If you’re ready to set up your house with a wireless speaker system, you’re going to face a lot of choices. Maybe too many. You might be looking for a seamless music experience throughout the house. Or maybe you want to set up a wireless sound system for your TV. Do you want Hi-Res sound? What about taking your speaker outside? Let’s break down your options.
Wireless Bookshelf Speakers
If you’re looking to play decent quality wireless sound in one area of the house, you may want to consider a pair of compact wireless stereo speakers, commonly called bookshelf speakers. They may not offer the impact and majesty of huge floor speakers, but you’ll be surprised how well smaller speakers can perform, especially in contained spaces. Bookshelf speakers can also add to the aesthetics of your room, as many brands design them with fashion and elegance in mind.
Easy and Affordable
If you’re not a picky audiophile and just want to relax and casually listen to music, there are plenty of solid options that are very affordable. The House of Marley Get Together Duo is a fun example. This pair of 2-way wireless speakers allows you to stream music from your phone or computer via Bluetooth. And in case you also want to hook up your turntable, the back of the speakers provides you with RCA and 3.5mm inputs as well.
How to Get Fancy
If you prefer to invest in something that offers superior sound quality, there are some impressive compact speakers that deliver ample power and high-resolution sound. The SVS Prime Wireless Pro is a good example of what compact wireless stereo speakers can do. In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, the SVS Prime Wireless Pro gives you the option of connecting the speakers to your Wi-Fi network, which accommodates high-quality sound and more functionality. These speakers are not only voice enabled, but they also allow you to stream via AirPlay 2 or Chromecast. You can even hook up these speakers to your TV or expand the system into a multiroom speaker setup.
Multiroom Speakers
If you want to sing to your dishes, then prance upstairs to take a shower, all while listening to the same song, you’re going to need a multiroom speaker system.
You’ve probably heard about the Sonos series, which is one of the first brands to offer multiroom speaker systems. But there are many other major speaker brands that now sell this option, such as JBL, Yamaha, and Bluesound—just to name a few.
How Do Multiroom Speakers Work?
Multiroom speakers use your home Wi-Fi network to seamlessly connect with one another to play music in sync. That said, you could also play the Rolling Stones in your kitchen, while your toddler listens to Taylor Swift upstairs. And there are several ways to control your music and navigate through available features, which we’ll soon discuss.
There are also some Bluetooth speakers, like the JBL Flip 6 or Charge 5, that can connect to one another via Bluetooth to create a multi-speaker setup. But there are disadvantages to this, such as limitations on the distance between the speakers and the distance from the speakers to your phone or computer. So, it’s best to link these kinds of speakers within one large space, like an open kitchen and connecting living room, rather than in separate rooms. The Bluetooth option also limits the sound quality of your music.
How Do You Control Wireless Multi-Room Speakers?
Most wireless multiroom speakers can be controlled via your phone or computer using features like Apple Airplay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect. You can also control them using voice-enabled assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.
Self-Tuning Technology
One of these reasons that models like the Sonos Era 300 and JBL Authentics 300 sound so good is because they offer automatic self-tuning technology that senses your room’s acoustics and adjusts accordingly to optimize the sound for your space.
Can I Take My Home Speakers Outside?
Yes, you can take many Wi-Fi speakers outside. Once they are out of Wi-Fi range, you can use Bluetooth technology to stream music. The JBL Authentics 300 is a good example of a Wi-Fi-enabled speaker with Bluetooth technology—not to mention a build that’s durable enough to withstand the outside environment and all the shenanigans that happen at a BBQ.
Which Sounds Better, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
You’re better off streaming via Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth. Wi-Fi connections have much higher bandwidth and can even transmit lossless audio, while audio files transmitted through Bluetooth are compressed and thus lower quality.
Hi-Res Music Options
As mentioned, high-resolution sound is possible for wireless setups, and surprisingly it can be the cheapest option if you already have an older amplifier and wired speakers. That’s great news for listeners who love their current wired speaker setup but want to expand add wireless functionality.
Simple Hi-Res Wireless Solutions
The FiiO BTA30 Pro is an example of a very affordable Bluetooth receiver that connects directly to your amplifier and receives Bluetooth transmission from your phone or computer—allowing your existing wired setup to deliver streaming music. The FiiO BTA30 Pro supports Hi-Res Bluetooth codecs, such as LDAC and aptX HD, giving you the best sound quality that Bluetooth has to offer.
Advanced Hi-Res Wireless Solutions
If you want to go a step further, consider investing in a network amplifier, such as the Bluesound Powernode 2. The Powernode 2 is a DAC (digital to analogue converter), streamer, and amplifier all in one package. It features the BluOS controller app, which that lets you sign into hi-res streaming services directly from the amplifier. Like the FiiO BTA30 Pro, you can connect the Powernode 2 to your wired speakers. However, unlike the FiiO, which is only a Bluetooth receiver, the Powernode 2 allows you to use to stream music via Wi-Fi for better sound quality.
The Powernode’s DAC can also decode uncompressed files via USB connection. So, if you’re an uncompromising audiophile, you can connect an external hard drive that holds your hi-res music library, all while controlling the playback wirelessly. However, to achieve this level of sound quality without any compromise, you would still have to connect the Powernode 2 to wired speakers.
You can also use the Powernode 2 to incorporate older forms of music playback. For example, if you want to play your vinyl records or beloved CD collection, you can hook up the Bluesound Powernode 2 to your existing turntable or CD player and stream your music to multi-room wireless speakers. But here’s the caveat: If you want to use all of these available features with wireless multiroom speakers, you will have to buy Bluesound brand speakers to complete the setup.
Bringing Wireless Sound to Your TV
Just like your wireless speaker system, options for your home theater range from simple and affordable to advanced and pricey. To help you narrow down your selection, let’s go over some of the fundamentals.
Soundbars
Think of a soundbar as the centerpiece of your home theater sound system. Even if you plan on expanding your home theater into a multi-speaker, immersive sound system, a soundbar is the best way to begin your journey.
Generally speaking, soundbars need to be connected to your TV via HDMI. However, once your soundbar is connected to your TV, you will be able to add other speakers via wireless technology. Nowadays, many soundbars offer Dolby Atmos, which creates a 3D soundstage if your TV is Dolby Atmos compatible. Dolby Atmos has become one of the most popular ways to create a multidimensional sonic experience for your home theater.
Building Up Your Home Theater Sound System
After a soundbar, the next step is to add a subwoofer. You can buy a subwoofer individually or as a package with your soundbar. If you’re looking to buy everything at once, you can opt for a one-and-done solution like the Vizio M-Series Elevate, which includes a soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, and two compact surround speakers designed for the back of the room.
Of course, if you prefer to invest in something elaborate, you can opt for a more elevated type of wireless multi-speaker package, such as the Nakamichi DRAGON, which enhances your theater with quad 8” subwoofers, 2 reference surround speakers, 7 tweeters, and 15 digital amplifiers.
Get Creative
Lastly, one of my favorite features offered by many wireless speaker brands, is the ability to connect your TV sound system to multiroom speakers around the house. The Sonos Arc soundbar, for example, can pair with the Era 300 speakers, which can be peppered throughout your house.
For more information about any of these products, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out their detailed product pages. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all of your comments and questions.
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