Difference between wired and wireless speakers in home theater

Carl B

Member
Since features such as Bluetooth and WiFi have become commonplace, one of the most common questions we get is whether we should buy wired or wireless speakers. Since wireless speakers were first introduced, it is generally accepted that wired speakers only provide better sound quality. We think it's time to discuss the pros and cons of each speaker. Which is better? Wireless or wired? Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple.

Compare the sound quality between wireless and wired speakers

Wired speakers provide better audio fidelity
, especially when it comes to extremely high quality components. However, the difference between high-quality wireless signals and wireless signals transmitted through the line is becoming more and more difficult to find. Take audioengine's products of wired and wireless loudspeakers as an example. Although there are subtle differences in sound between hdp6 wired shelf loudspeakers and HD6 wireless loudspeakers, it is very difficult for us to say "better" or "worse" for any group of loudspeakers. We have to do a lot of testing on other speakers to determine which one is better.

Advantages and disadvantages of wired speaker

Advantages:
wired speakers can provide you with more sophisticated sound control than wireless speakers. Wired speakers are very easy to use. All you need to do is connect them to an amplifier.

Disadvantages: twisted wires add clutter to the room. For surround sound system, various wires will bring more troubles.

If you like finer sound control, buy wired speakers.

Wireless speaker advantages and disadvantages - when to buy them

We will avoid the voice quality debate here. The main advantage is that there are no wires. All you need to do is connect the speaker to the wall socket, and then connect it to your sound source via WiFi or Bluetooth. Another advantage is that wireless systems can be very versatile. You can have speakers from different manufacturers communicate with each other and use different speakers on one system. However, this is not recommended due to sound mismatch.

Main disadvantage: can't control amplification and conversion. The quality of external amplifiers is usually much higher than that of wireless speakers. Once you use a wireless speaker, it's very difficult - though not impossible - to connect an external device to it.

If you want a simple, efficient sound system, no hassle or extra equipment, no matter the size of the room, you can choose wireless speakers.

Purchase suggestions for ordinary people

How much would you like to spend to get good sound quality? Please decide to buy according to your actual situation. Consider how much time you spend in each room, and how much you spend, and consider the actual number of speakers purchased. You don't need a few loudspeakers in a few rooms. If it's a small room, maybe a speaker is enough. If you have noise from cooking or talking loudly, you may need more than 2 speakers.
 
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