There appear to be a variety of compelling reasons to ditch your wired speakers in favor of wireless counterparts.
The most frequently cited reason is that having fewer cords in your media room makes it more convenient to watch movies. Consequently, the speakers and power supply must still be connected, which does not imply removing all wires.
However, changing to a wireless speaker system does not entail acquiring a new speaker system in order to achieve the desired results.
When converting traditional wired speakers to wireless speakers, it is common to use wireless speaker kits, which comprise a transmitter and a receiver, as a starting point. These kits send audio signals using radio waves that are similar to those used by Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth adapters are being developed. Bluetooth-enabled wired speakers are the second option for going wireless with wired headphones.
Although these would be the two most commonly used techniques for making speakers wireless, let us first take a brief look at how wireless speakers function before delving into the specifics of each.
How wireless speakers work:
“Wireless speakers” is a term that is frequently used incorrectly to imply that there are no wires at all.
That means that these speakers also require a cable power connection unless they are equipped with built-in batteries that are insufficient to power home theater speakers.
In the case of some portable wireless speakers with built-in batteries, an auxiliary cable is supplied in the package. It just offers you the option of selecting one of the two displayed options.
To function properly, most wireless home theater speakers require a significant amount of power, which is why they are equipped with built-in amplifiers as well as a method of wireless transmission from your audio source such as Wi-Fi.
Keep in mind that these speakers come with a power chord, which means that they are not entirely wireless like the others on this list.
The power outlets for a surround sound system must be situated close to the speakers in order for it to perform correctly. That may involve the installation of additional outlets in key areas.
How is the audio signal transmitted wirelessly?
Audio signals from your receiver, preamp, or other sound processor are transmitted via Wi-Fi in most home theater and media room speaker systems.
Wi-Fi uses radio waves whose amplitude can be altered (modulated) in order to transfer audio over long distances.
Radio waves are converted to line-level electrical impulses by the receiver and then amplified.
The usage of Bluetooth for wireless speakers is increasing, albeit at a slower rate than the use of Wi-Fi.
As a result of its larger transmission capacity, Wi-Fi is able to deliver higher bit rates and thus more audio signal information.
Even while Wi-Fi has gotten better over the years, Bluetooth has gotten better at taking it on.
In order to increase the speed of wireless transmission, newer versions of Bluetooth technology, such as Bluetooth 5 and aptX, have reduced the bit rate without compromising music quality.
Bluetooth’s worst flaw is its limited range, but Wi-major Fi’s flaw is your network. Increasing the number of Wi-Fi speakers in your house might have a significant negative influence on network speed if you have a lot of devices connected to it.
Before we get into how wireless speakers operate, let’s look at some of the methods you may use to turn your wired speakers into wireless ones.
Make regular wired speakers wireless using RF wireless speaker kits:
You don’t have to go wireless with your speakers if you have a surround sound system.
Rear and surround speakers should be linked wirelessly, while It should connect front speakers through speaker cords to your receiver or amplifier.
If you opt to use a computer to send and receive audio signals, you will need a mechanism to amplify the speakers, no matter which path you choose.
That is where RF speaker kits come in.
Transmitter and receiver are included in these kits and are used with an audio source and loudspeakers, respectively.
There may be in-built amplifiers in some of these receivers, but these amplifiers may not be powerful enough to meet the demands of most home theater speakers at high listening volumes.
If you want to listen to music at a moderate SPL (sound pressure level), you can get away with a 20-30 watt amplifier.
Mini amplifiers can be purchased for passive speakers and linked to a power supply to amplify the audio signals. The transmitter employs radio waves comparable to Wi-Fi signals, as explained earlier. The frequency of these radio waves is in the range of 2.4GHz to 5.8GHz.
Be sure that your transmitter’s frequency does not match your Wi-Fi frequency to avoid radio interference.
In other words, here’s how to get everything all set up.
Purchase a Wireless RF speaker conversion kit:
As I suggested above, you’d be better off purchasing a kit without an amplifier. The output ports on your preamp, processor, or receiver, as well as the connection ports on the transmitter, are also important considerations. Although 3.5 mm analog or RCA inputs are the most commonly found on transmitters, they are not the only options.
Based on the output port option, get a transmitter that matches at least one of the outputs on your source. To connect your source to the transmitter, you can alternatively utilize an adapter between the two.
Check your speaker impedance before purchasing a mini-amplifier to connect to the receiver in your kit. That shouldn’t be an issue if your speakers are powered on and operational.
