RCA RC970 Wireless Stereo Speaker System (Pair)
By: RCA Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 7
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 On: 2008-01-16
These are decent wireless speakers, the sound quality is obviously sub-par but they have very good range in my house and always work. Besides, the range/wattage/sound for under $200 is actually a pretty good deal. Plus you can buy an option internal battery for each speaker which makes them totally wireless which is super nice.
On: 2007-04-12
I have several different models of wireless speakers. I am an artist and I must have the proper atmosphere to create art, so I have wireless speakers all over my home by Acoustic Research, RadioShack (RCA), and "Velocity". The only other wireless speakers that are just a little better are also RCA but they were manufactured for RadioShack and are no longer available. The WSP250s are fine, 4 and 1/2 stars. There is some noise sometimes in the background, requiring me to switch channels in the back of the unit. Not a big problem, but, again, the RadioShack model requires zero adjustment and has a fuller sound. The WSP250s can use a tighter bass, but they sound crisp and clear. I wonder why these speakers dont sell more than they do. They work very well. They are big and I wouldnt hang them on a wall. The phased locked loop circuitry works well, and the power is adequate. Highly recommended.
 On: 2005-11-22
I spent the first couple days after receiving these speakers trying to decide whether to return them or not. The technology seems to be incredibly sensitive to any number of things. Ill try to list some suggestions for things to try before you give up on them.
1) My audio source was a 1/8" stereo (mini-jack) plug from my computer. The speakers come with a cable with a 1/8" jack on one end and 2 RCA connectors on the other end. When I connected the RCA connectors to the transmitter, the sound was always very weak and distorted. I finally connected my own Y-adapter to convert the RCA connectors back to 1/8" (so the cable was now 1/8" jacks on both ends) and plugged it into the 1/8" plug on the transmitter, and the sound was much better.
2) The transmitter and speakers have a choice of 3 channels (they all must be using the same one). I tried plugging the transmitter into different outlets around my home. I found that in some of them, channels 1 and 3 wouldnt work at all while channel 2 still would. So when you first set things up Id suggest using channel 2 to start off testing.
3) The troubleshooting part of the instructions warns not to plug the transmitter or speakers into a surge protector, and I found this to be true. It also warns about halogen lamps and light dimmers causing interference. My halogen lights didnt seem to be a problem, but my kitchen dimmer switch caused noise regardless of which outlets I used for the transmitter and speakers. With no audio source playing, you might try turning up the volume all the way on the speakers to make it easier to hear the noise as you go around turning things off and on to test.
4) It goes against the grain, but the speakers sound is generally louder and fuller if you switch them both to Mono rather than designating them as right and left channels.
5) The system acts more like it is transmitting a radio signal than traveling through the electrical wiring. The transmitter would be working and then Id set it on my metal monitor stand and it would stop. One of the speakers will lose connection if I place my hands on both sides of it or sometimes just stand in front of it. At one point I could make it play simply by plugging in a 12 extension cord (not connected to anything) into an outlet in another room. Then I could make it stop by standing over the end of the extension cord (not touching it) or starting to fold it up.
6) The speakers are more picky about the source volume level than the main speaker system hooked to my computer. The sound was a little harsh and distorted until I reduced the level.
7) Pay attention to the 6 x 7 x 11 dimensions. The speakers are about twice the size I had assumed theyd be - too large and heavy to hang up on the walls as Id intended.
Despite all that, Im probably going to keep them. With a lot of tweaking they can give a fairly acceptable sound. And Amazon has them heavily discounted at the moment ($79.98). The few other amplified speakers I found were usually around $300, and then Id still have to run wire(s) to them.
 On: 2005-04-30
With all the failed trials of poor quality of 900 MHz and X-10 wireless audio, Ive been waiting for audio powerline products for years. Finally!!! This is the first product of its kind and I cant understand why these speakers arent in every store around the country. They are cheap, you dont have to run wires through your house, and you dont have to configure some confusing and expensive computer based wireless systems with all their components and software. Its perfect.
I live in a one bedroom apartment in a small 6 story building. I connected standard left and right audio plugs from the output of my small bookshelf stereo to the input of the RC970 transmitter. I plugged the AC plug of the transmitter into a wall plug in my living room.
I read that surge protectors can interfere with any type of powerline technology whether it be audio, Ethernet, USB, etc., so I reserved a wall outlet solely for the transmitter.
Then I plugged one speaker into a wall outlet in my bedroom and the other speaker in the bathroom. I switched both speakers to the mono setting. I discovered that this setting actually mixes the left and right channel signal for playback. This is evident by the sound level boost as opposed to the lower sound level when only one (left or right) channel setting is selected on the speaker.
I set the transmitter and the speakers to the same transmission and receiving channels. I turned on my stereo and played a CD, went to the two rooms, turned on the speakers and now I have music throughout my home.
One thing I did discover that you should know about. When I plugged in a speaker into a wall outlet that was on the same circuit as my fairly high wattage ceiling halogen track lights there was static and interference. To correct the problem, I simply moved the speaker to another AC outlet and the problem was solved.
The sound quality is very very respectable for the size and configuration of these speakers. I never expected them to sound like expensive, in the wall, hardwired speakers. I was looking for a good combination of installation ease, quality and price. I found it!!
I bought the complete set of transmitter and 2 speakers on Ebay for $70. Excellent deal!
I would recommend these speakers highly to anyone who wants to broadcast music throughout their house on a budget without tearing up the walls to install wires and in wall speakers. Truly amazing!!
On: 2004-12-23
I bought a refurbed pair from eBay. I experienced no static issues
from any outlet in the house. Sound quality is OK and is better
than wireless speakers I have tried.
 On: 2004-10-15
I have these in same room with transmitter, and have tried all ways of tuning/locating. When they work, very good, but they will not stay tuned on same program. Emit loads of static and whistles. Will only tune with volume at max on tv. Upstairs I have ARs & they work wondorously, even on low TV volume. The ARs also emit a wider sound spectrum. These RCAs are not as good as the speakers that came with my PC.
On: 2004-10-14
I have these in same room with transmitter, and have tried all ways of tuning/locating. When they work, very good, but they will not stay tuned on same program. Emit loads of static and whistles. Will only tune with volume at max on tv. Upstairs I have ARs & they work wondorously, even on low TV volume. The ARs also emit a wider sound spectrum. These RCAs are not as good as the speakers that came with my PC.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-06
My intent was to pipe music from my living room to my office (about 25 feet). The RCA RC970 Powerline Speakers seemed like a good idea that unfortunately failed in execution. I tried five different speaker locations in my office, and any combinations of power outlets that they would reach in those different locations, and none of them worked in stereo. One or the two speakers would not have signal either immediately or loose signal in moments. I spent dozens of trips back and forth setting the different channels on the speakers and the base station trying to get a setup to work. I also experienced interference static at one setup position when the speaker was within two feet of my computer monitor. I would not recommend these speakers to anyone, however if your considering one speaker per room set to mono or using outlets in the same room as the base station than I could understand your considering them, for when I tested them in the same room that had the base station they functioned correctly. When the speakers worked the sound was good, better than any computer speaker systems Ive heard although less that you could expect to hear from similarly priced speakers hard wired into your system.
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