Advent AW810 900 MHz Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Speaker System
By: Audiovox Average Rating: 2.5 Total Reviews: 97
More Information
 On: 2008-04-05
The sound from the unit is descent given the size and construction. The wireless system, however is pretty bad. In an urban area you might be able to get 20, but even then youll get periodic interference. In a more rural setting it becomes moderately usable, with more like 40 and fewer blasts of junk.
 On: 2008-03-25
very poor sound quality. It barely works. lots of static. I had to install hard wired outdoor speakers. I have bought items from Amazon before and this one is not a keeper.
 On: 2007-05-27
Easy to set up, and works well. Terrific sound for such a small speaker (amazing in fact). Can be a bit touchy to tune in, and can be sensitive to people moving (resulting is static) but Im nit picking here--for what I use it for (a satellite speaker for my wife to use in the kitchen) its great.
Wish the "on/volume" knob was a bit further away from the "tuner" knob (sometimes you end up turning the wrong one) but again, nit-picking.
Id certainly buy this product again (or buy a second if I needed one).
On: 2007-01-24
This product was Dead on Arrival.
No amount of messing with cables or
adapters or settings would get it to work.
At least I got a full refund from Amazon...
 On: 2007-01-09
Sounds Great - Not a lot of range. The sound you get from this one speaker is incredible. Set it on the floor, close to a wall, and it almost sounds as good as a Bose Wave Radio.
But... you cant go as far as I feel the documentation leads you to believe. In the real world, the most range I was able to get was about 50-60 feet in and around the house.
On: 2006-12-13
I ordered this quite a while ago, it does not work, never has worked. I havent been able to return it and probably will just have to throw it out. Useless and a waste of money.
On: 2006-10-05
Unfortunately this item didnt work at all straight out of the box. Spoke with tech rep from manufacturer and trouble shot the speaker system to no avail. Luckily for me Advent happily accepted the return and upgraded me to the Acoustic Research Speaker, model AW-811 which works wonderfully!
On: 2006-08-23
I bought this speaker about a month ago to use near our hot tub. So far, we have used it daily (on batteries) and it has been working perfectly. The sound is a little "tinny" at low volumes but it sounds surprisingly good at higher volumes. We even bring it out to the swing-set while watching the kids play. Its also great for game night. I use this primarily on my computer and listen to internet radio so this allows me to listen to my internet radio stations anywhere in the house or yard. Im giving it 5 stars because it has delivered what I have expected. The only thing I wish it had was a carrying handle like the other model does. This model was less expensive though and worth it.
On: 2006-08-19
this product did not work and was missing jacks needed to operate that you said were included. Very dissappointed. Plus, you wont let me return it now.
On: 2006-08-17
The installation was so easy - just plug the transmitter in, add batteries to the speaker, turn the speaker on and you are good to go. The sound quality is fine and two speakers will work from just one transmitter or independently from each transmitter. A great value for the money.
On: 2006-08-10
I returned the product and received credit on my credit card. Product was incompatible with my system. Ive had the same type of wireless speakers, with the same kind of controls, connected to the same system previously, but I could not get the Advent to work at all.
On: 2006-08-04
Unpacked it, read the entire instruction booklet, followed the step by step procedure. Got the red light blinking on the transmitter, not too fast, not too slow. Moved on to setting up the speaker. Got a green light there and a little static for a moment, then nothing. I couldnt get a single peep out if it. I tried every possible adjustment, tried a headphone jack, tried the rca plug. Never, ever got it to work, Im very disappointed with this product and am returning it tomorrow.
On: 2006-08-02
I like to think that I am at least fairly competant and can follow simple instructions. I purchased two advent speakers neither of these items would work. I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with tech support (Thompson provides the support for these units) the tech support was very patient and helpful but we still could not get the units to work. I returned both units and subsituded with a set of acoustic research wireless which work flawlessly.
On: 2006-07-27
Works fine for my purpose, a wireless speaker I can move wherever I want to listen to my main stereo. I use it in the kitchen and by the pool, which are not wired for my stereo. Sounds about as good as an inexpensive boom box and has a good range.
On: 2006-07-27
Update 2006.08.03
This time it worked like a charm as soon as I plugged it in. I guess they require a better quality control to avoid exchanges.
------------
I followed the instructions step by step (as recommended by some reviewers), I installed the transmitter in a RCA out (fixed volume), turned on the home theater, waited until the red light was blinking on the transmitter, adjusted the frequency, turned on the speaker, adjusted the frequency, incresed the volume, all perfect. 2 minutes later, game over. I tried again numerous times, and I even called Advent Customer Support to see if I was missing something. After all the troubleshooting they confirmed that the speaker was dead, possibly due to an internal amplifier problem.
I am giving it a second change. Returning the item tomorrow and expecting a replacement. I will update the review when I get it.
On: 2006-07-26
We use the computer in our sunroom to load music onto our MP3 players. Since all of our favorite music was already loaded, I decided that the computer was our best source to use for this Speaker System. I pluged the jack into the headphone port and set the speaker outside off the pool. We now have the potential to listen to 760 different songs without interuption. The sound quality is great and all of our friends want at system like this. We have enjoyed this product almost everyday since we purchased it.
