Wireless speakers?

[David Bisset]

Hi all,

I've recently moved to laptops from desktops and am finding built-in speakers are truly horrible. I'm currently using old desktop speakers for sound, but this doesn't tie very well with being able to sit wherever I want with my laptop, moving the speakers around with it is getting old fast.

Are wireless speakers a good option? I'd happily have them permanently set up in my living room so not bothered how portable they are, plus they can easily be mains powered - but I've no idea if the sound quality suffers noticeably and/or if there is much input lag or similar to deal with (probably using the wrong terms, know nothing about speakers!)

If wireless speakers are a decent option - are there any recommendations and/or avoids? I would like to stay sub-£100 but can go up to £200 if there is good reason. The room is pretty small though so not too bothered about max output.

Cheers,
Dave

Edit: Most products I've looked at so far seem very much intended for carrying around - battery powered etc. Seems a bit pointless getting one of these for a mains-operated setup but if they are the best option then I'll stop discounting them so quickly

 

[Marsman]

For £100, the best bet would be a Bluetooth receiver and speakers of choice. I have a Logitech Bluetooth adaptor which I have connected to my stereo amplifier; to which I stream music from my phone. It works pretty well and the quality is actually pretty decent for a £23 product. Bluetooth isn't the best way of steaming music wirelessly, due to limitations; but it is the most cost effective way.

Using a home network is better, but then devices that can connect to a network cost quite a lot more, especially if it's part of one unit with a speaker/s. Sonos Play:3, is an example at around £250. There are very few devices that are just a network music receiver. Apple Airport Express is the only one that springs to mind. I think they are around £80, then you've got speakers to buy as well. I'm not sure how easy it is to get those to work if you don't want to use iTunes.

Is this for gaming as well as music?

 

[David Bisset]

Not for gaming, just music & movies. Gaming still on the desktop.

Not quite sure why I didn't think of using a separate transmission system, especially given I've loads of speakers already that I could re-use thus saving money. Thanks for the pointer! (Also I've no plan on using iTunes if I can possibly avoid it so I guess the Apple Airport Express might be out )

 

[Marsman]

Just doing a quick search seems you can use the AAE without iTunes. Probably the best solution, as being a network device it will have better range than Bluetooth.