As an additional precaution, ensure you have enough receivers and transmitters for the number of speakers you plan to make wireless.
The majority of receivers and transmitters are 2-channel, which means that It can utilize each pair (transmitter + receiver) for two speakers.
It all comes down to your preference and your financial situation. Additionally, the larger your surround sound system, the more money you’ll need to invest. Depending on the quality and whether or not the kit includes built-in amplifiers, the price can vary greatly.
Connect the transmitter to the audio and power source:
For your RF transmitter to communicate with your audio source, connecting it with the appropriate cables and ports is important. They can use an RCA cable to connect an RCA-equipped receiver to a transmitter with a preout port on the back.
Instead of using pre-outs, It can use speaker wires and RCA adapters to connect the receiver to the speaker system. Connect the audio output port on the transmitter to the aux input on the receiver using a 3.5 auxiliary connection.
If one of the devices does not have an aux port, they can use an adapter to bridge the gap between the two devices. If the polarity of the speaker wires is the same on both sides of the connection, connecting a speaker wire between a receiver/pre/pro and a speaker is straightforward (positive to positive and negative to negative).
Disconnect the speaker wires from your speakers’ respective channels if you want to wireless with your speakers. Connect the power cord of the transmitter to a wall outlet, and you’re done.
Connect the wireless RF receiver:
First, I’ll look at an RF receiver that includes an integrated amplifier. All that is required is to connect the receiver to the speakers and ensure that the polarity is correct. That is a simple link to make and maintain.
You can connect the receiver to a power outlet if one is available nearby.
In order to demonstrate that the receiver is getting electricity, a flashing light should be visible on the device.
The second option is to purchase a receiver that does not include an inbuilt amplifier. If your speakers are already turned on, connect the receiver to the speaker and the power wire to the outlet.
When connecting a passive speaker to an external amplifier, They should use a speaker wire to ensure that the speaker is properly powered. After the receiver has been connected to the power supply, it will be necessary to connect it to the amplifier using an RCA cable.
2-channel compact amplifiers are prevalent in the industry, which means that each amplifier can drive up to two speakers. Another alternative is to use a single RF receiver and amplifier for two speakers, most likely the rear speakers, which would save money.
Power on the system to test:
Once you’ve finished making all of your speaker connections, turn on the entire system and enjoy your favorite music selections.
The transmitter and receiver should exchange audio signals in an ideal situation. Each speaker should produce a distinct sound when an audio track is being played.
Additionally, a blinking light on each wireless receiver should visually prove that the wireless connection is progressing as planned. You may need to adjust the calibration of your system even if all of your speakers are delivering clear and high-quality sound simultaneously.
What about a wireless Sub-woofer?
In order to complete the operation, the transmitter for a subwoofer must have either a sub-in or an LFE input, just as it does when making other speakers wireless. When using a passive subwoofer, an amplifier with an LFE output that can power the subwoofer is required; however, when using a powered subwoofer, only a receiver for the subwoofer is required.
How to make regular speakers wireless using Bluetooth?
When it comes to converting standard speakers into Bluetooth-enabled devices, the approach taken by the RF wireless kit case is the same.
For the audio output of the speakers, a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver are required. If your receiver, preamp, or the vast majority of your sources are Bluetooth-enabled, you won’t need a separate transmitter.
It is important to make certain that your Bluetooth devices are up to date with the latest versions of aptX and Bluetooth 5.0, which offer a greater range and bandwidth while operating at faster speeds.
Always keep in mind that most Bluetooth devices can only establish one-to-one connections unless you have access to a Bluetooth hub, which has the capability of connecting up to 22 devices simultaneously.
On the other hand, if you have a surround system, you may only need to make your rear or surround speakers Bluetooth-enabled to use the wireless equipment. You can easily go wireless by using a small 2-channel Bluetooth amplifier with your stereo 2.1 system.
However, due to the restricted number of devices that may be connected at the same time and the fact that most Bluetooth receivers are built for direct connections to the source, I would not recommend Bluetooth via the wireless kit as a solution.
My final take:
If you’re debating whether or not to go wireless with your conventional speakers, bear in mind that your setup will not be completely wireless. Still, a wireless speaker kit may be an excellent choice depending on the architecture of your area.
A wireless speaker system is superior to a wired one in many respects. Still, if you’d rather have a wireless speaker system, you might consider replacing your present speaker system with a new wireless one. In the long run, home theater speakers are a wise investment.
Every time you make a purchase, keep this in mind.