On: 2006-07-25
This wireless speaker system is practically useless. Multiple attempts at tuning, placement, retuning, both speaker and transmitter only resulted in increasing frustration. Static was constant. And this was while using the batteries. It didnt work at all while plugged into the AC. If I had not discarded the packaging it came in, it would have been the first return I made to Amazon. However, I didnt return the speaker system and doubt that I will ever use it. The Advent AW810 900 MHz Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Speaker System isnt worth five bucks. Buyer beware.
On: 2006-07-21
Excellent purchase for the price I paid. Works great sending signal from my computer to outdoor location (approximately 50 feet through a wall with window). It is a little testy when I first turn it on, often requiring slight adjustments to the tuning to find the proper signal frequency. Every once in a while I think uncontrollable outside static also causes issues, requiring me to readjust the frequency on the transmitter and receiver. But once working, Ive rarely had to make adjustments--and it plays just fine for hours.
I have not used batteries yet, so I do not know the life when playing music without AC plug-in. But overall, it has been an excellent purchase and far simpler than wiring outdoor speakers, at least for now.
 On: 2006-07-20
I purchased both the AW810 and the acoustic research AW811. The AW811 costs $60 more but is worth it. On the AW810 you have to manually "tune" the channel on both the transmtter and the speaker just right to get it to work, whereas the AW811 does it automatically. Additionally the AW810 sounds more "tinny" and the AW811 has a broader and deeper range of sound. THe AW811 also has a convenient carry handle and the AW810 does not. The AW810 is not bad and I would have probably been ok with it if I did not hear the AW811 as a comparison
On: 2006-07-17
This product is great!! We listen to the radio around our pool now and the base is very impressive. It did not take but a minute to get a signal and the music was playing. A friend of mine now wants to get one because he was so impressed with the quality and sound.
On: 2006-07-16
Being able to enjoy music with a wireless speaker is fantastic. The speaker is small enough to be innocuous but delivers pretty good quality sound. On occasion, especially very humid days, its harder to get the receiver to pick up the signal, but overall were happy with the product.
If you can buy the speaker at a deep discount, like we did, then youll be happy with the product.
On: 2006-07-14
The speaker is a little tricky to tune in and keep tuned in, and it tends to crackle due to interference (like someone walking by it). Not great sound quality, but okay for the price paid.
On: 2006-07-13
My husband and I have two of these now and are very satisfied with them. We bought the second one because we were happy with the first one.They are great for parties when our guests are both indoors and outdoors. Farthest weve tried them is about 100 feet from the house, and they work fine. We use the provided power supply and have had no problem. They dont sound like a high-end speaker, but they are adequate. We recommend them to our guests that are surprised at how well they work outside.
Also great when Im in a different part of the house from the big stereo, but maybe someone wants to watch TV in the room where the stereo is. We just turn down the stereo volume in the main room and I take the speaker with me.
Dont expect to easily find replacement parts thru the manufacturer, though. Youre pretty much on your own.
On: 2006-07-11
I ordered two speakers- one worked the other did for about 30 seconds. Amazon was quick to process the return and credit. I wouldnt recommend these if you are looking for high end acoustics, but they do the job if you arent picky.
On: 2006-07-09
i bought the speakers before looking at the reveiws and was scared to death that i too would have to return them. instead i do agree, they are very good for the price i paid for them. people need to know a little about wireless to get full benifit out of the speaker. it does a very good job and all the back yard can now have enjoyable muisic. i have four and all work very well. we set up some on the next door nieghbor lot about 150 feet away and it almost seems to work better that far away.
On: 2006-07-06
Brought it and tried everything the instructional booklet says but still wont work. And the refund process is overly complicated since I dont even mail this back to Amazons warehouse, I have to directly give this back to EEK. God knows how the hell will I get my refund back. One of biggest mistake of my online purchase.
DO NOT, for your own sake, NO NOT but this!!
On: 2006-07-06
It doesnt work! This may seem like a bargain compared to the price for comparable products at any electronics store. Its not! It didnt work. I bought a comparable product at Best Buy for about $100 - worked fine.
On: 2006-07-06
After reading a number of other reviews here I had considerable trepidation about this speakers quality, but for under $30 I was willing to gamble a bit. It turns out to work well for me with very good though not spectacular sound.
Again, based on other reviews, I had already decided to avoid using the provided power supply and run it on batteries (and for my poolside application this is no real burden). I note, however, that while the speaker itself runs on 12v DC the power supply I received prominently displays an output voltage of 18v(!). If this is typical then its little wonder so many other people report hooking up and having their speaker run for only 30 seconds before going silent. With a 50% over voltage condition nobody should be surprised at circuits burning out.
Overall, my impression is that the system is built to a price point and cuts corners every way possible. Expectations should be set accordingly. However, it works and seems to work pretty well (save for the glaring power supply problem) and Im quite satisfied with the result.
On: 2006-07-04
This speaker worked for about a minute, then it quit and that was that. We returned it to Amazon and bought one from a local Radio Shack... it was about a hundred bucks, but it works! Dont bother ordering this one.
