Acoustic Research AW822 900 Mhz Outdoor Wireless Speaker (Single, Brown) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The speaker sounds nice when it works, but just some scattered thoughts:
I ordered this speaker to have music on my deck. The original plan was to run music (ipod) from my living room receiver to the deck - which is 50 feet and one wall away. I wanted the same music in the living room as on the deck. The signal wasn't near powerful enough, even trying several different outputs - (and even after adjusting the ipod volume, etc, no luck) - to the point where music just wouldn't play. I do have an older home with plaster walls, so perhaps this was the problem. I wasn't expecting the advertised 250 feet, I understand that it would take a perfect scenario, but realistacally, if walls are involved, expect 20-30 feet. In order to use the speaker, I have to place the transmitter and ipod in my kitchen, which is just inside from the deck. The speaker does sound good, and the outdoor volume is adaquate. I wasn't expecting the wireless sound to be so good. There is ocasional static when someone crosses the line of the signal, or when the sliding door opens/closes. More gripes - once an album is done on the ipod, or any other source, the speaker goes to loud static - and scares everyone. It would be nice if there was an auto mute - the cure of course is to just use a very long play list. Also, there is no sound leveling. Many song files are different, so volumes can change per song. I know this is more of my problem (poor source) and it's not fair to complain of these things since they aren't advertised features, but just be aware of them. The best use for this would be if you had a huge deck, and you actually had the transmitter outside, and two of these speakers on the back corners or spread out on the deck. For $70 it's not bad. I wanted a stationary solution, but now I have to grab my ipod+ charger and move it to the kitchen to have sound outside. Just keep in mind the issues above and that the transmitter needs to be close for clear, static free sound.

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Sony AIR-SA20PK S-AirPlay Digital Wireless Speaker System for iPod (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I had high hopes for this product --- needed a way to put sound throughout my small house and functionality seemed great (the ability to use different modes in different rooms, ability to use remote with each of the speaker units to control the ipod, etc.) Unfortunately, it did not work as well as hoped.
The base and speakers had a hard time talking to each other, and they were only 50-60 ft apart and in a relatively unobstructed path. Had to move the base closer and align the speaker so that it was in a more direct visual view. Still, with people in the room it would fade in and out. Not sure if this is because I have wireless internet in the house, which the manual says might interfere, but who that would be looking for wireless speakers doesn't have wireless internet??
The sound quality is very good. Not quite as good as my Bose docking station, but I was pleasantly surprised. The other big downside for me with the sound, however, and the last straw that prompted me to return the product, is the volume level. The highest setting is not all that loud. Fine if you are in the same room... but sometimes I would crank up the volume on my Bose docking station and listen to the music in other rooms or outside ... can't really do this with the Sony.

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The Sony AIR-SA20PK S-AIRPLAY is an easy-to-use, plug-and-play system that lets you enjoy your iPod music out loud throughout your home. Simply plug the two supplied AIR-SA15 receiver/speakers into a power outlet and the included S-AIR Dock for iPod transmits your stored music with CD-quality sound throughout your home. The Dock for iPod is even capable of transmitting two signals simultaneously so that one speaker can play your iPod music while the other plays an AM/FM radio station. The S-AIR PLAY is compatible with most iPod models. Additionally, each speaker includes controls for volume and the audio source, an LCD display that lets you view track info, and a convenient clock and alarm.

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Audiovox Acoustic Research AW880 Portable Wireless Indoor Speakers (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)These speakers, as you can see, look great. And the concept is a wonderful idea. However when plugged in they frequently lose signal with the transmitter and you hear an awful static. Even within a few feet of the transmitter they can't seem to maintain a good signal and frequently need to be reset- very annoying. If they can't maintain the wireless signal they should at least turn off instead of blasting that harsh static sound.
This was quite embarrassing when I had guests over, they would lose connection and my guests heard awful static. This seems to be a product made by Audiovox and licensed by Acoustic Research. I've used AR speakers for years and these are far below par for the brand. They are very light, for example, lacking the weight to produce a rich bass sound. The mid range sounds hollow and the highs sound clipped. They sound like a pair of those external PC speakers that typically cost about a quarter of the price.
There are nice features such as dual color LED, L/R control,removable speaker screens, and 3 channels. I tried all of the channels but none could resolve the nasty static sound problem that would crop up after listening for a while. I'd really love these attractive speakers if they didn't drop signal and play harsh static. They also need a much higher quality sound. My product reviews are usually positive but this was a disappointment. Hopefully they'll get re-engineered inside.

