Acoustic Research AW-811 Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker (single)
By: Acoustic Research Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 142
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 On: 2008-06-13
I am not asking alot of this product.
I just want to listen to music no matter
what room Im in. This speaker does what I
need it to - at a price that worked for
me.
 On: 2008-05-26
This is functional as a deck/patio speaker for a party or casual listening. I think the quality of sound is reasonable for that purpose. I bought one speaker. I am not sure that two speakers would provide true stereo effect. Easy to get up and running. Takes a little adjustment in placement to get best reception.
 On: 2008-04-18
I purchased this speaker to compliment my Acoustic Research AW-871 Wireless Stereo Speakers for use both inside and outside my home. The setup was remarkably easy (follow the directions) and the sound and output is great for both my stereo system and for the large screen TV. I would and have recommended this setup to friends and family.
On: 2008-02-24
I like the sound of it, but dont put in batteries and plug in, they ended up leaking on my floor, also the transmitter wont work if your input is digital sound.
 On: 2008-02-16
These speakers were much larger and cumberson than I had expected. Plus if you werent in direct line site of the transmiter, forget it. When they were close to each other, you did get sound. Ya, the sound from a channel on my tv. Changing channel selections on the unit got rid of the tv, but the sound was like that of a old $2 am radio.
My recommendation is to go out to Radio Shack and buy some mini plug extentions, and forget about the wireless idea.
An article in "Wired" said about the same thing in an article.
art
On: 2008-01-31
This product sits in the corner of my closet. Sad. It never worked properly. Signal goes in and out, even when it is as close as 10 feet away. It reminds me of late night AM radio drift. Check that. AM radio is much more reliable, much more solid of a signal. I would never buy any of their products again.
On: 2008-01-18
No problems or difficulties in tuning or enjoying quality sound. Easy as unpacking, plug in, set frequency with one button push and amazing sound.
On: 2008-01-13
I bought these speakers with the intent of making surround sound in my family room for my big screen t.v. The set up was easy and what took the most time was putting up a shelf to hold the speakers.The sound is great and the only thing I was disappointed in was that there was no wall mounting hardware included.
On: 2007-12-21
I bought one of these mainly to listen to streaming music from my laptop. Although it really will not go 300 feet (cut all wireless specs in half) it works great for my application.
I work in the basement and garage a lot and this is perfect for background music. On mono, music is clear and has good bass, with hardly any hiss within about 100 feet of transmitter. The further you go away the more noticeable the hiss.
For the money you cant go wrong, had mine about 2 months now with no issues. Cant wait until summer to use it on the deck, I will have my second one by then to have stereo music.
My only complaint which is not really an issue with the speaker itself is that it does pick up noise every once in a while from something in the house electrical turning on & off and gives a little pop. Not a big deal though, I still would buy this again, matter a fact Im looking for a deal on #2 right now so I can have stereo.
I have not tried batteries yet, make sure they are rechargeable if you plug it in though!
On: 2007-12-18
we received an Acoustic Research speaker as a gift several months ago. We enjoyed the results so much we decided to buy another for a second room in our house. We cannot tell you how much easier it is to enjoy a surround type sound with this speaker. The volume on the television does not have to be "cranked" because the the sound is where you want.
The only negative aspect of this cordless speaker is an occasional drop-out which might be interference from movement through the signal. If the speaker and transmitter are properly aligned, this occurs rarely. The quality of the sound from our television is not Bose, but it is very acceptable.
On: 2007-12-09
This product was purchased because of the concept. It is useful for mp3 player type things. I didnt realize that it would mute the sound on the tv or stereo and only have sound coming from the one speaker. Therefore this is not a speaker system you would use for a party, more for taking outside for washing your car. The sound is fair but still like the idea of it being wireless. Havent tried it without the wire yet.
 On: 2007-12-01
Transmitting from inside the house to the backyard, for a distance of about 35 feet did not work well. The audio was noisy and intermittent.
Even with a good connection the sound quality is not very good. There are other solutions for wireless audio that I have tried and they work much better.
On: 2007-11-08
I was a little skeptical when I first made this purchase. Seems to work pretty good for the most part. Every once in a while I get some static, but changing channels seem to address the problem.
On: 2007-11-03
Easy to use right out of the box, just loud enough and even works well for music. Cant beat this for the price, in fact, the way it performs, it would be good value at twice the price.
On: 2007-10-17
Set up took 5 minutes, worked first time.
Real happy with sound quality and portability.
While watching football games outside through our windows we can smoke cigars, hear the TV commentary without incurring the wrath of those who dont understand football and cigars go together.
Highly recommend these speakers.
On: 2007-10-10
Speaker works just as intended! Adequate sound for our pool area/lanai! Worth the cost and very convenient.
On: 2007-10-09
The product is great! I used rechargeable batteries to make it more handy when I tend to my garden, when I wash the cars and in the patio while I BBQ..hhmmm!Yum, yum. I never expected it to sound so good like the outdoor speakers at Sea World or at Disney World for the price. The bass was solid like it has built in subwoofer and the treble was balanced. There is slight static/ buzzing sound that is noticeable in between songs when I play random songs from my CD collection but when the music comes on, the buzzing disappears. I guess it comes with anything that utilize wireless transmission. Overall, Im happy with the purchase.
On: 2007-10-05
It works as advertised, sound quality is adequate but definitely not "hi-fi" quality. I am a little disappointed in the transmitter. it is larger than I expected and I wish it was also battery powered. But it gets the job done more or less. But having a smaller, battery powered transmitter would be less awkward and wouldnt tie down a laptop computer so much. I end up having to be near a plug which sort of negates the portability of the laptop.
Other than that, it works fine!
On: 2007-09-30
I love this speaker. It was just what I wanted for my small deck. I wanted to get my music channels from my TV outside and it is perfect. If I had a bigger area, I would buy a 2nd to have stereo.
On: 2007-09-17
The product works as advertised. The sould quality is not the best, but no issues with the setup. Little disappointed in the range of the transmission as Im only getting about 30 feet, but I might need to adjust the location of the transmitter.
On: 2007-09-15
I use this speaker outdoors about 50 from its source. If you dont mind mono-reproduction of music, it works fine. For real stereo you need to buy two speakers. The sound is a trifle "tinny" but adequate for general purposes. It has a feature with which I am not happy and that is a sort of "popping" sound as the music first comes on or another track begins as well as after a second or two of silence in a piece of music--especially noticeable in classical piano. I would recommend this speaker to anyone who wants outdoor music essentially for its contribution to the ambiance of the space. Its folded handle makes it easily portable. It should not be left outside where it can get directly wet as from a sprinkler or rain.
On: 2007-09-14
We are both have some hearing problems. By putting the speaker near to where we sit, we were able to turn the volume of the TV way down much to the delight of the neighbors. It was easy to install and worked right away. The only thing Id like to see added is a remote control for the volume, but thats just being lazy on my part.
On: 2007-09-13
I just got this speaker delivered to me today. It took about 3 minutes to set up and hear it working perfectly. The only glitch I see is that it took about 30 seconds after the DC power supply was connected to the unit (speaker part) before it "woke" up. In fact, the same sort of delay was evident once I plugged it into its permanent outlet instead of the one I used to test it. So, maybe, some of those who tried it didnt wait it out? Doubtful, I know, but just a thought. I like the fact that it can get the audio source from either a RCA line out on your component or headphone jack (large adapter incl). I am not setting the speaker from the source but through a couple of walls and it sounds great! I think I am going to buy two more.....
On: 2007-09-11
I was pleased with the sound that this unit produced and I did not have to finance the house to afford it. I plan to use on the backyard patio to enjoy music or the latest sporting event, hooked into the SAT receiver. I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy good sound outdoors.
