Good wireless networked speakers...without mains power!

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matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#306695 14-Aug-2023 17:02

I have a new Denon amp (AVC-3200X) that I'm using to drive 5 B&W wired speakers as part of a home entertainment setup. For occasions when I'm using the wired speakers to play just music, I'd like to expand the system to permit me to mirror the audio output of the amp, to some wireless speakers which are located in another nearby room. Connecting the new speakers via cable isn't an option.

Ideally I'm after 2 small speakers that can do the above that do not need mains power to function. I've looked at the Denon Home 150 speakers which appear to do the job (as well as allow me to stream direct to the speakers from another source, such as a phone) however the downside is they require mains power - which is somewhat problematic given the intended locations (sometimes indoors, sometimes outdoors) of the 2 wireless speakers.

Does anyone know of a clever solution to the above? Or is expecting good audio quality, network conectivity, direct streaming with a battery powered speaker a pipe dream?

Matthew

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#3115804 14-Aug-2023 18:22

Any of the many bluetooth battery speakers you can get then use a bluetooth audio transmitter to send to them.

jonathan18

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#3115808 14-Aug-2023 18:33

I bought a UE Hyperboom the other week, and have dug out an unused Chromecast Audio - it gets power from the USB socket and feeds in audio via the 3.5mm aux input. Comes with lots of benefits such as allowing us to sync its music with any other device in the house, better sound quality, anyone can control it... Not sure if there are equivalents to the CC Audio, but I do recall someone here on GZ adapted a CC video to act as an audio only device.

matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#3115885 14-Aug-2023 21:13

Thanks for the replies guys!

Am worried (maybe unnecessarily?) that transmitting from the amp to a wireless speaker via BT will be problematic -esp the further the speaker moves from the amp - could be 30m at times, through a few (wooden) walls too.

The UE option looks good - does anyone know any more using CC for audio only? What kind of runtime do you get from the speaker given it's also powering the CC?

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#3116879 16-Aug-2023 18:43

I have a Panasonic system based on the Quallcomm allplay protocol that lets me do this. It works great.

Music sits on a DLNA server, and is streamed over WiFi using an app that support for spotify etc.

An All1C connected to the amp's auxiliary input lets me play through my main setup. Various wired speakers (All9, All8,All3) let me stream to other rooms. One speaker (All 5) has a built in battery and plays for ages when unplugged from mains power. You can stream to any/all of the speakers independently, or group then to synchronise what is playing. Other makers also make compatible speakers. It does however appear to be a deprecated system, so you would probably have to look second-hand to find it now.

I also second the previous recommendation for Chromecast audios. They are fantastic, and for the circa $45 each that I remember paying for my three they are fantastic value - and even have optical out, as well as integrating with my smart speakers so I can use voice commands to play music to them. Again, sadly deprecated now, and you would have to look second hand to find them.

Handle9

11386 posts

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#3116889 16-Aug-2023 19:24

What are you wanting to stream from?

UE Blast works as a Amazon music or as a Spotify target or JBL Link works with Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music

Of course they have Bluetooth as well

matt17

92 posts

Master Geek

#3116961 17-Aug-2023 07:53

I think we’ll primarily stream from the various users’ iOS devices - although maybe sometimes a Mac OS laptop.

It seems there are lots of options for getting the music from the amp to speakers (another suggested was a Wiim) - the problem seems to be getting a good quality wireless battery-powered speaker that integrates with the existing amp. Would it be fair to say that a mains powered speaker is going to be more powerful than the equivalent battery powered speaker - or is it just about longevity of operation?

I’m less concerned with purchasing components that will create a ‘smart’ system (I don’t mind using the iOS device GUI to change the music/volume etc - doesn’t seem that onerous a chore to me), and more concerned with getting the components that’ll integrate seamlessly & reliably with the existing amp (Denon). I’m wary (perhaps unnecessarily) of introducing several components from differnent producers that ‘should’ talk to one another (and indeed will) but getting them to do that every time you want to listen to music, involves a multi-step process to get them onto the correct network, selected etc.

It appears a pair of the Denon Home 150 tick all the boxes (please correct me if I’m wrong) - it’s just a bummer that they need mains power. Maybe it’s a case of not being able to have my cake and eat it too?