Nowadays people are more interested in comfortable, convenient and freely moving technologies. Gradually, we are beginning to do without the wires that previously ensured the operation of each device. Technological progress has not spared such computer devices as speakers. To replace wired speakers portable high-tech wireless models have arrived.

Wireless speakers have a number of advantages over their wired counterparts in terms of placement and portability. They are comfortable to use not only at home, but also in the workplace, and even outdoors. Wireless speakers are the same in operating principle, but there is still a certain division: wireless radio frequency, wireless bluetooth and wireless Wi-Fi speakers. In this article we will present the 7 best models of home wireless speakers at the beginning of 2017.

Features of wireless speakers:

• Low power.
• Perfect for listening to music and watching movies at low volume.
• They work for about 12 hours without recharging.
• Ergonomic, compact.
• You can take it with you on trips and other trips.
• Versatility and ease of use.
• Huge selection of manufacturers and proposed models.

JBL Charge 3

Given portable device can be used while cooking, in the bathroom, on a picnic, during training. JBL Charge 3 is an almost perfect wireless speaker! Still, a couple of shortcomings can be found in it, but more on them later. The equipment power is 20 watts, autonomy is equal to 20 hours of continuous operation.

The model is equipped with moisture protection according to the IPX7 standard. Even if the speaker accidentally falls into the pool, no damage will be caused to it. The sound of the device is clear and loud. Thanks to the increased playback range, the sound quality has become much higher. In addition, there are a couple of passive bass radiators on the sides.

The product is easy to control, since the main elements can be easily felt, and due to its convexity. You can start and stop playback, adjust the volume, and search for devices. You can switch the track by double-clicking on play/stop.

JBL Charge 3 also has a connector for connecting wired devices, such as a microphone. As for the shortcomings, there are only two of them: the process of turning on the model is accompanied by a very loud sound notification, which is not regulated; To turn on the device, you need to briefly press a certain key, although it would be more advisable to press it for a long time to avoid accidental switching on.

You can buy JBL Charge 3 for 8,500 rubles. This is a significant amount, but for equipment that is one of the best in its segment, such an amount is not a pity. The most important thing is excellent quality and volume, and additional features, like crazy autonomy of 20 hours and moisture protection, leave other models far behind.

Wireless speakers Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A1

Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A1 is a mobile speaker system with a diameter of only 13 cm. The power is 2x30 W. For ease of transportation, the speaker is equipped with a leather strap and covered with a durable aluminum case.. A built-in battery with a capacity of 2200 mAh is responsible for the autonomous operation of the product.

The Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A1 wireless speakers give you freedom of action; it can connect to a signal source using Bluetooth wireless technology. Users will also be pleased with the presence of a built-in microphone.

The device has two 30 W amplifiers. This acoustic configuration allows the device to operate in the frequency range 60-24000 Hz. You can control the Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A1 wireless speakers using two groups of buttons: one is responsible for turning it on, off and volume control, the other is for Bluetooth connection and incoming calls. You can buy this model for 14,100 rubles.

Wireless speakers Klipsch RW-1

The design of the Klipsch RW-1 wireless speakers is very minimalist, but it looks very advantageous. The device is equipped with proprietary speakers and has a two-way configuration. The acoustics have separate amplifiers. The device is quite simple to use.

A little about the sound of the speakers: the sound quality is stable, energetic and rich. One such speaker is able to provide sound in a small room. The acoustics demonstrate tangible, quite convincing bass, and good sound detail. Wireless speakers Klipsch RW-1 confidently convey the rhythmic pattern of musical compositions.

The sound character of the speakers is suitable both for background listening to music and for musical accompaniment of a small party. When moving the device around the room, the sound quality is not lost. By purchasing Klipsch RW-1 wireless speakers for 22,000 rubles, you can enjoy a very profitable purchase!

Wireless speakers Dali Katch Cloud Gray

The Dali Katch Cloud Gray portable speaker is battery powered and equipped with Bluetooth technology. An elegantly rounded body, a built-in digital amplifier, and specially designed speakers - all this makes the model competitive. The designers took care of the user who will take the equipment with him on the road; they provided a USB connector for charging tablets and smartphones while music is playing.

Using the Dali Katch Cloud Gray wireless speakers is quite easy. The acoustics have two audio profiles: Warm and Clear. The first profile is suitable for those moments when the music needs to add a little bass, while the second is well suited for most musical genres and situations.

Wireless speakers Dali Katch Cloud Gray have a built-in lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh, which guarantees continuous sound at excellent volume for 24 hours. The battery is strong, reliable, powerful and can be easily replaced. The package includes Charger, which charges the device in 2 hours. You can buy this acoustics for 30,700 rubles.

Onkyo CNP-302

Onkyo CNP-302 wireless speakers support several connection options that work via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In modern Onkyo receivers FireConnect is built-in, making wireless streaming from standard wired devices (vinyl players).

Rugged wood housing houses two 3" woofers and a 1" speaker. On the body of the acoustics there are buttons for volume, power, pause, and selecting an input for playback. In general, the Onkyo CNP-302 boasts high sound quality, good build quality and a reasonable price - 22,500 rubles.

Denon Heos 1 HS2

The new Denon Heos 1 HS2 model is equipped with Bluetooth and can provide High-resolution audio streaming. The acoustics are distinguished by high quality workmanship and good materials.. The model will easily fit into the interior of a living room or office. Connecting the Denon Heos 1 HS2 speaker to a computer network is very simple: launch the Heos application, connect your tablet or smartphone to the speaker and follow the instructions. This will take no more than 3 minutes.

In the presented version you will see a two-way speaker with amplifiers for LF and HF speakers. Denon Heos 1 HS2 perfectly reproduces music of various genres, sounds bright, loud and clear. If you look from the point of view of price-quality ratio, then the Denon Heos 1 HS2 wireless speakers are a chic option. You can buy acoustics for 22,900 rubles.

Home theater Bose Lifestyle SoundTouch 235

Using 5 tiny speakers, the Bose Lifestyle SoundTouch 235 home theater system produces lifelike sound that's a pleasure to listen to. It is possible to connect about 6 HD audio and video sources.

The Bose Lifestyle SoundTouch 235 home theater offers the following benefits:

• New design features miniature loudspeakers.
• Powerful, clear surround sound convenient control all connected devices, wireless music playback.
• Powerful bass thanks to the Acoustimass module.
• Play music over Wi-Fi.
• You can connect 6 devices to the control console and control them using a universal RF remote control.
• Thanks to Bluetooth, music can be played from tablets and smartphones.

Smart Connectivity technology guides you through the process of setting up and connecting external devices with ease. When you connect a new device, Unifi will quickly recognize it and program the remote control accordingly.

Take your entertainment system to the next level with wireless music streaming. The SoundTouch wireless adapter will provide you with more than 200,000 Internet radio stations from around the world, recordings from your collection, and online music services.

The adapter can be easily configured using your tablet or smartphone thanks to the free SoundTouch app. Bose Lifestyle SoundTouch 235 delivers immersive sound for everything you watch: TV shows, movies, sports, concerts, TV shows and video games.