On: 2007-09-06
I ordered this item through Amazon, and was disappointed to discover that the unit did not work. Ordered a replacement through the manufacturer, and the second unit is also defective, according to the manufacturers "help line". The most frustrating aspect will be getting my money back, since this is an Amazon "sub-contractor". Big mistake.
On: 2007-09-02
Bought item so my wife and I could listen to an internet radio station while by the pool.Works and sounds better than I thought it would.I am going to purchase another so we will have true stereo sound.Great product.
On: 2007-08-09
If you have a swimming pool and want music near it, this is the way to go! Since You have the option of using batteries instead of plugging into an outlet it is truly portable and wireless. When loaded with batteries, it gets a little heavy but its big round handle makes it comfortable to carry. It`s downward facing speaker and all buttons and switches are protected from splashing water. Sound quality is not great but good enough(probably due to the downward firing speaker).Acoustic Research AW-811 Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker (single)
On: 2007-08-05
Bought this unit to help my hearing impaired mother-in-law with TV listening. Its portability makes it convenient. Sound quality is fair.Has "humming" noise when TV volume is muted. Occasional high pitch interference is noted.
On: 2007-08-03
I bought three of these speakers to spread out around the place. They all worked right out of the box with very little hassle. Sound quality is good.
On: 2007-07-28
At first, Ill admit I was a little leery about the quality of wireless outdoor speakers. But,these babies have sure changed my mind.(I bought 2) Excellence and quality in a small portable package. I just load my 5 disc CD player and listen to hours of perfect sounding music at the pool !!!!
On: 2007-07-05
The speaker as good sound but the 300 ft distance is not there. Im running it at 150 ft and it is marginal. The weather also affects it at this distance. It seems the more humid it is the more marginal it gets and I have to move the speaker around to get it to stay tuned in. Overall Im happy with it but if you want it to go over 150 ft you probably should move to the dessert where it is flat and dry.
On: 2007-07-05
Good distance, easy to set up...but sound quality is only fair, and not enough volume. The AR Indoor black pair have a better sound and are louder.
On: 2007-06-18
Overall, a good sound alternative for the outdoors. It has the range away from my receiver that it promised; the quality of the (mono) is pretty good, with a good bass undertone. If I had to nitpick, I would say that it picks up some interference on occasion - and yes, I did try all three different frequencies. But overall, its great on the outdoor deck or in the backyard. It delivers as promised.
On: 2007-06-15
We love this wireless speaker. We have been looking for the perfect speaker to use outside by our pool without having to wire outdoor speakers to our house. This speaker has great reception from the receiver, especially for being outdoors, and it also has high quality sound. Would definitely recommend!
On: 2007-06-13
This product is a great addition to anyones home that does not have wiring or a home entertainment system capable of supporting multiple sets of speakers. These speakers can be used individually or in pairs for left/right separation. While they are not the high quality sound of your stereo speakers, they are great on the patio or in the bathroom. We have two and put one on each porch when we have company. Other times, we put one in the office and one in the master bath. When we enjoy either of our porches by ourselves, we put both of them for stereo sound. They are certainly worth the money.
On: 2007-06-13
I needed an outdoor speaker so I could play our CD collection on our Sony Megachanger outside. The AW-811 does everything its advertised to do. I hooked the transmitting antenna to the headset output of our stereo receiver and the speaker plays just fine outside about 30 feet away. It has good tone and a fair base, and was about $30.00 cheaper than Circuit City. Works for me.
On: 2007-06-12
Since I rent, Im unable to attach outdoor speakers to the building for outdoor activities/work. I really didnt want to run hundreds of feet of wire to have music around working areas. I read several reviews about these wireless speakers, some good and some bad. Like most people I had to find out for myself.
I would recommend if you do decide to purchase one, read all of the instructions no matter if you think you know what you are doing. Some reviews say that the installed batteries will explode if you attach the unit to AC. It clearly states in the instuctions it will charge the batteries (rechargeable only batteries not alkaline batteries, duh!).
Also, attachment to an audio source; they have a nice section telling all the things to have quality sound with different connects from variable to fixed output. Dont get me wrong this speaker will not be heard from blocks away, but does produce more than what you would think from a mono channel. I have used this product non-stop for several weeks with no issues yet, and as I recall it was a refurbished item (because it was cheaper). I also plan on purchasing the AW-812 for stereo sound.
Overall, it is a great product and a good purchase for sound in a "sound dead" place. No regrets.
On: 2007-05-29
I didnt want to drill a hole in my house for speaker wires so this was my solution. Such a great decision on my part. Fantastic sound .. I use one on each end of my 40 patio for a great stereo sound. Not sure why the gentleman reported abt interference..I have no interference whatsoever and are even loud enough to go over the huge central a/c unit noise.
On: 2007-05-22
Pros: very easy to set up. Thats it!
Cons: Interference every time someone walks in front/they turn off for no reason/not nearly loud enough.
On: 2007-05-11
I could not be happier with this wireless speaker. It works great! We needed it for "by the pool" use. I connected it to my XM receiver and within minutes had crystal clear reception outside not only on my deck but also all over my yard! I am very happy with my purchase! Hope you will be too!
On: 2007-04-29
Update from 7/05. Ive been using this speaker with my camper stereo for about two years now & its working just great. Ive adapted a 12volt adaptor for the transmitter so I can power it when camping where theres no a/c hookup for the camper. I also installed an on/off switch so I dont have to always open the cabinet when I want to turn the transmitter on. The speaker has worked through several downpours.
On: 2007-04-01
Right out of the box, without reading the directions, I hooked it up to the stereo in the garage. Turned on Dave Ramsey on my XM and walked all around my yard with great reception. No more wires. I love it. Only downside is the cost of the rechargable batteries, and it does not have a headphone jack so I can listen while in bed without bothering my wife. For the money this is a great product.
On: 2007-03-31
This wireless speaker does the job that I want to. I have connected my iPod docking station and PC audio to my AV system. As long as I output the audio from the AV system to transmitter, I get the music in the backyard. Now, I can listen to my favorite MP3 songs and Internet radio in my garden. The sound quality is okay since I have only one (mono mode), but I dont really care that much. The only thing I dont like is the power adpater is not meant for outdoor. However, for the value, I can bear with it.
On: 2007-02-03
This speaker took a couple of minutes to have operating after I unpacked and made sure I had all the pieces. Hooked the receiver up and when it turned green I plugged in the speaker and it worked like a charm.
I may buy another one in the near future.
I bought it from Amazon and had it in a week and it worked right out of the box.
Bob
On: 2007-01-19
I purchased this for Christmas 2006 and just love it. It is all that is was advertised. I tried it out in our backyard, about 225 feet away and works fine! It took a while for the signal to get there but was fine when it did. I was a bit leary about the distance but since it says it works up to 300 feet away I bought this one. I give it 5 stars! :-)
On: 2007-01-08
Initially, I had problems getting this unit to work (this may have been because my unit didnt ship with instructions). Like many previous reviewers, I either got no sound at all or couldnt get reception very far away from the transmitter -- and when I did, it was full of static. But, after a little trial and error, I have it working great and I must say it sounds pretty darn good.
One important thing Ive discovered is not to plug the speaker in and/or turn it on until you have the transmitter hooked up to your audio source and the blue "Level" light is displaying on the front. Once you do, turn the speaker on and see if you can get good reception. From what I have read, for some people, the unit works right off the bat and sounds great. If you have a solid green light on the front of your speaker and the sound quality works for you, then consider yourself blessed -- you are good to go. But if, like me, you do have a lot of static or no sound at all, try the following fixes:
1. Play with different channel settings on the back of the transmitter; there are only three, and one of them should produce a stronger signal than the other two. Find the strongest signal to your speaker and leave it there. DO NOT FORGET to turn the speaker off and on again after each time you change channels on the transmitter! Yes, running back & forth from the transmitter to the speaker is a hassle, but its critical that you do this or youll have trouble getting a green light on the front of the speaker instead of a red light. In fact, I dont think the next fixes will make any difference if your speaker has a red light with no sound at all -- so its imperative that you get SOME type of reception (even if its intermittently blinking green/red) before you try the next two steps.
