Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

To start, there is an awful lot of commentary out there to the effect that all wireless speakers are junk. I took a chance on these based on Amazon reviews. As you will see, my take is a bit different. Keep in mind my objective: One quality sounding speaker to which I could transmit internet radio (Slacker) and which I could carry from room to room, including the garage and my garden, as needed. 1. The product description is awful. What you really have here is a transmitter and a speaker. The transmitter has to be plugged in or run off batteries and hooks up to a music player of some sort. Computer, stereo, Ipod, whatever. The speaker also has to be plugged in or fitted with six, that's right, six, "D" cells. It can be but does not have to be hooked to the music player, hence, wireless. Sound to transmitter via wire, sound wirelessly from transmitter to speaker. 2. As for sound "IN" to the transmitter, there are only two inputs, one which connects to the headphone out of your computer, IPOD, or whatever. The other consists of two RCA (red/white) jacks. If your music device doesn't have a headphone out or red/white RCA out, you're gonna be spending more than you thought. In my case, I didn't want to use headphone out. Why? Because the cord that comes with the transmitter is insanely short (it's really set up to use with a cradled Iphone, not so much anything else). Plus, my computer's headphone out is on the front panel and who wants a jack permanently sticking out the front accessory panel? Result? I had to spend an additional $60 for a digital out to RCA converter. What you will need and have to spend depends on what "OUT" connection you intend or have to use. 3. If you, unlike me, are willing to use headphone out, understand that this product arrives with warnings out the wazoo, including a bright yellow sheet that screams "read me first". The problem is that very few new computers or other electronic devices, if any, have enough power flowing to the headphone out jack to support this speaker/transmitter. So, you're left with warnings to do this, or that, or buy this accessory, or that. For example, when, using my headphone out, my speaker wouldn't work more than 10' from the transmitter, I was first told Slacker might be the problem, then that I could buy a signal 'booster'. Finally the factory decided my transmitter was defective. When Amazon over-nighted at their cost a second transmitter, I still couldn't get a signal past 20'. There is a reason to buy this, keep reading, but don't do it on the basis of terribly strong transmitter. 4. As for sound "OUT", and this is the only bright spot in this review, I really liked the sound of the speaker, as well as the box itself. Very nice case, nice remote which hides away in the case when not needed, nice overall size, easy to carry, stable when set down, quite attractive. I'm no audiophile so I can't comment on bass this and sound wave that. However, the sound was perfect for me, clear as a bell, as good as I've ever heard from any speaker, even my high end stereo jobs. Really, that good. 5. The factory did respond to my queries within 48 hours and appeared willing to work with me (although on their time frame which would have been weeks) as to replacement once the problem was identified. That said, this thing arrived with a bunch of qualifying language in the manual that turned out to foreshadow a basic problem: mine won't transmit music 25' from my computer, in fact, the first one shipped barely did 10'. I saw one review where a guy said he was getting 100'. The factory advertises up to 150'. I'm thinking not. Reading between the lines of the factory emails, I'm also thinking there are some quality control issues with these things. The bottom line, for me, is this: I've new, powerful, state of the art, computers. I have one of the fastest commercially available broadbands available. I'm using premium cables. I've tried everything the factory advised including using the headphone jack I didn't want to use, substituting a computer CD for Slacker, and hooking everything up to another music source (my stand alone stereo system). It is not working as advertised and I've wasted literally six hours trying. And, while the factory did respond to my email, it was Amazon and not the factory that went out of their way to help. So, while I liked, really liked, the speaker itself, my gut tells me that 150' or even 100' is someone's pipe dream, that, if you get a good product (which I didn't) and it somehow lasts, the best you're gonna get when it comes to reliable, quality sound is way, way less than the advertised distance. As I wrote the first version of this, everything was boxed for return to Amazon. Now, the next morning, I've decided to, because I really like the speaker itself, to give this thing one more try. What I'm thinking is if I can get the transmitter/wireless to cover the interior of my two story home, I'll run a cable out to the garage (which is maybe 50' from my computer but apparently beyond the range of the transmitter) and when I'm working out there, run the speaker hard wired. Same for my backyard garden. I'll let you know how this turns out. If you buy in the interim, be sure to place a good retailer like Amazon between you and the factory. Update #1: Relocated the transmitter using an audio coaxial cable. Digital audio out from computer, cable, converter, transmitter. Now it sits just off center of my home, on top of a 7' tall bookcase, one foot or so from the downstairs ceiling. I now have perfect wireless reception everywhere in the house. About 40' in every direction. Contrary to advice, I have the transmitter sitting directly beside my wireless route and cable modem ... no problem. By the way, perfect means no static, no dropouts, crystal clear sound from the speaker that I continue to like very, very much. In fact I've noticed I can hear and understand the words to the songs better than I ever have before ... no, I still can't tell you what Louie, Louie is all about but other than that, we're good to go. I also have some hit and miss range outside the house. I still can't get sound in my attached garage and I haven't been able to devine the best way to do that ... will update again when I do. BTW, I've been 'officially' advised by a major wireless indoor/outdoor speaker manufacturer that advertised ranges are hoaky ... perfect, line of sight conditions which you and I will never ever experience. He cut his product's advertised range by a full two thirds when advising me what to expect which is almost exactly what I'm experiencing with the system I purchased. Update #2: Second transmitter failed before I could figure out how to hard wire the garage. Did hard wire the speaker while it was sitting 5' from my computer (just to see if the sound was any different) and the connecting port failed, I'm guessing a bad job of soldering port. I then wasted three weeks trying to get Cables Unlimited to respond to emails. No one was courteous nor professional enough to respond. Called the sales line only to be told by a barely speaking English female that the "sales" company is different than the "support" company, therefore she couldn't help, not even to the extent of providing a working phone line for the support operation. Finally, one last email and it was returned "undeliverable". So, my experience with this product is pretty simple: BAD. Thank goodness Amazon was willing to take the whole mess back. I'll tell you how bad I wanted this speaker to work ... I bought a transmitter/sender from another company (same 2.4ghz) only to find out that the Audio Unlimited speakers and transmitters are "paired" or "matched" at the factory and, unlike quality products, the Audio Unlimited speakers are not adjustable as to channel ... therefore, when your Audio transmitter fails (and I'm betting it will) you are left with a wireless speaker that will only work when hard wired and guess what ... if yours is like mine, it won't work that way either. Bottom line, I'm in the market for a good wireless speaker from a manufacturer that supports their products. IMO, Amazon should drop Cables Unlimited like a hot rock. Update #3: This should be my final comment on this company and product. I NEVER, EVER heard again from Cables Unlimited. Six emails, six phone calls, NOTHING. Amazon promised to look into this company's status but I haven't heard anything. I went with Logitech's Squeezebox Boom which has been discontinued but is still readily available. If interested you can look up my review of the same. I will say here that the sound out of the Boom is not quite as good (at least to my untrained ears) as the speaker in this review but if you have a speaker and two transmitters that don't work, and the company won't acknowledge your existence, its hard to complain. My advice, STAY AWAY FROM CABLES UNLIMITED AND AUDIO UNLIMITED PRODUCTS.