Wi-Fi acoustics for an apartment. Wireless acoustics. Powerful wireless speakers

Active WiFi built-in acoustics WSP-6 is an ideal solution for transmitting music to speakers wirelessly and without an additional amplifier. By combining a powerful stereo amplifier with Wi-Fi, you can control your music using your smartphone or tablet, completely wirelessly and without the need for a docking station.

The area of application of active WiFi built-in acoustics is offices, bars, restaurants, cafes, apartments, houses; active WiFi built-in acoustics are often used in elevators. The wireless Wi-Fi amplifier is compatible with Apple AirPlay devices or DLNA standards (PC and Android devices). It is possible to connect the amplifier to your home router.

Seamlessly play streaming audio such as Spotify, Internet radio or play music stored locally on your iPhone/iPad/ via AirPlay. Or play music stored locally on your PC or Android device using DLNA technology. The sound is transmitted to the amplifier without additional compression, which ensures very high sound quality.

After the initial connection, the built-in amplifier automatically detects and synchronizes Wi-Fi so that constant pairing with a smart device allows you to automatically switch from standby mode to work mode.

The amplifier and Wi-Fi are built into one of the speakers, which must be connected to mains power using the power adapter (included). The second one (not included in the package) is connected to the main standard one (not included in the package). Just buy the appropriate length of speaker cable to connect between speakers.

The frameless design and magnetic grille of the acoustics allows for virtually “seamless” installation of the acoustics into the ceiling.
The grill is attached to the speaker using powerful magnets, which eliminates gaps between them and minimizes shadow lines.

In order to buy an active wireless WiFi built-in acoustics lumiaudio WSP-6, you must register the product on the store’s website, or place an appropriate order by phone. Also by phone you can get more detailed information about reviews, tests, characteristics active Wi-Fi wireless built-in acoustics lumiaudio WSP-6 its capabilities, configuration and delivery conditions.

We also offer a more budget-friendly option for wireless speakers:

For a modern person, convenience, mobility and comfort are important, which are actively embodied in technology. One of these devices is wireless acoustic speakers, which reproduce sounds from mobile phones, laptops, and TVs via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or another data transmission system. Manufacturers offer portable options and full-size audio speakers of varying power, with additional functions and varied designs.

What are wireless speakers

One of the important advantages of modern technologies is the lack of location. So Cell phones desktop computers have been replaced, and bulky computers have been replaced by laptops. Technical progress Speakers were not spared either; wired devices were replaced by wireless ones. Thanks to such devices, you can listen to music at home, in the office, or outdoors without wires.

Kinds

Audio speakers may differ in appearance, size, shape and other factors. If you decide to choose one of the wireless speakers in an online store with delivery by mail to Moscow, St. Petersburg or another Russian city, pay attention to the method wireless transmission. This is the main parameter that determines how the device will receive a signal from the source. There are the following types of wireless speakers:

radio frequency;
Bluetooth;
AirPlay;
Wi-Fi.

The best wireless speakers

If you decide to choose and order the best portable speakers, be prepared that your search for the perfect technology will not be easy. When a product is expensive, this does not mean that it will delight you with high-quality sound. Among the products on promotions, discounts, and sales that are cheap, you can also find items worthy of attention. When choosing, pay attention to technical features, reviews that will help you find out the real picture.

Wireless speakers for computer

To listen to music from a computer or laptop, you cannot do without a special device. A good solution would be wireless acoustic system, for example the following:

model name: Edifier R2730DB;
price: 19262 rubles;
characteristics: power – 136 W, three-band, frequency range – 45-20000 Hz;
pros: several connection options;
Cons: inconvenient remote control, large dimensions.

The next noteworthy option is different stylish design, the ability to work in tandem with Bluetooth devices, reliability and excellent sound:

model name: Sven SPS-707BL;
price: 6900 rub.;
characteristics: Bluetooth, frequency range – 45-25000 Hz, two-band;
pros: affordable price, convenient remote control remote control;
Cons: no headphone output.