2. Try raising/lowering the transmitter and the speaker itself. For some reason, my transmitter works better when its behind my stereo. You would think that the higher the transmitter, the better the signal, but this hasnt been the case with me. Additionally, I found that when the speaker is underneath certain things like a wrought iron table, you might get more interference than you would if the speaker was on top of said table, or underneath something like a wooden bench.
3. Once you do get reception, try adjusting the level on the transmitter and volume on both the audio source and speaker unit. From where I am transmitting, my speaker reception is best when I have the transmitter level at about 50%, the volume on the audio source at about 35%, and the volume on the speaker at 100% (you can always turn the speaker down using the volume control on the speaker itself if you dont want it so loud, which is a nice feature). You wont knock down any buildings with wall of sound at these settings, but for me the reception is crisp and the treble/bass sounds very good.
I hope this info is helpful and saves you a little frustration, because it really is a nice little unit. Id be interested to any additional tips/suggestions you may have.
On: 2007-01-03
I was skeptic after reading the previous reviews but decided to try the unit, Received it in good time, set it up and it has worked perfectlly. I guess some of the people that have had trouble with it just didnt read how to set it up. Ive had no problems with it.
On: 2006-12-07
I bought 2 in Sept 06 and its now Dec 06 and they still work great. I had one in the garage and one in my workshed for the last 3 months and the temps didnt effect them at all. I just brought them inside the house for the season and they do just what I need them to.....emit good sound with a good range. Am about to buy 2 more.....
On: 2006-11-13
We love our outdoor speaker, great sound from our bose system! Sometimes when you unplug the speaker and move it, you have to push the on/off button, but thats not that big of a deal.
On: 2006-11-10
This speaker works fantastically (is that a word?)
I have no problems whatsoever with it and in fact have gotten a number of compliments from friends on how well it works. The sound quality and volume are outstanding. Range is great. No complaints at all.
My advice is to buy it, but look around as I remember finding it much cheaper elsewhere.
On: 2006-11-06
I had a very bad experience with this product. The signal would fade in and out even if I was relatively close to the source signal. When the signal faded out an annoying static sound would take its place. My parents have Indoor/Outdoor Wireless speakers that work great. This product has a nice price, but does not perform.
On: 2006-11-05
The first speaker came broken, I first called the manufacture but they wanted me to ship it at my cost for repair, that was not acceptable. I then called Amazon and you took the item back promptly.
When I tried to have replacement shipped I was informed the price had increased and I would have to pay the difference, since this is the speaker my wife wanted I was forced to pay the increased price. I am not happy with this tansaction.
On: 2006-11-03
I cant get good reception at any range from source. Intermittent when two rooms away from source. Have to move the speaker unit around to find an acceptable location. Doesnt automatically retune when being turned back on. Not at all what I expected from this piece of equipment.
On: 2006-11-02
Ordered from WholeSaleAV and it arived even quicker than their estimate.
I use this primarially outside by the pool or the patio.
It has great range.
If you are needing really deep bass, this speaker wont deliver that, but being primarially designed for outdoor use, thats probably a good thing for your neighbors.
It is easy to hook up, but read the manual, and attach your transmitter to an output that is NOT affected by your receivers volume control, otherwise youll get a lot of noise and distortion. I attached to an extra tape out, and the sound (other than lack of deep base) is just fine.
The on-off-volume button is a little quirky, which might lead you to believe that the speaker is broken, but it just takes a little getting used to.
Overall, this speaker is great for its intended use.
On: 2006-10-29
I read all the reviews and was a little worried about buying this product. It seemed like everything I read was 50/50. Im no sound expert by any means but this thing sounds very good for a wireless speaker. No cutting out or static problems.
On: 2006-10-28
After reading these reviews, I was a little anxious about purchasing this product. I found it on sale at Circuit City so I gave it a try and Im glad I did. It actually sounds pretty good for being such a small speaker and set-up was a breeze. Im going to buy another one.
On: 2006-10-05
Received this speaker as a replacement for the Advent AW-810 which did not work at all. This one was much easier to install and calibrate! Very happy with range and sound quality. Highly recommended!
On: 2006-09-01
Sound is decent, setup is a breeze. One of my first ones was delivered DOA, however, return was easy (And free!) and I received my replacement 1 1/2 weeks later. I would recommend this product.
On: 2006-08-20
When we received our product it did not work. We called the Customer Service and they told us to return it. As of today (August 19, 2006), we still have not received a replacement. We are very dissatisfied.
On: 2006-08-13
I wanted background music on my deck. I bought 2 of these units. They sound very good for this purpose. There is a small amount of hiss, but it really isnt noticeable in my environment. The units have worked dependably for the entire summer.
A few notes:
- If you use regular batteries, DO NOT PLUG THESE UNITS INTO A WALL RECECPTICLE! The unit will try to charge the baterries and destroy them. Rechargeable batteries are available, but cost a lot. I have used one set of regular batteries all summer. So I question the need for rechargeables other than environmental concerns.
- The speakers do not turn on immediately. It takes a few seconds for them to find to correct frequency.
- Be careful adjusting the gain level on the transmitter. It has a big impact on the sound you get from the speakers.
(Dont bother buying the unit without the transmitter. For the few extra dollars you get a spare transmitter. I hooked one to my TV to broadcast the cable music stations. I connected the other to my reciever.)
On: 2006-08-04
i just received my speaker, took it out of the box, read the directions, PLUGGED it in, turned it on, turned it off, packed it up and printed out a return slip...it worked well only when the speaker was near the transmitter...also, no one can tell me how long batteries will last; hence it needs to be plugged in (also, batteries charge when it is plugged in anyway)...i tried it outside and had to keep running back to the transmitter inside to make adjustments....waste of time...smarter to buy a portable boombox...
On: 2006-08-01
Now if I could only fiure out how to turn it OFF. Anyone out there able to accomplish that without having to pull the cord from outlet, please let me know.
On: 2006-07-31
Wow....try to get this thing serviced or replaced if you receive a defective one.....what a nightmare!!! I have several..and have had no problem until the last one I purchased in March 2006. The product comes from Beach Audio...who is NOT customer friendly to say the least. If you go to the manufacturer..you will end up with "thomson, inc" which are very friendly..but nothing ever gets done. Now it is 4 months later...I am still without a speaker...I just called Thomson and they are going to investigate and give me an update which will take 2 weeks.
Good luck on your purchase
On: 2006-07-30
These speakers have a good quality sound. I used to own a similar set of speakers but you had to manually tune to the correct frequency, these auto tune for the best signal. You can add as many as you want. Great for around the pool.
On: 2006-07-28
I have my stereo in the basement with speaker wires connceted to speakers downstairs, upstairs and on my deck. Wanted to be able to hear my stereo in the garage and on the front poch without running any wires. This system works great! I can have my cd player or radio on downstairs with anyone of my 3 locations going as well as this wireless speaker. With a 300 foot range it easliy reaches sound out to everywhere in and around my house I want it to go. I plan to get an mp3 player which will also work on these speakers. If your wanting a great sound without speaker wires this is a great system.
On: 2006-07-27
I ordered the AR wireless speaker and headphone combination. They were shipped separately. The headphones arrived first and work as desired. Today the speaker came. I set it up according to the directions and by chance selected the same channel the headphones were on. The XMradio, which the headphone transmitter was attached to, immediately came through the wireless speaker. I am debating whether or not to order another speaker to get stereo. The quality is as expected from a plastic bucket, as another reviewer called it. To be used as a weather-proof outdoor speaker it will perform as expected. I am completely satisfied, but can only give a 4 as Im not over-whelmed with having to use 8 size C batteries with it.