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Free your music from the confines of your entertainment center.Now it's easier than ever to take your music to any room in your home.The Acoustic Research AW880 portable wireless indoor stereo speakers deliver crisp audio with amazing clarity, while its sleek design pairs nicely with any decor.They're compatible with most electronic devices, allowing you to seamlessly transfer audio content from your stereo, computer, and more with the built-in stereo audio cable.Now you can enjoy your music where you want it.

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Sony WAHT-SA20 - Wireless audio delivery system for rear speakers Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a Sony HT SS370 Home theater system, and I wanted to have my rear speakers operate without wires running over the floor. I stopped by the Sony Style store and purchased the EZW-T100 transmitter. Unfortunately, Sony decided to wait 3 months before putting the matching WAHT-SA20 on the market in the United States. Once it was available, I snapped it up. The installation and setup were very easy. There are three frequencies that the WAHT-SA20 and the EZW-T100 operate on. Once the correct frequency was selected, the system synced and worked perfectly. It is fantastic to watch and listen to a HD BlueRay DVD with 5.1 Surround Sound.

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Creative Labs Sound Blaster Wireless Audio Transmitter Review

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(More customer reviews)Works great, but documentation somewhat lacking. Didn't know that you have to remember to insert USB device BEFORE starting itunes. AND that you can't operate both the wireless connection and the connected computer speakers at the same time.

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The Creative Labs Sound Blaster for iTunes upgrades your PC or Mac to a premium wireless sound system. Simply plug into any USB port, connect an optional Creative Wireless Receiver to your powered speakers or home stereo system, and play your iTunes or other digital music wirelessly no cables or networking required. You can add Sound Blaster Wireless Audio ready speakers with built-in wireless receiver and in the future wireless headphones to play music wirelessly in multiple rooms. Plus, Sound Blaster for iTunes features Creatives award-winning X-Fi audio enhancement technology that improves the quality of iTunes media, MP3s and movies. Package Contents: Sound Blaster for iTunes USB Audio Transmitter, Audio cable (1/8" to stereo RCA), Installation CD, Quick Start Leaflet.