The model's compact loudspeakers boast a new design and improved construction. The speakers can be mounted flush to the wall using an optional bracket, so they will fit perfectly with your flat-screen TV.

The sound of this device depends on the individual characteristics of your room - furniture and finishing materials, geometry and size of the room. The ADAPTiQ system is able to analyze the unique features of the room and automatically adjusts the sound, demonstrating the best quality. It is worth noting that not everyone can afford this pleasure, because it costs about 199,000 rubles.

Active wireless Hi-Fi acoustics. Wireless active speakers. Wireless Hi-Fi. Wireless stereo systems. Network Hi-Fi. Canton GLE496.2BT, Heco Ascada 2.0 BTX, Canton Smart Vento, Canton Smart, Denon Heos, Yamaha MusicCast buy.

In this article, we tried to systematize the wireless, active speaker systems of the modern consumer audio market. With the advent of consumer wireless data transmission technologies operating in the license-free radio range (2.4-2.5 MHz) and formats such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, many devices have appeared on the market offering varying degrees of “wireless” capabilities. Further improvement of wireless formats has contributed to the fact that wireless systems began to meet Hi-Fi quality standards. Moreover, we are talking about both the quality of the signal itself and the quality and reliability of the wireless connection itself. The ever-increasing trend of using smartphones, tablets and networked media content also contributes to the search for wireless solutions in the field of playback, making it convenient and understandable for the user, who is usually already involved in his wireless local network.
You can see the main 4 groups of wireless audio solutions on this structural diagram.

Group No. 1 " Portable Bluetooth columns"
This is a group of compact and portable audio devices that primarily operate using the Bluetooth wireless protocol. It is completely cordless, thanks to the use of efficient lithium-ion batteries that provide approximately 10 hours of stable operation. The range is 10-15 meters, which is enough for most users of such speakers. Portable acoustic systems are the most affordable wireless solution today and the most widely used. The stores offer thousands various options similar systems. In order to expand the frequency range in most portable acoustics passive low-frequency radiator technology is used, when a passive membrane is used together with an active speaker, which significantly increases the efficiency of low-frequency reproduction.
This group can be further classified according to additional characteristics:
- Models for sports (for example, for bicycles), such as JBL Charge,
- Waterproof models (great option for use in the country), for example
- Premium quality models (great gift for use in the office or home), e.g.
- Additional functions, for example, the ability to combine into stereo pairs or simultaneous, synchronous playback, support for playing High Resolution files, etc.




Of course, representatives of this group can be classified as High-Fidelity devices with a very high tension, but given the popularity, a lot of technological tricks, complete “wireless”, and the fact that similar solutions Today almost all famous manufacturers of Hi-Fi acoustics have them, we will define all these products in a single group.

Group No. 2 “Active systems with an amplifier in one speaker”
This group of speaker systems can be called wireless very conditionally. Of course, all systems in this group are equipped with a Bluetooth wireless interface, which allows you to transfer audio files to the speakers high resolution. But there is a wired connection between the speakers - the speakers are connected to each other by an acoustic cable. Pictured below are the acoustic systems.

One of the speakers has a built-in stereo amplifier that powers the passive speakers of the main speaker system (Master) and the passive speakers of the second, controlled speaker system (Slave). A speaker with a built-in amplifier is connected to a 220V network. The Master column contains control buttons (see systems) and input analog and digital interfaces - all wired, except Bluetooth. This column can also be integrated HDMI interface, multichannel audio decoders Dolby Digital, DTS, and processor, as is the case with the system. Such advanced equipment allows you to get a stereo system and soundbar (two in one). Virtual multichannel sound allows you to effectively use such systems as a home theater. In this case, there is no need to connect rear speakers, which means there is no need to lay speaker wires to the rear speakers, which is an additional and obvious wireless factor. More detailed information You can watch about the systems, including a video review, on our website.
Most active speaker systems use efficient digital amplifiers to amplify the signal. Floor-standing systems, as a rule, have four output amplification stages - two for each speaker, so the signal for the low-frequency speakers is amplified by its own amplifier, and for the high-frequency midrange speakers by its own (Bi-amping mode). This improves sound quality and increases overall amplification efficiency. In speakers, when a multi-channel 5.1 signal is supplied, the processor divides the amplification bands in such a way that the woofers work as active subwoofers, truly amazing with the depth of the bass.

Group No. 3 “Active systems with an amplifier in each speaker”
Unlike classic wired solutions, which mainly represent professional studio speakers, in which the amplifier is also built into each of the systems, representatives of group No. 3 wireless systems operate in most cases on the Master/Slave principle, when one speaker is the master and the second is the slave. In studio active wired models, the analog signal from the source is supplied via a separate analog cable to each speaker (left and right channel, respectively). Wireless systems have at least a Bluetooth decoder; there may also be multi-channel decoders for Dolby Digital, DTS, many digital interfaces, etc. All these decoders must be located in one column and controlled by a processor, and this column is called Master. The Master speaker transmits a radio signal to the Slave speaker, as well as control signals that ensure smooth operation in stereo and other modes. Advanced models, for example, speakers can be combined into multi-channel sets of format 4.0, 5.1, and even in this case, processing and coordination of work is carried out by only one Master column. We will consider multi-channel wireless systems in more detail.



Unlike models of the previous group No. 2, where the amplifier is built into only one speaker, Group No. 3 systems may not be completely connected to each other by cables. However, due to the high potential quality of the speakers, many models in this group allow cable connection, offering the studio option of transmitting left and right signals to each speaker separately, as well as transmitting a digital signal from the Master speaker to the Slave speaker via cable. Also, each system is connected to a 220V network. Active systems offer a variety of different wired interfaces, from audiophile balanced XLR or digital USB-B, to traditional optical and coaxial digital inputs and analog RCA inputs.
As noted above, some models may have Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Atmos decoders, and can be combined into multi-channel groups, i.e. used in wireless home theaters. All this can serve for additional classification of systems in this group by the presence of a particular interface or by functional purpose (stereo music/cinema).
Some speaker systems of group No. 3 can use wireless radio transmitters - compact adapters that are connected by cable to the signal source. For example, Dynaudio Xeo speaker systems.
Models of group No. 3 have the highest quality of reproduction and the highest cost. In most cases, models in this group also have a premium design.
When assessing the cost of systems, it is necessary to take into account that functionally they include speakers and an amplifier and all connections, and compare their cost with the cost of a similar system of separate components.

Group No. 4 “Network, Network acoustic systems”
Active wireless models of group No. 4 are the most functional. Their main advantage is connection to your local network and the Internet, and Wi-Fi support. As a rule, they are compact and have a rather attractive design. In most cases, systems in this group are controlled using mobile application, developed for each family of such devices. The application makes it possible to stream audio files from any network source compatible with the DLNA protocol, from any flash memory card connected to any of these devices, to use music services, NAS servers and other network equipment. Each family of such systems can include not only wireless stereo speakers, combined in one housing or made in separate housings, but also other various devices: those with built-in loudspeakers (microsystems, soundbars), the amplification part is based on efficient digital amplifiers, relatively high-quality speakers and a rather intricate shape of the resonator (phase inverter), due to which the highest possible level of low frequencies is achieved at quite compact sizes. A very important parameter in these devices is compatibility with media content. Many modern network devices support playback of high-resolution audio files PCM, FLAC, ALAC 192kHz/24bit. When operating this category of systems, the user primarily uses wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, but some of these devices also have analog inputs (MiniJack, 2 RCA), which usually have an optional function.