For TV

If your TV's built-in speakers produce poor quality sound, make sure your TV viewing experience is enjoyable by connecting an external audio system to it. The sound problem often affects budget video broadcasters or mid-range equipment. price segment. Wireless speakers for TV are produced by different companies; products from Samsung are in demand among consumers:

Model name: SAMSUNG RADIANT 360 R7;
price: 21,000 rub.;
characteristics: 2 bands, Bluetooth;
advantages: small dimensions – 181x422x181 mm;

Sony offers compact wireless speakers to fill the room with high-quality sound:

Model name: SRS-X99 Sony;
price: RUB 45,990;
characteristics: 7 speakers, output power 154 W, stereo mini-jack input, USB, Wi-Fi support;
pros: excellent sound power, clear sound, rich bass, backlit control buttons;
cons: high cost.

For phone

Refusal of bulky equipment is the choice of modern youth. Why install large equipment in your home if you can listen to music from your phone using special acoustics. The compact device will become a source of high-quality, loud sound, but will not take up much space:

Model name: Pioneer XW-BTSA1-K Black;
price: 5986 rub.;
characteristics: rated power - 16 W, support Bluetooth, USB, AUX, compatible with any type mobile devices, iPhone, iPad, smartphone, MP3 player;
pros: excellent sound in a small size;
Cons: fragile plastic case.

Even when relaxing in nature, you will not be left without high-quality sound of your favorite music if you take your phone and wireless speaker with you. A compact portable audio speaker, convenient for travel, is offered by the Chinese Xiaomi company:

model name: Xiaomi Square Box Cube;
price: 1079 RUR;
characteristics: size - 154.5x62x25.3 mm, case - aluminum, works in hands-free mode up to 13 hours without recharging, optimal distance signal reception via Bluetooth – 10 m;
pros: long period of operation without recharging, affordable cost;
cons: small frequency range - 100-20000 Hz.

For tablet

For music lovers who are not satisfied with the quality and volume of the sounds produced by the tablet, many equipment manufacturers offer the use of wireless portable speakers. For example, the option from Philips is in demand among consumers:

Model name: Philips BT3600;
price: 2990 rub.;
characteristics: power – 10 W, weight – 430 g, power type – built-in battery;
pros: compact size;
cons: no charger included, only 3 hours of operation without recharging.

An original wireless audio speaker that can be used for a tablet, developed by JBL. This equipment is equipped with a carabiner, with which you can fasten it to a backpack or clothing. This type of audio speaker is an excellent companion on any trip:

Model name: JBL Clip 2;
price: 1990 rub.;
characteristics: operating time – up to 8 hours, Bluetooth;
pros: waterproof, durable case;
cons: low power - 3 W.

Bluetooth speakers

A wireless Bluetooth speaker is a good solution for modern TVs, smartphones, and laptops. They are used anywhere and are in demand due to high-quality data transmission. The range is up to 30 m. The following version of an audio speaker with Bluetooth is in demand among consumers:

model name: Harman Kardon Go+Play Wireless Mini;
price: 14590 rub.;
characteristics: frequency range – 40 Hz - 20 kHz, 4 speakers;
pros: touch controls;
cons: large dimensions.

If you want to buy a Bluetooth speaker for travel, pay attention to the material of the case. Fragile plastic is not the best choice for purchase; choose metal options, for example the following:

Model name: GZ electronics LoftSound GZ-66;
price: 4400 rub.;
characteristics: single-band, power – 2x5 W, built-in microphone, operating time – 10 hours;
pros: metal body;
cons: one band does not provide high-quality sound.

Wifi acoustics

Battery consumption when using Wifi is higher than when using Bluetooth. If the duration battery life important, please consider this feature when purchasing. Manufacturers often offer combined options, for example, this equipment is produced by Samsung:

model name: Samsung Radiant 360 R5;
price: 12250 rub.;
characteristics: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, power 50 W;
advantages: uniform sound distribution in all directions;
cons: low power.

