Friday
Feb052010
Feb 5 Podcast #411: Aperion Audio Home Audio Link (HAL)
Pretty much since we have been doing the HDTV and Home Theater Podcast we have had listeners ask us about wireless solutions. We have been pretty happy with products from Rocketfish™ and AudioEngine. Today we take a look at the Aperion Audio Home Audio Link (HAL) which will transmit high quality uncompressed audio up to 100 feet.
Listen to the show
Today's Show:
News:
- Mitsubishi shows off gigantic OLED display
- Last-minute HDTV buying tips for the Super Bowl
- Will Toshiba Call It Quits on LCD?
- BluRay redefining OTT market
Other:
Mac Expo
Your Mac Should be on TV - Apple Home Theater Demystified
Feb. 12, 2010 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Speaker(s): Adam Christianson: Podcaster, The Maccast; Ara Derderian: Podcaster, HDTV Podcast
Aperion Audio Home Audio Link (HAL) (MSRP $149)
Features:
- Send audio from your computer, MP3 player, or other audio source to any audio-video receiver or audio system
- Wireless Subwoofer - Connect your powered subwoofer or powered speakers wirelessly
- Audio input via USB or Audio-In Jack
- Send music throughout your house, or even outside
- No software needed, just plug and play
Connections
With HAL you can transmit wireless audio from your laptop or desktop to your AV Receiver. Just connect the sender to the USB port on your PC. On the AV Receiver side you need to provide power to the HAL receiver. Aperion provides two power plugs which comes in handy if you are connecting mp3 players. We'll talk about that in a bit. Plug in the power adapter then connect the mini RCA plug to the HAL receiver's audio out. Then plug the RCA cables into the AV Receiver's audio input and your just about ready. Wait for the blue blinking lights on both the sender and receiver to become solid blue and then you are good to go.
Other connection combinations are MP3 players, Portable DVD Players, or Subwoofer Output from your AV Receiver to Powered Subwoofer, Powered Speakers, or AV Receiver Inputs. There are many combinations that you can come up with. In the case where you are connecting portable media or even the subwoofer output from your receiver you need to provide power to the sender unit. What's nice about the HAL is that Aperion includes power plugs for both the transmitter and receiver.
Performance
The HAL system works on the 2.4 GHz frequency band and transmits audio up to 100ft. We did not test beyond about 60 feet but found the HAL had no issues transmitting flawless audio during all our testing. We tested and iPod and subwoofer. We tested both MP3s and AAC files and did not hear any difference when compared to listening via headphones. An area that made us happy was connecting our subwoofer wirelessly. This makes it possible to place your subwoofer in the room's most optimal location without worrying about running wires. