Wireless speakers?

[popabawa]

Does anyone have any info. or opinion on wireless speakers suitable as rear speakers in a 5.1 setup?

I'm looking to upgrade to Dolby 5.1 but the missus has put her foot down about the wiring, she ain't going to have ANY wires across the room to the rear speakers.

We don't have carpets so that isn't an option.

In my desparation I can only think of a wireless speaker solution which I'm sure will be of very poor quality but I thought I'd ask anyway.

On a side note, does anyone understand why women hate wires so much? I can only think it's some evolutionary glitch...:confused:

[DVDMaster]

Sounds like you need a pair of these (http://www.adventwireless.com/) ! :)

Your only other option is to get a Wireless Digital Audio sender, connect it to a Second Amp connected to your rear speakers. Reckon this may be a bit costly.

Personally I suggest you get flat ribbon cable and hide it best you can ! ;)

[ob1rob]

One of the all-in-one surround sets recently had included wireless rear speakers (think it might have been phillips).
The only important (and relevant) thing i remember is one speaker needs a power supply.

Perhaps you can convince her it is less sightly to have a ribbon cable along a skirting edge than trying to hide a power cable running to a speaker.

If not how do you feel about a bit of DIY madness, you could run some cable behind skirting boards if you don't mind a bit of effort (thats assuming you've got a floating floor with no carpets).
Otherwise if you've got a traditional floor then rip up a few boards and really go to town.

On a more cowboy bodge it note I've done a few dodgy cable runs in the past (rented houses can't do much etc).
But just by running along skirting and round an entire door frame you don't get any wires in sight at all really. Bit of paint and they're pretty much invisible. Only downside is the increaed run length = decreased quality, but its a minor sacrifice for a non-audiophile. (to be honest i tested a shorter run and couldn't hear a great difference anyway ;))
No one who saw the room even noticed cable running round the outside edge of the door frame, who would look there anyway?.

HTH.

[popabawa]

Thanks for the tips guys :D I didn't think a wireless solution would be likely!

I'll check out how invisible we can make the cable, maybe that will get the seal of approval!

[Greenstead]

Dunno if this helps.

My rear speakers are wired by the cables running up the wall corner (easy to mask tape over and paint), and hidden in the picture rail running to the rear.

In another room we coved it and the cable is hidden in there.

Our rear speakers are small and high so you can't see the cable drops.

;)

[Woz]

Yep - I've used coving as well - the good news with that was that the MRS was pleased I was putting it up as it looked nice!
You can get a hell of a lot of wiring behind coving (and it's not too hard to put up to be honest (I hate DIY).

[piquet]

The Philips TV with wireless rear speakers mentioned above is the 28PW9616 and it is reviewed here : Home-Entertainment Review (http://www.home-entertainment.co.uk/grouptest_read.asp?GroupID=1055&ArticleID=1066)

It seems like a reasonable compromise to me because you would probably hide the connecting wire behind the sofa. I'm thinking seriously about this option.

Be interested to know what you decided.

[popabawa]

I've given up on the wireless option, it's just too much of a compromise on sound quality and rather expensive (in comparison).

We've agreed that if the rear speakers are small enough and we can find some 'acceptable' speaker cable, we've got a deal. She's agreed to trudge down to Richer Sounds with me on Saturday to see which cable would be acceptable. Hurrah! ;)

The bad news is, they are out of stock of the Yammy E800 I was planning to buy. Looks like a day off work waiting for empiredirect to deliver :mad:

[Leigh]

Ah, but at least it will give you plenty of time to run the speaker cables ;) and what the missus cant see.......


The bad news is, they are out of stock of the Yammy E800 I was planning to buy. Looks like a day off work waiting for empiredirect to deliver :mad: [/B]

[Greenstead]

A couple of extra tips.

Most retailers will deliver on Saturday, for a premium - but it can be worth it instead of taking a day off work. It's a real bummer when you take a day off and the delivery company don't turn up (not unusual - some delivery company's are a bit naff).
;)

Don't forget that the speaker cable quality is important for good sound - thin bellwire ain't good. We use quite thick black stuff (can't remember what gauge it is) - thats why its good to hide it.
Oh dear - back to problems with the Mrs.
:eek:

Good Luck.

[silent g]

Originally posted by DVDMaster
Sounds like you need a pair of these (http://www.adventwireless.com/) ! :)

Your only other option is to get a Wireless Digital Audio sender, connect it to a Second Amp connected to your rear speakers. Reckon this may be a bit costly.

Personally I suggest you get flat ribbon cable and hide it best you can ! ;)


The only problem i can see with these speakers is that there range 900mhz comes slap bang on top of vodafone and Cellnets digital mobile frequencys.

Could cause a slight problem, ( but not in Canada where the company is based)

Doh!!!!!!!

[yaffle]

You could get a set of the Mission FS2AV's (£411 from QED - half price :) ). They come with the thinnest speaker cable in the world, so thin you can wallpaper over it without it showing. It'll easily tuck around or under skirting board.