Home theater
systems have exploded in popularity. Their advantage is that they allow full, dynamic soundtracks to be reproduced in the home environment. One disadvantage of the home theater system is the amount of wiring needed to hook up surround speakers. Luckily, technology has stepped in and offered a solution--the wireless home theater system.
Significance
With a wireless home theater system, you'll get a full arrangement of surround sound speakers so that you can get the full effect of DVD soundtracks, home theater-style music recordings and sports. While adding the sound and realism, wireless systems eliminate the one downfall of home theater: the unsightly bulk of wire running in various directions around the living room.
Function
The main components of a wireless home theater system are a receiver or media player and an arrangement of speakers. Home theaters typically use 5, 6 or 7 speakers. Rather then sending the audio signal derived from a DVD, CD or television input via speaker cable, the receiver transmits the sound information using radio waves or infrared. The speakers contain appropriate receiving hardware to receive the radio or infrared signal. They process it into sound. Infrared requires a direct, unobstructed line between speakers and receivers, whereas radio-based systems are more flexible.
Effects
So far wireless home theater systems probably seem like nothing but advantages. However, there's a reason that speaker cable is not only available, but it's more widely used and accepted. Cable allows for the most efficient and accurate transfer of sound information from receiver to speaker. A conductive metal wire is simply a better, more reliable way to transmit the signal than a radio. Just think about the loss of performance that you get when you use a cell phone versus a hard wired phone. Radio waves are just too unreliable to provide the most accurate sound performance. Also, other devices that use similar radio frequencies such as cordless phones, computers and even microwaves can interfere with the radio transmission between receiver and speaker. While infrared doesn't suffer from interference, it does require an unobstructed path and still won't compare in sound to hard wiring.
Considerations
It's always best to audition speakers and home theater equipment before buying. This is particularly true of wireless systems, given the inferiority of sound. Any discerning stereo or home theater enthusiast will hard wire speakers for the clearest, most accurate sound. However, a wireless system may sound just fine to you. If you don't care about pinpoint accuracy and lifelike imaging, going wireless will present no issues. Listening to the system in action ahead of time will allow you to gauge just how good it sounds and if it meets your needs. Also note that wireless home theater systems are largely designed as inexpensive, packaged systems aimed at the average consumer. If you're looking for high quality audio, bite the bullet on inconvenience and hard wire.
Identification
Wireless home theater systems are widely available at big box electronics stores. A variety of manufacturers offer wireless systems including Panasonic, Samsung and Sony. Alternately, wireless speakers are available separately. They can be used with a receiver that has an appropriate radio/infrared transmission output, or may require the purchase of separate transmission hardware.
Tags: home theater, home theater system, theater system, wireless home, home theater, home theater systems
