How Wireless Speakers Work

Wireless speakers use a transmitter (base) to send electrical signals from the stereo to the amplifier, usualy incorporated within the speakers. The speakers turn these signals into sound waves that we can hear.

Wireless speakers do exactly the same thing as all speakers: translate an electric signal into an acoustic one. The difference is these signals are not transmitted through wires, but through radio waves or through infrared waves (only in some surround speakers).

Wireless speakers technologies

Currently there are two major technologies for wireless drives.

  1. The first one is based on the radio transmission of FM signals from a transmitter to the speakers.

    2. The manufacturers say that you can position the speakers up to 150 or 300 feet away from the base station (depending on the model you buy), and they work even through walls, ceilings and floors.

  2. The second is based on the infrared transmission and is only used for the rear speakers in a home theater system (the ones that produce the surround effect).

The first technology is preferred by manufacturers because it has less inconveniences.

What to expect

How can one describe them? Well, there are two devices that work in tandem, a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter picks up signals from an audio device or CD player (which it is attached to) and sends them to the receivers which are the speakers, even if they are placed in another room in the house or outdoors.

Of course, we are only talking about how the speakers communicate with your stereo. But they still need power supply, and that comes through a wire, unless you're using batteries. The idea of wireless is a bit confusing at this point.

Interference

Wireless speakers usually operate in the 900 MHz FM range. Unfortunately, there are other home appliances and devices that may function within the same range, so there might be some jamming between them. Wireless speakers are said to interfere especially with older cordless phones and baby monitors.

A good wireless speaker system will let you do some tuning in order to overcome those interferences.

Batteries

Because wireless speakers have a built in amplifier, they need to use a power supply. Usually, they offer the user the alternative to use batteries or the AC adapter.

Only Sony's SRS RF90RK is featured with a built-in rechargeable battery.

Range

Most wireless speakers work within a range of 150 to 300 feet from the transmitter. The RF frequency is powerful enough to penetrate through walls and furniture. Most users are skeptical about these figures, though.

Also, though all of the wireless speakers manufacturers claim that their devices are weatherproof, extra caution with leaving them out in the rain would be most welcome.