The Audio Factor company will help you choose the optimal wireless system in accordance with your requirements and requests.
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +7 963 645 1210.

At the Hi-Fi & High End Show 2016 in the Stereo&Video room, we collected not the original High End, not vintage Hi-Fi, or even classic stereo, but... desktop network audio systems. Typically, such devices have a place in the bedroom, children's room or in the manager's office. They don’t take up much space, they sound good, and most importantly, they are designed to work in ordinary rooms without acoustic preparation.

When we were deciding what exactly we would demonstrate in the Stereo&Video room, the image of huge High-End speakers sounding in a cramped hotel room involuntarily arose in our heads. A kind of Pavarotti concert in a cultural center near Moscow. He seems to sing well, but the hall is clearly too small. It was then that the idea came to arrange a comparative test of such devices, which were originally intended to work in ordinary residential premises.

This is fully consistent with tabletop acoustics with network and wireless functions- one of the growing and actively developing trends in the world of Hi-Fi. There are a lot of options possible: as part of a multiroom, as regular wireless speakers, as a network player. The main functional purpose of these devices is to reproduce digital content from phones, tablets, computers, home servers, from the Internet. Within reasonable price limits, which were initially designated “up to 100 thousand rubles,” we selected four models, added a couple more out of competition and arranged a large test drive. By the way, in the end the price range of the test turned out to be narrow - 55-65 thousand rubles, but in the room there was a more expensive system - Naim Mu-so (99 thousand rubles), and its presence turned out to be very useful in explaining to everyone who came the positioning of the selected speakers . But more on that later.

Room 614 of the Moscow Aquarium Hotel, where comparative testing of wireless systems took place during the Hi-Fi & High End Show 2016

During all four days of the exhibition, anyone could come to us and personally compare the presented devices. Reviews from our visitors were collected and analyzed to determine the degree and reasons for the popularity of a particular model. It seemed to us that the concept was easy to implement: a person walked into a room, connected from his smartphone and listened to music familiar to him. However, everything turned out to be not so simple, for example, for this reason we decided to remove Sonos Play 5, which has neither Bluetooth nor AirPlay, from the test. An inherently excellent speaker with interesting functionality and good sound, but it only works within its own system. Whereas for our testing, openness was the selection criterion. Of course, we demonstrated her abilities to everyone, but with the music that was on our server, since there were no people willing to spend time installing the application right at the exhibition. However, further I will sometimes cite it in comparisons.

Design

From a design point of view, I don’t have many questions about network audio systems; after all, we’re not choosing High End. Firstly, how convenient is it to place it on a table or shelf, and secondly, what’s inside?

Interestingly, the answer to the second question can be generalized. Different on the outside, on the inside, all audio systems are built according to the same formula: a multi-band system, an individual Class D amplifier for each speaker and a DSP processor for band matching and additional signal processing. However, manufacturers differed radically on how to position the speakers.

Design of Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

“What is this?” - this is the most common question accompanying the hand gesture towards the Beoplay A6. It really looks very impressive and attracts attention. But what’s more interesting is what’s hidden in this unusually curved body.

Hidden under the grill are small tweeters and mid-low frequencies, which seem to have been turned inside out: a dome diffuser with a concave suspension. Pairs of speakers on the front panel are turned to the sides to create a surround sound effect. In addition, another full-range speaker is built into the rear wall of the case, the task of which is to expand the sound stage and give the sound more volume.

There is a carrying handle on the back wall, but its usefulness on a stationary device, in my opinion, is questionable. But as an additional option, you can purchase a wall or floor stand for beautiful placement of Beoplay A6 in the interior. By the way, depending on where the device will be located, you need to install a switch that corrects the frequency response. Three modes are available: in free space, against a wall or in a corner. All connectors are hidden in a niche at the bottom of the speaker; access to it is covered with a decorative cover. The rear view is aesthetically pleasing for installation in free space. The main thing to remember is that the audio system does not have batteries, so the power cable will still have to be connected to something.

Bluesound Pulse Design

There were two Bluesound Pulse devices in our test. The regular Pulse and the second generation model Pulse 2. After a detailed study, I liked the first one more, although there are not many differences between them. The form factor of both Pulse models is identical - a triangle with truncated corners, as if it was designed to fit into a corner. Like the Beoplay A6, the Bluesound Pulse has a convenient carrying handle, but is not equipped with a battery. Well, maybe it's just fashionable to give stationary devices the functional elements of portable ones.

The acoustic part of the Bluesound Pulse is the most modest in the test; unlike the others, the speaker has only two bands, and in a 2.1 configuration. The upper and mid frequencies are voiced by 64 mm drivers, which are essentially close to broadband. The woofer function is taken over by a 135 mm speaker located in the center of the front panel. It operates in a complex acoustic design with two chambers and bass reflexes. Among the important features, it is worth noting that the speakers and ports are located on the front surface, which means that objects standing close to the back and sides will not interfere with the acoustics working properly.

The total rated power in comparison with other test participants is not high, only 80 W. In the description of the design, I was most interested in the amplifiers themselves. These are high-tech modules from NAD (the companies are part of the same holding) with direct digital signal amplification without intermediate digital-to-analog conversion. This has a positive effect on the sound quality, which is reflected in the distortion level of 0.005% declared by the manufacturer.

Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless design

The most recognizable of all participants in the design test, Zeppelin Wireless, is far from the first version of the “musical airship” from Bowers & Wilkins. The first generation of Zeppelin with a docking station for Apple gadgets had a bass-reflex acoustic design, and in the Wireless model the developers switched to a closed housing, increasing the strength of the structure by 50%.

The upper frequencies are voiced by tweeters with a double-layer metal dome, while the mid frequencies are powered by a pair of 90 mm speakers with a proprietary FST suspension, which ensures stable piston operation. The woofer, located in the center, has an increased working stroke of the moving system for efficient work at high volume without distortion. The approach is audiophile in the full sense of the word, because the speaker production technologies are borrowed from full-size Hi-Fi and High End acoustics from Bowers&Wilkins.

Naim Mu-So Qb design

The first Naim Mu-So turned out to be great, as we had the opportunity to see for ourselves by testing it out of competition. Despite all the advantages in terms of sound, a device of this size will not fit in every office, and the dressing table in the bedroom is definitely not enough for it. Even the Zeppelin, with its considerable body length, takes up much less space both physically and visually. In turn, Naim Mu-So Qb turned out to be super compact. To place the cube on a shelf, you will need much less space than for any other participant in the test.