On: 2006-07-03
Bought 2 one worked for 1 min the other lasted almost 2 months
and cant return wont buy from amazon again they sell JUNK
On: 2006-07-02
This produt is junk. That is why I returned it.
WHY HAVNT I RECEIVED THE REFUND?
On: 2006-06-30
These speakers were offered at a great price ($32.99) so I bought two of these for myself and others for family.
I had them hooked up and working in minutes and have had no problems with them. Since it hooks up to anything with an earjack, Ive used it with an ipod and laptop, as well as my stereo and television.
They are wireless and transmit a radio wave, so I wasnt surprised that Id get some interference or static from time to time. This is usually solved easily by moving yourself or the speaker.
Youre obviously going to have to give up sound quality for the convenience of wireless. Maybe its worth it to you to pay $150 for a better wireless speaker (if any of them are really that much better), but if you just want to be able to play some tunes while entertaining or working in the backyard, I recommend this product.
On: 2006-06-28
I looked forward to listening to jazz on my deck, porch and garage. Hooked it up to two tvs, stereo,Sirus sat. Never worked, Dont waste your time
On: 2006-06-27
Followed all of the directions - still couldnt get it to make a peep. Dont waste your time or your money trying at any price,
On: 2006-06-26
The product would work great if you have fresh batteries, otherwise the static takes over. I have lost my AC power adaptor for the speaker and was unable to find a replacement to fit the jacks on the speaker. When I called the company to inquire about purchasing a new AC adaptor I was told that there are no parts manufactured that could be bought separately. In other words, if I need an AC adaptor I should purchase another speaker. Great business making definition!
On: 2006-06-26
When it is turned on at the speaker, it seems to work very well, except for the poor location of the volume switch. However, all of a sudden, it will burst out with a loud static noise!
It seems to me that you should be able to leave it on and it will work every time you use the source (TV in this case) without being obtrusive! It has waked us up when we have forgotten to turn it off after an evening of use!
On: 2006-06-26
Just hooked it up and it works great. Weve got the Reds game on the television inside and the audio coming through the speaker outside so we wont miss anything! So far so good.
On: 2006-06-25
Wish I read the reviews here more completely. This was a complete piece of trash. Like with others, the speaker would not play for more than 30 seconds at a time no matter what I did. After a while I could feel that the speaker was over heating so I left it unplugged. Sure enough it came back and played for another 30 seconds and then quit. Its going back to Amazon immediately!
On: 2006-06-23
Indicator lights worked fine, but no sound. Im sending it back.
On: 2006-06-20
I bought this speaker system to stream music from my computer to another room. It took me about 10 minutes to set up and was pretty easy to do. Instructions arent 100% clear, but read them a couple of times and they start to make sense. Adjusting the frequency (tuning) on both the transmitter and speaker was pretty easy too. Speaker works perfectly and Im really happy with the sound quality and range.
On: 2006-06-20
I just received the unit today and after spending 1 hour on the phone with the manufacturers service department, I have to send it back because it is defective. This is a piece of junk and should not be sold!
On: 2006-06-18
We got these and it took too much effort to get them to work outside. The sound quality was like an FM stereo. There was only a small range where they would work with the transmitter. We are returning them and have decided to wire some speakers outside.
On: 2006-06-14
I had the same problem as other reviewers with these speakers but tried to move them outside as another person suggested. Once I did that, they worked for a while. I found though that if you use batteries and not the AC adaptor, they seem to work just fine. It takes 8 C batteries though so prepare to spend some money on rechargables!
Advent (aka RCA) need to shield these speakers from outside interferance for these to get a better review.
Once they finally started working, they sound pretty good for a low-end speaker system.
On: 2006-06-06
Good sound - though better sound quality outdoors for sure. Plugged it in and it worked right away with my current Advent transmitter from indoor wireless speakers. Had similar issues (as previous reviewers) with the speaker cutting out, but only when indoors. Once I moved it outside it didnt happen again. Wierd. I feel like I got a great deal.
On: 2006-06-03
First let me say that I love this product. Construction feels solid and asthetics are good. Sound quality is great for background music at casual gatherings, although not really high end. Since I read the reviews, rolled the dice, and ordered 4 units at once, I have some unique insight into this product.
Two of the units worked flawlessly. I was careful with my setup, having read earlier reviews. The other two were defective. Tinny high end sound with a clicking tweeter that sounded blown. They only worked consistently on batteries. When using the power cord, they would work for a few seconds, and the went silent. Same setup, so I know it was correct. More interesting, they arrived in two packages, with each 2 unit box packed directly from Thompson, the manufacturer. The two defective units were packed together, apparently from the same batch, and the two functioning units were also packed together.
So...., there seems to be a real manufacturing/QA issue. If you happen to get a functioning unit, I believe you will be very pleased. 5/5 concerning the combination of performance and price. However, QA concerns result in 3/5 stars rating.
On: 2006-06-02
Read other reviews and didnt expect much. I am a fine audio equiptment girl and was skeptical based on price and other reviews. I have since recommedned this item to others and we all love it. Have never reviewed an item before but love this. Take your time setting it up and you will be thrilled.