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Audioengine AW1 Wireless Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before I share my thoughts, I want to emphasize that I'm not only commenting on the product itself, but also on the Amazon partner that sold it and the manufacturer of the product as well.
I placed the order with Amazon. OneCall was the Amazon partner to actually fill the order. The product arrived well in advance of the advertised date. Due to other conflicts in my schedule, it sat on my desk for about 2 weeks before I had a chance to even look at it. Regretfully, when I initially set it up, it did NOT work....I am relatively saavy with respect to computer trouble-shooting and was able to conclusively determine that the sending and receiving units were NOT able to see one another. All of the other aspects of set-up were fine...computer saw the USB sender device, patch cords allowed me to connect the USB receiver device to my 20-year old Sony stereo receiver (red/white RCA inputs).
I initially attempted to contact the manufacturer, AudioEngine, over the July 4th weekend. Duh.....stupid move, of course, on my part. Never-the-less, I also contacted OneCall after the July 4th weekend to explore their return options. For the record, they were more than eager and ready to accommodate my return for credit or a replacement unit. That being the case, I indicated I wanted to give AudioEngine a chance to reply to my contacts to them. The next day, I received an e-mail from AudioEngine support verifying my situation and affirming that I probably did have a defective sender or receiver in the package I received from OnceCall. (Oh well, as the expression goes, S%$# HAPPENS.) AudioEngine, ON THE SPOT, IN THE FIRST E-MAIL to me, indicated that they would be sending a replacement unit.....no questions asked. The replacement unit arrived via FedEx two days later....along with instructions and an RMA# for returning the defective unit directly to AudioEngine.
FOR ALL WHO READ THIS, PLEASE HEAR ME LOUD AND CLEAR, ONECALL AND AUDIO-ENGINE WERE POSITIVELY AWESOME IN THEIR RESPONSE (Just read some other product reviews here on Amazon to realize that this isn't always the case.)
I AM VERY PLEASED TO WRAP UP MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS PRODUCT BY STATING THAT THEAUDIOENGINE W1 PREMIUM WIRELESS AUDIO ADAPTER WORKS LIKE A CHARM.....EXACTLY AS ADVERTISED BY AMAZON, ONECALL, AND AUDIOENGINE. I might add that I live in a home that is about 80 years old and, that being the case, the walls and ceilings are all plaster and steel mesh (not chicken wire or wood) lathe.....all that steel lathe holding the plaster to my walls has given some wireless routers I've tried a run for their money. Not sure why....but absolutely NO ISSUES here with that this time.
Anyway, I must concur with and support the highest praise of the 9 other reviewers of this product. I know individual experiences and situations will always exist, but this unit worked "plug & play" and exceeded what I would have expected based upon my experiences with other "wireless audio" products.
A+++ to Amazon.....OneCall....and AudioEngine for service, support and product! Praise earned....Praise due.....Praise given!
(By the way, I am a professional musician, performer and educator....music is my life and listening to it almost 24/7 is a part of that life.)