Edit - the speaker went south. It no longer works and is thrown away. I would not buy another. I now would give it less than a one star if I could change it.
On: 2006-07-22
I received it today. It turned on twice. Wont turn on again. Amazon is shipping a replacement today but Im seriously considering just cancelling that and ordering a high powered FM transmitter and a half dozen $30 boomboxes and being done.
On: 2006-07-21
I received it today. It turned on twice. Wont turn on again. Amazon is shipping a replacement today but Im seriously considering just cancelling that and ordering a high powered FM transmitter and a half dozen $30 boomboxes and being done.
On: 2006-07-17
Where to start. I had read the mixed reviews about this product but since my options were limited I decided to take a shot and ordered 2 of these. I opened the first one on a Thursday and was impressed by the ease of set up and the size of the speaker. It did not reach as far as I was led to believe but since I ultimately did not need to be far from the base, I was satisfied. The sound was average. I decided to open the second unit on Friday and it worked about the same. The first thing that went wrong was the units could not work as left or right in stereo. As a matter of fact of those 3 settings each worked at different levels but those levels had little to do with the way they were labeled. Meaning, instead of Left, Mono, Right they should have been labeled A, B, C. You basically pick the one that sounds best. Even still, I was going to keep the speakers. On Saturday one of the units died. It started for about a second, made a popping sound and then I could not get it to power on at all. House flies have longer life spans. The second unit worked all day Saturday and did an average job. On Sunday I could not get it to recieve a signal even though it was in the exact same place where it worked! No matter what I did it would not work. It is now Monday and both of these units are being returned. What a disappointment!
On: 2006-07-13
I finally got on the itunes bandwagon and was listening to my collection through the computer. But I wanted to be able to listen in the kitchen or bedroom or out on the patio from time to time without investing in an mp3 player. So I researched wireless speakers and found some proaudio reviews that were favorable to the AW-811. Once it arrived I set it up in five minutes and honestly could not have designed a better sound solution for my purpose and my budget.
On: 2006-07-06
This was a positive surprise. The "installation" was really simple (basically just unpacking it) and the speaker has been working nicely for a few weeks now. Although we live in San Francisco, we have virtually no interference in- or outdoors. Of course you cannot expect a great sound quality from a plastic bucket at this price, but at low volume it is decent, which is all I expected. It is really nice to be able to take the speaker with you out on the deck or yard instead of having to crank up the volume on the fixed speakers in the house.
On: 2006-07-03
On my second speaker and about to take this one back as well. As others have commented the on-off switch is a problem. It worked fine (although the sound is poor) at first but then I couldnt get it to turn on. The second speaker would not turn off. I unplugged it so it wouldnt run all night and found that it would not turn on again. That on/off switch is defective. STAY AWAY
On: 2006-06-09
We purchased two of these speakers. They advertise that you can use two of them and set one up to be the "left" and the other to be the "right" speaker or use it in the Mono mode. We could never get both to work. Only one. The sound quality was not that great out of the one but would get us by.
Then, when we went to use one of them we found that the batteries inside had exploded. The acid ruined the counter it was sitting on. Apparently, you cannot have the batteries inside when you plug it in for use. We did not notice this tiny warning in the instruction manual and simply were not looking for it. Why would we? You can put batteries in all kinds of "portable" products and still plug them in when you want to save battery life (portable radios, baby monitors, etc). This is crazy! Since then I found out that other people have bought this product and done the same thing. I do not want to have to take my batteries out whenever I want to plug it into the wall and put them back in for the portability. Defeats the purpose, takes too long and since it is 8 "C" batteries I dont want to rely on battery power all the time. Go a different route for speakers. We are!
On: 2006-05-20
Bought two of these systems. What the heck, the speaker by itself is about $20.00 less. I am sure if I need to replace the the transmitter, it would cost more or maybe they dont sell it separate. The build quality of the speakers is very sturdy and robust, and they are not bad to look at. They are omni directional, which is nice. The sound quality, as expected, is nothing to write home about, but its decent. Like a previous reviewer, I have problems each time I turn the speakers on, It takes a few tries to get them to lock onto the transmitter signal. I also get some static interference when I move around in the vicinity of the speakers. I am keeping them though, because I can now listen to my main audio system anywhere around the house. Oh, the stereo sound isnt half bad.
On: 2006-05-17
I had hi hopes for this Speaker. Man was I disapointed. It is like the worst radio that you have ever had. Sound quality is poor. The reception is even worse. I would not buy this again.
On: 2006-05-10
My experience with the supplier of this product ...Beach Audio.com....was unacceptable. Beware...if this product is defective...you will have to pay for return shipping and insurance which cost me $25.00. I had the first one for one month when it stopped working. I returned it at my expense....bought a new one..then they refunded my original puchase price. Now, the second one that I have had 2 weeks has experienced the same problem.
I purchased one of these thru buy.com a year ago...and it is outside and runs beautifully yearround.
I believe this supplier...Beach Audio has a defective product.
On: 2006-04-30
I got one of these speakers yesterday for my birthday. After opening the box I had it set up and running off my TV in less than 5 minutes. We have XM radio as part of our cable TV package so I simply connected the wireless transmitter with its included y-adapter to the audio out jacks on the back of the TV and tuned to a favorite XM satellite radio channel. The wireless transmitter is pleasantly modern looking and comes with an AC adapter and necessary cords to plug into your equipment. Mine is sitting on top of the TV. After turning the speaker on, music was immediately heard from the AR speaker with no noticeable interference. You can mute the TV volume without affecting the speaker sound but the TV must remain turned on. You can also connect it to a stereo receiver or other audio device. I did not need to change any channel settings on the speaker (there are three available in case you get interference on one). The speaker runs on A/C with an included adapter or 8 C-batteries. If you use just one speaker, place the speakers switch on Mono. With two speakers, select L for one and R for the other. It even comes with an integrated carry handle and a custom fit rubber "mat" for the top of the speaker to place drinks on. Ours will be used outdoors by our pool. I am more than pleased and will order a second one after I finish this review.
On: 2006-03-15
I purchased the AW118 twice. The first one worked great the first time it was used. Then it would not work again. The second time the same thing happened. I think it is a problem with the ac adapter or a capacitor or something. I tried everything to make this hunk of junk work. I even called the manufacturer and they were no help at all. The weird thing is..when the speaker was totally unpowered it gave off a static sound occasionally. And when I tried to connect it again, the ac plug-in on the speaker actually arced. There is a serious problem with this speaker. Save yourself a trip back to store where you purchased it and go with anything else you can find.
On: 2006-02-22
I purchased this taking into consideration the mixed reviews, and initially thought it worked pretty well. The power button is funny and needs to be held to turn on or off, and once it wouldnt even turn off. The issue is the range and tuning. The speaker was purchased for a party so we could have music on our patio. With the transmitter literally on the other side of the wall from the speaker and the transmitter strength on full the speaker would occasionally tune in and would eventually tune out leaving us with static. Im extremely disappointed I paid $70 for this piece of junk. The speaker sound is acceptable (over nothing) but I wouldnt rave about it. A decent boom box likely has much better audio quality.
On: 2006-02-21
I purchased this taking into consideration the mixed reviews, and initially thought it worked pretty well. The power button is funny and needs to be held to turn on or off, and once it wouldnt even turn off. The issue is the range and tuning. The speaker was purchased for a party so we could have music on our patio. With the transmitter literally on the other side of the wall from the speaker and the transmitter strength on full the speaker would occasionally tune in and would eventually tune out leaving us with static. Im extremely disappointed I paid $70 for this piece of junk. The speaker sound is acceptable (over nothing) but I wouldnt rave about it. A decent boom box likely has much better audio quality.
