UNDERSTANDING WIRELESS AND WIRED AUDIO SYSTEMS
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what is “wireless” in a wireless system and what you need in a wireless network to support a wireless audio system.
any people say that the future of distributed audio systems is wireless. Before you decide whether you should offer a wireless audio system or a traditional wired system it’s important to understand
First of all, when we talk about wireless audio systems, we are only talking about sharing content from zone to zone and how the system is controlled (almost always by an app), in the very basic system, connecting a smart phone or other smart device with Blue- tooth to a system with a Bluetooth receiver. Many good soundbars and home theater receivers are capable of this, so technically they are “wireless systems.” Beyond that, the more common application for wireless is to have receiving appliances in each zone and then content is shared from device to device via Wi-Fi®
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For this article, let’s focus on the broad term of wireless audio, the systems that share content wirelessly. As I mentioned earlier, the only part that is wireless is the content sharing. The speakers are still wired, whether they are internal or external.
Now let’s compare a wireless and wired system. A wired system typically has a centralized hub or controller, and wireless system has a hub or controller for each zone. The upside for the wireless is that if one system goes down the other zones still work. In a wired system if the controller goes down the entire system is disabled. The upside for a wired system is that they require that you sell the customer separate speakers for each zone; most wireless systems include speakers. Being able to choose the speakers allows the integrator to select the optimum speakers for each room and of course leads to a larger sale. You can add speakers to a typical wireless system, but the customer may question the redundancy of adding speakers when they are included (and these speakers never sound good).
Wireless systems typically reduce installation time and make distributed audio systems more viable to older homes where pulling wires can be challenging. This lower cost of installation also opens the market to a wider audience. It may also be
a good choice if your main business is not AV but you want to grow into the market easily. Customer acceptance of wireless systems is growing, so selling the concept to your customers is becoming easier.
Wired systems offer more options and are typically less susceptible to network issues. A recent Parks and Associates study showed that over 50% of homes surveyed had issues with their wireless networks. With all the wireless devices used today, our wireless home networks are being pushed to their limits. Start streaming HD movies to your tablet, Apple TV or other device and you’re just asking for failures. Wired systems can use category cable, coax cable or even the home electrical wiring to carry content. The same Parks study showed that over 50% of consumers would be comfortable with a wired solution if it was offered. Wired systems also allow for more control options. While virtually wireless systems require control from an app, wired systems allow control from apps, keypads and touchscreens.
Whether you choose to sell wireless systems, wired systems or a combination of both make sure that you are network savvy and you that understand the bandwidth needs of the system so you don’t have service call issues and unhappy customers. Take a networking class at your local ADI and work with one or more of our fine networking partners to make sure you and your team are up to date on the latest in wired and wireless networking products.
Most importantly, sell better speakers. Regardless of which direction you choose, don’t undersell the speakers. Ultimately that’s what customers hear. Don’t settle for the speakers built in to wireless systems and don’t sell the cheapest speakers on the shelf. Listen for yourself and educate your customer on the benefits of better speakers. You’ll have a happy customer and you will make more money in the long run. Happy customers lead to referrals and repeat sales.
Of course, if you need help, call the ADI System Support Group or your local branch. We are here to help you sell more!
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