The most efficient use of the device's surface helped it to catch up with its competitors in terms of sound quality and power; in other words, the façade is densely packed with speakers. The large oval woofer works with the support of two passive radiators of the same size located on the side surfaces. As a result, with minimal housing dimensions, Naim Mu-So Qb has the largest radiation surface at low frequencies. Previously, only subwoofers were made using a similar principle.

By the way, the presence of passive radiators on the side surfaces introduces small restrictions in terms of installation. Putting Naim Mu-So Qb on a shelf between books or in a “cage” of an Ikea shelving unit are two extremely unfortunate ideas that can come to anyone’s mind.

Functionality

In terms of functionality, the audio systems included in the test are not equal to each other in an absolute sense, but they all allow you to reproduce digital content. The difference lies in how exactly it is implemented. Here I assessed only the possibilities without regard to the convenience of their implementation.

Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6 functionality

The network audio system from Bang&Olufsen is laconic only in appearance. The set of capabilities is stated to be quite solid: with the help of Bluetoorh, AirPlay and DLNA / Google Cast, you can use Beoplay A6 as a wireless speaker. Installing a proprietary application on a tablet or smartphone will allow you to use Beoplay A6 as a network player that works with DLNA servers or Internet streaming services.

In addition, the proprietary BeoLink Multiroom protocol is supported, making Beoplay A6 part of a full-fledged multiroom system formed from Bang&Olufsen components. For complete and absolute happiness, the only thing missing is an optical input and a USB port for flash drives. Why be modest? For that kind of money, an audio system should be able to do everything.

Bluesound Pulse functionality

In terms of the number of online services, Bluesound Pulse is the best in the test and in this regard is not inferior even to its more experienced competitor Sonos Play5, which participated in our test out of competition. In addition, Pulse, like Sonos, is easily integrated into a proprietary multiroom network, the capabilities of which are close to the concept of “limitless”. But at the same time, Pulse itself has limited communication with the outside world. Music from a smartphone or tablet can only be played by installing a proprietary application, and AirPlay and Bluetooth are missing. This is where Sonos, with their closed infrastructure, is not the best example to follow. To be fair, the Bluesound Pulse has analog and optical inputs, and can also read content from a USB drive. And the outlook is generally positive: Pulse 2 has not yet acquired AirPlay, but already has Bluetooth.

Another discouraging fact: the lack of support for DLNA and UPnP. It is suggested to use the SMB protocol instead. The approach is extremely atypical and at first drives you into an absolute stupor. How is this even possible?! It turns out it is possible. And this will not create any special problems. Most NAS provide access to folders via SMB by default, and for various operating systems, developers offer applications that make it easier to set up shared folders. And by the way, audiophiles who are especially advanced in the matter of transmitting audio data over a network recommend SMB. They say there are fewer errors and delays than UPnP or DLNA.

Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless functionality

The Bowers&Wilkins developers solved the issue of functionality in the easiest way for themselves - everything was delegated in absentia to computers and gadgets, and Zeppelin Wireless is actually a wireless speaker that works via Bluetooth and AirPlay. Oh yes, there is also an analog input on a 3.5 mm jack, but the optics that would be needed to connect TV and game consoles are missing.

If you have listened to music on a MacBook before, then in the form of Zeppelin you will receive an upgrade in the form of a high-quality AirPlay audio system. And if you happen to be Android user and Windows, think of the Zeppelin Wireless as a big Bluetooth speaker.

Naim Mu-So Qb functionality

The list of capabilities of the “cube” can be succinctly summarized in one phrase: it can do everything. In any case, everything that other test participants can do. Bluetooth, AirPlay, UPNP, Internet radio, as well as USB, optical and AUX - everything you need on board.

There are not as many Internet streaming services supported as in Bluesound Pulse, but no less than in Bang&Olufsen. The USB port can be used for both flash drives and Apple devices. What more could you ask for?

Control

Experienced Hi-Fi lovers know that the very process of turning on the system, warming up the components, searching for a disc or record in the music library is a special kind of pleasure, akin to a tea ceremony or cultivating a Zen garden. Network audio systems imply the exact opposite use case. Ideally, they should have one big button that turns on the music you want to listen to this moment. How will she do this? Let the developers think.

Controlling Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

Beoplay A6 has touch control buttons. To be precise, these are not even buttons, but one large sensor located on the upper edge of the acoustics. Pressing allows you to control playback, and in order to change the volume you need to swipe across the surface from right to left or left to right. Considering the large dimensions of the device, you can control it without looking; the sensor in this regard is quite sensitive and intelligent. Although I prefer the good old buttons with a clearly felt mechanical feedback. Until something happens, it’s not clear whether you hit the sensor or just scratched the side of your favorite audio system.

Bang&Olufsen has many applications. For example, what other manufacturers call the “settings” section, Bang & Olufsen has a separate BeoSetup application. And this, in general, is not a bad idea, but there is one “but”. Not all branded applications work stably. In particular, the BeoMusic program, designed to control music playback on Beoplay A6, both in iOS and Android, stopped seeing the acoustics after the first time the tablet was disconnected from the network. It was not always possible to restore the connection even by completely rebooting the entire system.

BeoSetup app

Sometimes BeoMusic would suddenly become stable. In those happy moments, we discovered the strange selectivity of the Beoplay A6 when playing files from the NAS. Of the variety, only AIFF, MP3 and WAV files were read. Unfortunately, FLAC in all versions was marked as an unsupported format.

In a word, during the test the situation was saved only by the stable operation of AirPlay. And starting Bluetooth periodically turned into an exciting show with the device rebooting.

Bluesound Pulse Control

The developers of the Bluesound application were pleased. On one screen they were able to fit the current playlist, all the necessary indicators and controls, as well as a media library with the ability to sort by various parameters and add files to the current playlist. There is no need to scroll through anything, everything is right before your eyes. Accessible and understandable. We can only guess what prevented other manufacturers from making an equally convenient main window in their applications. I note that the program looks and functions equally well in Android and iOS.

Bluesound Pulse app

The interface also has optional but nice additions. For example, when viewing a list of files, a special icon will let you know in what quality the track was recorded: lossy compressed, CD or HD. Another nice thing to note is the Bluesound Pulse's ability to read USB drives NTFS format, and not just FAT and Ext2/3/4.

Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Control

The control buttons located on the body of the Zeppelin evoke nothing but pure childish delight in me. The raised plus, minus and play/pause icons are mechanical buttons! They are pressed, and this pressing is felt tactilely. It would seem like a perfect little thing, but it makes an impression. And what’s important is that it’s difficult to confuse one button with another even without looking.

But the feasibility of creating an application for wireless speakers working via Bluetooth and AirPlay, in my opinion, is very doubtful. However, such an application for Apple devices exists. It performs exactly the same functions as the buttons on the case. Within the stated functions, the Zeppelin Wireless control is implemented well, but in the end you have to use third-party applications on your phone, tablet or computer.

There were occasional problems with the Bluetooth connection. Luckily the device reboots quickly. AirPlay is surprisingly stable and connects quickly.