On: 2006-02-13
Kind of confusing connections. Spent 45 minutes reading and re-reading the directions. Never got it to work. RETURNED!
On: 2006-02-13
Well, the manufacturer wasnt really thining Im sure many people buy these for their rear channel or as a extra set of speaker for their main system. Well, unfotunately their use is limited. You can not connect to the rear channel because only RCA plugs are supplied to connect to a pre-amp RCA plug if you have one or a to connect to the headphone jack. Well, the latter shuts off the sound to the entire system unless you hook into the cd player. Because it is an amp too, connections to the speaker outs (rear) would blow the speaker, so it really can only be used with the cd player or through the record out rca plugs that would go to a VCR or Tape player. Thus, you can not get just the rear channel to come through these. Sound is however pretty good!
On: 2006-02-08
At first, i thought this was a great idea, as i wanted to hear my music upstairs in my house. SO i bought the first one, and within a few days, it stopped turning on. So i returned it to Amazon and got a second one. Now this one does not turn off. But i guess that is better than the first scenario. They do need to make a dedicated switch, not a press on and off switch. Also, the connections, A/V? Why not speaker connections? I had to set this up to my CD player and not my receiver because of that issue. It is a speaker, it should use speaker connections, that would make much more sense. Also, the sound is just a part of a second behind, but with the distance from my other speakers, it isnt so bad. Overall, it does what it needs to do, but only with my CDs. Oh well.
On: 2006-02-01
good, reliable, works all the time. I am happy
On: 2006-01-21
I purchased this speaker for my husband on Christmas. My plan was to hook it up to the receiver so we could listen to the digital music channels from our TV cable box when we are outside on our back deck or in the kitchen. The manual says to use either the Headphones jack (which then disables our regular speakers) or one of the A/V jacks which means you cant activate the cable music (hooked into Video 1). Anyway, I played around and by hooking up the transmitter to Tape Out I can still receive my cable music and use my wireless speaker. So far the speaker works fine for what we wanted it for and is cheaper than wiring our deck for waterproof speakers. Hopefully this helps anyone trying to hook this up to a receiver and wanting all other components to work.
On: 2006-01-18
Bought two, in spite of the rampant power switch problem comments here.
Both worked ~1week/1 bbq session. Both units using a single transmitter in stereo mode. The next usage one speaker stopped turning on. It didnt take any jarring or abuse to stop functioning... Appears to just be a product of using the power switch. Oh, and the power switch is always off, unless you push to turn it explicitly on. So theres no trying to control its state using the power cord -- the option I thought Id try pre-order, based on the known-issues with these.
Ive considered tearing the broken one apart and trying to bypass the switch and splice in a volume potentiometer, as Im pretty sure everything except the wacky hybrid power/volume switch itself is fine.
The remaining speaker works fine. Range wasnt bad either: I could get a signal from the transmitter in my living room to roughly 25yds away in my detached garage, next to my smoker. Not to mention there arent many good options in this niche (I looked before I leaped). When it works, it works, so it picks up a couple of stars in spite of the issues, due to lack of alternatives.
Yes it includes a charger, nice touch. But six c-cell rechargables ran $60+ last I checked. You really have to want to have this unit completely wireless to drop that kind of change on a $50 speaker -- esp. one with this type of failure rate.
This unit would probably be fine, if AR would throw out the fancy hybrid switch and put in a couple of simple dedicated-function controls.
On: 2006-01-18
I am in the market for a wireless speaker to play music that I have stored in a CD jukebox in my basement and from my I-Pod. Brookstone has a wireless speaker that they are selling for $150, however I wanted to get some user reviews before shelling out that much for 1 speaker. It sounded good in the store, however I would like to get some feedback from someone who has used the speakers. The Acoustic model here has gotten so-so reviews and I would not mind paying more for the Brookstone model if it plays qualilty sound. Any feedback would be most appreciated!
On: 2006-01-17
I got this speaker after being over a friends house and relaxing in their back yard while listening to this speaker. The source was from their I-pod and it worked great.
I got this for my own home. It is wired to my receiver via audio cable (the headphone jack is not practical). Now, I can work in the garage and listen to music. Now, I can work anywhere in the yard, and listen to music. Now, I can sit in the hot tub and listen to music or get better sound for the TV I have rigged up outside. Last year, I put it in the guest bathroom during our super bowl party for audio of the game in the "can" so nobody missed a moment. Now THATS practical!
The rechargeable battery feature is also a plus! We never have to worry about batteries.
On: 2006-01-15
This is a wonderful speaker for the price.. well made, great sound! I just love it! Highly recommended!
On: 2006-01-05
I have a Tivoli Model Two radio with a dock for my Ipod. The system works great for my living room, but theres no way to run more speakers off the radio. I wanted music outside, in the garage, etc. My parents have some old JBL cordless speakers, so I thought Id go with something like that. In looking around, these seemed to be the best for me. It seems that all of this type of speaker have some negative reviews. Ive been very happy with mine. I bought two and have rechargeable batteries in one of them. They work outside, in the garage, everywhere. The sound quality isnt stellar, but Im satisfied with it. The volume they put out is really quite good for the size of the unit. The one thing I dont like is that you need to adjust the transmitter output based on the dynamic range of the music youre playing. For quiet music, it needs to be turned up, it has to go down for loud music. Other than this issue, Im very happy with these speakers. Ill soon be using the extra transmitter I got to play streaming music off my PC anywhere in or out of my house.
On: 2005-12-03
The speaker is defective, the on off button does not work, and although at first it received a faint but static signal at less then 30 feet away, it soon gave up the gost. [...].
On: 2005-10-28
Basically, I dont know how it performed....the package didnt even include the transmitter! With that, I decided not to reorder this item!
On: 2005-10-26
We purchased this item over the internet. Upon receipt of the first unit, we discovered it did NOT work. We had to send it off to the manufacturer, at our expense, via UPS. Did not think we should have had to pay that expense. Upon receipt of second unit we have used and thoroughly enjoy the quality of sound and the portability. Would highly recommend this unit to anyone.
On: 2005-10-26
Bought two wireless speakers. One wouldnt turn on and the other wouldnt pick up the signal from the amp. Returned them both.
On: 2005-10-16
This is a really great speaker.. great sound and quality..plus a great price.. would highly recommend it to anyone.. I just love it and so do all of the guests who have listened to it....
On: 2005-10-10
Bought the unit and it worked great for the price. Love the handle feature! Tried various areas with good reception. After ten or so tries the on switch fried. Exchanged,same problem.I think research should be more than just a title. Although I wish I had one that worked.
On: 2005-10-08
The product works great. Setup is a breeze and it works as advertised. Now have stereo sound in my backyard and in the garage. Thew sounds quality is better than expected and I dont get any interferecnce from the cordless phones that run on the same frequency.
Its a simple an inexpensive way to expand your stereo system.
On: 2005-09-30
This is a great product and works really well! First one I got was DOA but a quick exchange and I got one that worked. Sounds great and range is just okay. Rechargeable batteries are a must, but its really cool how the unit recharges them. This is perfect for roaming around the house and yard with tunes.
On: 2005-09-29
Spent a lot of time attempting to get a decent signal but it was constantly waverig and tinny. Just is not technically acceptable. Returned the unit to Amazon.
On: 2005-09-29
I bought this speaker to use outside on my deck when using the pool, hot tub, etc. Originally I hooked it up to my computer which is on the second floor on the opposite side of the house. I brought it outside, and the reception was great! The sound is good, but I only have one so it is mono. Its good for background music, but if you really want high quality sound youll have to spend a little more. The only minor complaints I have are that sometimes it takes a lot of fiddling around with the base unit to get the speaker to pick up the signal. You also need to be flexible about where you put it as it sometimes gets some interference. Ususally moving it a little one way or the other fixes it. Overall Im very happy with it.
