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Wireless speaker
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Wireless speakers are loudspeakers that receive audio signals using radio frequency (RF) waves rather than over audio cables. The two most popular RF frequencies that support audio transmission to wireless loudspeakers include a variation of WiFi IEEE 802.11, while others depend on Bluetooth to transmit audio data to the receiving speaker.[1]
Apart from the employed RF standard, such speakers can basically be distinguished by their dedicated field of use. Portable wireless speakers for outdoor use are typically designed for ruggedness, portability and battery life, whereas stationary wireless speakers with a focus on good sound quality are meant to be used in home audio systems or surround sound systems for TV or video. Further, types for special applications like waterproof speakers for use in the shower or speakers for a voice assistant may intermix between the properties of the two former.
Overview
[edit]Wireless speakers are composed of two units: a main speaker unit combining the loudspeaker itself with an RF receiver, and an RF transmitter unit. The transmitter connects to the audio output of any audio devices such as hi-fi equipment, televisions, computers, MP3 players, etc. An RCA plug is normally used to achieve this. The receiver is positioned where the listener wants the sound to be, providing the freedom to move the wireless speakers around without the need of using cables. The receiver/speaker unit generally contains an amplifier to boost the audio signal to the loudspeaker; it is powered either by batteries or by an AC electric outlet.[2]
The signal frequency range used by wireless speakers is generally the same as that used by cordless telephones – 900 MHz. The RF signal can traverse walls and floors/ceilings. Most manufacturers claim the signal transmits over a range of 150 to 300 feet (50 to 100 m). Many wireless speakers feature variable transmission channels that can be set using a tuning knob to overcome potential RF interference with other nearby wireless devices, such as cordless phones or baby monitors. [3]
Some wireless speakers use the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The WiSA standard uses the 5 GHz frequency band.
Sound quality
[edit]The most basic models only offer an output power of 3W, which does not allow for an optimal sound quality. Mid-range models go up to 5W and high-end models can go up to 10W and beyond.[citation needed]
The number of speakers can also vary: while entry-level models are limited to a single speaker, more elaborate models can offer two, and thus have stereo sound. Some wireless speakers add a passive radiator to improve low frequencies and achieve deeper sound.[4]
Bluetooth
[edit]Recent models generally use Bluetooth 4.0 or even Bluetooth 5, and wireless speakers generally have a range of 10 meters.[5] Bluetooth devices use a radio communication frequency such that the devices do not have to be in a visual line of sight with each other.
Some speakers may benefit from the NFC system to facilitate pairing with the source device.[citation needed]
Battery
[edit]
Wireless speakers use rechargeable batteries to power them. Almost all wireless speakers operate on rechargeable batteries that are not replaceable, so that the lifespan of these speakers is that of their batteries. Some speaker models with a large battery capacity can also act as a power bank to charge another device to full capacity, such as a mobile phone.
They are generally recharged with either a C8 appliance plug or a more universal USB connector, mainly through either mini or micro-USB or USB-C connectors. Other speakers utilize proprietary connectors such as Apple's Lightning connector. The complete charging cycle a speaker generally varies from 3 to 6 hours.
Hybrid wireless speakers
[edit]Starting 2015, some wireless speakers integrate VOIP telephony functions.[6] Other models have an integrated FM radio. The higher end models add an LCD screen to make it easier to select and store radio stations.
Most wireless speakers have a built-in microphone, which allows to receive and make calls using a mobile phone in hands-free mode. When a call comes in, the music automatically shuts off and resumes as soon as the call ends.
With the development of voice assistants, manufacturers have integrated the ability to pair them with their devices. This way, commands can be passed to the speaker via the integrated microphone, which will then be executed by the voice assistant.[7]
Shower speaker
[edit]
A shower speaker is a Bluetooth speaker designed for use in humid environments such as showers or more generally in the bathroom. There are also shower speakers using Wi-Fi, although this is more rare.
The speaker must first be paired with a Bluetooth device. In general, it is a smartphone or tablet. It is this device that will serve as the source for the music that will be played through the speaker.[citation needed]
A shower speaker must first of all be able to withstand water splashes. This resistance is expressed by an IP (Ingress Protection) index that must be mentioned on the product. The most frequent indexes encountered are the IPX4 index, which indicates that the device is protected against splashes. Other models offer superior protection, such as IPX7. In this case, the enclosure is completely submersible in water to a depth of 1 meter for half an hour.[citation needed]It is then considered waterproof. Some models, rarer those, extend their protection up to index 8.