On: 2006-05-29
On the first try the outdoor speaker played for 30 seconds then stopped working. I returned to Amazon (no charge) and got a replacement speaker. Opps, same thing, the speaker played nicely for 30 seconds and then went dead (the speaker sounded good for the brief time that it played). I emailed Amazon.com and wanted to role the dice and give it a 3rd try. Amazon responded by saying that the problem with the speaker was more widespread than originally thought and they would not be able to send me an additional one. They refunded all my money also gave me a $10 credit in my account for the hassle. I was surprised to see the same speaker still for sale on their site two weeks later especially if there is a manunfacturing defect, the speaker goes dead and they know about the issue. Should I give the speaker another try? I really did like the product if it would only work. Ive searched the customer reviews and this problem is NOT isolated to me. Well, if you order this product save the box and packaging as you might very well be returning it after 30 seconds. It seemed like a solid product but at the low price of $32.00, Im not surprised it failed to work. Please leave feedback as I would like to order anothrer myself, but the hastle of returning defective products is a pain no matter how easy Amazon tries to make it. Also, I wanted to mention that it was very generous of Amazon to give me a $10 credit for my troubles with the speaker... Amazon.com is a very reputable company I recommend them strongly and I will continue to buy many prodcuts from them now and in the future. Best of luck with this one.
On: 2006-05-21
I have had no problems with this device. A little setup, but easy after you get used to it.
On: 2006-05-18
I had read the negative reviews that complained of this product ceasing to work shortly after receiving it, but figured I would roll the dice because the price was so good and I knew I could return it if it didnt work. Well folks, it didnt. It played for about 30 seconds and then quit. If I turned it off and then turned it back on, it would play for about five seconds before quitting. If I left it off for a long time, it would return to playing for 30 seconds before quitting. Really weird. I cant imagine what would make it do this. Regardless, Ive returned it to Amazon, who also paid for the shipping.
I gave it two stars because it sounded fine while it worked. If you get lucky and get one that works, you will probably like this product. But if I were Amazon, Id drop it to avoid all of the additional shipping charges for returns.
On: 2006-05-11
Overall I am satisfied with this purchase. For the first hour or so, I was extremely frustrated with this product. I tried changing the frequency, the volume of the transmitting speaker, and the location of the wireless speaker a few times, with no luck, no sound. After some fiddling it would transmit sound for about one second and then go silent. It finally sounded like it had blown. It got very loud, very staticky (sp?), and then went silent. The power light turned on and off. It did this about three times. I was about to give up. I gave it one more go, and it worked!!! I kept the frequency, and even moved the speaker a couple of times to see how it would operate. It is still working. It is not a high end speaker, but for the price, and what I am using it for. I am very pleased. It does what I bought it for.
On: 2006-05-05
I read the reviews and should have known better. I followed the directions in the manual exactly, plugged in the speaker and for about 4 seconds they worked. After that - nothing. I called the 800 number and was on hold for 26 minutes. The "technician" who answered the phone basically read the manual to me and asked me if the power light was glowing, and if so what color. Then the response from the technician was "sounds like you have a problem" - hello??? Why do they think I called! This is going back. From now on I will trust the reviews!
On: 2006-04-23
I should have read the reviews before I ordered this piece of JUNK! I followed the directions to the letter and got sound from the unit for about 20 seconds.... then nothing. Called the technical support number and was basically told the items was junk. I sure am glad that amazon.com stands behind the items they sell. Just not sure why a reputable company like amazon.com continues to sell this item.....
On: 2006-04-14
I read many of the poor reviews and was wary, but for the discounted price, figured what the heck.
The first one I received I followed the instructions closely and when turning on the speaker, heard a little static, adjusted the tuner knob, heard the transmitted music....for .5 secs or so, then nothing.....ever again. I never even heard the static. I tried various things to get it working but to no avail. I returned it(very easy to return with amazon by the way) and received another quickly. It did exactly the same thing. Two poor products is two too many, so I asked for a refund. Im now looking at other wireless outdoor speakers.
You get what you pay for I guess.
On: 2006-04-14
I hooked the speaker up as soon as I got it out of the box. Turned it on, thought wow thats rather impressive. Let me change it to one of the music channels. Then it stopped once I changed the channel. Called the customer service # on the transmitter, and sat on the phone for 15 to 20 minutes with an incompetent person who really didnt know anything about the product. On that note, I will be returning it to amazon.
On: 2006-04-14
i am on my third speaker. they all stop working a few seconds after the ac power supply is plugged in. if you use batteries only, they sound fine. you just cant plug them in!!
On: 2006-03-27
The speaker didnt work when I got it from Amazon. I decided to call the vendor for help. After waiting for about 30 minutes, I finally got a technical woman to answer my call. She confirmed the speaker is defective because there is no sound even if the lights of both transmitter and speaker are on.. I returned it to Amazon.
BTW, I bought Accurian AWS-1475 wireless speacker at RadioShack for about $99. Its more expensive but its crystal clear and extremely easy to be setup ( less than five minutes and you dont need to tune it! ). Too bad, Amazon doesnt carry it.