Naim Mu-So Qb Management

Naim's app is another good attempt at making something truly user-friendly and functional. The menu architecture is more complex than that of Bluesound. Library, playlist and playback controls are three different screens that you can quickly switch between. But even in this form, the control process is quite convenient. In terms of ergonomics - a confident second place.

Naim Mu-so app

There are small elements of interface personalization. The “Styles” section allows you to select a desktop background according to the color of the grill. The brightness of the bottom illumination can be set in a special section of the menu.

There is no volume control after installing the application. It can be enabled in the advanced settings menu. And adjusting the volume on the Mu-So Qb body is a separate pleasure for which it’s worth getting to know the device in person. Looks fantastic.

During testing, a strange artifact was noticed in the controls. The first time you try to change the volume from the program, the level automatically returns to its previous state and only the second time the device responds adequately.

AirPlay and Bluetooth worked stably and did not cause any complaints.

Sound

Construction, design, functionality - this is all great, of course, but in the end it all comes down to whether the audio system “sounds” or “does not sound”. After my colleagues and I moved the systems from place to place a couple of times, they all sounded good, but each system in its own characteristic manner.

Sound of Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

Who said that Bang&Olufsen got carried away with design and completely forgot about sound? The system sounds, and what it sounds like! Very bright, catchy, impressive, makes you fall in love with it from the first sounds. The bass is surprisingly powerful and deep. And if you suddenly decide that there is too much bass, move the switch from the “in free space” position to the “next to the wall” position. The bottoms will become neat and collected.

The upper ones are a separate story. Literally and figuratively. The Beoplay A6's HF is an order of magnitude greater than that of its competitors. This adds detail and “air”, but over a long period of listening the “tweeter solo” can become tiring. Against the background of powerful bass and bright highs, the middle is somewhat lost, which, by the way, is reproduced very well.

One of the undoubted advantages of Beoplay A6 is its ability to fill the entire room with sound at once. From the point of view of genres, this audio system copes best with modern music, and audiophile jazz. When performed by Beoplay A6, it becomes somehow even more intricate, doubly audiophile.

Bluesound Pulse sound

The two versions of Bluesound Pulse that were tested unexpectedly demonstrated completely different sound characteristics. The first Pulse sounds delicate, subtle, exceptionally pure, like real Hi-Fi. And the Pulse2 gravitates towards a dense, dull sound with punchy bass in the tradition of its fellow competitor Sonos Play5. In the end, I preferred the first version, which sounded more detailed and accurate. Moreover, in a direct comparison, the Pulse 2 lost to the Sonos Play5 in both power and bass depth.

I can also attribute low power to the disadvantages of Bluesound Pulse. Turning it on “to the fullest” is a thankless task. The device is designed for thoughtful and intelligent listening. Another drawback is the narrow dispersion for systems of this class. Although the speakers have a slight rotation of the acoustic axes to the sides, an adequate sound picture will only be achieved if the system is directed at the listener.

And as a simple example, what is good about Bluesound Pulse, I will only say that the difference between CD and Hi-Res recordings on it is clearly audible. It was not possible to carry out such an experiment with Sonos Play5, because it simply does not play HiRes files.

The sound of Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless

Zeppelin Wireless, in my opinion, fully justifies its name and origin. It reproduces classic rock, such as the Beatles, Stones and Zeppelins perfectly. But, say, metal or industrial no longer sound, there is not enough energy and pressure in the bass. Recordings of classical music, jazz and vocals are played very well. This system does not particularly favor electronics, metal and modern “pop”, although there are exceptions.

Among the features: “Zeppelin” does not fill the room with sounds, as others do, it draws a surround sound stage in front of itself with the middle moved forward.

The lively and expressive mids are probably the Zeppelin Wireless's strongest point. The highs are softened and the bass may seem shallow, but the upper and mid-bass portions where the woofer is effective sound powerful and tight. The decline in output occurs smoothly with decreasing frequency, as befits acoustics with a closed body.

It would be interesting to evaluate the ability of Zeppelin Wireless to work with Hi-Res audio, but until this audio system learns to take content from a server or at least from a USB drive on its own, all this is just a dream.

The sound of Naim Mu-So Qb

Unlike its narrow dispersion brother, the Naim Mu-So, the new cube fills the room with sound evenly. The tonal balance remains virtually unchanged when moving around the room. Speaking of tonal balance, Naim engineers, like the developers of the first version of Bluesound Pulse, decided to adhere to the classic canons of Hi-Fi. As a result, Mu-So Qb sounds surprisingly smooth and neutral. To some, such a sound may seem dry or boring, but this is the truth of life. On MP3 you will hear all the artifacts, genre versatility and high resolution also have their place.

The formula for effectively using Mu-So Qb is simple: upload it to your home server quality content and get high-quality sound output. To understand the seriousness of the issue, when listening to the same track from an iPod via AirPlay and from a NAS via UPnP, you can hear a significant difference in sound quality. Mu-So Qb becomes even more interesting when high-resolution content is played from the server. The difference between 24/96 and the usual 16/44 on Mu-So Qb is clearly visible.

A few words should be said about the power and bass of the cube. Both are in no way comparable to its size. The baby can play loudly and is suitable for a small home disco. By the way, one interesting point is connected with this. Having some natural limitations on bass depth, the Mu-So Qb is exceptionally punchy in what it can produce. And if an electronic beat suddenly hits the resonance frequency of passive radiators, pure bass madness begins. Listen, for example, Jem - Come on closer.

Visitor rating

The presence of a couple of non-competitive devices in the room somewhat complicated the collection of statistics. Largest quantity the biggest Naim Mu-So got a lot of sympathy, first of all, of course, for the power and purity of sound. Sonos Play5 was not so popular, but also took a share positive feedback, mainly from fans of metal and modern dance music. The competition group divided the votes of the listeners as follows:

Approximately 50% of visitors chose the Naim Mu-So Qb for its clear sound, impressive design, and excellent power/size ratio. Well, my sympathies were also on the side of this model. It turned out really very well.

Beoplay A6 and Zeppelin Wireless each received 20% of the votes. The Bang&Olufsen creation was chosen mainly for its external beauty and the beauty of its sounds (mainly of an electronic dance nature). The classic solution from Bowers&Wilkins was approved by people who were familiar with it. Mostly older men, lovers of classic rock and academic music. At the same time, before my eyes, Zeppelin lost several fans who defected to the camp of Mu-So Qb connoisseurs, but immediately gained new ones from among young men and women looking for stylish interior acoustics.

Finally, 10% went to Bluesound Pulse and this, in my opinion, is the most underrated system of all presented. If there were no Naim systems in our room, Pulse could have won over a considerable army of connoisseurs of balanced, clean and accurate sound, but the situation was not in its favor.

The visitors to our room had no doubt about choosing the winner of the test. But in our editorial office, not everyone clearly agreed with the absolute superiority of Mu-So Qb. For example, I highly rated Beoplay A6, and selected music that sounded interesting on any system.

In general, all four devices turned out to be good in their own way, just as they all turned out to be imperfect, so the test turned into a choice of the best among equals. A spread of 0.75 points between the leader and the outsider is really a gap?