The shower speaker must be able to be installed in all environments. This is why manufacturers have planned to equip their devices with different ways of fixing them. The suction cup is the most basic system and is found on entry-level speakers. Its main disadvantage is poor adhesion to the shower wall, which can cause the unit to fall off. The mounting bracket is the safest system to fix the speaker, but requires drilling a hole in the wall. The carabiner clip allows the speaker to hang from the shower curtain bar. It is only suitable for the smallest and lightest models.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Best Wireless Speakers 2017". 30 November 2015.
- ^ "How Wireless Speakers Work". 1 June 2012.
- ^ Shushan, Aina. "Audiovideonyc". Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Q. What are the advantages of passive radiator design?". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- ^ "Bluetooth 5.0 vs 4.0 - Comparative Analysis Guide | Intuz".
- ^ "10 gadgets to make your old tech smarter". 11 January 2015.
- ^ "These Smart Speakers Do Your Bidding, And Have Killer Sound Quality". Fatherly. 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
Wireless speaker
View on GrokipediaDefinition and Basics
Definition
A wireless speaker is a loudspeaker that receives audio signals using radio frequency (RF) waves rather than through physical audio cables, enabling connection to source devices such as smartphones, computers, or televisions without wires for audio transmission.[1][8] These devices can be battery-powered for portable applications or plugged into an electrical outlet for stationary setups, depending on the design.[9] Key components of a wireless speaker include built-in amplifiers that boost the incoming electrical signal, drivers such as woofers for low frequencies and tweeters for high frequencies—each comprising a vibrating diaphragm, voice coil, and permanent magnet—and wireless receivers that detect RF signals from the source.[1] Enclosures house these elements, providing structural support and acoustic tuning to optimize sound dispersion.[1] The basic operational principle centers on the reception of digital or analog audio signals transmitted via radio frequencies, which are then converted into electrical impulses by the receiver.[1] These impulses are amplified and fed to the voice coil, causing the diaphragm to vibrate and generate acoustic sound waves that propagate through the air.[1][9] Unlike headphones or earbuds, which deliver personal audio directly to the user's ears for isolated listening, wireless speakers focus on speaker systems engineered to project room-filling audio, filling shared spaces with sound through environmental acoustics.[10]Comparison to Wired Speakers
Wireless speakers offer significant advantages in mobility over their wired counterparts, allowing users to place them anywhere within the wireless signal range without the constraints of cable lengths.[11] This flexibility is particularly beneficial for dynamic environments like home entertainment setups or outdoor gatherings, where repositioning speakers is frequent.[12] Setup for wireless speakers is generally simpler and less invasive, eliminating the need for running cables through walls or floors, which reduces clutter and enhances aesthetic appeal in living spaces.[13] In contrast, wired speakers require direct physical connections using plugs such as AUX or RCA cables to an amplifier or source device, often necessitating more planning and potential professional installation.[12] Wireless models typically involve initial pairing via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or proprietary apps and buttons, enabling seamless integration into smart home ecosystems.[11] Another key benefit of wireless speakers is their potential for multi-speaker synchronization, allowing multiple units to stream audio in unison across rooms without additional wiring, as seen in systems supporting protocols like PlayFi.[11] However, this convenience comes with trade-offs; wireless speakers may introduce audio latency, which can disrupt synchronization in time-sensitive applications.[12] They also tend to be more expensive due to the integrated wireless technology and components like batteries or power adapters, increasing overall costs compared to basic wired options.[13] Furthermore, wireless speakers depend on batteries or nearby power outlets for operation, which can limit placement and require periodic recharging.[12] In high-fidelity studio environments, wired speakers often prevail due to their zero-latency transmission and superior control over audio components like digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and amplifiers, ensuring precise sound reproduction without interference.[11] Battery life remains a practical concern for portable wireless models, potentially interrupting extended use sessions.[13]Historical Development
Early Innovations (Pre-2000)