On: 2006-03-26
I had two of these units and both failed within a very short amount of time. The units would power on, but no power was getting to the speaker. I had to return them both. I ened up buying wired speakers and couldnt be happier. It takes a little more work, but you will be glad you did. Stay away from these!
On: 2006-03-21
I was pleased to find this device overlaps frequencies with the adjustable frequency Recoton I already owned. I didnt need to use the Advent transmitter and simply added the speaker to my existing system.
On: 2006-03-21
This wireless speaker had a usable range of about 5 to 10 feet. Not 300 feet like the description says. I even called tech support and they were no help.
On: 2006-03-19
Transmitter worked, but no power on the speaker. I contacted the tech support people at Advent, no luck. I decided to return it and buy another brand when I looked at the problems others have had.
Amazon is good about taking returns if items are defective so no complaints there, just wish it had worked.
On: 2006-03-10
As long as you dont set your expectations too high... This thing does what it says on the tin. Wireless weather proof speaker. I use it in the bathroom and it provides me of music while Im in the loo or shower... And I love it. I didnt expect top level sound reproduction from a stand alone, wireless plastic speaker... and I did not get it... Ive got it hooked up to the pre-out of my Onkyo micro system and it works just fine as long as I keep it at least 1m away from my cordless phone. It takes some time tuning the speaker and the base unit but after that its simple as on-off. if you want HiFi music in the garden, pool or bathroom... Youll have to pay for it.
On: 2006-01-31
Ive used this speaker in a number of locations, because I give demos of it in concert with our software product, ADD Planner. Most places, it does great, but it does have its limitations.
Since its wireless, it is subject to RF interference. If you put it near other electronic equipment, it can pick up noise. Sometimes you can fix this by tuning the speaker to a different frequency, or at least make things a little better. A lot of times probems with reception are the result of turning the transmitter up too high. You should see the red light blinking, not always on. And the 150ft/50m range is, well, a bit optimistic, unless youre setting the transmitter and speaker within sight of each other, in a noiseless environment.
It can also be a little persnickety about placement within a room, especially at the limits of its range. If you have problems one place in a room, try moving it someplace else, and you may find a lot better reception, even if its only a few inches. You can also sometimes get better reception, surprisingly, if you rotate the speaker.
Between all these tricks I usually get acceptable reception in a variety of environments. There are, unfortunately, locations where you just cant get good reception, no matter what you try. I dont think thats a problem with the speaker itself, its just the limitations of the technology.
Its best if you buy any wireless speaker from a vendor with a reasonable return policy, so you can give it a shot, and return it if you just cant get it to work for you.
On: 2005-07-08
I gave as a gift. When the recipients tried to hook it up, it did not work (yes, they read the directions thoroughly and called the 800#). DynaDirect has such a restrictive return policy that there is no way a buyer could receive the product, hook it up, determine it doesnt work and return it within the 7 day return (from their shipping date) policy. Needless to say, the 7 days has passed to return it to DynaDirect and I can get no help to contact the manufacturer / warehouse / North Pole to get the unit replaced or repaired. Im out $100 and my gift is a pile of electronic junk in the corner of my friends closet!
Dont waste your money on this product!
Dont purchase electronic gifts through the internet.
and Dont buy anything from DynaDirect if there is any chance you may need to return the inoperable mess the ship to you.
On: 2005-04-07
I like it, got it free from a neighbor. Very simple controls, very logical. I cant think of a more streamlined way to make that speaker happen. It is a bit ugly, but it is what it is. The speaker is made to take music on the go, outside wherever you want it. Range is typical of 900mhz and sound quality is good. If you want a way to put a speaker in a room your are too lazy to wire to, this isnt for you. Not to mention both adapters come with it, its not like advent scams you into buying one for the speaker.
On: 2004-11-08
Although I own two indoor Advent wireless speakers which are excellent, this one is horrible. Constant static whether from a radio or CD. It has trouble tuning to the stereo although it used the same transmittor(755)as my indoor speakers. Actually it was closer to the stereo. But it never held a static-free sound regardless of position. I am going to buy a third indoor speaker, use it on the screen porch and occasionally on the deck. Much better sound with speaker and tweeter.
On: 2004-11-07
Although I own two indoor Advent wireless speakers which are excellent, this one is horrible. Constant static whether from a radio or CD. It has trouble tuning to the stereo although it used the same transmittor(755)as my indoor speakers. Actually it was closer to the stereo. But it never held a static-free sound regardless of position. I am going to buy a third indoor speaker, use it on the screen porch and occasionally on the deck. Much better sound with speaker and tweeter.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-15
This speaker has met my expectations and works well. We use it both outside on battery power, as well as inside in one of the upstairs rooms plugged in with the AC cord. I read some of the other reviews about interference etc., so was a little hesitant when I bought it. But, it was the only reasonably priced wireless indoor/outdoor speaker I could find. I was happy after I bought the product and would recommend this product (though I dont think its the highest quality speaker for those looking for a high end speaker).
