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AQ Wireless Speakers Reviewed (Verdict: Good Range, Okay Sound)
Stuart Miles over at Pocket-Lint gave the AQ wireless speakers a hands-on test and was thoroughly impressed with the range of these small, portable speakers, but not so impressed with sound quality—specifically when coming from an iPod. Included is a docking unit that connects to any audio device via a standard 3.5mm jack or via a phono connection and two small speakers.
Each speaker has a range of up to 100 meters, or 328 feet. In the test by Miles, he actually ran out of room to test the distance of the speakers. The speakers can operate on AC power or by six double AA batteries. With the audio testing, there was someone of a muffle when playing music back through an iPod. You may be losing a bit of sound quality, but it is made up by not having to deal with cords and convenience of go-anywhere sound. The AQ wireless speakers are available for $118.
Source: http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/wireless/aq-wireless-speakers-reviewed-verdict-good-range-okay-sound-188747.php
New Powered speakers
Powered speakers (or active speakers) are speakers that have built-in amplifiers. They can be connected directly to a mixing console or sound source, without the need for an amplifier. Such speakers are available with passive or active crossovers built into them. Powered speakers avoid the necessity of speaker to amplifier matching and limiting is built in. Another advantage of powered speakers is reduction in slew rate, the slewing of audio signals dependent on the length of speaker cable (negligible in powered speakers) and the impedance of the driver. Powered speakers, to some extent ease the set-up of a system. However since low-level signal cables have to be run to the speakers from the mixer, main console or control centre, noise pick-up can be a problem. This is solved by incorporating "balanced" line inputs into the speakers which are meant to be driven by balanced signals (and cables) from the mixer. Some powered speaker manufacturers, notably DB Technologies and Phonic, are now incorporating UHF wireless receivers so the speaker only requires a power lead.
New Saitek Speakers
saitek_250.jpgUnique would probably be the subtle way to describe these new speakers from Saitek. Behold the A-250 wireless speakers and the A-200 portable speakers. The A-250 is single unit housing two speakers and one 3W subwoofer. It can connect to any audio device and even features a nifty LCD screen. Who knows what the LCD would say, but every new gadget out is required to have an LCD screen, except the Shuffle, of course.
The A-200 features a different shape, but similar guts to the A-250. This also has a cool expanded air volume system. The middle chamber expands with increases with amounts of bass, similar to that of a frog or Uncle Bud s stomach at happy hour. The A-250 will retail around $175 and the A-200 should be around $140; both of which being released in October.
Source: http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/wireless/new-saitek-speakers-118152.php
BenQ Moves Into Hi Fi Market
David Richards
BenQ has realeased a pair of neat Bluetooth Hi Fi speakers. The sytem works with remote devices like an iPod or MP3 player.
The company's latest entry in the popular wireless audio market is the IMS-100, a portable speaker that can help your MP3 player blossom into a hi-fi system. (You can hook it up to a CD player as well, if you still have one of those.) The system is branded BenQ Siemens.
Other applications including PC speaker boosts (with the included cable) and a whole new way of lisening to tunes on your mobile phone. Separate bass- and stereo-upgrading features give you extra fine sound quality, which you'll especially appreciate if you are using the speaker to facilitate a conference call.
How big is it, you ask? Well, it's not your uncle's boom box, that's for sure. This speaker weighs in at only 270 grams and is 180mm x 80mm x 40mm. That small enough to be portable yet large enough to be noticed.
Source: http://www.smarthousenews.com.au/iPods_And_Devices/PC_And_iPod_Speakers?Article=/iPods%20And%20Devices/PC%20And%20iPod%20Speakers/E4Q5R3M4
Wireless Surround Sound Speakers the Future?
Clint DeBoer
Are wireless surround sound speakers the next big thing? Hong Kong leads the market in the release of wireless 5.1 speaker systems. Wireless and active surround sound speakers with built-in decoders appear to be topping the list of R&D expenditures in various Chinese technology manufacturing companies. Makers in both Hong Kong and mainland China are racing to come out with the latest wireless surround speakers, and upgrade various 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 systems to make use of this technology.
2.4GHz RF and Bluetooth integration coupled with digital amplification systems seem to be the direction many companies are headed in terms of providing new innovative products for average consumers looking to expand into, or improve upon, home theater systems. The advantages are obvious - no line level signal wires to run and a great freedom of speaker placement throughout the listening room and home. Here are some of the challenges to the format:
* Perceived and actual signal quality of 2.4GHz and Bluetooth systems [Bluetooth has a practical data transfer rate of 433kbps though using asymetrical transfers that rate can be increased (Dolby Digital requires 400 kbps and DTS uses up to 448kbps - for a full 5.1 stream)]
* DSP issues related to encoding and decoding signals sent to wireless surround speakers
* Digital amplification quality for surround channels (Class-D amplification seems to be the currently favored amplifcation for wireless surround loudspeakers)
* Wireless loudspeakers will require power - is the format potentially exchanging one inconvenience (speaker cables) for another (running power to surround speakers.) One thing to note is that it will be far easier to locate power to a surround speaker than a line level or speaker level cable which needs to originate from the opposite side of the listening room.
Wireless speaker systems currently account for less than ten percent of Hong Kong's production output, however manufacturers expect the demand to grow as inquiries continue to come in. It is estimated that by the third quarter, the wireless speaker systems launched in the first half-year are expected to go into mass production.
Current versions utilize either 2.4GHz RF or IR technology, though IR models are less popular because they are not as user-friendly as their RF counterparts. Moreover, the IR transmission gets terminated whenever there is an obstacle between the transmitter and the receiver. MIR (1.15 Mbps) or FIR (4Mbps) would presumably need to be used in order to transmit the necessary information to the surround speakers, though we'll find out more once additional products are produced that address home theater users specifically.
Most first launches in this area will be 5.1 surround speaker systems featuring wireless 2.4GHz rear speakers only. Several firms use RF module from Singapore and LG also produces several wireless 2.4GHz RF components that are being utilized by others. Most plan to start applying wireless features to entire 5.1 systems by the third quarter. Pricing for these products is remarkably inexpensive since the technology is proven and labor costs are relatively inexpensive. Source: http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/loudspeakers/wirelesssurroundspeakers.php
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