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Music Media Hardware

Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Speakers 114

Posted by CmdrTaco from the well-isn't-that-clever dept.
Sandy Cheeks writes "The Saitek A-250 Wireless 2.1 Speaker System made a stong impression when showcased at this year's CES with its sleek styling and rather impressive performance... The compact boomerang shaped device can provide 2.1 stereo sound up to 30 meters away from a source PC, and can alternatively be used hard wired to any other audio source with an 1/8" stereo jack output."
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Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Speakers More

Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Speakers

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  • Marketing Hype (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Jason Hood ( 721277 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:33PM (#14736328)
    I always get a kick out of marketing hype surrounding wireless capabilities.

    30 meters? I bet its more like 3 with marginal quality.

    • Re:Marketing Hype (Score:5, Informative)

      by otisg ( 92803 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:36PM (#14736371) Homepage Journal
      Not necessarily. I have mine set about 10 meters away from the transmitter, and they work fine. And they are RCA speakers!

    • Re:Marketing Hype (Score:3, Insightful)

      by jo42 ( 227475 )
      24 hours on 4 AA batteries?

      Flaming bull excrement.

      • Re:Marketing Hype (Score:3, Informative)

        by jrockway ( 229604 ) *
        Maybe not. 1 good AA battery is 2.5AH @ 1.5V = 3.7Wh. 4 of these makes 14.8Wh. Over 24 hours, these batteries would last with a 617mA load. The amplifier draws probably no more than 70mA, so it's possible that the speakers would produce something resembling sound for 24 hours on one set of NiMH batteries. I'm not sure how audio power correlates with electrical power... but I do know that most desktop listening is under 1W (of audio power)... so, like I said, the quoted figure is possible.
    • and can alternatively be used hard wired to any other audio source with an 1/8" stereo jack output."
      I think sometimes we get so into high tech that we forget low tech. With the use of adapters, it doesn't matter if it has a 1/8" stereo jack- as long as you have an adapter for whatever item you have that will convert to 1/8"....
      • With the use of adapters, it doesn't matter if it has a 1/8" stereo jack- as long as you have an adapter for whatever item you have that will convert to 1/8"

        That's true, but if they just left is as "with wires you can connect it to any other audio source" it leaves it ambiguous as to the 'sort' of connection. A 1/8" stero jack tells us its a regular old two-channel analog connection, and conjures up images of exactly the sort of devices this was intended for.

        And while you are right the exact format of that
    • I worked at a big-box electronics store over Christmas and we carried this model. I was able to get just about to the other side of the store before encountering any drop in sound quality. The first thing you tend to lose if the control of your media player, go a bit furthur and the sound starts to get pretty choppy. This was operating in a completely open space so I'm not sure how it would do when you start going through walls and floors. But I was still impressed. We had quite a number of other wireless i
    • Yeah, this just doesn't seem like a blue tooth application to me. They should have used Wi-fi instead, that would get them more range.

  • Introducing the new Slashdot! (Score:5, Funny)

    by bcat24 ( 914105 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:34PM (#14736341) Homepage Journal
    Now with 100% more ads!
  • it would make no sense to be on my desk. i don't use my computer as my primary music device anwyay, for that I have a stereo.

    my $15 creative speakers are just fine.

    • Re:it looks terrible (Score:3, Interesting)

      by PFI_Optix ( 936301 )
      I don't see a lot of use for this now that I think about it.

      On the desk, you can get a comparable 2.1 speaker set and a keyboard with media controls for a lot less than $100. For remote listening, I have a better idea: 802.11b.

      I'd like to see a device like this that would either access a shared folder or use proprietary sharing software (so a complete novice could set it up without creating a security risk). The software would make more sense, because then you could stream sound from a CD or some other audi
      • I think you're sort of describing the Squeezebox.
        • Sort of, yes. What the Squeezebox doesn't do is let you stream audio off a PC, which could be a very cool feature. Rather than being format- or application-specific (like the squeezebox) you could configure it to play anything your PC played, or to play audio from a specific media player, file, whatever. A good example of an application for what I'm thinking of would be guys who like to do live mixes from their PCs...no more wiring into the sound system, you can do it via 802.11g and it should be able to ru
          • I think there are live audio plugins for the squeezebox to do just what you described. Don't quote me.
          • I don't think I am quite understanding, but would something like Apple's Airport Express (with the exception being that you can only use iTunes to play to it withouth 3rd party software) be what you are looking for? http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/ [apple.com] From what I've read, the Airport Express can decode Apple Lossless; iTunes takes any audio it can play (so mp4, mp3 and I would imagine Ogg/FLAC again someday) converts and encrypts it on the fly and streams it over the network (wireless or wired) to the expr
      • I don't see a lot of use for this now that I think about it.