Out of competition

It would be dishonest to ignore two out-of-competition models, which, although not on equal terms, were still present in our room all day and confidently competed with the main competitors.

The Naim Mu-so is the direct ancestor of the Mu-so Qb, so both devices are 100% identical in terms of functionality. The design is also very similar, but the bass drivers are loaded onto one bass reflex port, located under the bottom of the body.

The sound of the large Mu-so is similar to the Qb in character and differs mainly in the scale and depth of the bass. Another difference in which the new cube is rather superior to the older model is dispersion. The Mu-so Qb plays wide and spacious, trying to fill the entire room with sound, while the big Mu-so, on the contrary, focuses the sound directly in front of itself. Otherwise, Naim Mu-so became the unconditional reference for our sound test. At a price almost twice as high as the other competitors, it couldn’t have been any other way.

Sonos Play 5 was suitable for our test in all respects except for one fundamental point: it does not have Bluetooth, AirPlay, or even a USB port for quickly connecting gadgets, and a 3.5 mm input in the digital age can hardly be called a worthy alternative. As a result, our visitors could not listen to their music on Sonos and they had to be content with NAS content or Internet broadcasting, which was still a pleasure under the conditions of the exhibition.

The Sonos app worked reliably on both Android tablets and iPads. There are a lot of settings in it, even too much for untrained users. Among the outstanding features of the Play 5, it is worth noting the function of auto-calibration of sound using the microphone available in the tablet, as well as the ability of several Play 5 speakers to be combined into any configuration - stereo or even home theater.

From a technical point of view, Play 5 has a two-way design with individual amplification for each emitter, but we are talking about three tweeters and three mid/bass speakers. Such an exotic design, quite expectedly, deviates from audiophile canons in terms of sound character. Sonos Play 5 has a good midrange, noticeably boosted bass and softened highs. Any music sounds energetic, powerful, assertive, but at times dull and without proper sophistication. Between classic and heavy metal, Sonos clearly chooses the latter. The lack of support for Hi-Res above 48 kHz was disappointing, but Internet broadcasting on Sonos sounds harmonious.

Specifications Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

Price: 65,000 rub.

Power: HF - 2x 30 W, LF - 2x 60 W, ShP - 1x 60 W

HF speaker: 2x 19 mm, fabric dome

Midrange/bass driver: 2x 140 mm, fabric dome

Silk speaker: 1x 38 mm

Frequency range: 35-22000 Hz

Connections: WiFi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.0, LAN, USB, AUX (3.5 mm)

Protocols and streaming services: AirPlay, DLNA, BeoLink Multiroom, Spotify, Deezer, TuneIn, QPlay 2.0

Supported formats: AIFF, MP3, WAV

Dimensions: 536x298x144 mm

Weight: no data

Grade: design - 5, functionality - 4, control - 3, sound - 4.

Total: 4

Bluesound Pulse Specifications

Price: 50,000 rub.

Power: 80W total

Midrange/tweeter: 2x 64 mm cone

Woofer: 1x 135mm cone

Frequency range: 45-20000 Hz

Acoustic design: Bass reflex with double acoustic chamber

Connections: WiFi (2.4 and 5 GHz), LAN, USB, optical, AUX (3.5 mm)

Protocols and streaming services: AirPlay, SMB, Spotify, Deezer, TIDAL, HDTracks (cloud), JUKE, Murfie, Rdio, WiMP, Slacker Radio, Qobuz, Napster, Rhapsody, TuneIn, iHeartRadio

Dimensions: 420x190x197 mm

Weight: 6.1 kg

Grade: design - 5, functionality - 4, control - 5, sound - 4.

Total: 4.5

Characteristics of Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless

Price: 56,790 rub.

Power: HF - 2x 25 W, MF - 2x 25 W, LF - 1x 50 W

HF speaker: 2x 25 mm, double aluminum dome

Midrange driver: 2x 90 mm, cone, FST suspension

Woofer: 1x 150 mm, cone, long-throw coil

Frequency range: 44-28000 Hz

Acoustic design: Closed enclosure

Connections: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, LAN, AUX (3.5 mm)

Protocols and streaming services: AirPlay, Spotify Connect

Supported formats: -

Dimensions: 660x188x183 mm

Weight: 6.5 kg

Grade: design - 5, functionality - 3, control - 4, sound - 4.

Total: 4

Naim Mu-So Qb Specifications

Price: 65,000 rub.

Power: HF - 2x 50 W, MF - 2x 50 W, LF - 1x 100 W

HF speaker: no data

Midrange speaker: no data

Woofer: no data

Frequency range: 45-20000 Hz

Acoustic design: Closed housing with passive radiators

Connections: WiFi (2.4 GHz), LAN, USB, optical, AUX (3.5 mm)

Protocols and streaming services: AirPlay, UPnP, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, vTuner, iRadio

Supported formats: FLAC, AAC, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, WAV, OGGm, WMA

Dimensions: 210x218x212 mm

Weight: 5.6 kg

Grade: design - 5, functionality - 5, control - 4, sound - 5.

The trend of eliminating wires can be seen not only in the segment of portable electronics: home appliances are also getting rid of “noodles”. Our rating includes home active acoustics 2.0, which have “wireless” functionality.

To eliminate misunderstandings, we inform you right away: unlike, these are still wired. If only because power is received from the outlet via a wire. And connection of signal sources allows wired connection. But along with this, it is possible to play music from a gadget directly via Bluetooth or from a network device via Wi-Fi to such speakers. However, the latter is the lot of relatively expensive models; simpler options are limited to Bluetooth. Support for the aptX codec is rare in such speakers, which means the user will have to listen to sound with MP3 quality of 160 kbps even when playing FLAC 24/96. Fortunately, on budget speakers it is not always possible to notice the catch due to the initially low sound detail, so there is no serious cause for alarm. But when purchasing speakers of a higher class, aptX compatibility will become relevant, so read the specifications of the model you like more carefully. And if you plan to use it in conjunction with a computer (especially since the USB-DAC function is not uncommon in this class), then pay attention to and. Finally, it doesn’t hurt to take care, because without this, even the most high-quality speakers will not give you pleasure.

What are these speakers needed for?

First of all, to be able to quickly play a music track “out loud” from your gadget or the gadgets of your friends. The second level of advancement is playing music from network sources, be it Internet radio or a file from a NAS in the next room. In this case, the process is usually controlled through an application on a smartphone or tablet, and a router is required for the system to operate. And, of course, support for “network” functionality for the speakers. If it turns on the Wi-Fi connection, then the music will fly to the speakers through the air. But all these benefits of civilization require configuration, while the usual analog connection (or wired digital, via USB or S/PDIF) is easier to implement and more reliable when it comes to the accuracy of signal transmission. Therefore, you should not reject it if the wire does not fundamentally interfere.

The prices indicated in the article are indicative and reflect the situation as of February 2017.

5 PLACE – Sven MC-20

Price – 7,000 rubles.