On: 2005-09-12
I purchased the speaker because we were having a going away party for my daughter (she enlisted in the Air Force). The party was on our deck and we hoped to play patriotic music for the occasion. But at the most critical time, it stopped working. No power light. Tried changing electrical outlets and using batteries to no avail and this was after having the speaker(working) for 15 days.
On: 2005-09-12
This speaker is great for bringing with you on the deck, patio, or garage for some background music. It is easy to set up, and the automatic tuning makes use a snap. Good price for a decent product. If you can find eight rechargeable "C" batteries, the AC adapter that comes with this speaker be used charge the eight batteries required to power the speaker as well as power the speaker directly.
On: 2005-09-12
Easily set up and works as advertized. The speaker being portable is definetly and assest.
On: 2005-09-11
Great sound, flawless automatic tuning. Invest in 8 NMHI batteries. The unit will keep them recharged. Great battery life. Read the directions - try it their way, first. Why pay more?
On: 2005-09-09
I ordered this item with some hesitation due to other comments and issues from other people. I really liked the idea of total cordlessness. I ordered two sets at the same time unfortanitly the first one I received the speaker would not turn on and I expected the worst but the other set came and it was better than I expected. So I ordered another to replace the one I returned and it works just as well. The speaker has a mono/right/left switch when in mono mode has more bass in it than right/left mode. I had no problems with interference any where in my house including basement and garage I take the speaker everywhere. The speaker outside would go about 75 feet from house then started to lose reception. I did get a longer cord for transmitter and put it outside the window and speakers would go about 125 feet when it started to loose reception. I also found that the higher the transmitter the further the reception I could use the speaker at the 150 foot rating but all my best stereo equipment is down stairs. I now have the two speakers and use them in stereo outside for picnics and when the wife and I are enjoying the pool. It is so much nicer than opening the windows and KRANKING the stereo. I read reviews that state they here popping and lots of static through the speaker. I have had no such problems but I do live in the country with neighbors that are not that close to me. I also have a 900mhz phone that had no effect on the system at all. If your looking for outside speakers and do not need to have the highiest stereo quality sound like the $200-$400 speakers provide with a speaker cord attached these speakers could be just what your looking for. I also whant to mention that amazon has a great return policy and they have very few if ever a problem with returning anything.
On: 2005-09-06
I wrote my original review "About the on - off switch" in May 2005. The speaker is (was) great. I loved the sound and the ability to take it anywhere in the house. Then, it happened! The transponder went out. I tried to contact AR about a replacement transponder. Long story but was passed from 800 number to 800 number. I was asking if I could buy a replacement transponder. Finally was told I would need to pack up the entire unit and send it to them. It would be 6 weeks before I would get a replacement. But they would replace the entire unit - not just the transponder. I decided that was useless. So I began researching whether I could find another transponder that would work. Searching the web I stumbled on Jensen JW160 Wireless Headphones that are also 900 MHz and use operating frequencies of 913.5 MHz for channel A, 914.5 MHz for channel B. These matched two of the AW-811 frequencies. Bought a pair of headphones at a local audio store (that has a good return policy). Plugged the new transponder into the computer and IT WORKED!!!.
So, I still have the speaker I love and a transponder from Jensen (that based on the Jensen reviews - looks pretty reliable).
My advice. Buy this unit with your eyes open. The manufacturer is out of business and they are selling off the stock. YOu may get a lemon speaker and/or lemon transponder. Ive given you a work around if your transponder goes bad. You probably out of luck if the speaker goes bad. But, if you have a functioning speaker, you will probably like it a lot.
Good Luck
On: 2005-08-31
I decided on this outdoor speaker based on recommendations listed on Amazon. I am HIGHLY disappointed. The first unit simply did not work. After much hassle, I received a replacement unit (which I paid shipping to return the original). The second unit worked until we turned it off, then it would not come back on again. We received a third unit from the manufacturer and all seemed to be working fine - for about 2 days. Now it wont work again! Im extremely disappointed in this product. Three months and 3 units later, we still do not have a functioning outdoor speaker!
On: 2005-08-30
The speaker performs better than expected. On tne negative side; the constant flashing blue light on the transformer is distracting.
On: 2005-08-29
The speakers look nice, but dont act that way. They seem to work better near the source (transmitter)however, when I moved one of the speakers 35 feet away (through two walls) it didnt receive the signal very well. Even after I played with the controls on the speakers and the transmitter the reception was below average at best or I would randomly loose the signal and only the speaker near the souce would work. I used to have a different brand which had a seperate reception knob and made it easy to tune in the source. Those speakers came in loud and clear. I would not recommend the Acoustic Research AW-811. The speaker control knobs are just plain frustrating.
On: 2005-08-22
The original and replacement speaker did not work. Waiting to see if the third time is the charm. Had to cover the first return postage ($14) out of my own pocket.
On: 2005-08-18
After the countless negative reviews I almost didnt buy it. But Im glad I did. You must read the instructions CAREFULLY. The on/off switch is tricky you have to "HOLD" in for a few moments to turn it on and off. Also the signal from the base, when you are not receiving you must adjust the signal so the light on the base is "flashing", a constant light on will not work as well. I have no complaints about the product and would recommend it to anyone. I have satellite radio and wanted it for football games while grilling outside, again, works fine.
On: 2005-08-17
The AR-811 is extremely easy to set up and use. Simply attach the transmitter to the source and power on the speaker. The speaker automatically selects the channel in about 5 seconds. I have not tested the limits of the range but in using the speaker in our back yard I have always had a good signal.
The sound quality is very good for a wireless speaker. The AR-811 works exactly as advertised. Very good product.
On: 2005-08-15
I purchased two of these speakers so I could have music outside on the patio. I plugged them in and got them set up in a couple of rooms in the house. The sound quality was much better than I expected and I was really happy with my purchase. Then I put batteries in one. I read ALL of the instructions first. Followed those instructions to the letter. When I turned on the speaker with the batteries, it came on for a fraction of a second and then shut off. I spent the next hour taking batteries out and in and plugging it in and unplugging it... it never came on again. Dead. Money wasted. The other speaker still works fine and has never seen a battery. I suspect that there is some faulty wiring in these speakers that causes them to permanently shut off when you use batteries. Read the other reviews. Im not the first to have this problem.
On: 2005-08-15
The speaker was purchased for use on a deck. The speaker worked fine and had good sound. For a single speaker receiving its signal from my A/V receiver, I was completely satisfied. However the speaker only worked for about an hour and then went completly silent. The transmitter was working but the speaker did not respond. From past reviews, this was not an uncommon problem.
On: 2005-08-14
Mine worked great for a little over a month, but the on/off switch had intermittent problems, and the unit finally would only stay on for 30 minutes or so. Warranty period of course is lapsed. Dont waste your money on this one.
On: 2005-08-14
I purchased two of these speakers so I could have music outside on the patio. I plugged them in and got them set up in a couple of rooms in the house. The sound quality was much better than I expected and I was really happy with my purchase. Then I put batteries in one. I read ALL of the instructions first. Followed those instructions to the letter. When I turned on the speaker with the batteries, it came on for a fraction of a second and then shut off. I spent the next hour taking batteries out and in and plugging it in and unplugging it... it never came on again. Dead. Money wasted. The other speaker still works fine and has never seen a battery. I suspect that there is some faulty wiring in these speakers that causes them to permanently shut off when you use batteries. Read the other reviews. Im not the first to have this problem.
On: 2005-08-13
Mine worked great for a little over a month, but the on/off switch had intermittent problems, and the unit finally would only stay on for 30 minutes or so. Warranty period of course is lapsed. Dont waste your money on this one.