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Sony STR-DN1000 7.1-Channel Audio Video Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the STR-DN1000 as an upgrade to my old Yamaha receiver that didn't have audio decoding through HDMI which I really needed since I've recently added a couple additional HDMI components to my set-up and needed HDMI switching. I bought it based on reviews of sound quality (anyone saying this amp has anything less than great sound doesn't know what they're talking about or doesn't have their amp set up correctly!), price, and features (4X HDMI being the most important). I am relatively pleased with my new receiver. Sound and video processing are both excellent, and aside from a few issues, this is a great receiver. Before I go into more detail, here is my home theater set-up:
1) 5.1 surround sound consisting of: Polk Audio TSi200 L + R speakers, a Polk CS20 Center Channel Speaker, and a Yamaha subwoofer and two Yamahah back channel L & R speakers.
4) A Sony DVP-NS700H/B DVD player
5) Toshiba 42" Regaza LCD
6) Comcast Digital Cable box
7) WD TV Live HD Media Player
All devices connected using Version 1.3 Category 2 HDMI Cables.
Setting things up:
Set-up is a breeze. Everything is laid out well enough, and the included wire-map which gives a blown-up overview of the connections makes things even easier. The wire screws for connecting the speakers are made of plastic and are not as easy to turn as I might have liked, but this was a minor issue at best. They do support Banana jacks if that's your thing. I had all my speaker wires and HDMI cables connected in about 10 minutes (all of them were already in place so it might take significantly longer if you are running new wire). Just a note for reciever set-ups: give yourself an extra 3-4 feet of wire for each speaker so you can connect your amp OUTSIDE your AV cabinet/rack. This will make things much easier because you can work on the amp with it's back facing you!
GUI (Graphic User Interface), Programing, and Auto Calibration:
The DN1000 comes with a built in GUI for adjusting settings. It is a rudimentary text based interface in black, white and blue, but it is easy to navigate and use even if it isn't pretty. I was easily able to program in radio pre-sets, assign inputs *More on that to come*, and run the Auto Calibration. Auto Calibration involves connecting a provided mic and placing it in the correct location and then letting the amp put out some test tones to each speaker and the amp. The whole thing takes about 30-40 seconds. The manual states that this will involve "very loud" sounds, so I was a bit worried what that would be like. Thankfully it wasn't loud at all, so don't get freaked out when the manual warns you to watch out for small children, dogs, and angry neighbors. The GUI could be a bit more intuitive; you are frequently required to git an 'option' button that is on the remote itself. It would have been much simpler to just have that button in the layout of the GUI itself.
Programing custom inputs and renaming inputs was my biggest complaint with this amp. First, you CANNOT re-map the TV, Satelite, DVD, etc., buttons to be linked with the HDMI inputs. Each time you re-map an input it asks for both an audio and video input. I wanted to re-map the DVD button on the remote to work with my HDMI DVD player. I was able to choose the correct HDMI in, but because the amp also requires an audio input, you are FORCED to choose from coaxial, analog LR channel or digital. Choosing any of these overrides the HDMI's sound, and gives you video but no sound! This is incredibly frustrating and very stupid on Sony's part since the amp supports HDMI sound processing natively and all they would need to do is tweak the GUI to allow the user to select either HDMI or 'None' for sound input! I called Sony tech support to verify this is the case and they said they have no plans to issue a firmware update to correct this issue. I was able to re-name the HDMI inputs to DVD, WD LIVE, and COMCAST so that the amp displays the correct input when one of the HDMI buttons is pushed, but that isn't ideal considering the layout of the remote:
The Remote:
On first glance, the remote appears to be well laid out and to have excellent built quality (no squeeks when you hit the buttons, feels nice and solid in your hand, responsive buttons, etc). It is solidly made, but functionally it has some major flaws:
1) Because there are nice big, well labeled "DVD, TV, Satelite, etc." buttons on the top third of the remote, it will be highly confusing to have to explain to non-tech savvy people "when you want to watch a DVD you hit HDMI 3, not DVD" or something similar due to the inability of the receiver to re-map those buttons! Basically the usefulness of having 'quick launch' buttons on the remote is destroyed by not being able to map them correctly!
2) The mute button location is horrible. It is at the bottom lower third of the remote on the left side. It is also the smallest button on the remote and a real pain to hit with your thumb since it requires balancing the very end of the remote in your hand or using two hands. In my opinion, the button you're most likely going to use more than any other should be easily accessible!
Sound Quality:
I put the amp through its paces with the following:
1) Comcast TV (College Football) with Dolby Digital Surround
2) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (DVD) & The Matrix (DVD)
3) Various lossless audio files streamed over my WD media streamer
4) Battlestar Galactica HD streamed over my WD media streamer
Surround sounds is just about perfect. Crystal clear highs, nice punch with the bass (although my sub really isn't anything to write home about) and excellent, authentic reproduction of even complex sound files like Feist and Metallica playing from a FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) file. I ran through a few excellent (in my opinion) surround sound movies and all sounded fantastic. Orcs screaming from behind me, thunderous sounds of war, the steely tones of Mr. Smith threatening Neo, all sounded lovely.
Video Quality:
HDMI video pass through was great. Suffice it to say that I didn't use this receiver to decoded low-res video files (something it does, but according to other reviews not that well). The video decoder in my WD media streamer does that job. I can confirm that the receiver did not affect inherent video quality to either good or ill.
Aesthetics:
This is a slick receiver and looks great on my AV rack. It matches my DVD player which I guess is a good thing, and even (sort of) matches my Toshiba TV. The LED screen is adequate if not amazing. It is easy to read from across the room (about 12 feet in my smallish living room). Text is clear and crisp which is all I really need.
Heat:
This unit does produce more heat than my old Yamaha, but much less than my friend's Onkyo (you could fry an egg on that thing!). In a well ventilated AV rack or cabinet it should never be an issue.
Conclusions:
For the price (sub $300 range) there isn't a better option out there as of this review. You could spend a hundred more and get a Pioneer (which does come with an ipod connect wire included in the price) but you're not gaining anything other than a few more connection options. Sound quality wise, this receiver is very, very good. If you can live with the crap remote and a few problems with the GUI, it's well worth the price. I'll probably just get a Harmony remote to make things simple for my family and friends.
4/5 Stars.
Thanks for reading my review. Feel free to ask questions and I'll do my best to answer them in the comments section.


