atmos over Power Lines

 

[Speedskater]

Isn't Wi-Fi a lot easier?
Or heck a bunch of BlueTooth channels.

 

[Trebdp83]

I did get a laugh reading about the saving of wire. How is anything being saved with all of the additional power cords running everywhere? I'm hoping those wanting to use this setup have multiple power outlets exactly where they are needed and don't have to install, you know, more wire.

 

[TLS Guy]

AUDIO Cu is trying to revolutionized home theater audio by using power line technology to deliver high-resolution Dolby Atmos sound, eliminating the need for complicated wiring setups or even AVR's!

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AUDIO Cu’s technology completely replaces the traditional audio-video receiver (AVR) and speaker cables to provide "a seamless solution for distributing sound to speakers and subwoofers throughout the home." The system can support up to 10 different audio channels per setup, allowing for configurations ranging from basic 2.0 stereo systems to immersive 9.1 surround sound, including Dolby Atmos setups as advanced as 7.1.2.

Will it work or is it snake oil?

Read: Dolby Atmos over Power Lines

That idea of transmitting audio over the AC wire, is as old as the hills. It was done pre WWII. I remember examining a pre WWII AM table radio as kid. Instead of the antenna it has a network connecting the radio receiver input to the AC mains, and used the house AC wiring for the antenna. Apparently this was not unusual back then. I thought it wa a lousy idea and dangerous back then, and still do.

 

[itlnstln]

Isn't Wi-Fi a lot easier?
Or heck a bunch of BlueTooth channels.

Yeah, this seems like a captive ethernet-over-powerline solution. WiFi and BT might have some latency concerns to deal with, though

 

[gene]

I did get a laugh reading about the saving of wire. How is anything being saved with all of the additional power cords running everywhere? I'm hoping those wanting to use this setup have multiple power outlets exactly where they are needed and don't have to install, you know, more wire.

yea, that's a bit ridiculous unless the consumer decides to go this route instead of expensive exotic cables

 

[Trebdp83]

And exotic wire stands, don't forget the exotic wires stands or the wires touching the floor will f$%k up the sound big time. I couldn't type that s#%t without laughing out loud.

Apologies to exotic wire stand enthusiasts as I know many prefer the terms "wire lift" or "riser." Bulls#%t comes by many names these days.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

I did get a laugh reading about the saving of wire. How is anything being saved with all of the additional power cords running everywhere? I'm hoping those wanting to use this setup have multiple power outlets exactly where they are needed and don't have to install, you know, more wire.

I don’t see this being a big problem. The pictures show attaching the unit to a speaker, jumping speaker wire to the binding posts, then plugging the unit into the wall. Seems to me you could just as easily mount the unit near any convenient electrical outlet, then run speaker cable to the speaker from there. Sure, you’d have some speaker cable on the floor, but we’ve been dealing with that forever.

The big problem I see is Atmos speakers. No quick-and-easy for that. I hope the gizmo can live in an attic, because that’s where it’s going to have to be, if there's no convenient closet to install it where you could send speaker wires through the ceiling into the attic. But then, closets typically don't have electrical outlets...

I thought it wa a lousy idea and dangerous back then, and still do.

That was the first thing that occurred to me too, but on further reflection, anything we connect our speakers to is already plugged into an electrical outlet, and it’s been that way forever. Thus, ultimately I don’t see safety as an issue, as long as it’s designed properly with all the standard safety certifications.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Trebdp83]

The AUDIO CU transmitter module has an eARC port. So, it must be connected to a TV with an eARC port to receive an Atmos/Dolby TrueHD bitstream. DTS is not supported here. A single system will be limited to, 5.1.4 or 7.1.2 or 9.1 channels and a wifi network and Smart device are also necessary to have in the home to use it. It is a very pricey and very limited affair and frankly isn't worth the cost of entry simply to avoid running conventional speaker wire.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

It is a very pricey and very limited affair and frankly isn't worth the cost of entry simply to avoid running conventional speaker wire.

Indeed. Even the most expensive “get the signal to the rear speakers wirelessly” solution, utilizing pro-audio gear (they wrote the book on wireless gear that’s drop-dead reliable) would cost no more than the transmitter unit, and probably less. Add the price of a remote amplifier and you’re still way below the price of an AUDIO Cu transmitter + one receiver.

On top of that, the timing of this product strikes me as unfortunate. This seems to be a hobby in a slow death spiral. Disc players are down to only a few models from maybe 2-3 manufacturers. AVRs seem to have fewer manufacturers putting out fewer models, with longer lapses between new offerings. Like VHS and Betamax of old, it seems Joe Sixpack and soundbars have won the war. For all practical purposes, we are the bitter clingers to the superior Betamax format.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Verdinut]

AUDIO Cu has a positive environmental impact by significantly reducing the need for copper wiring. But how about the environmental impact of building those Audio Cu modules? I don't see any environmental advantage.

 

[TLS Guy]

I don’t see this being a big problem. The pictures show attaching the unit to a speaker, jumping speaker wire to the binding posts, then plugging the unit into the wall. Seems to me you could just as easily mount the unit near any convenient electrical outlet, then run speaker cable to the speaker from there. Sure, you’d have some speaker cable on the floor, but we’ve been dealing with that forever.

The big problem I see is Atmos speakers. No quick-and-easy for that. I hope the gizmo can live in an attic, because that’s where it’s going to have to be, if there's no convenient closet to install it where you could send speaker wires through the ceiling into the attic. But then, closets typically don't have electrical outlets...


That was the first thing that occurred to me too, but on further reflection, anything we connect our speakers to is already plugged into an electrical outlet, and it’s been that way forever. Thus, ultimately I don’t see safety as an issue, as long as it’s designed properly with all the standard safety certifications.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

The situations are not nearly equivalent. The AC generally goes to a power supply that is robust and usually consists of a power transformer, which gives a massive degree of isolation. If you use the AC for low level digital signals that will not be the case. Not even close. Those systems that used the AC as an antenna, were eventually banned for house fires and above all electrocuting people. Trust me, it is an unsafe and insane idea, we should not go down.