Pool Party Speakers

Plenty of companies make outdoor speakers or waterproof speakers that can go near your pool.  What about speakers that go in the pool? Don't have a pool?  Replace your rubber duckie in the tub with these too.

These speakers are wireless, obviously, and they come with a transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack of your portable audio player. It will transmit the signal up to 150 feet away, so you can keep your iPod nice and dry while the splash-dance party begins.

You can buy one here for about $55.00 --Leslie Shapiro

Unplggd

CES 2009: THX and Radiient cut the cable with wireless surround kit

Wireless tech has been a big part of this year's CES. Wireless HDMI. Wireless speakers. If you can name a product that uses wires, somebody is working on getting rid of those wires. THX was showing off its Roomcaster technology, a wireless speaker system developed with Radiient Technologies that can pipe up to 7.1-channel audio through the air.

The companies were mostly demonstrating the tech as a potential feature for speakers and other audio devices, highlighting their credit card-sized THX Roomcaster modules. Of course, this means we won't be seeing said devices equipped with Roomcaster show up for sale for several months at least. Fortunately, Radiient is releasing a kit for early adopters to get a taste of the new wireless system.

Multi-channel, 24-bit Wireless

Wireless speakers have been around for a while, but the sound quality, mainly due to interference, has always been a problem. Focus Enhancements has just started showing off their Summit FS848 IC that is designed for uncompressed 24-bit multi-channel sound.  The integrated chip has been in development for four years.

It's a rather brilliant little chip that can be used in components or speakers. In a surround set-up, the Summit system detects where each speaker is in relation to the others, using the SpeakerFinder feature that creates a 2-dimensional map of each speaker's location. It also has an auto-calibration system to optimize the speakers for their location in a specific room.

Keep reading to see how they keep it free from interference.

CEDIA: JBL's Wireless Subs

Sure, you want a subwoofer. But, of course, the best acoustical location for it is waaay across the room from your receiver. So, you'll have to run a long wire under the carpet.  Bummer. Or, you could buy a wireless subwoofer.

For example, JBL showed two new ES series wireless powered subwoofers: ES250PW (pictured) and ES150PW. Both include a wireless transmitter module that connects to your AV receiver (or other audio source) and operates in the 2.4 GHz range. The wireless receiver is built into the subwoofer. Both models have a complement of controls and connection options. Details....