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-11
This item is exactly what we were looking for. Its range reaches over 100 feet into our back yard. Those who complain about range probably didnt read the manual throughly. While the frequency response isnt as good as my regular stereo speakers (natch) this is just the ticket for providing music while Im firing up the grill.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-01-19
I trust Advent and own 4 of their wireless speakers. This one is HIDEOUS. Designed for outdoor use?!? No way! As soon as you walk a SHORT distance outside,you lose the signal. Sounds substantial enough when its only 10 feet from the transmitter, but who needs that? Im embarrased that I bought it for a gift for someone. When I asked how it was performing, they said they must be doing something wrong. I read the instructions to the letter and its still weak. Because I have some background with wireless, I tried it and realized that this speaker is garbage. I had cheap remote control cars as a child that reached greater distances.
On: 2003-08-14
Works very well. Not the greatest sound but its just the thing for patio parties, etc. Make sure to read the manual first.
On: 2003-07-17
I love the digital music channels provided through my cable TV service, and I wanted to be able to listen to this music outside. I just got so sick of dragging the boom box outside during dinner parties or while gardening and then having to fuss with changing CDs--especially when I had great music playing inside the house.The speaker has exceeded my expectations. If you read the directions carefully and follow them step-by-step, youll have good sound outdoors, too. I was up and running with tunes oustide within ten minutes. I needed another five minutes to fine tune, which was easily accomplished by reading the instructions and the troubleshooting guide. (If you refuse to read instructions or to show a little patience, you get what you deserve.) Contrary to what you may have read in other reviews, if the unit is set up correctly, the sound is NOT thin. The bass is substantial and even with the volume set to maximum, there is no distortion. I set up the speaker (loud!) and strolled my entire yard perimeter, as well as the far side of my neighbors yard, and could hear everything perfectly. I used the cordless phone right next to the unit--no problem. The distance from my stereo to the backyard is the entire depth of the house--about 60 feet--with signal passing through several plaster and brick walls. I found that its important to place the transmitter up as high as you can. That solved the few little sound problems I had at setup. What can I say? It sounds great and I love it.
On: 2003-07-06
These are not for audiophiles, who spend all night waffling on about the depth of a speakers sound, pretending they can hear the difference between speakers that costs $1500 and $1600! However that said, if you want a speaker that within 5 minutes of setting up lets you listen to your favourite cds on your home system, and not eat up the batteries go ahead and buy these you wont be dissapointed.Expecting these speakers to have the performance of high end speakers costing several hundred or thousands of dollars is absurd. By the way for those moaning about low volume levels and static, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!
On: 2003-06-24
Im very happy with this wireless speaker set. It offers much more stable tuning than the Recoton set I owned 7 years ago. Its especially rewarding when the price I paid for this Advent set was clearance price at 50% off. Regardless of the price, I plan to buy at least one more set for the other bathroom and also sunroom. Its over all quite musical, to my pleasant surprise, even though I wish for a bit more upper midrange and higher frequencies. Signal strength/range is rather good, perfectly adequate for my 1600-sq-ft. home. Those customers who give a 1 or 2 ranking for this model probably didnt read the manual carefully. One important step is to avoid overloading the transmitter with loud audio source. That would make the speaker sound as if damaged or having a bad transmission. Input should be only loud enough to make the red light blink intermittenly. Its important to adjust the level of input volume especially when connecting to a CD player, which usually generates rather strong output.
On: 2003-06-16
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy this unit was to set up. Within 5 minutes, I had the unit set up and playing on my back patio. No static or distortion on CD or radio once I "tuned" in the box. Unit sounded great with a balanced mix of bass and treble. Make sure that the speaker is sheltered outside since the instructions explicitly state that it will not handle excessive rain or wet weather!
by: Anonymous On: 2003-06-04
I bought this for my parents just a couple of days ago so I havent used it enough to know completely if there will be hissing/popping etc. However, I have tried 3 different places outside of my house and it sounds great. I read the manual and did exactly what it said. I have it plugged into my headphone jack on my stereo. I have a $600.00 receiver so that might make a difference??? I doubt it though. I played a CD on my 10 year old CD player and it sounded wonderful. It is definitely loud enough (it has volume control). I actually had my receiver volume lower than the manual told me to put it and it still works great. It only took a couple of seconds to get it tuned in to where there was no static.Now for the rest of the story. Yes, if you do have several people moving around in and out of the house, then you will get static. If you use a cordless phone or a cell phone around it, youll get static, but thats life of wireless products. Its not that bad either. Havent you listened to a radio and you move a bit and get static? same thing. Plus, havent you heard static on your cordless phone when youre around electrical stuff? thats the same thing too. I bought this for my parents to use in their hot tub area (so noone should really be moving around). So far, I have no complaints about this product. Only praise. Make sure and read the directions when youre hooking it up. Plus, I would suggest plugging it into a headphone jack on your stereo equipment. I have not plugged it in using the RCA jacks, but I know the headphone jack works great. Im sure its different for different people and different surroundings. I have a brick house so the "waves" are going through wood and brick just fine. I dont know about metal. Im sure that would hinder its performance. Plus Ive tested it up to about 30 feet (not 300 like it says it can go). If youre interested in this product. I would go ahead and buy it to try it, but make sure you can return it. I bought it at my local [store] - more expensive than what I found online, but I got it same day and I can return it if I dont like it.