Continuing the series of quite successful active multimedia speakers, the Sven brand has become more active in introducing wireless technologies into its products. True, for now we are only talking about the ability to play tracks from a gadget via Bluetooth, but that’s already something! The MC-20 model added an optical S/PDIF input, as well as a built-in file audio player that plays MP3 and WAV from a USB flash drive or microSD memory card. You can control the process from the front panel of the right speaker or from the included wireless remote control. And there is also an FM radio! In general, a ready-made music center, albeit with basic equipment. With such a price tag, there is no need to talk about integrating the Sven MC-20 into a local network, but this price tag did not stop the manufacturer from using MDF housings (relatively loose, “multimedia”, but still), dome tweeters and good quality 12.5 cm main speakers in diameter. It is very commendable that the bass reflex ports are brought forward to facilitate installation of the speakers near the wall. But for a successful desktop installation, you will have to use a third-party equalizer to adjust the frequencies to around 200 Hz in order to minimize the “mumbling” from the tabletop. The speakers do not have built-in means of correcting this phenomenon. The declared output power of the amplifier is, according to the manufacturer, 90 W for both speakers. But we all know that “honest” values ​​are usually more modest. All the filling is located in the right column; to the left, the signal travels through an ordinary speaker cable, connected with bare ends to simple terminals. Of course, there is no band gain here. And there are no revelations in sound: typical “multimedia”. The sound is full-bodied, moderately correct in the mids and highs, the overall dynamics and bass accuracy are C grade. The undistorted volume, of course, is far from the promised “90 W”, but it is more than enough for sounding a workplace or even a small room. Thus, Sven MC-20 is quite suitable for the role of a budget alternative to more expensive participants in the rating. After all, for that kind of money it’s difficult to find something fundamentally better in sound, and even more so with such equipment.

Pros:
Built-in MP3/WAV file audio player, front bass reflex port, overall pleasant sound, remote control included, affordable price.

Minuses:
No aptX support for Bluetooth, “budget” build and sound quality.

Conclusion

The list of shortcomings of this model is very small, but only with an eye to the price tag. Without this consideration, that is, on an absolute scale, the model is hopelessly inferior to other participants in the rating in terms of sound quality, power, and workmanship. But it would be stupid to refuse the price/quality ratio, and in this sense, the Sven MC-20 is an option that deserves attention.

4 PLACE - Edifier S1000DB

Price – 20,000 rubles.

Pros:
Laconic, but “expensive” and original design, dense sound with excellent energy and good volume, frequency response correction function for desktop placement.

Minuses:
The price seems too high, the speakers require precise orientation towards the listener (the table stands that are not included in the kit would be useful), a protective grill is not provided, decoding of digital audio streams PCM 24 bit / 192 kHz (and higher) and DSD is not supported, as well as receiving audio data from gadgets via Bluetooth.

Conclusion

Extremely stylish speakers! And very kind. These can be used for sounding a computer (in this case it would be nice to install the speakers on stands, but they are not included in the kit), or serve as the main one for a small stereo system in an office, bedroom or even living room. The ability to output sound from almost any source, including network resources, will be appreciated by the progressive owner. In general, the speakers are interesting. What prevented them from taking a higher position in the ranking was the lack of Bluetooth support and the price tag is too pretentious.

2nd PLACE – Yamaha NX-N500

Price – 40,000 rubles.

Owners of small spaces or those who like to listen to music on the computer love 5" studio monitors because they offer punchy and accurate sound in a compact format - and without the support of a bulky equipment rack. Yamaha's NX-NF500 speakers are, in fact, monitors, because at their core lies the studio model HS5. The “five hundredth” also uses bandpass amplification with a total output of 44 “honest” watts per channel. Accordingly, about 90 W (RMS, 0.01% OGI) goes to the stereo pair. Moreover, each speaker has an amplifier and power supply own, independent, so each speaker needs a separate socket. However, all the electronics are located only in the left one, from it the signal is sent to the right one via two cables at once: a balanced XLR-XLR and a digital bus for service data. Both cables are supplied in the kit and are 3 long meters. What can the Yamaha NX-N500 speakers do? It’s easier to list the missing features. The list will be short: support for the aptX codec for Bluetooth is not announced and... that’s all. The list of available functionality is impressive. Firstly, the NX-N500 can be integrated into a local network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. In addition to compatibility with DLNA and the proprietary “multiroom” MusicCast environment, there is support for all kinds of streaming services. Secondly, you can “throw” the signal into the speakers directly from the gadget via Bluetooth, or via analog line input 3.5 mm. For direct connection of digital sources, there is an optical input (up to 24 bit / 192 kHz) and a USB port, which allows you to use the Yamaha NX-N500 with a computer (Windows/Mac) in external DAC mode. Thanks to the ESS Saber converter used, the system is capable of decoding PCM streams up to 32 bit / 384 kHz or DSD up to x128 (5.6 MHz). The Yamaha NX-N500 is interesting to listen to. After all, unlike most active multimedia speakers, these have excellent dynamics and clearly “prescribe” the peaks. Therefore, the sound seems not only more accurate and sharp, it turns out to be much more detailed. However, the latter depends not only on the amplifier. Good speakers and a solid case should be thanked. True, the speakers have nothing to boast about in the bass region: the low frequencies here are also “monitor” - very fast and clear, but not too deep. On the other hand, it would be strange to expect subwoofer depths from speakers with a height of 28.5 cm. The color of the case can be chosen from three options: white, black or “wood” (pictured). It’s a pity that protective grills are not provided in principle, as well as stands that help orient the acoustic axis of the speakers towards the listener when placed on a tabletop. However, they are easy to make yourself. A detailed story about this Yamaha model can be found in.

Pros:
Clear, detailed and elastic “monitor” sound, connection to local area network (DLNA) by wire or via Wi-Fi, USB DAC function with support for PCM 32 bit / 384 kHz and DSD 5.6 MHz, Bluetooth and AirPlay compatibility, three Exterior finishing options, fair price.

Minuses:
There is no indication of the current volume on the speakers, there are no protective grills or stands for desktop placement, aptX support for Bluetooth is not announced, the analog input is on the rear panel, the bass potential of the model is not very impressive.

Conclusion

Yamaha NX-N500 active bookshelf monitors cannot boast of booming bass, they do not have grills and are not equipped with booster stands for desktop placement. But they have fantastically rich functional equipment, and most importantly, sharp, detailed and very clear “monitor” sound. And the output power is fine! With such a ratio of price, sound quality and capabilities, it is not surprising that these speakers have surpassed almost all competitors in the rating.

1st PLACE – Dynaudio Xeo 6 + Xeo Hub

Price – 220,000 rubles.