        I think the most natural application of wireless speakers is in surround setups, where you don't want to poke holes in your walls (or can't, by lease agreement) or run wires under the carpet. The rear left and rear right channels would be wireless, and the left, right, center and woofer channels would be wired. Just set up your media player to reroute the audio through a program that splits the channels up, and sends the rear channels as a standard
      • Interesting that this can be modded interesing. Come on, these devices and accompanying services have been around for quite some time.
    • shaped like the toy my girlfriend uses all the time
    • True, they wouldn't be all that useful with a desktop computer, but with a laptop they could have some merit and even moreso with something portable like my Palm T|X. I would assume that it would work with any device that has Bluetooth and plays music, right? Speaking of which, I'm still longing for the day when Apple releases a BT-capable ipod. Anyone think it'll happen?

  • Wireless Electricity (Score:5, Funny)

    by otisg ( 92803 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:34PM (#14736345) Homepage Journal
    I've got wireless speakers at home, have had them for about a year, and I love them. Now I'm waiting for wireless electricity and I'll be set! I'm not joking. Batteries are ok, they last a few months, but they get weak with time, so you have to keep turning up the volume.
    • "Now I'm waiting for wireless electricity and I'll be set!"

      I recommend that you rent "Back to the Future" for pointers on how to get yourself going there. Doc had a pretty good flux capacitor modded up, not sure if you can get it still, though. Maybe try Newegg?
    • Perhaps you can continue whatever work Nikola Tesla [wikipedia.org] had started before being shut down by the government.
    • The problem comes with energy density though. In order to use standard electronics, especially speakers, you'd probably need a microwave beam, not something you want to stand in the way of, even from a comfort standpoint. What you'd need is some sort of super low energy device like RFID, which can be powered by lower intensity EM waves.

      So you either end up with being boiled slowly or low output speakers, and if you're spending that much for speakers, you probably want high quality.

      What I'd much rather lik
      • Allthough there are RFID ICC's that operate at about 30 MHz, I would not hold your breath. For (even) this to work they have to be at about 3 CM from the source. And that is only if everything is tuned to perfection.

        I am waiting for a nice set of HQ digital headphones using bluetooth as well. They would be great with BT PDA's, phones and indeed, bluetooth jacks. This seems to get close (including mini-jack):

        http://www.atruereview.com/iphono/bluetooth2.php [atruereview.com]

        Bit expensive though.
    • Now I'm waiting for wireless electricity and I'll be set!

      Well, you could supply the power through microwaves. The only problem is that you might get fried in the process.
    • Mind doing a quick review of them? I'm very interested in a wireless speaker system for my apt though info seems to be much lacking?
    • "I've got wireless speakers at home, have had them for about a year, and I love them."

      Me too! I used headphones all my life until around a year ago when I finally got enough to buy these things called "loudspeakers". No more wires, not me! I can sit back on my couch and hear the music from about ten feet away. I can even get up and walk around the room and still hear the music, no wires! I love modern technology.
    • How about solar cells charged batteries? I charged the batteries in my salingboat with solar cells. It was enough for lanterns, radio and internal light. You obviusly have to have your speakers in a light environment and not run for full effect all the time.

  • Obvious feature missing... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by PFI_Optix ( 936301 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:34PM (#14736346) Journal
    Headphone Output. Seriously, I don't understand why anyone manufactures PC speakers without a headphone jack when you can buy a pair for $5 that has it.

  • Awesome. Now do the same for headphoens. (Score:4, Informative)

    by deathbyzen ( 897333 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:36PM (#14736372)
    For now, the headphone market seems something like this: wireless, portable, stylish. Pick two.
  • It looks like we just killed the server. MirrorDot has a copy [mirrordot.com].

  • Improvement (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Saiyine ( 689367 )

    Does it come with an audio output - bluetooth adapter? It would be really cool if it has.

    Think of the posibilities! Think of the children!

  • Compulsory RIAA message (Score:5, Funny)

    by Cygnusx12 ( 524532 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:40PM (#14736407)
    You can't do that with your music either. Sincerely, --RIAA

  • I might have figured it out... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by LodCrappo ( 705968 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:43PM (#14736426)
    All those times I have read:

    1) Do something
    2) ????????????
    3) Profit!

    I think I finally figured out step 2. It's advertise with a "story" on Slashdot.

  • Techno lingo (Score:5, Funny)

    by Fr05t ( 69968 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:43PM (#14736429)
    "made a stong impression"

    I just can't keep up with all this new technobable lingo. I have no idea what a stong is!

