Wireless speakers

[gradus]

Grateful for any advice on these strange devices.
Does one need two for stereo or are they claimed to reproduce stereo from one box?
The main reason for buying is the absence of connecting wires - but do the inevitable audio compromises justify the decision?
The B&W Zeppelin looks promising but I've yet to hear it.
Any user experience of this and Sonus etc out there?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Some of them are claimed to give surround sound from a single unit, but they depend very much on room dimensions for their success. A wired system is still superior, though Frau A bought me some superb wireless Sennheiser headphones for Christmas. Superb, that is, until you try the 30-year old Sennheiser HD540 headset, which has an old-fashioned cable.

[richardfinegold]

Grateful for any advice on these strange devices.
Does one need two for stereo or are they claimed to reproduce stereo from one box?
The main reason for buying is the absence of connecting wires - but do the inevitable audio compromises justify the decision?
The B&W Zeppelin looks promising but I've yet to hear it.
Any user experience of this and Sonus etc out there?

I have the Bluesound Pulse. I have compared it to a Zeppelin. The Pulse, btw, requires an Ethernet connection, so it may not fulfill your definition of wireless.
They sound better than the boom boxes of yore, but imo they do not provide a true stereo image

[Dave2002]

I tried to elicit answers to a very similar question some time ago. As far as I have been able to find out since, most wireless speakers use some form of Bluetooth, and it looks as though the channels are combined into one stereo channel, so there's no sending a Left channel signal to the left, or a Right channel signal to the right. This wouldn't work at all for surround sound. I wish I was wrong, or misinformed, but that's how it seems to me. Boxes which have Left and Right speakers with only a small separation between them are a useful compromise for some situations, but are poor for serious listening.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-CSS5530B-Surround-Wireless-Speakers-x/dp/B00VX2RHHI/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1482797261&sr=1-3&keywords=wireless+surround+sound+speakers

[Dave2002]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-CSS...sound+speakers

OK - I did write "most" in msg 4. I don't know what technology is being used in those speakers, though if it's Bluetooth it's probably not the basic levels - unless perhaps the surround audio is heavily compressed. I'll try to find out more.

From the pictures it looks as though there are no mains wires - though maybe they are just not shown.

If mains wires are a problem there are any number of small battery powered speakers available now, though they would either require frequent battery changing, or battery recharging. Stereo speakers can effectively be converted to wireless by using devices like Chromecast Audio, which allow audio to be "cast" from android phones or iPad/iPhone like devices using a nearby wireless LAN. Wireless systems which rely on a nearby wireless LAN may not be useful for some situations - such as taking the kit out of doors - picnics, and if there isn't already a wireless LAN which can be used in the intended environment, then that also has to be factored into any implementation and costing.

I'm currently unaware of common multi channel file formats/systems which will work with phones or iPads etc, though that doesn't mean there aren't any.

[Anastasius]

I listened to some Sonus speakers the other week and came away underwhelmed. No way can you get any sort of meaningful stereo image when the speakers are in a box that's about 12 inches wide. Sonus works fine if all you want is some background music, the ability to send music to whichever room you happen to be in (assuming that you have Sonus speakers there). Think 'wallpaper' music.

As far as filing the music and retrieving it is concerned, like everything else mass-market, it is pop music focussed. So forget any sort of meaningful way of filing your classical music. And they are damn expensive.

[Stunsworth]

I have a pair of Sonus Play 1 speakers that provide excellent stereo - there are two boxes after all.

the sound is pretty good considering the size of their cabinets. Not as good as the active Meridians I have in the main system, but I never expected them to be.

[richardfinegold]

I listened to some Sonus speakers the other week and came away underwhelmed. No way can you get any sort of meaningful stereo image when the speakers are in a box that's about 12 inches wide. Sonus works fine if all you want is some background music, the ability to send music to whichever room you happen to be in (assuming that you have Sonus speakers there). Think 'wallpaper' music.

As far as filing the music and retrieving it is concerned, like everything else mass-market, it is pop music focussed. So forget any sort of meaningful way of filing your classical music. And they are damn expensive.