The foundations of wireless audio transmission, precursors to modern wireless speakers, were laid in the 1920s through radio broadcasting, which delivered audio signals wirelessly to home receivers. The launch of KDKA in Pittsburgh in 1920 marked the first commercial radio station, transmitting music, news, and entertainment directly to households via electromagnetic waves, eliminating the need for wired connections.[14] By the 1930s, known as the Golden Age of Radio, approximately 60% of U.S. households owned radios, with networks like NBC distributing programming nationwide and fostering the concept of untethered audio delivery.[14] Early public address systems from the same era, such as those using Magnavox loudspeakers around 1920, amplified sound in public spaces using wired technology inspired by radio advancements, laying groundwork for later wireless applications, though they relied on wired amplification.[15] Advancements in the 1960s and 1970s focused on wireless microphones employing FM modulation, enabling rudimentary wireless audio distribution to speaker systems in theaters and live events. These VHF-based systems improved performer mobility and began integrating with PA setups for real-time audio transmission, despite limitations in range and susceptibility to interference.[16] In the 1970s, Nady Systems developed more reliable FM wireless microphone technologies with companding techniques to enhance signal-to-noise ratios, facilitating their adoption in Broadway theaters and concert venues where audio was relayed wirelessly to on-stage or distributed speakers.[16] This era's innovations laid groundwork for untethered sound reinforcement, transitioning from broadcast radio to localized event applications. The 1980s and 1990s saw the emergence of dedicated RF wireless speakers for home theater environments, building on prior analog transmission methods. Companies like Bose and Sony pioneered experimental RF systems, allowing speakers to receive audio signals without cables for greater placement flexibility in living spaces.[2] A key milestone was the 1997 patent filing by Larry Schotz for a digital wireless speaker system, which encoded audio for RF transmission to reduce distortion and support consumer applications.[17] [18] These early RF setups typically operated within ranges of 30 to 100 feet, suitable for room-scale use but constrained by environmental factors.[2] Significant challenges hampered widespread adoption, including signal interference from walls, household devices, and other RF sources, which degraded audio quality and caused dropouts.[2] The absence of standardized protocols led to compatibility issues across manufacturers, while high power consumption necessitated bulky batteries or constant AC power, limiting portability.[2] These limitations kept pre-2000 wireless speakers as niche solutions, primarily for home theaters rather than mainstream consumer products.Bluetooth Era and Modern Advancements (2000-Present)
The introduction of Bluetooth technology marked a pivotal shift in wireless audio, enabling short-range, low-power connections for consumer devices. The Bluetooth 1.0 specification was released in July 1999 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, facilitating initial wireless audio applications such as hands-free headsets, with broader adoption in mobile phones and computers beginning in 2000.[19] Early Bluetooth-enabled speakers emerged around 2002, exemplified by Sony's initial products that integrated the standard for portable audio playback, though limited by bandwidth constraints resulting in compressed sound quality.[2] From 2004 to 2010, portable Bluetooth speakers proliferated alongside the smartphone revolution, transforming personal audio consumption. Devices like the Jawbone Jambox, launched in November 2010, popularized compact, battery-powered speakers with integrated microphones for speakerphone functionality, achieving widespread appeal through their sleek design and ease of pairing with iOS and Android devices.[20] This era saw Bluetooth evolve with versions like 2.0 and 2.1, improving data rates and stability for audio streaming. In the 2010s, wireless speakers advanced toward multi-room ecosystems, with Sonos pioneering the category through its 2005 launch of the Zone Player system, which enabled synchronized playback across multiple units via a proprietary Wi-Fi network; adoption peaked mid-decade as integration with streaming platforms expanded.[21] Audio quality improved with the adoption of codecs like Qualcomm's aptX, introduced for Bluetooth to deliver near-CD fidelity at 16-bit/48kHz resolution, reducing compression artifacts compared to the standard SBC codec.[22] By the late 2010s, Apple's AirPlay 2, released in May 2018, enhanced multi-room capabilities with features like stereo pairing and seamless handoff between devices.[23] The 2020s brought deeper integration of smart features, including voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing hands-free control of playback and home automation in speakers from brands like Sonos and JBL.[24] Advancements in mesh networking further refined whole-home audio, enabling robust, self-healing connections that extend coverage without dedicated wiring, as seen in updated Sonos architectures supporting low-latency streaming across larger spaces.[25] Market growth accelerated, with global wireless speaker sales reaching approximately $36.92 billion in 2023, fueled by the rise of music streaming services like Spotify that optimized wireless playback through app-based ecosystems. As of 2025, the market has grown to approximately $37 billion in 2024, with projections reaching $41.86 billion, driven by advancements like Bluetooth 5.4 enhancing range and power efficiency.[26][27][28][29]Core Technologies
