How Wireless Speakers Work

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The Need for Wireless Speakers

A common complaint against home audio systems has been the cables that interconnect the speakers to the audio receiver, tuner, cd player, or stereo units. As more and more channels are added to modern home audio equipment the problem of connecting the speakers to the audio sources has exacerbated. Running cables through the house walls is messy and time consuming. Cables running over the carpet are a tripping hazard. Running cables along the ceiling or walls are just an eyesore. Modern digital surround systems can have 7 speakers and a subwoofer. That is 7 cables that has to be run throughout your room, with at least 4 of the speakers expected to be no less than 10 foot away toward the center or rear of your listening room.

Some homes have a nice deck, patio or gazebo in the yard that is a common relaxation area for meeting and entertaining guests. Playing soft or popular music has a tendency to relax people, and help with awkward gaps in communications, as well as provide a topic of discussion when one isn't forthcoming.

Wireless Speaker Implementations

There are two common wireless speaker implementations, both having a similar design, but using different signal transport media. A transmitter device is attached to the speaker connections on the audio source, and a receiving device is attached to, or included in the speakers to be placed remotely. Most wireless speakers are sold as a package with the transmitter, receiver, and speakers themselves included for ease of use. Setting up wireless speakers is a pretty simple activity, but there are some caveats to consider:

• Most wireless speaker systems do not have the bandwidth that can be provided with their wired counterparts, so the wireless systems have a tendency to be less accurate to the sound played. Some people consider wireless speaker solutions to be "tinny" or lack "base". It is always prudent to listen to the speakers you are considering with the music you normally play to see if the result is acceptable. Some expensive wireless speaker systems tout that this situation does not occur with their designs.
• The further away the speaker receivers are from the transmitters, the more likely you will have distortion. This is a matter of the laws of physics, and is unavoidable. Amplifiers are available to assist the transmitters, but they tend to introduce additional noise into the system. Speaker receivers could include better antenna systems, but I found no aftermarket systems tailored directly for wireless speakers. It may be helpful to seek assistance at a local ham radio shop, as they would know what might suit your solution best. Make sure you know what communication frequencies and types of equipment you are using so that they can pick the proper antenna system for your speakers.

 

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