Home wireless speakers can be located at a distance of up to 100 from the source of transmitted information if the device is equipped with Wifi. Speakers from Sonos are a worthy representative in this category:

Model name: Sonos Play:1;
price: RUB 17,738;
characteristics: weight – 1850 g, body material – metal, plastic, sound – mono;
pluses: presence of an FM tuner;
cons: no surround sound

Portable speakers

A portable audio system is a device that you can take with you on a trip. Enjoy music in any environment using the following option Beats speakers:

model name: Beats Pill;
price: 8990 rub.;
characteristics: rated power - 12 W, Bluetooth, NFC, power type - battery or USB;
pros: excellent sound with compact dimensions;
cons: one USB port.

For travel, it is better to choose a portable speaker with a case that is well protected from moisture and shock, so as not to be afraid to operate such equipment in field conditions. A reliable option is offered by the Camping company:

Model name: Camping World Adventure Box;
price: 1950 rub.;
characteristics: moisture resistance IPX5, operating time – 8 hours, Bluetooth, reception radius – 10 m;
pros: shockproof, compact, bike mount included;
cons: low power.

Rear

Wireless audio systems will help you free yourself from wires strung throughout your home. You can create surround sound without having to hide long connecting cords under carpets. Samsung offers this convenient system:

model name: Samsung SWA-8500S;
price: 6990 rub.;
characteristics: 2 channels, power – 54 W, included – 2 speakers and a module;
pros: surround sound;
Cons: Bluetooth connection may not be supported by low-end TVs.

For connoisseurs of quality sound, Monitor Audio. This technique reproduces the finest high-frequency nuances, eliminating unwanted resonances:

Model name: Monitor Audio Bronze FX Black Oak;
price: RUB 26,190;
characteristics: 2 bands, 3 columns, frequency range – 65 Hz - 30 kHz;
pros: wide frequency range, high high quality sound;
cons: high cost, heavy weight - 3.2 kg.

With memory card

If a wireless audio speaker is equipped with a memory card, it is even more convenient to use it on trips where it is not possible to connect to the mains. Using its own storage device, audio equipment saves the power of your phone or laptop. A worthy example is a portable speaker from Supra:

Model name: Supra PAS-6277;
price: 1186 rub.;
characteristics: 3 W, 90-20000 Hz, mini Jack, microSD, battery, USB;
pros: small size;
Cons: insufficient power, no surround sound.

Sven offers similar products in the minimum price category. Enjoy any ringtones with portable speakers:

model name: Sven PS-50;
price: 770 rub.;
characteristics: power – 3 W, weight – 116 g, sound – mono;
pros: lightweight, compact size, affordable price;
Cons: body made of fragile plastic.

From the radio

Ginzzu offers a multifunctional version of speakers with radio, listening to recordings from a memory card and flash drive, and via Bluetooth:

model name: Ginzzu GM-899B;
price: 965 rub.;
characteristics: range audio frequencies– 100 Hz-20 kHz, operating mode – up to 8 hours;
pros: affordable price;
Cons: no surround sound, low-quality low frequencies.

Wireless audio equipment

model name:
price: 1100 rub.;
characteristics: 1 speaker, frequency range – 90-20000 Hz;
pros: metal body;
Cons: No charger included.

Mini speakers

Large speakers provide better sound quality, but there are options that reproduce the full range of low and high frequency sounds in a smaller size. Harman offers a successful solution:

model name: Harman Kardon Esquire Mini;
price: 6130 rub.;
characteristics: type – stereo, power – 8 W;
pros: memory card support;
cons: no remote control.

Another worthy solution for those who need good sound from small wireless audio speakers is offered by Creative:

Model name: Creative Muvo 2;
price: 4129 rub.;
characteristics: protection class against water penetration - IP66, Bluetooth, 2 built-in speakers, operation - up to 10 hours, USB, microSD;
pluses: minimum weight – 340 g, speakerphone;
cons: not found.