  • Bluetooth is pretty awesome (Score:3, Informative)

    by TubeSteak ( 669689 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:47PM (#14736470) Journal
    In case of Slashdotting, break mirror
    http://www.networkmirror.com/2SqNKxarnLb0hJVl/www% 2Ebigbruin%2Ecom/reviews05/review%2Ephp%3Fitem%3Ds aiteka250%26file%3D1%2Ehtml [networkmirror.com]
    (Mirrordot only mirrors the first page)

    [Plug]
    A free and OSS proggie for computer/cellphone Bluetooth stuff is Float's Mobile Agent [sourceforge.net]
    I run my computer from my phone with it :O)
    [/plug]

  • Bluetooth IS Wireless, last time I checked (Score:5, Funny)

    by ziani ( 255157 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @03:51PM (#14736508)
    Does "wired" Bluetooth exist? Maybe I missed a press release.

    Just wondering.

  • Airport Express (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Midnight Thunder ( 17205 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @04:02PM (#14736595) Homepage Journal
    I got an Airport Express for this sort of thing and it also doubles as a wireless router. You will need a Hi-Fi or some set of powered speakers, but it works well enough. Depending on your set up you may experience a bit of lag.
  • If I want something that has an extensible range, I'd go with 802.11x. To me, Bluetooth is more useful when its range is only a hundred feet (okay, 30 meters) or so--if even that.

    I mean, aren't the problems with so-called "bluespamming" [thefreedictionary.com] and "bluesnarfing" [thefreedictionary.com] bad enough without allowing the punk kid in his bedroom across the street access to all your stuff?

    • Which is why Bluetooth is convenient. Its range is much smaller than Wi-Fi, meaning it will be almost limited to your house's circumference.

      As far as I know, Bluetooth attacks are active against mobile phones not computers, but I may be wrong. Anyone got info on this matter? I feel lazy to Googlize.
      • I did google earlier, before posting my reply, and mostly it DOES talk about cell phone use. But that's the most common current application for BT.

        I see no reason why, if you have a bluetooth dongle on your 'puter (as I do, because that's how I sync my Treo 650), you mightn't be susceptible to the same kinds of security hassles.

  • The title of this topic includes the word bluetooth, but the article isn't clear on this point. Is it bluetooth? If I have a notebook with built-in BT will that work (isntead of the USB transmitter that is included)?
    • It is NOT in fact bluetooth, just 2.4GHz wireless

      It is my understanding that Bluetooth lacks distance and more significantly bandwidth to send decent quality audio - headset for a phone is ok, but it is not anywhere near decent enough for music. I could be wrong on this, but if this could be done in bluetooth, I bet we'd see a LOT of overpriced bluetooth mp3 players/headphones

      -Em

      • Re:NO, Not bluetooth!!!! (Score:2, Informative)

        by Anonymous Coward
        You are completely an utterly wrong on this point. Google for "a2dp."
        • You are completely an utterly wrong on this point. Google for "a2dp."

          I assume you meant I am wrong about my understanding of bluetooth tech, not about THIS product, which IS NOT Bluetooth.

          However regarding the bluetooth bandwidth, I stand corrected. Actually looking up bandwidth spec I find it is about 1mbps on BT 1.2 (2.1 mbps on BT 2.0), which, assuming it is possible to get anything near that bandwidth in real life, should be sufficient for basic audio operations. Which leaves me still wondering about la
  • This product was sold today on Woot.com, just after they ran out of their infamous "Random Bag of Crap".

    Must really be hot...
  • OK, so who's got the hack to activate the necessary stereo music Bluetooth profile on my otherwise nifty SE K750?

  • they're not that good, they have a terrible flaw (Score:3, Informative)

    by neverland0 ( 749628 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @04:56PM (#14737097)
    The advertised wireless range is not accurate, I get sound with lot of hiccups even 5 feet aways, and then 10 feets away I get good quality, so the sound quality varies a lot and the speakers are kind of picky. Also the 24 battery life must not be true. I use rechargable batteries, that may be 6 months old, but they die pretty soon while being inside the speakers (9-11 hours). The one thing that really annoys me is that I HATE the fact that the remote controls doesnt work unless the application is opened and is the current window. If for some reason something takes over (like screen saver) they wont work. That sucks, every multimedia keyboards that I know can pause and play music even if the music player is minimized and youre doing something else.

  • "True digital-delivery" ? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by MasterC ( 70492 ) <cmlburnett@gm[ ].com ['ail' in gap]> on Thursday February 16, 2006 @05:00PM (#14737143) Homepage
    From the specs:

    True digital-delivery 2.1 stereo through 2 main drivers and an active sub-woofer

    I'm fairly up to speed on signal processing and such, but what exactly is "true digital-delivery"? How does it differ from "false digital-delivery" (if there is such a thing)? I can't say that I have *ever* heard this phrase before.