Wireless Connectivity Protocols
Wireless speakers rely on several key protocols to enable seamless audio transmission without physical cables, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi being the most prevalent standards due to their balance of range, bandwidth, and device compatibility. These protocols define how data packets are formatted, transmitted, and received, ensuring reliable connectivity in various environments. Bluetooth excels in short-range, point-to-point connections ideal for portable speakers, while Wi-Fi supports higher-bandwidth applications like multi-room systems over home networks. Proprietary protocols further optimize specific ecosystems for synchronized playback across multiple units, while open standards like Zigbee can be adapted for custom implementations. Bluetooth, developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, serves as the foundational protocol for most consumer wireless speakers, utilizing the 2.4 GHz ISM band for unlicensed operation. The Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) within Bluetooth enables unidirectional stereo audio streaming from a source device to the speaker, supporting codecs like SBC and AAC for bit rates up to 328 kbps. Bluetooth 5.0, released in 2016, enhances this with a maximum data rate of 2 Mbps and extended range up to 240 meters in ideal line-of-sight conditions, though practical indoor range for audio applications typically spans 10-30 meters due to interference and power class limitations (Class 2 devices common in speakers). Bluetooth 5.3 (2021) further improves reliability and efficiency for audio applications, while Bluetooth 6.0 (2024) introduces features like the Isochronous Adaptation Layer (ISOAL) for more robust low-latency streaming. Additionally, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mode reduces power consumption for intermittent connections, making it suitable for battery-powered portables, while maintaining compatibility with over 90% of modern smartphones and laptops.[30][31][32][6] Wi-Fi protocols, governed by IEEE 802.11 standards, provide superior bandwidth for uncompressed or high-resolution audio streaming, particularly in stationary multi-room setups. The 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard operates on 5 GHz bands with channel widths up to 160 MHz, delivering theoretical bandwidths exceeding 1 Gbps and indoor ranges of 30-50 meters, far surpassing Bluetooth for whole-home coverage. Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, as of 2024) enhances this with multi-link operation for even higher throughput and lower latency in dense environments. In audio systems, Wi-Fi leverages overlay protocols like Apple's AirPlay for lossless streaming and device discovery, or Google's Chromecast for casting from apps to networked speakers, enabling synchronized playback across rooms with minimal setup via existing routers. This makes Wi-Fi ideal for high-fidelity applications, though it requires a stable home network and consumes more power than Bluetooth.[33][34][35] Proprietary protocols address limitations in open standards by tailoring connectivity for brand-specific ecosystems, often prioritizing low-latency multi-speaker synchronization. SonosNet, used in Sonos systems, is a mesh networking protocol operating on the 2.4 GHz band with MIMO support and 20 MHz channels, creating a dedicated wireless backbone that extends range up to 50 meters per hop and achieves synchronization latency under 75 milliseconds across multiple speakers without relying on the user's Wi-Fi. Similarly, Zigbee, an IEEE 802.15.4-based low-power mesh protocol (an open standard), enables precise delay adjustment and syncing in distributed speaker arrays, with data rates around 250 kbps suitable for control signals and lightweight audio coordination rather than full streaming, offering ranges of 10-100 meters in mesh configurations. These systems enhance reliability in dense deployments but limit interoperability with third-party devices.[36][37][38]| Protocol | Typical Latency | Power Consumption | Device Compatibility | Example Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 150-250 ms | Medium (10-100 mW during streaming; BLE <1 mW idle) | Ubiquitous (phones, tablets) | Portable single-speaker streaming[39][40] |
| Wi-Fi (802.11ac) | 20-70 ms | High (50-100 mW) | Network-dependent (routers required) | Multi-room high-res audio[42][43] |
| Proprietary (e.g., SonosNet) or open like Zigbee | <75 ms | Low to medium | Ecosystem-specific | Synchronized mesh arrays[37][38] |