Stereo speakers

For surround sound, one speaker in audio speakers is not enough. Stereo speakers from Edifier will allow you to get clear, rich sound:

model name: Edifier S1000DB;
price: 16800 rub.;
characteristics: power – from 100 W, 2 speakers, Bluetooth support;
pros: powerful, high-quality sound;
Cons: mains power only.

Interesting sound will be provided by audio speakers that have at least 3 speakers. This option is provided in the product different companies, for example, in the technique from SVEN:

model name: SVEN SPS-721 2.1;
price: 3890 rub.;
characteristics: power – 50 W, case material – MDF, frequency range – 45-25000 Hz;
pros: tone control, remote control;
Cons: mains power only.

Powerful wireless speakers

The volume of the system and the ability to overcome environmental noise depend on the power provided in the equipment. High performance requires significant energy consumption, so they are rarely equipped with their own batteries. A good price-quality ratio is presented in products from Edifier:

Model name: Edifier S350DB
price: RUB 15,545;
characteristics: power – 150 W, type – 2.1, Bluetooth;
pros: ability to adjust tone, convenient controls;
Cons: powered only from the mains.

For those who are not afraid to disturb their neighbors with deafening sounds, a powerful offer from. Unreal sound transmission from modest-sized audio speakers:

Model name: NAKATOMI OS-74;
price: 12990 rub.;
characteristics: power – 120 W, type – 2.0, case material – MDF;
pros: built-in tuner, 2 microphone outputs;
Cons: mains power only.

How to choose wireless speakers

When purchasing speakers, it is important to decide on the purpose of the audio equipment and rely on your requirements for this equipment. Make your choice based on the following factors:

Sound type. Speakers can be one-, two-, or three-way. Single-way ones will not allow you to achieve good sound; if the quality indicator is important to you, consider two- and three-way options. Another indicator is the frequency range. The wider it is, the higher the sound quality, ideally from 20 to 30,000 Hz.
Column type. In the product description, manufacturers indicate mono, stereo or 2.1 system. Don't expect surround sound from the first type, although the sound may be loud. When choosing a stereo speaker, you can achieve an interesting sound if the equipment is well positioned relative to the listener. 2.1 systems are complemented by a subwoofer; they are good for listening to rock music, but their dimensions will not be small.
Maximum volume. The higher the wireless system's output power, the louder the sounds will be played.
Battery. Having your own battery means you can listen to music without a stationary power source.
Connection type. Bluetooth 3.0 provides connectivity within a radius of up to 30 m, and 4.0 – up to 100 m, as does Wi-Fi. Energy consumption with Wi-Fi is higher than via Bluetooth. Air Play is an Apple-patented data transmission system that The best decision for audio speakers connected to Apple technology.
Shape and dimensions. For travel, consider compact options. For your home, it is better to choose wireless audio speakers with speakers normal size, providing high-quality sound.
Additional features. Modern wireless systems may come with a built-in microphone, anti-interference, anti-moisture, FM tuner, or other features that can benefit the owner.

Video

MPOW Streambot Box sells well Chinese online stores, which has quite good reviews there. And given the support for the A2DP profile and AAC/aptX ® codecs, it fits my needs perfectly. I won’t go into details regarding codecs and profiles, but this is some good introductory material on this topic.

Equipment and appearance

Srteambot is supplied in a small box made of thick cardboard. The kit includes only a 2 x Mini-Jack 3.5 mm cable, an RCA-Mini-Jack 3.5 mm adapter and a USB-microUSB power cable.

The standard delivery package requires a high-quality power supply, because... If the speaker does not have a USB output, you will have to buy a separate power source. Connecting to cheap power supplies is fraught with noticeable hum and other interference in the sound of the final system.

Similar properties manifested themselves when I connected the receiver to one with built-in USB ports, but no such problems arose when connecting.

Connecting a BT receiver takes just seconds. After power is applied, pressing a single key will make the device visible on the network. All that remains is to select “StreamBot Box” in the corresponding menu on the client device.

That's it, the receiver is ready for use. You can connect 2 clients to it at the same time; to do this, turn off Bluetooth on the first client and repeat the pairing procedure with the second.

