We've been seeing a lot of wireless music systems lately -- and that's just from Polk Audio and Definitive Technology! Both companies just announced plans to jump into the wireless market, each with its own lineup of wireless speakers and accessories.
Polk is planning five products for its Omni Wireless Music System. The lineup uses your home's Wi-Fi to deliver music into any room in the house. It can even integrate with DTS' Play-Fi technology, so listeners can wirelessly control and stream all of their stored music, as well as web radio, Spotify and Pandora. (The company plans to add more services in the future.) That Play-Fi perk also means that all of the Omni products can be integrated with any Play-Fi-enabled audio product from any manufacturer, as long as it's connected to your home network.
The compact Omni S2 Wireless Speaker is a wireless speaker that's designed for smaller spaces like the bathroom or kitchen. It has two 2-inch drivers, a 2-channel amplifier, two bass radiators, a 3.5mm analog connection, and a USB port. Polk has priced the Omni S2 at $179 each.
If you're planning to splash near (or on) those speakers, you may want to opt for the Omni S2 Rechargeable Wireless Speaker. This $249 speaker is the same as the above speaker inside, but is also weather-resistant, portable, and pretty darn rugged overall. It has a built-in lithium ion battery that promises up to 10 hours of playtime up to 100 yards from your wireless router.
The Omni SB1 Soundbar can put Polk sound into any listening space for $699. It features VoiceAdjust technology for an enveloping soundstage and Polk's own Full Complement Bass Technology to reproduce those lower frequency ranges. The 3-speaker array also includes SmartBar technology for pairing with your existing remote and comes with a matching 8-inch wireless subwoofer.
If you're partial to your current speakers, the Omni A1 Amplifier can get those into the wireless mix. The slick component has a peak power rating of 75 watts for each of its two channels. It also has customized EQ settings, a phono input, and an MSRP of $399.
Last, but certainly not least, the Omni P1 Adaptor can put the power of wireless technology into the existing audio system you've come to know and love. It boasts several connectivity options, including an auxiliary input, digital outputs, and an optical input. Look for the P1 to be priced at $299.
Definitive Technology is taking a slightly different approach, angling its wireless music system to the likes of the audiophile crowd. The company's new Wireless Audio Collection puts Wi-Fi and that DTS Play-Fi technology across five different devices that are very similar to what Polk is offering above.
We use the word "similar," because this lineup also includes two wireless speakers, a soundbar, an amplifier, and the W Adapt adapter. Each product is easy to connect to your existing Wi-Fi network, as well as control using Definitive Technology's dedicated Play-Fi app for iOS and Android devices. The app allows users to stream personal music, as well as Pandora, Spotify and web radio.
The W7 Wireless Speaker is the most compact of the lineup. It can put music into almost any space for $399. The W9 Wireless Speaker has a larger cabinet size to accommodate additional transducers. That boasts a better range and better bass response, even in a larger rooms. It also includes a "Tri-Polar" dispersion pattern to send sound in three directions for filling the room. Definitive has priced the W9 at $699 each.
The W Studio Soundbar comes with its own 8-inch wireless subwoofer to deliver 5.1 theater sound from a slim $1,299 package. That includes the soundbar, which measures a mere 3.5 inches deep. Other features include solid aluminum end caps, HDMI switching for audio and video, and Definitive's own Spatial Array technology for an immersive listening experience.
The W Amp is a $499 wireless streaming amplifier the promises to deliver an audiophile-grade signal to any existing loudspeaker, with 150 watts of power per channel. Other features include EQ settings, a rack-mount kit, a line-level subwoofer output, and left/right channel line-level inputs and outputs.
Just like above, the last product in Definitive's lineup is an adapter that can add wireless streaming services to any existing home theater receiver. The W Adapt has an auxiliary input, digital outputs, and an optical input. Shipping with the rack-mount kit, the W Adapt is priced at $399.
Also like the Polk speakers, Definitive Technology's Wireless Collection has the Play-Fi open platform design, which means that users can mix and match any Play-Fi-enabled products from any manufacturer, as long as they are on the same network.
Each of the new products also has a mobile component, since Polk and Definitive Technology have free control apps available for iOS and Android devices. Both the new Polk and Definitive speakers will be available for pre-order starting September 10, with the first products popping up in select retail locations starting October 5.
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