On: 2005-08-12
Good product. 8 rechargeable C batteries are a little pricey, but everything works well.
On: 2005-08-10
great to hit on the patio and listen to my music
On: 2005-08-09
RANGE NOT AS FAR AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
QUITE DIFFICULT TO TUNE IN. AREA I NEEDED IS LESS THAN 300 FT, HOWEVER SPEAKERS FADE OUT AT ABOUT 100 FT.
HAD TO RETURN ONE FOR NOT COMING ON AT ALL BUT AMAZON.COM SENT ANOTHER RIGHT AWAY.
THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF SPEAKERS I BUY FROM THIS MANUFACTURER.
I THOUGHT THEYD GET BETTER BUT THEYRE JUST ABOUT THE SAME.
SOUND GREAT CLOSE TO THE ANTENNA.
On: 2005-08-09
After having a set (forgot what brand) of wireless speakers which failed miserably, I was somewhat hesitant to buy another set. Based on the reviews I read, this was supposed to be very good so I gave it a shot. Was pleasantly suprised at the sound quality, and solid (albeit plastic) construction. Being able to withstand some moisture was a plus as they were primarily going to be used outside. I bought two, which works well as they can be switched from mono when used in two different locations to stereo when used together. Of course, I have two transmitters but I guess its good to have a spare. They are very easy to tune in which was a huge problem with the other type I had. The folding handle is a great feature, and using the speaker for a drink holder...a little over the top but I guess it says something about its water protection. All in all, very satisified.
On: 2005-08-08
Great product, worked straight out of the box in less than 5 minutes, great sound as long as you are not expecting HI FI from HIGH END Speakers. I placed it on my deck about 60 feet from the transmitter, once I noticed a little static when I walked between the speaker and the transmitter, other wise it is great. I also use it in my bathroom to listen to the news in the morning.
I am considering buying a second speaker (no transmitter) to have stereo on my deck.
I would buy this again if I needed an additional unit.
On: 2005-08-06
Great speaker. The sound is as good as any hard-wired unit. I purchased two speakers, but found one was sufficient since we live relatively close to our neighbors and everyone is outside in the evening hours. I sold the other one to one of my neighbors when they heard the sound quality. Easy to set up.
On: 2005-08-05
I thought this product worked great for the price and it was real easy to set up.
On: 2005-08-05
The speakers sound much better than expected and the range is quite good. They are very simple to set up and work great with rechargeable batteries too.
Turns out one of the speakers (I bought two) wont shut off (better than not turning on i guess!) and in calling Thomsons (new owner of Recoton) helpful and curteous (really!) support desk, they will replace it at no charge but i have to send back both speakers at my expense.
Sooo.... since its been only 30 days im returning the single defective speaker to Amazon for a replacement - Amazon will pay shipping and handling fees via UPS (now thats service!). Ill be doing mono vs. stereo for a few weeks, but it beats silence! :)
On: 2005-08-03
I have been very pleased with my wireless speaker so far. I purchased it primarily to use on my roofdeck or in the garden. My XM radio is hooked up to my DVD player, and the wireless speaker is connected thru the headphone jack. The sound quality is fine for listening to baseball games or music from XM. The only problem I have had is that it is completely static on the roofdeck but I solved the problem by setting the speaker just inside the door, and the sound carries outside just fine.
On: 2005-08-03
I needed something to transmit music to my backyard wirelessly because I didnt want to wire the house and my guests had a bad habit of leaving the sliding doors open to hear the music from the stereo inside. To avoid bugs and other mosquitos in my house and provide a pleasant party environment, this speaker is perfect. Its inexpensive and provides good background music. The only drawback is that the output is not quite as clear as a directly-wired speaker would be. Otherwise, its perfect!
On: 2005-08-03
The speaker performed poorly at a distance of greater than 50 feet from the receiver. The single speaker is weak and needs to have two speakers to provide adequate sound within the 0-50 ft range. Within the 0-50 ft range the sound was okay and for the price it is a "good deal"
On: 2005-08-02
Got the item in a very timely matter. Item very easy to use. Some minor adjustments needed, which involves the turning of a knob, just read the instructions, after that, just plug it in anywhere and your set.
On: 2005-08-02
Like one of the other reviewers, I use this speaker primarily to listen to Streaming Internet Baseball broadcasts in my yard, while safely keeping my computer indoors. The range is excellent, and it puts out plenty of volume. Im not sure Id recommend it for audiophile listening, but the sound is definitely as good as a decent radio or boombox. Plus, the price from Amazon is unbeatable -- Best Buy sells the same thing for over $100! This is a fine product that performs exactly as advertised.
On: 2005-08-02
I purchased this product to add to my Bose Lifestyle sytem for our patio, while I liked the size of the speaker, the frequency adjustment knob drove me crazy, very difficult to adjust, and keep tuned in.
I found a much better product at Brookstone for very little more cash.
I returned my AR speaker to Amazon.
On: 2005-08-01
Like one of the other reviewers, I use this speaker primarily to listen to Streaming Internet Baseball broadcasts in my yard, while safely keeping my computer indoors. The range is excellent, and it puts out plenty of volume. Im not sure Id recommend it for audiophile listening, but the sound is definitely as good as a decent radio or boombox. Plus, the price from Amazon is unbeatable -- Best Buy sells the same thing for over $100! This is a fine product that performs exactly as advertised.
On: 2005-08-01
After reading all the reviews I was skeptical. I did not experience the problems others described.Its been working great, sound quality better than I expected for a wireless speaker. I plan on buying a second speaker. On my amplifier I do not have RCA audio outputs. So I had to strip the "Y "connector at the male side and connect to the" A" speaker terminals. I have also used the head phone input with good results . But of course that shuts off your house speakers. I think possibly the problems others have experienced were caused by not reading the instruction book carefully on setup.
On: 2005-07-19
I received the first speaker & the on/off switch was malfunctioning. I contacted Amazon & they sent out a replacement which I received in about two days. This speaker actually sounds really good! I was expecting to buy a second for the stereo effect but after hearing it, decided to stay with the one. I use it for camping & have it playing for 12+ hours a day. Your not supposed to hook the transmitter directly to the stereo speaker leads so I found a "Line Level Converter" for about $20 from[...]. I hooked it up between the "B" speaker leads of the stereo & the transmitter & everything worked great. Now the speakers in the camper dont have to be cranked up to hear the music while sitting around the campfire. Can even go to visit others in the campground & take the speaker with me. I also wired the camper with XM. About the only drawback is in very wooded-hilly areas you dont always get 300 distance.
On: 2005-07-14
I too purchased this item, got it too work (very poorly) for about 10 minutes, then it died. I returned it immediately and already received my refund from Amazon.
Set-up was easy but the static made it impossible to hear anything clearly.
I have a real need for a remote speaker connected to my PC so Ill keep trying products.
On: 2005-07-13
After reading the reviews I thought I would at least try this speaker since some people had good luck with it. Thank goodness I wasnt counting on my good luck. It arrived yesterday, read the instructions just in case there was anything that might be complicated, plugged it in and GREAT - it worked. For two minutes that is. Then it completely stopped working. Tried different channels, different electrical outlets, put the two right together and NOTHING. Not a peep. Oh well... at least I didnt have too high of expectations of it working. But its going back in the box and will be returned tomorrow.
So, if youre thinking about this speaker - dont even waste your time. Look for something else.
On: 2005-07-02
Like others here, my speakers worked for about 2 hours then died. As I was past Amazons return policy I contacted AR, which was purchased by Thompson Electronics. As told to me by the rep, they bought these speakers from some bankrupt electronics company and theyve been having all kinds of problems with them. Beware.