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The STR-DN1000 7.1 Channel A/V Receiver delivers the Full HD 1080 experience to a home theater system. It features 7 HD inputs including 4 HDMI inputs with "Active Intelligence". In addition, the STR-DH700 is compatible with 24p True Cinema technology video signals and decodes uncompressed audio (LPCM via HDMI) making it compatible with Blu-ray Disc Player, the PlayStation 3 technology and other HD sources. Speaking of an enhanced experience, how about listening to music in a different room? Now share your favorite songs wirelessly throughout your home with ease. Simply plug in the optional S-Air transmitter and turn on the AirStation client (sold separately).

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Creative Labs Sound Blaster Wireless Audio Transmitter and Receiver Bundle Review

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(More customer reviews)
Having used a myriad of devices from the squeezboox boom and the squeezebox duet system -- as well as a few other devices that are not worth mentioning, I'll say that this is by far the easiest to use, install and operate.
Let me walk you through my set-up ... which took about 10 minutes ...
1. Unpacked the box and did away with all the plastic detritus.
2. Installed and registered the software on my laptop.
3. Plugged in the transmitter to a USB port in the back.
4. Rebooted my laptop, turned on iTunes and played a U2 album.
5. Plugged in the receiver (using a nicer set of cables) to my Sony Stereo Receiver on Aux 3. Was tempted to go optical.
6. Hit the find button on the underside of the little device and walked away.
7. 15 seconds later -- music played.
8. Stuck the batteries in the remote and turned it up.
That simple and absolutely no stumbling blocks to speak of.
Sound Quality? -- Better than I expected for this, but I wasn't looking for Mark Levinson to come out of my office and sit down on the couch with a glass of wine. The sound quality is more than adequate for casual home listening and the better your system is, the better the device will sound to you.
Responsiveness? -- I'm constantly unplugging the transmitter from my laptop and taking off somewhere, only to come back replug it back in, and find it working almost instantly and flawlessly. Windows and iTunes are not always asking questions or looking for drivers. It seems that whatever iTunes needed to do to make this thing be compatible with itself, was worked out ahead of time by Creative Labs and Apple. That's a first.
The Software -- is quite good and quite simple. You can customize it to play in zones, if that's your thing or adjust the quality of the sound and other minor changes. The software, from what I saw, doesn't appear to be a resource hog, nor has it been the culprit of crashes or bluescreens. If you don't use iTunes , you don't like to, or don't want to, this may be the only *real* problem one could face. The good thing is that it doesn't require you to depend on it as a player like other companies, or other devices do.
I can find no fault with this and I'm happy with the success of this device. I use it everyday now and I'm thoroughly pleased.
Well done ... a great idea to give as a gift for young or old as the ease of use with this is simple and the learning curve low. How about that for innovation?
...

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This bundle includes the Creative Labs Sound Blaster wireless audio transmitter and receiver giving you everything you need to set up a premium wireless sound system.The Creative Labs Sound Blaster for iTunes upgrades your PC or Mac to a premium wireless sound system. Simply plug into any USB port, connect an optional Creative Wireless Receiver to your powered speakers or home stereo system, and play your iTunes or other digital music wirelessly no cables or networking required. You can add Sound Blaster Wireless Audio ready speakers with built-in wireless receiver and in the future wireless headphones to play music wirelessly in multiple rooms. Plus, Sound Blaster for iTunes features Creatives award-winning X-Fi audio enhancement technology that improves the quality of iTunes media, MP3s and movies. Package Contents: Sound Blaster for iTunes USB Audio Transmitter, Audio cable (1/8" to stereo RCA), Installation CD, Quick Start Leaflet.The Creative Wireless Receiver plays the songs from your Creative wireless audio products across the room or around the house. The wireless system is designed for music, so there are no delays, no dropouts and no home network needed. Setup is a breeze, just plug the Creative Wireless Receiver into any powered speakers or your home theater receiver, the wireless connection is automatic. The wireless remote control lets you navigate through the music on your Notebook, PC or iPod;playing, pausing and skiping from wherever you are. And it's expandable so you can add as many Creative Wireless Receivers as you like within the 100' range.

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