First of all, these speakers need not be limited to Bluetooth. As I mentioned the Blusound works off an ethernet connection.
The Pulse, the Blusound component relevant to the question of the OP, is part of a whole house system, like Sonos, unlike Sonos in that plays High Resolution Files. There are several different configurations of the whole home system system, depending on what you buy. I have 3 components.:
1) The Vault 2 ($1100) US. This is the main part of the system. It is in my main 2 channel system conned by SPDIF to my
DAC. It rips CDs and stores them in a 2 Tb HD. I ripped them to FLAC and as mentioned it will play 24/192 files. It has USB inputs for flash drives and connects by Ethernet and will recognize other storage on your system (NAS drives, etc)
It has a decent DAC included but I choose to use the DAC in my system. It sounds indistinguishable from any other digital source played via the same DAC.
2) The Node 2. This is connected by it's analog outputs to a receiver in a HT system (2 channel only). It requires another Ethernet connect. ($500 US) it also has it's own DAC which can be digitally bypassed
3) The aforementioned Pulse, which is my kitchen, not connected to another system, with several speakers within the one box. Also requires Ethernet and cost $500
The whole thing is controlled with an app from iOS. I formerly had an Android phone and used that app as well.
Blusound has the Tune In app for Internet radio and Apps for Tidal, Spotify, and other streaming services. It is also MQA, if that matters.
The purpose of the thing is to be able to listen to the same music as I move about the house.
To return to the OP question, the freestanding unit, the Pulse, despite having multiple speakers crammed within it and having been developed by the PSB speaker company and NAD, does not provide a stereo image, for the reason that others have commented upon in this thread. I would describe it as enhanced mono. And yes, it is a poor value at $500; I think that it should cost half that price (magically, it sounded better in the store). Otoh, it 's nice to be able to continue to listen to a piece of music as I run from the kitchen to other parts of the house. I was contemplating returning it by my wife fell in love with it and probably does 80% of her music listening with it.

[Dave2002]

http://www.audiostream.com/content/b...h4JH3vU4V9G.97 Vault 2

http://www.whathifi.com/bluesound/node-2/review Node 2

And I guess Pulse from one of these lists http://www.pulse-audio.co.uk/loudspeakers.shtml

[Dave2002]

Remember, wireless connection from source (usually some form of computer storage) to speaker is just an alternative mode of signal transmission, it does the same job as a cable.

Up to a point, Lord Copper.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I considered posting on the earlier thread but realised it would get quite complicated trying to explain differences in systems, and quite probably would not provide an answer to the question the original poster had in mind.

To Gradus, I would ask for confirmation what is the setting for the listening in question? To me, the Zeppelin would be looking for reasonable or good quality in, say, the kitchen - or perhaps secondary living room or conservatory?
The Zeppelin needs a mains power supply so would not, in daily useage, be portable. If you want reasonably good audio quality then some of the units mentioned up to now may be what you are looking for - in that situation. (But if put up against a good main system they would show up their limitations).

Can you indicate whether 2 separate speakers would be considered, or are definitely not wanted. I would speculate that two speakers might just be acceptable in a conservatory or second sitting room, but not a Kitchen. As to the AVI speakers Jayne has posted about - each speaker needs their own mains power supply, the optical and phono socket inputs and DAC are in the left hand speaker and in addition there needs to be a single connecting lead from the left to the right hand speaker (phono lead) by wire as well. ( I have to declare at this point I am a very happy AVI active speaker owner, I have three of their systems up to and including the latest DM10). (Active meaning - each speaker cone has its own amplifier, and they are located in the relevant speaker box - hence the need for the mains power)). But you would still need, then, to feed a signal into the left hand speaker.

The next question to Gradus - what are you ruling out, and in, as sources for the music? Mobile smartphone - would it be an apple (iPhone) product or not? Tablet ?- again, apple (iPad) or not. Laptop? - again, apple (Mac) or not. Or would you consider a unit such as a tuner, Cassette or CD player - so located close to the speaker(s)

Once we have this information, then possibly other alternatives such as a "Chromecast Audio" or bluetooth receiver (or others) could be discussed.

