Wireless HTIB Help Needed Please!

[knst86]

Hi all,

I am extremely happy to have found this forum while crawling through cyberspace... I am extremely new to Home Theatre Audio Systems and would like to get some advice on purchasing one.

I need a wireless HTIB (do not want to deal with the hassle of wires in the common room). I was looking at a Sony model the other day at Best Buy:

Sony BRAVIA 1000W 5.1-Ch. Model: DAV-HDX500
You could find this on Bestbuy.com (the forum wouldn't allow me to post a link)

The salesperson tells me that the two rear speakers are wireless. But I prefer something that is fully wireless; any suggestions? Anything I should be aware of other than compromised sound quality?

Thank you,

 

[MDS]

Any 'wireless' speaker system is a compromise.

Think about how it must work:
Our ears are analog. Wireless data transmission means it is digital. The data that represents the signal must be transported through the air, 'caught' by the receiver, and then converted to analog. Now digital transmission is very robust but you add the complexity that the carrier frequency for the wireless transmission is one that is very close to other common appliances in the home - like say your cordless phone. Ever been talking on the phone with the microwave on and experienced major static and/or droputs on the phone? A wireless speaker system has the same potential for interference.

To answer the main question, I have yet to see any system that offers an ALL wireless setup where each and every speaker takes a digital signal transmittted through the air and converts it to analog on the fly.

Wireless surrounds are a bit of a misnomer anyway as they obviously require a receiver that can sense the signal and that 'receiver' must be plugged into the wall as well as the speakers themselves. Hence, WIRES.

Just my opinion, but I'd avoid wireless speakers for anything other than simple background music.

 

[BMXTRIX]

The only time anyone should be considering wireless speakers is as follows:

1. You don't have any decent way to get from the front of the room to the back of the room for surround channels. So, you add surround channels that PLUG INTO THE WALL at the back of the room and do it that way.

2. You want a second zone of audio out on the porch in which case you want RF battery speakers for occassional outdoor use.

Otherwise, your front left/center/right speakers all require power to operate. You can plug them into the wall, or you can plug them into the receiver. It takes about 5 minutes to do it either way, but plugging them into the receiver actually reduces costs, and increases performance for the system - as well as making things more reliable.

What you are requesting doesn't actually exist, and the cost/performance trade off you have to not actually get true 'wireless' makes it all pretty pointless. A good idea, just not realistic. Kind of like saying "I want a flying car" Most people are familiar with cars and people get that to own a flying car (personal helicopter) you gotta have tons of cash and be prepared for all the hassles that go along with owning anything that flies. Since many people don't get audio, they think that 'wireless' is just a piece of cake that should work perfectly and be like your cordless phones in your home.

It isn't - and once you know, and more importantly, understand, that it isn't that easy, then you begin to accept the limitations of where technology is.