On: 2005-07-01
Like others here, my speakers worked for about 2 hours then died. As I was past Amazons return policy I contacted AR, which was purchased by Thompson Electronics. As told to me by the rep, they bought these speakers from some bankrupt electronics company and theyve been having all kinds of problems with them. Beware.
On: 2005-06-20
For all of you who research a product before you buy it and if you have read some negative reviews for AW-811, I was pleasently surprised.
First, it was bigger than I thought. It is about a foot high and it looks like a modern spreaker. (I dont know what the people who said it was ugly were expecting, it is a speaker-not a piece of art!?)
Also, the auto tune feature is great. I was also considering the AW-810 but you had to take the time to tune it yourself and it cost more (for what reason? AW-811 seems so much better).
I just received it and used it all weekend with the AC adapter. I did order recharge batteries, since the AW-811 is also a battery charger, but they didnt arrive yet.
The sound was great for a small outside party on your deck. I am impressed
On: 2005-05-30
The first time I plugged this speaker in, it blew out and the batteries began to ooze all over the counter! So I returned the item and got a new one. The new one did the same exact thing after about an hour of use!! Now I am out of the Amazon return time and am out $65 bucks. I will definately pay more attention to Amazon return rules, as they make it very hard to return items! Lesson learned about these speakers and Amazon...
On: 2005-05-20
I got a speaker for my birthday and absolutely love it. I love jazz and really love KPLU out of Portland. My wife likes the Lynx disco station and her itunes stored on the pc. Bought mini speakers for my laptop but we hated having the wires and cord running across the sunroom floor. And then if you needed to move the laptop... Then I saw these speakers. Read the stuff about the button and was nervious but the price looked good. Frankly, this is my favorite toy and the on off seems to be working great. I hope the people who had switch problems read the manual cuz the switch is not your usual on off switch. It is a cylinder that sticks down from one of the flanges on the side of the speaker.
Initially, I would give the switch a tap and the unit would come on (most of the time) and sometimes it would take a couple quick taps. Then, one time, it did not come on with my usual tap. Yikes! I thought I had a bad speaker. Then I broke out the manual. It said, you needed to press and HOLD the switch for a couple seconds to turn the speaker on and off. Held the button and it worked perfectly. So, no complaints. Maybe Ill be complaining a couple months from now and I promise to come back and put in another review if my fails like theirs did.
The sound is fine and the range is great. I have transmitter in the basement PC and can move speaker all over 1st floor. Havent actually taken it up to 2nd floor yet. And it travels about 75 yards to the limit of my back yard. I even like the little optional grey rubber pad you can put on top to hold a beer. Bottm line. Its a perfect summer toy for hearing your PC music outside. (of course you can also link it up to your stereo or tv or any other audio source)
On: 2005-04-13
Let me start by saying that I have never written a product review before, however, my experience with these speakers was so disappointing, that I find myself moved to share it with others.
I purchased a pair of these speakers last month so I could have music on my back deck for the summer. When the speakers arrived, they worked for about an hour, however, the tuning was not precise. Shortly after I began using the speakers, one speaker would no longer "turn on". In addition, the transmitter stopped working. After speaking with AR, they believed that the speakers power switch and the transmitter were both defective.
As the purchase was within the Amazon return period, I shipped the speakers back to Amazon for a replacement pair. When the new speakers arrived, they worked GREAT. The sound was very good and the reception was impressive. I used the speakers sporadically over the course of the next two weeks and then it happened -- the power switch on both speakers stopped working. No matter what I tried, the speakers simply would no longer "turn on."
Once again, as I was within the return period, the speakers went back to Amazon, this time for a full credit.
Buyer beware on these speakers. If you get a pair that initially works, play them A LOT throughout the first 30 days to make sure they continue to work. Best of luck.
On: 2005-04-01
Im a huge Astros fan, and I love listening to Milo and Alan call the game on MLB Gameday Audio. Its great because I can listen to the day games I missed while I was at work. The only downside was being stuck in the same room as my computer while I listened to the game. Well, not any more! With the AR wireless speaker I can get things done around the house or fall asleep in bed listening to the game. Nothing is more relaxing than listening to baseball and this speaker makes it easy to get comfortable. I havent had any trouble with the on/off switch.
On: 2005-03-24
I was very proud how easy it was to hook up.
The sound was good and all was well in the world then two week later the on & off switch stop working.
Now I stuck with a plastic tube that dont work.
On: 2005-03-20
Bought two of them. Very easy to set up and works well 100ft from the source. Sound quality is better than what I expected. Nice bass. Bought one more speaker for my front yard. Highly recommended. Amazon has great price on those.
On: 2005-03-15
This unit has worked well for me. (I felt the need to write this review since obviously it hasnt fared so well for some others which made me hesitae to buy it, but my feeling is that its most often people with product problems who write reviews to vent frustration). That said... I took a risk and bought this unit so that I could listen to music and audio books while I do house work and home improvrment (inside and outside my house). The sound is pretty good (not as great as a regular audio speaker but a lot better than I expected with fairly clear sound and a moderately decent bass signal as well). I like the omnidirectional desing for my purposes. I can put it in the hallway upsairs or in the middle of my dack and get sound in all directions. The range is good. The trasmitter is in my living room next to my TV and I can get a signal 125 away at the back of my back yard and all over my house as well. I get a fairly clear signal with an occasional "pop" once and a while, no big deal for me. I do worry a little about what others have said with problems with the on/off switch; mine works fine and Im comforted by the 1 year warranty and assume AR will honor that. Im happy and glad they make tihs product its just what I wanted and works well for me.
On: 2004-12-18
If you can get one of these speakers that works youre in luck. The sound is o.k. for the product type. In my case I bought a pair(they must be purchased individually and although each comes with a transmitter, only one is required for a pair) but only one worked properly. Got a prompt replacement speaker from Amazon but this one wouldnt even turn on. A call to the manufacturer revealed that the maker (Recoton)went bankrupt and the customer service rep for the firm that bought them out as much as admitted that the speaker is junk ("we get calls about them all the time"). Im sending them both back and moving on. Any suggestions?
On: 2004-08-07
Its not pretty. The sound is not great. But it does what I wanted it to: gets sound from my living room receiver into the kitchen.
Setup is very easy. Everything you could need to connect is included. The unit tunes automatically so there is no fussing with a tuning knob. The auto-tuning is quick and effective.
As promised, the transmitter is compatible with my AW-721 cordless headphones. I now have both transmitters connected to my receiver. (It doesnt seem to help with static but why not.)
In general the signal seems to come through with little interference. The sound is slightly distorted, something I had noticed with the headphones also. It is also overall somewhat tinny. It is hard to say whether that is from the transmission or the just all-right speaker.
One nice feature they dont advertise: if you buy the eight (!) C batteries needed to make this truly portable, you can charge them in the unit. (If you buy NiCad or NiMH batteries- try www.thomas-distributing.com)
Apparently, Acoustic Research and Advent are the same manufacturer.
On: 2004-08-06
Its not pretty. The sound is not great. But it does what I wanted it to: gets sound from my living room receiver into the kitchen.
Setup is very easy. Everything you could need to connect is included. The unit tunes automatically so there is no fussing with a tuning knob. The auto-tuning is quick and effective.
As promised, the transmitter is compatible with my AW-721 cordless headphones. I now have both transmitters connected to my receiver. (It doesnt seem to help with static but why not.)
In general the signal seems to come through with little interference. The sound is slightly distorted, something I had noticed with the headphones also. It is also overall somewhat tinny. It is hard to say whether that is from the transmission or the just all-right speaker.
One nice feature they dont advertise: if you buy the eight (!) C batteries needed to make this truly portable, you can charge them in the unit. (If you buy NiCad or NiMH batteries- try www.thomas-distributing.com)
Apparently, Acoustic Research and Advent are the same manufacturer.
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