On: 2003-04-28
I buoght this speaker for my husband to use on the deck with our sony receiver and 5 disc player.we have bose speakers in the house.The sound quality is fair and I am always fiddling with the dial to get decent sound.Now after a few years use and less than 30 hours of use the speaker doesnt work anymore.Frankly I am gravely disappointed.I would not buy one again.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-04-01
If you are looking for quality, and reliability, pay much more or wait 10 years. Use wired speakers if you want any sort of sound quality. If you are just looking for noise and are will to tune in your speaker occasional this product might be rated a 2 star. But.. hide the wire and get a good speaker
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-03
Looks and sounds great however it tends to "drift" once in a while accompanied by a loud hissing. Woke me up several times. Not for a bedroom.
On: 2003-01-12
Im no audiophile, but I can say that this is one of the worst audio/electronics purchases I have ever made. I had hoped this speaker would allow me simply to play my music in my back yard during parties. My friends were impressed...before I turned it on. Now they laugh when I bring the speaker outside.1. The sound is truly terrible. Thin, hissy, and distorted. Low volume reveals a noticible hiss. Higher volume reveals a distorted, papery bass. 2. Constant interference if people dont remain perfectly still. Youll constantly be jumping up from your seat to re-tune the speaker. And the sound the speaker makes when it loses the signal is offensively loud. (In fact, its the loudest sound that comes out of the speaker.) Whats more, I fear the interference may have actually blown the speaker, leading to my sound complaints above. I would highly recommend either investigating other wireless speaker systems, or doing the work to run wires. This is an awful, awful, awful product. [Edit] By the way, Ive read some of the comments posted after mine, many of which try to suggest people who have had poor experiences with the product havent properly read the manual. Sorry. Read it cover to cover. Twice. And called the hotline number they provide. According to all the information I have from Advent, I have the product set up properly, and my range is still less than 100 feet.
On: 2002-11-27
This is a really good speaker for sound quality, looks, low usage of batteries (while not plugged in)and moveability. I have ceiling speakers throughout my house and purchased the Advent wireless to compliment the areas where I needed more sound, i.e. outdoors and kitchen. Its moveable and receives its transmission well, even when standing in front of it! Read the manual for set-up! Ive purchased a second one for my mother to take out to her garden! She loves it!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-11-25
Sounds great! The receiver drifts off frequency occasionally. This results in a loud hissing which wakes me up. Not recommended for the bedroom. Rather than 900 Mhz., what about 2.4 Ghz?
On: 2002-11-13
And look for another wireless speaker, because unless you are overwhelmed and enraptured by the audio quality delivered by a "Close and Play" or an eight track, you will be disappointed. And this is shocking, because usually ADVENT MAKES GREAT SPEAKERS.To give you a sense of perspective, realize that I do not demand or own ultra-high end components. My entire set-up cost less than 1500 dollars (includes: amp, 6 cd changer, dvd player and 2 boston acoustic floor speakers). I purchased the AW810 unit to play light jazz or rock (Im over 30 -- ouch!), out on my deck. I thought it would help take the edge off the day (the music, along with an extra dry martini). Instead of being smoothed by the hip-cat sounds of Miles Davis or The Dead, I found myself constantly running to the speaker to retune it (oftentimes causing me to spill my drink -- ouch again!). Net/net:
1) Sound is thinner than a razor blade
2) Range is abysmal -- and you actually have to "tune" the speaker to get reception
3) My unit turned orange after being exposed to sunlight for a week (Im not kidding!)
4) The volume of this unit can be drowned out by a snoring cricket
5) This speaker simply does not meet the high standards that Advent has set for their other speakers
On: 2002-10-05
I am disappointed with this wireless speaker because it just doesnt get loud enough. The average boom box can get much louder than this. It sounds fine at a low volume but when it is turned up the bass distorts and the housing hums and rattles. I returned the first one I received because it sounded awful, the second one is a little better, not much though.
It would be OK to use this speaker indoors but outside it is useless unless you are within ten feet of it.
Another disadvantage is that you have to manually tune it. Even a cheap cordless phone can automatically lock into the signal.
There is foam rubber insulation inside the housing that may be pressed against the woofer cone. I had to open mine up and push it out of the way.
On: 2002-09-01
Looks like a winner for distance and extra features,but why only cream for outside,are the advent from another planet.Also no technical data available.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-08-30
I bought this to go listen on our deck to the digital cable music channels from the television in the house. I cant get the transmitter to show a red light of any kind, no matter what I try. Very noisy interference until I turned off the speakers to the television and only used the Advent speaker. Thats ok if I only want music in one place. I rate this fair because of this.
