What is Wireless Home Theater?
A Wireless Home Theater or Entertainment system can refer to setup that simply has a set of wireless surround sound speakers to a system that incorporates wireless home networking. However, there is a lot in between. Let's explore of the wireless options that are available and can be incorporated into a home theater system.
Wireless Speakers
The most common wireless product that is available for home theater are wireless surround sound speakers. However, don't let the term "wireless" fool you. For a speaker to function it needs two types of signals. First, the speaker needs to have access to the music or movie soundtrack in the form of electrical impulses (the audio signal). Second, the speaker needs physical connection to an amplifier to actually produce the sound (either powered by battery or AC power outlet).
In a basic wireless speaker setup, a transmitter is physically connected to preamp outputs on a receiver. This transmitter then sends the music or movie soundtrack information to a speaker that has a built-in receiver. However, in order to produce the audio signal that is wirelessly transmitted so you can actually hear it, the speaker needs additional power.
This means that the speaker still has to be physically attached to a power source and an amplifier. The amplifier can be built into the speaker housing or, in the case of some surround sound speaker setups, the speakers are physically attached with speaker wire to an external amplifier that is powered by batteries or plugged into the house AC power sources.
In other words, you may have eliminated the long wires that typically go from the signal source, such as a stereo or home theater receiver, but you still need to connect the "wireless" speaker to its own power source in order for it to actually produce sound.
Currently, wireless speaker technology is employed primarily in all-in-one home theater-in-a-box systems, but Neosonik has developed a complete high-end home theater system concept that employs wireless technology for all major components: preamp/processor, speakers, and video display. Neosonik is licensing this technology as Airpower A/V. I had a chance to see and hear the Neosonik system prototype at a past CES.
Wireless Subwoofers
One new development that is getting attention as a practical wireless solution for home theater is employing a wireless powered subwoofer. Since subwoofers are typically self powered (the required connection to AC power) and they are sometimes located far from the receiver they need to receive the audio signal from, incorporating a wireless transmitter for the subwoofer into the receiver and a wireless receiver into the subwoofer is a very practical idea.
This is becoming very popular on sound bar systems, where there are only two components: the main soundbar and a separate subwoofer. However, although the wireless subwoofer arrangement eliminates the long cable usually needed, and allows more flexible room placement of the subwoofer, both the sound bar and subwoofer still need to be plugged into a AC wall outlet or power strip.
Check out an example of a Sound Bar System from Vizio that employs a Wireless Subwoofer.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology has impacted the way consumers connect portable devices, such as headsets for cell phones. However, with the advent of wireless technology for home entertainment, Bluetooth is also a method for wireless connectivity in home theater systems.
For instance, in the previous section on wireless subwoofers, Bluetooth is the main technology employed. Also, more home theater receivers are now being equipped with ports that will accept an accessory Bluetooth receiver that allows consumers to access audio/video content from Bluetooth cell phones, portable digital audio/video players, or even a PC. Check out one such product made by Yamaha for its home theater line.
Wireless Networking
Another type of wireless connectivity that is becoming more popular in the home is wireless networking (based on Wi-Fi technology). This enables consumers to use their laptop PC anywhere in the house or even outside without having to use a phone cord or Ethernet cord to connect to the internet or other PC-related device in the house.
This is done by having a wireless transmitter/receiver built into the laptop, or other devices, communicate with a central router that may have a combination of both wireless and wired connections. The result is that any of the devices connected to the router can access the internet directly or communicate with the other devices connected to the router.
As result of this technology, new products that incorporate communication and content access between PC-based and home theater components using both wired and wireless connectivity, are now appearing on the scene, including media extenders and Blu-ray Disc players.
Wireless HD
Another form of wireless connectivity appearing on the scene is the transmission of high definition content from a source device, such as Blu-ray Disc player to an HDTV or Video projector.
Currently, this is accomplished by connecting an HDMI cable from the source device to an accessory transmission box that sends the signal wirelessly to a receiving box that, in turn, is connected to the HDTV using a short HDMI cable. Currently, there are two competing camps, each supporting their own group of products: WHDI and Wireless HD.
HomePlug
Another ingenious technology that eliminates wired connections, actually isn't truly wireless, but utilizes your own house wiring to transfer audio, video, PC, and internet information through a house or office. This technology is called HomePlug. Using special converter modules that plug into your own AV wall outlets, the consumer can access all audio and video signals coming to and from your home theater components (see diagram). Audio and video signals simply "ride" on top your regular AC current.
A Not-so-Final Word
The wireless revolution is just in its infancy. New wireless products for use in the home theater and home entertainment environment are being introduced on a continuing basis. Stay tuned for more news and product introductions as they become available.