The concept of creating “wireless” speakers Dynaudio Xeo is in many ways similar to the approach of competitors. Here, too, a worthy model is taken as a basis (in this case, Dynaudio Excite X34 passive floor-standing speakers), which is equipped with a high-quality built-in amplifier and appropriate electronics to implement additional functions. However, this is where the similarities end. Wanting to make the audio path as “correct” as possible, Dynaudio designers did not install a switching panel in the active speakers. This allowed us to solve two problems at once: now there are no wires reaching the speakers even from stationary sources, and there are no wires between the speakers. If the buyer has the opportunity to provide a 220 Volt outlet behind each Xeo 6, then he will be able to enjoy the purity of the visual image: only these turrets will be visible! But where to connect the sources? To the separately purchased Dynaudio Xeo Hub. The compact device is equipped with two analog stereo inputs (3.5 mm and 2 x RCA), optical and electrical S/PDIF, an Ethernet port for integration into a local network (Wi-Fi is also supported) and USB type B for connecting to a computer in external DAC mode. In all cases, a digital signal with a bit depth of up to 24 bits and a sampling frequency of up to 96 kHz is allowed. Unfortunately, there is no support for PCM 24/192, PCM DXD and DSD. As well as the ability to stream music via Bluetooth directly from a smartphone or tablet. But in this case, we are glad that the manufacturer did not engage in populism, but immediately excluded the objectively weak link from the chain. After all, as you know, even with support for the aptX codec on both devices, the sound quality when playing any soundtrack via Bluetooth is somewhere between MP3 320 kbps and PCM 16 bit / 44.1 kHz (Audio CD). On high-end Dynaudio Xeo 6 speakers this would be immediately audible. Therefore, the manufacturer has left only that method of wireless signal transmission that does not reduce the quality of the music. However, we hope that after the mass adoption of the aptX HD codecs from Qualcomm and LDAC from Sony, their support will appear in one of the next generations of the Xeo line. So, having received a digital or analog signal from the source, the Xeo Hub unit sends it to the speakers wirelessly in uncompressed form. The noise immunity of the system is very high! And the “range” of the transmitter is up to 50 meters inside a building. If this turns out to be not enough, you can use intermediate signal amplifiers. In any case, it is important not to forget to set a number of settings using the toggle switches on the rear panel of each speaker. This is a channel (left, right or mono), an installation zone (in the “multiroom” configuration of Dynaudio Xeo there can be up to 3 independent zones) and an installation method (against a wall, in a corner or in a free field). Last setting allows you to optimize the frequency response. As for the sound quality, traditional laudatory epithets are hardly appropriate. Compared to all the other models in this review, the Dynaudio Xeo 6 is like a Rolls-Royce compared to a typical city car. The sound is of a completely different class, and this is manifested in all aspects - from power (here bandpass amplification is used with an output of 150 W per speaker versus 30-70 W for competitors), accuracy and bass depth (the lower limit at the -3 dB level is 31 Hz versus 50-70 Hz for competitors) - up to the sound resolution and the ability of the speakers to build a detailed and very voluminous scene. Dynaudio Xeo 6 is a very serious component stereo system, “packed” into a pair of active floor-standing speakers 85 cm high and weighing 15 kg each. However, even in terms of price, these speakers seem like a Rolls-Royce compared to their competitors. But if you put aside emotions and do the math, it turns out profitable. After all, a pair of Dynaudio Excite X34 passive floorstanding speakers, a separate amplifier, a stand for it and cables can cost even more, simultaneously ruining the entire aesthetics of the buyer and depriving the guarantee of sound compatibility that it provides active system. So the price of the Xeo 6 doesn't seem like it was taken out of the blue.
In our laboratory we previously tested Dynaudio Xeo 5, a model of the previous generation. You can see the results.

Pros:
Excellent full-bodied sound, wireless signal transmission from different sources (analog, PC, network resource) to speakers without loss of quality up to 24 bit / 96 kHz, solid finish, speakers are not connected by wires, convenient control and clear indication, possibility of integration into "multi-room" environment.

Minuses:
You cannot stream music from a portable gadget via Bluetooth (only through a router, via DLNA); decoding of PCM digital audio streams above 24 bit / 96 kHz and DSD is not supported.

Conclusion

Excellent “adult” acoustics for connoisseurs of full-bodied, detailed sound. And perfect interiors! After all, each speaker requires only a 220V socket, there are no wires between the speakers, and you don’t need to connect anything to the speakers themselves. At the same time, you can output sound to these speakers via a high-resolution wireless channel from almost any source! Only those who like to play tracks from a smartphone via Bluetooth are left behind: they will have to master DLNA (signal transmission via Wi-Fi to a router, and from there to speakers). Dynaudio Xeo 6 deservedly took first place in the rating, although it should be understood that if other review speakers are designed to serve as a second audio system in the house or computer acoustics, then this pair was created as an equivalent replacement for the main set of equipment. Hence the price. Well, for those who are interested in the potential of Xeo, but in the format of bookshelf speakers, Dynaudio offers the Xeo 4 model. However, its cost (130,000 rubles) no longer looks justified compared to other participants in our test.

In the modern world, technology does not stand still and progress accelerates every day. And in the example of improving acoustic and video equipment, this is more noticeable than anywhere else. 20 years ago only science fiction writers could have imagined that wireless speakers will be available to absolutely everyone. And now more and more houses and apartments are equipped with full-fledged wirelessHiFi sound system. Let's talk about it in more detail.

What are wireless speakers?

If earlier to install a home theater it was necessary to stretch a huge number of wires from the receiver to the speakers, now this is not at all necessary. One wire from the receiver to the transmitter is enough to transmit the signal for wireless speakers through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth without loss of sound quality. Thanks to these technologies, it has become possible to install a speaker system anywhere and without compromising the design of the room.

What types of wireless speakers are there?

There are many technical characteristics that differentiate wireless speaker systems. This includes power, frequency, various signal reception channels and their maximum distance. But speaking of equipment, a wireless speaker system is no different from a conventional one: the video equipment connected to or is connected to audio elements - , , etc. There is no fundamental difference in the configuration: it can be wireless speakers 2.1, 5.1 or even 7.1. It can also be part of the so-called “smart home”, but more on that below.

Where are wireless speakers used?

The use of wireless acoustics is limited only by your imagination. You can use it both to listen to your favorite songs through a music player, and as a wireless speaker system for your home theater. This technology allows it to seamlessly fit into a multiroom system, and control the sound centrally from one remote control or phone, along with lighting, video equipment, household appliances, etc.

It is worth mentioning separately about wireless acoustics for the home. Situations can always happen when, during construction or renovation, long cables are not laid in advance. In this case, wireless speakers will be a life-saving solution. And given its moisture resistance, it is possible to equip rooms such as a bathtub, toilet or swimming pool with acoustics without unnecessary worries.

Thanks to wireless acoustics, you can easily sound the entire house!

Speaking about areas of application, there are no restrictions here either. On the contrary, the ability to eliminate wires from the system opens up additional prospects for equipping a store hall, a fitness club, and even an entire cinema, the area of ​​which is often quite large.
Undoubtedly, wireless speakers are great for creating Dolby Atmos sound.

Major brands of wireless speakers

Since today many different manufacturers are engaged in acoustic systems, from giants like Sony and LG to highly specialized companies, wireless acoustics are widely represented on the market. Almost all well-known brands have in their line wireless equipment.

How much do wireless speakers cost?

As mentioned above, wireless speaker systems are widely available on the market. This means that prices for wireless speakers vary from low to sky-high, depending on the manufacturer and purpose of the equipment. In our online store you can always look at discounts and bonuses.