Selecting a Wireless Speaker System for Your Home
Have you ever tried to count the number of wires there are in your home theater system? Not to mention the holes in the wall and the heap of tangled wires that are all part of the experience. The wires are everywhere, running all around the room, just so you can have better sound. Now you can enjoy that same great home theater experience without all those annoying cables, thanks to the wireless speaker systems that are now available for both video and audio systems. When you're ready to upgrade, look for a sound system that has a great range and high quality. Price is always a concern, of course, and you should set a budget that you can stick to. However, be prepared to pay - as a general rule, the better the speaker quality, the higher the price. A low-priced set of speakers does not ensure a good bargain.
Rather than transmitting sound through cables, wireless speakers employ one of two methods: either radio frequency or infrared frequency. As you might guess, radio frequency transmits along radio waves to the speakers, much like the radio in your car. The infrared system transmits along a beam of infrared light, like your remote. A typical infrared system can transfer at a rate of 50 to 2000 bps along a wavelength of 870 nm to 950 nm. An infrared system works best if you have a small room, since the receiver and transmitter must be within 20 feet of each other and within the same sight line.
For larger spaces, the radio frequency systems are preferred. They are also quite popular for outdoor systems, where the speakers may be spread far apart. Most of these systems use a 900 MHz signal with a 40 kbps transmission speed. One of the biggest advantages of a radio frequency is that it can transmit through walls and similar impediments that would block an infrared beam. It does require some work on your part to find the best position for signal reception and sound quality, and it does have a range limit as well. With a higher cost and an unfortunate tendency to interfere with other electronic signals, such as cordless phones, you will need to decide if this is the type of system that best suits your space.
Wireless speaker systems can be divided into two main categories. If you buy a whole new home entertainment system, you'll likely end up with an integrated system. These usually include a transmitter, an amplifier, a subwoofer, two frontal speakers, a front center speaker, and front and rear speakers, all contained within the package. If you already have a home-entertainment system, then you'll need add-on wireless speakers. Most of these sets include surround sound speakers, receivers and a transmitter that must be connected to the pre-existing wired amplifier.
About the Author:
Bill McNeil is a former mechanic and self-proclaimed gear-head. To learn more about Mud Tires and ATV Mud Tires please visit our site.
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