As for sound, everything is not so clear. My laptop supports the aptX ® codec, so I don’t hear a noticeable difference in sound on the Microlab Pro 2, much less the Logitech X-240. But an Android smartphone cannot boast of such functionality, and a decrease in bitrate is felt on both speakers. The sound at volumes above average would be called “mushy”; there is also a lack of high frequencies.

With a short period of inactivity (10-15 minutes at a glance), MPOW Streambot turns off and, accordingly, terminates existing connections. For further playback, you need to activate the receiver by pressing a button. This approach is absolutely unacceptable for a stationary device, so for my purposes I had to abandon the use of Streambot Box.

And finally - the range of action. If everything is fine within one room, then when you go with the phone to the kitchen or balcony, which are located behind a load-bearing wall, the connection is often interrupted.

What is inside?

The device is disassembled by unscrewing four screws under the rubber feet on the bottom of the device. Inside we find a tiny circuit board and a piece of metal, which explains the weight of this device.

The heart of Streambot is the popular module based on the CSR8645 chip. The price of such boards on Aliexpress varies per piece. Why popular? Because it is cheap and used in many wireless speakers, headphones and headsets made in China.

To enhance power sound signal a separate microcircuit is used - .

What I liked

Easy to connect and use
No delay during playback

What I didn't like

Auto shutdown when inactive
Radius of action

Wi-Fi audio receiver AIRTRY

Price:

I found AirTry after purchasing the BT receiver in the catalog of the Era-in-ear online store and bought it out of curiosity. This device allows you to broadcast audio via Wi-Fi using protocols Apple AirPlay and DLNA/UPnP. It is also notable for the fact that it is manufactured in Korea, as evidenced by the inscriptions both on the box and on the device itself.

Equipment and appearance

The standard delivery set includes: 2 audio cables (2 x Mini-Jack 3.5 mm, Mini-Jack 3.5 mm - RCA), power supply with USB output (5 V, 0.7 A), cable for connecting to the power supply and illustrated instructions in English language.

The device itself is sealed in a white plastic case, the upper part of which is glossy, and the lower part is made of ordinary rough plastic. All connectors are concentrated on one edge: audio input, output and microUSB for power. Two mini-jack connectors provide pass-through connection of the device.

Unlike MPOW SreamBot, this device does not have any weights and weighs only 40 grams, and its soft, non-rubberized legs “contribute” to the movement of the box even with light contact with the wire.

Connection, configuration and operation

AirTry Music Receiver can act as a client in Wi-Fi networks or a full-fledged access point in the 2.4 GHz band (g/n). The last mode, judging by the instructions, is intended for use in a car. After power is applied, the receiver creates an open access point called Airtry_MP_AP. We connect to it and go to the address 10.10.10.254 to the settings page.

After connecting to your home Wi-Fi network, the device will reboot, blink the indicator LED that I forgot to mention in the previous section, and will be ready to use as soon as the LED stops blinking (after 30 seconds).

The receiver is immediately detected in iTunes, and the laptop connects to it without any problems. Unfortunately, the very first tests indicated that this device was unsuitable for use in my home theater setup due to the large delay during playback. For music, 2-3 seconds do not play any role.

After updating the firmware to version 1.2.0 and re-configuring, audio and video desynchronization seems to have become less frequent, but the 1-2 second delay from pressing the Play button to the start of playback still remains, and in everyday use this behavior is somewhat annoying. Latest version The firmware can always be found, it is installed through the receiver’s admin panel, which can only be accessed after a reset.

On Mac OS, AirTry can be set as the default output device. There are no problems with iOS either.

The operating range depends on the Wi-Fi coverage area in your apartment. It easily copes with a one-room apartment in a panel house, so the receiver works both in the kitchen and on the balcony. As for the sound quality, I'm between wired connection I didn’t notice any difference when transmitting audio over Wi-Fi.

What is inside?

AirTry is as easy to disassemble as Streambot. There are screws under the two legs on the bottom that need to be removed. Next, use a pick to unclip all the latches and the case is disassembled.

