Acoustic Research AW822 900 Mhz Outdoor Wireless Speaker (Single, Brown) by Acoustic Research
|
List Price: Category: Speakers See more digital camera details and other models |
|---|
(Click here)
Digital camera reviews of Acoustic Research AW822 900 Mhz Outdoor Wireless Speaker (Single, Brown)
Digital camera Review: Reasonable sound quality
Summary: 3 Stars
I've had the product for about a month. I bought it with the recommended rechargeable batteries. The sound quality is acceptable mono. It supposedly can be set up as stereo with a second speaker. However, it seems you have to buy a complete second unit (including another redundant wireless transmitter.) I've used it up to a 100 feet away from the transmitter base. Occasionally, it will momentarily lose connection. Annoying but acceptable.
There are two related design problems. The first is the lack of an auxiliary input on the speaker itself that would allow direct connection to an ipod or netbook computer. This would make the unit more flexible and truly portable since the transmitter requires AC or 12 volt input. The second shortcoming is that the power level, required as input to the transmitter, exceeds the level produced by an ipod or directly from a computer.
The rechargeable batteries last in excess of six hours.
It total, a decent product, but uninspiring.
Digital camera Review: So far, great value for the money
Summary: 4 Stars
Sound: Not Bose quality, but not a Bose price either. I'm very happy with it for the cost.
Ease of Connection: Adaptors included for every output--large and small earphone jack and standard audio output plugs. Just plug and play.
Range/Reception: No problems broadcasting through a brick and plaster house at a distance of 75 feet. Might broadcast further, I just haven't tried. I had immediate interference from another signal when I turned it on, but switched to a different channel (there are 3) and it cleared up immediately. I've only had brief, minor static once since then. The auto-tune feature is very nice to have.
Ease of Use: The handle indentation makes it easy to carry around. The knobs are a little difficult to use, but I assume their positioning is to prevent water from getting to them (it's designed to be all-weather, but I haven't tested that). Very stable.
Negatives: It's not particularly attractive, but it's nondescript, so it blends into the outdoor environment. The "on" light is extremely bright (and extremely blue). Ships try to navigate towards my patio when I use it on foggy nights. It was a little difficult to find where the batteries went. You have to take three screws out of the bottom to access them. Not a big deal, but I couldn't find any instructions on where they went. The transmitter unit also has a very bright "on" light which doesn't seem necessary. These are all minor complaints though.
I've only had it about a month, but I've been impressed with it so far.
Digital camera Review: Sound Waves
Summary: 5 Stars
Split the audio coming out back of satillite,
Then hooked one set to surround system, other to this wireless speaker transmitter.
Did not get this to use as rear set for surround, but did notice there was a delay between wired system and this unit while setting up, as I would have expected.
So I don't think would work for that.
I use it outdoors for satillite radio channels while working.
Is fantastic for this as it has setting for mono.
I don't need stereo outside anyway.
Worstbuy is running a scam on ebay selling this as two speakers, is only one.
Would be neet to have another one out in shop playing same music from inside.
Oh...great for camping too.
Digital camera Review: Sounds Great
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the AW822 in May 2008 and am very happy with it so far. I previously had an Advent ADVW801 which had failed after 3 years of solid operation. I hope that the AW822 lasts longer than 3 years. The bass response is quite full for a 5" driver and has been a nice surprise. I also like how it auto-tunes and auto-powers with loss of signal.
So far their are two drawbacks. The first is that the "power on" indicator on the front of the transmitter is very bright. It is a blue LED and it will catch your eye at 30 feet. This is just a quirky kind of issue.
The other drawback is that the unit "found" some other signal and tuned to it. I couldn't get it to re-tune to the transmitter. I suspect that one of my neighbors has the same unit but my signal source was closer than any neighbors outside walls of their homes so I'm a bit perplexed by this. Changing the channel did not make a difference. I finally power both units off (turned my stereo off as well) and when I brought them back on-line, the unit retuned to it's transmitter. This has only happened once so I'm not too concerned.
My home is in a typical Chicago suburb on a 1/4 acre lot.
Digital camera Review: Sounds ok. Works ok but not great.
Summary: 3 Stars
The sounds quality is ok but not great. It's not too loud but fine for us as we don't want to bother the neighbors anyway. One thing not so great is the transmitter won't activate until the signal strength coming in is high enough. Using it from my stereo's line-out, I have to turn the volume up to get it to start transmitting. It seems to use this as the baseline level so to get it to play loud on the wireless speaker, I need to crank up the stereo which makes it too loud on my indoor speakers. So, I either have to turn off the indoor speakers or live with it being not loud enough outside or too loud inside.
One time it picked up my neighbor's old 900MHz cordless phone and was blasting it over the speakers. She looked a little annoyed.