The biggest drag about setting up sound for home theater or a party is running the speaker wires through the house. I always avoided the ordeal, until I tried JBL's SoundEffects, a mix-and-match set of wireless speaker systems.
Among its many options is the Magic 2 transmitter and tuner system - with stand and a 20-watt channel amp designed to broadcast two channels of sound over a 900-MHz radio link at distances of up to 120 feet. Mount two JBL Sat 2 satellite speakers on the stand, adjust the angle (back to back for surround sound, angled for stereo), and you can pick up the whole kit by the stand's handle and move it anywhere there's AC to power it - no signal wires attached.
I set up the system in the back of my bedroom and watched videos, immersed in surround sound. Outside, it works well up to about 60 feet before reception starts fading. The system's not loud enough to cover large outdoor spaces, but my neighbors don't mind this, and I can always run additional speakers from the same transmitter to cover more areas.
The sound is pleasant, smooth, and natural - a perfect match for many of the small speakers I already own. With the Sat 2 speakers, the bass goes down to about 50 Hz. If you want an even greater range, an optional subwoofer can extend the frequency to just below 30 Hz.
There are other 900-MHz systems out there, but I'm sold on the JBL. It's the first and the best-sounding model. JBL's Take 2 (the same setup as Magic 2 but without the stand and amplifier) is also the only system you can use with the amps and speakers you already own. Now, if only I could get rid of all my television, telephone, and cable wires just as easily.
Magic 2: US$649 for tuner, amplifier, transmitter, and stand. Sat 2: $399 speaker pair. Take 2 transmitter and tuner: US$499. JBL: 80 Crossways Park West, Woodbury, NY 11797: (800) 336 4525, +1 (516) 496 3400.
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