The power amplifier integrated into the DAC is significantly inferior to the discrete solution in the reviewed BT receiver. So, in the Streambot Box, with a load resistance of 16 Ohms, it “produces” 132 mW, while the DAC from Wolfson, with a similar resistance, is capable of only 18 mW.

What I liked

Pass-through capability
System expandability
Sound quality

What I didn't like

Playback delay
Limitation when working with Android

Bonus: First generation Apple TV

Cost: 325 hryvnia / 13 dollars

On a weekday, when leaving the grocery store, I noticed a fairly impressive size “Second Hand” store. I don't hesitate to buy clothes in such places, because... you can find very good things there for the right price, so I stopped by on occasion. At the entrance there were two baskets about two meters long with various used equipment and among them, to my surprise, was. This hefty box, more reminiscent of a modern Mac Mini, was released in 2007 (9 years ago!) and is based on a single-core Intel processor Pentium x86 architecture.

Unfortunately, I got the Apple TV without a remote control, and to this day I haven’t bothered to buy a new one, but by connecting the media player via an Ethernet cable to home network, iTunes recognized it without any problems and the music could be streamed. The delay feels less than with the AirTry, but is still annoying.

It is worth noting here that the first Apple generation TV has a full optical output along with the usual analogue one, so for good acoustics this option would be even preferable.

In general, for $13, this box is a treasure trove of quality components. Consider an excellent 36-watt power supply (5 V, 7.2 A), a Wi-Fi mini-PCI card with support for b/g/n standards and two antennas, and a 40 GB IDE HDD. Despite the outdated specifications media player by adding a modern hardware decoder instead of a Wi-Fi module and replacing the old HDD with flash memory.

Advantages

System expandability
Minimum playback delay
Sound quality, optical output

Flaws

Power consumption (~20 W)
Inability to install system device output

Results

The transformation was successful; AirTry was introduced into the current setup in end-to-end mode, which is used to play music from various mobile devices. To play video as part of a recreation center, a wired connection is still used.

For convenient switching, I used a switch that I picked up from the official FiiO representative office in 2014. In theory, it was intended to compare sound sources, but in reality it serves as a switch for speaker systems. :)

All this is a temporary solution, since I still want to get rid of the wires. I'm currently looking at the 3rd generation Apple TV. True, I’m not going to stop using MacBooks, but what to do with Android smartphones, which I would also like to introduce into home system- unclear. Maybe get one?

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 matching bands and additional processing signal. However, manufacturers differed radically on how to position the speakers.

Design of Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

“What is this?” - this is the most frequently asked question, accompanying a hand gesture towards 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 amplification digital signal 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, when minimum sizes housing, Naim Mu-So Qb has the largest radiating surface in terms of low frequencies. Previously similar principle only subwoofers were made.

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 setup easier 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. 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 point that I would like to note is the ability of Bluesound Pulse to read USB drives in 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 exists for Apple devices. 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 it 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 included in the menu additional settings. 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 middle is probably the most strong point Zeppelin Wireless. 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 using Mu-So Qb effectively is simple: pour on 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 starts playing even more interesting when content is played from the server high resolution. 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. The largest Naim Mu-So received the most sympathy, primarily, of course, for the power and clarity of sound. The Sonos Play5 wasn't that popular, but it also received some positive reviews, 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-sound calibration using the microphone included in the tablet, as well as the ability to several speakers Play 5 will combine 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.

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Design

Design of Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

Bluesound Pulse Design

Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless design

Naim Mu-So Qb design

Functionality

Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6 functionality

Bluesound Pulse functionality

Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless functionality

Naim Mu-So Qb functionality

Control

Controlling Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

Bluesound Pulse Control

Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Control

Naim Mu-So Qb Management

Sound

Sound of Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

Bluesound Pulse sound

The sound of Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless

The sound of Naim Mu-So Qb

Visitor rating

Out of competition

Specifications Bang&Olufsen Beoplay A6

Bluesound Pulse Specifications

Characteristics of Bowers&Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless

Naim Mu-So Qb Specifications