Wireless Speakers

[Proc]

I've currently got a Panasonic all-in-one surround system, but i'm moving house just after Christmas and toying with the idea of buying a new system. Part in being lazy and part in intrigue i'm just wondering is there such a thing as a decent speaker package/all-in-one that has wireless speakers?

Nearest thing i've seen is probably the Sonos stuff, but at around £2k for the full set up its a bit much for my wallet. I know there's 2.1 and soundbars that do a 5.1 effect, but much prefer the proper thing.

 

[valve90210]

I'm sure Lucid or someone will be along soon to give much better advice but essentially I'm sure they'll say there's not really any real options for wireless speakers as they need powering so you'll be swapping speaker wires for power cables essentially...

 

[lucid]

Cheers valve90210

The reason that wireless rears aren't found often (if at all?) outside the sort of all-in-one systems you might buy from Currys is that it hits the audio quality. All-in-ones get away with it because the speakers aren't that great in the first place so they mask the deficiencies.

KEF did a really nice wireless rear speaker kit for a while to go with surround systems. The transmitter and two receivers kit still cost a hefty £500 or so, and that's excluding rear speakers. That's more than many people spend on an entire 5.1 amp and speaker package!

The ideal of just some speakers you plonk down with no wires at all doesn't yet exist in surround systems. If we exclude quality concerns for a moment then what remains is a three-way tussle between volume (spl), battery life and cost. That means in order to keep costs under control and to generate the sorts of spl's required surround duties then the compromise is a mains powered wireless receiver/amp and conventional speaker cables then to the two surround speakers.

 

[Proc]

Cool cheers for the advice, will have to look at best way of running the wiring when i move in. Main thing was carpets were already down so wanted to avoid pulling them up to run wires, so logical option will be along skirting boards. Or give the Sonos stuff a try or see what options i've got.

 

[Proc]

After doing some research there are a few ways of doing it, Sonos being one and Panasonic's ALL system, not sure what they're like but gonna pop into my local RS and have a listen.