[gradus]

Many thanks to all respondents for replying to my OP.
I still find digital systems difficult to grasp although the dawn is slowly breaking.
My original question was prompted by re-decorating the room in which the PC sits and clearing away lots of 'stuff' leaving a relatively un-cluttered space and secondly by listening to a Sonus wireless speaker that a friend had bought. I thought the Sonus was neat but not especially good-sounding especially on orchestral music where the limitations of size became immediately apparent.
I am looking for a speaker(s) that might replace the B&W DM620s in the redecorated room. I also have a Quad-based system in another room but these days I listen far more via the PC - Spotify and R3 mostly I don't have an iPad - and that's why I instinctively turned to the B&W Zeppelin because I know how good B&W are at speaker design.
Part of the declutter was to take away the old Yamaha amp, Systemdek and Nakamichi cassette player but I'm bringing back the record and cassette players so it will probably end up as old analogue connected to wireless speakers - nuts as that sounds.
ps Having written this I completely forgot that I haven't got a clue as to brdging the gap from analogue output to wireless speakers. Oh dear.

[Dave2002]

You don't have to have wireless speakers - you can set up regular speakers to work with a wireless link if you wish to do that, though there would have to be some kit (appropriate amplification and a power source) close to the speakers. By all means try wireless speakers with all the gubbins built in if you like the sound, but if you find you don't then you'd be stuck with them until you decided on another change.

If the objective is to reduce cabling that can be done using wireless technology. There might be some sonic benefits of wireless links if the cable lengths to the speakers are long, and you wish to avoid the use of thick and/or expensive loudspeaker cable. I recently bought some quite chunky loudspeaker cable and perhaps it did strengthen the bass output of my speakers with the amps I use. It is pretty ugly though, and too thick to go behind the bookcases along with the cable it replaced, which is thinner.

Using wireless (digital) may also avoid the need for interconnect cables which can make a significant difference to the sound of a system, and may make your overall system easier to use and more flexible (or not! ) if you are listening to R3 and streaming sources (including Spotify - which will almost inevitably limit the audio quality you can expect), but then remember that the sound you get will depend on the quality of the internal digital kit (DACs), the wiring and amps within wireless speakers which you will not be able to change. I suspect that very good wireless speakers will be excellent, but the emphasis is on "very good". Some enthusiasts would still claim that even better sound could be obtained by using wires and analogue cable connections with no digital links.

[richardfinegold]

Many thanks to all respondents for replying to my OP.
I still find digital systems difficult to grasp although the dawn is slowly breaking.
My original question was prompted by re-decorating the room in which the PC sits and clearing away lots of 'stuff' leaving a relatively un-cluttered space and secondly by listening to a Sonus wireless speaker that a friend had bought. I thought the Sonus was neat but not especially good-sounding especially on orchestral music where the limitations of size became immediately apparent.
I am looking for a speaker(s) that might replace the B&W DM620s in the redecorated room. I also have a Quad-based system in another room but these days I listen far more via the PC - Spotify and R3 mostly I don't have an iPad - and that's why I instinctively turned to the B&W Zeppelin because I know how good B&W are at speaker design.
Part of the declutter was to take away the old Yamaha amp, Systemdek and Nakamichi cassette player but I'm bringing back the record and cassette players so it will probably end up as old analogue connected to wireless speakers - nuts as that sounds.
ps Having written this I completely forgot that I haven't got a clue as to brdging the gap from analogue output to wireless speakers. Oh dear.

It doesn't matter if the 'one box' speaker is made by a company such as B&W, Naim (which also has a 1 box gizmo), Meridian, or whomever, stereo just can't come out of a device that stonks two speakers within inches of each other, as all of these devices do. If you want true stereo sound you should be looking at another solution.
Powered speakers should meet your need. You need to be able to connect them to a mains outlet and then there is usually 1 cord to connect them which you can discreetly hide under a rug or behind furniture. All the electronics (pre amp/amp/DAC) are usually contained in 1 speaker that has the inputs for your PC, CD player, whatever source you need.