    My guess as to what it means is that it's a digital transmission instead of analog transmission (e.g., FM radio). But big freakin whoop!

    37 results on google and at least half are for this product. What's it say about you when your marketers confuse people that are in-the-know by making up buzzwords? I know, I know: then they wouldn't be marketers.
    • How does it differ from "false digital-delivery" (if there is such a thing)?

      I think my friend's headphones have that. We were chuckling about the big label on them that read "DIGITAL"

    • "...I'm fairly up to speed on signal processing and such, but what exactly is "true digital-delivery"? How does it differ from "false digital-delivery" (if there is such a thing)? I can't say that I have *ever* heard this phrase before...."

      Waall, it's quite simple, really.

      Your true digital delivery is the preferred, high-quality system used by well respected manufacturers like Sony, Marantz, Technics, Panasonic etc. In this system, a true value is represented by a "1", while a false is represented by
  • What I want is a smallish dongle that goes into the headphone port of any media device and wirelessly sends the audio to another device with an audio out / headphone jack. Anybody know where to get something like this?

    Or the real problem is that there are M people with laptops, N of which don't run unix, and 1 set of real speakers. There should be something like vnc for audio... a simple driver or program you can run on any system type and send the sound someplace else. Then I could just attach an old la

  • This product dioes NOT support Bluetooth (Score:3, Informative)

    by kindbud ( 90044 ) on Thursday February 16, 2006 @05:35PM (#14737487) Homepage
    Nowhere in the article, nor on Saitek's website, is there any indication that this speaker set uses the Bluetooth wireless protocol. In the article there is the parenthetical quip "think bluetooth" that is used when describing how it connects to the PC, but the device is not a Bluetooth audio client, and Saitek makes no such claim anywhere on the product website.

  • Contrary to the title of the post, this set of speakers does not operate using Bluetooth. I checked out both the review and the product website and they both simply said that the speakers used the 2.4GHz range to transmit, but never mention Bluetooth. It's kind of disappointing because my PowerBook has built-in Bluetooth and there is still a surprising lack of wireless Bluetooth devices out there...
    For instance, the Logitech wireless laser mouse is *not* bluetooth *sigh*.
  • I just bought one of these, and it works well on windows. But it's not a certified Bluetooth device. It uses the chipset, but in a proprietary way, so they can only talk to their own transmitter.
    However, I contacted their (quite good) tech support and received this reply: ...the device will detect as a A2DP-compatible bluetooth
    device and will pair with devices that support this standard. If you
    don't have such a device then the wireless USB transmitter that comes
    with it is required. No driver is needed for
  • isn't saying wireless bluetooth(a wireless standard) a bit like saying heated oven?
  • Picked mine up in a woot-off on www.woot.com today for under 50 bucks :-)
  • I know this question might seems asinine, but why are blueTooth gadgets so much more expensive than wiFi?
    E.g. a wireless blueTooth headset is so expensive...
  • One of the biggest selling points of the A-250 system is the 2.4 GHz RF wireless connection. Windows 2000 or XP is required for the wireless (think Bluetooth) to function, and both of these operating systems have native drivers and no other software is required.
    so is it bluetooth or isnt it? if it is, why "think bluetooth"?
  • Bluetooth stereo transmitters and receivers. No built in speakers. Not built into headphones. I want to plug my own equipment into both sides.

    So far all I've found are jensens WBT310 but they work for about 1 hour and then die. You have to unplug them to get them to work again.

  • I don't want wireless devices, I want wireless plugs!

    I want a USB plug that will transmit wirelessly to another USB plug. I want audio plugs that connect without wires to other audio plugs. In this way, all of my devices that were previously "wired" devices can become wireless devices.

    I realise that timing of data might be an issue for USB. There are still lots of types of plugs that this could be done for, though. (TV analog plugs also come to mind)
  • Isn't Bluetooth wireless per se?

    Saying "Wireless Bluetooth" is like saying Wireless WiFi or Serial USB?
  • Rob "CmdrTaco" Malda is a 29-year old white male with a stocky build and a goatee. He responded to my ad to be interviewed for this article wearing only leather pants, leather boots and a leather vest. I could see that both of his nipples were pierced with large-gauge silver rings.

    Questioner: I hope you won't be offended if I ask you to prove to me that you're a nullo. Just so that my readers will know that this isn't a fake.

    CmdrTaco: Sure, no problem. (stands and unbuckles pants and drops them to his ankle

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