On: 2002-08-23
Im a big electronics geek and usually can figure out things quickly w/o reading the instructions. I fiddled with my AW810 Wireless speaker for a good 10-15 mins and had no luck getting good receptions. I finally broke down and got the manual out. After reading the instruction, it only took 5 seconds to get the speaker working perfectly. Heres how to do it:
1. Read the manual!
2. Hook up the transmitter to your music source (amplifier or cd player), via the headphone output jack.
3. IMPORTANT: Turn the "volume" dial on the back of the transmitter until the little red light on the front flashes intermittently. If you get a solid red or a fast blinking light, you have the volume set too high. Ease back until it flashes slowly.
4. Turn the power on on your AW810 speaker.
5. Turn the "tuning" knob on the speaker until you get a "Green" light. And thats it! I put batteries in mine and take it out to the back yard. Its the best toy Ive gotten this Summer!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-08-04
I have this unit as well as the 900 Mhz stereo pair and have good performance. Unfortunatly I have aluminum siding and low-e windows (fine metal coating) so I had to move my transmitter close to an outside wall to get acceptable performance for my outside speaker. The inside speakers work well but have some popping. I believe this is from a cordless phone which shares the 900 Mhz spectrum.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-07-14
I cant recommend this product. Ive fiddled with tuning it hours after hours and keep it only 60 yds from my indoor receiver. Yes the signal is traveling through a glass baCK DOOR AND WALLS OF THE HOUSE - BUT GIVE ME A BREAK. The consistent,annoying, crackling interference that transmits lessen the overall experience. - Technology isnt quite there yet.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-07-02
Overall, I am quite pleased . . . I wanted a wireless and portable speaker to use on our front porch and back deck . . . this speaker does a fine job . . . sound is reasonably good with nice bass, and I had no trouble tuning it . . .
On: 2002-06-04
These little speakers not without their faults. Tuning can be a bit touchy and can need occasional tweaking, and they are susceptible to some multi-path interference from moving bodies. And, lets face it...theyre mono. But overall, these are a great value. Sound dispersion is excellent (they really are omnidirectional with their vertically firing tweeter and woofer)and we are able to fill our medium-size backyard with adequate sound levels for gatherings. Sound quality is adequate. They dont rival a good outdoor speaker, but I was impressed with the level of detail and with the low-end response. Hiss and static due to interference on the 900 MHz band was infrequent and usually due to moving bodies (multi-path interference). Plus, with the ability to run on batteries and still play loudly, theyre completely portable. Highly recommended.
On: 2002-05-22
Overall, Im happy with this purchase. The speakers perform well and provide better sound than I expected.Im only disappointed by two things. First, the range seems to be much less than advertised, especially in my house that has concrete and plaster walls. Second, the tuning of the speakers is very touchy. It sometimes takes a few iterations to get everything working well.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-05-17
This speaker seemed to have everything I wanted: wireless, outdoor, mono, omnidirectional, and AC powered...but: a. would it work and b. would it sound decent?Im extremely pleased to report yes on both accounts. Surprising bass response for such a small speaker and handles subtlety and nuance very well. My back yard just got a lot more fun...my worst problem now is worrying about disturbing my neighbors.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-04-29
My brother in law gave me this product for my birthday. I have it connected it to my computer. Now Im listening to MP3s in just about any room of the house! Good signal range, even through walls! Brilliant sound with deep rich bass tones. Cant wait for summer to arrive so that I can use it out on the patio!
by: Anonymous On: 2001-12-09
I gave these to my husband for fathers day. We are now giving one to 3 more folks for Christmas. We had a problem with them but tech support at Advent was great. They were able to walk my husband through the "fix", and we have not had a problem since. We use it when sitting on the porch, lounging in the hot tub, gardening, working in the yard, and working on the computer... you get the idea. I rate them a 4 because sometimes it is a a bit finicky to tune in, but once in, it is great!
On: 2001-10-10
If youre looking for a wireless speaker system that works well through walls then this is NOT the speaker you want. I bought it expecting it to work from my living room (where the transmitter was) to my deck (25 ft. away). If I moved the unit into the outside window line-of-sight to the transmitter then the speaker clarity was better. However, I was disappointed overall with the performance.
On: 2001-09-19
Having existing wired outdoor speakers on my patio that were of poor quality, I went looking to replace them. The speaker was recommended to me as an alternative to having to rewire and install my patio with new speakers. Set-up was extremely easy and the sound quality is very good. It would be nice to have a remote to control the volume instead of having to get up and turn the speakers on, but no one offers this feature that I am aware of. I am ordering the cordless headphones also so I can listen to music while my kids watch TV in the same room.
On: 2001-08-14
Just purchased the Advent Speaker. Sounds Great on initial test. For the long haul, only time will tell. Have yet to move it 300ft away as advertised. Did not have huge expectations of massive distance performance going in, so I wont be to dissapointed if I cant plant this in my neighbors yard to scare him.
On: 2001-07-26
I wouldnt waste my time on this product. The range isnt nearly what was advertised. It says 150 feet, but I can barely get them to work across the room. Its even worse in a two-story house. God forbid if you want to have the transmitter downstairs and the speaker upstairs or outside. They are prone to hissing and popping and my set has an annoying, high-pitched whine. Even the slight motion can interfere with the signal. I should have returned them when I had the chance.
|
|
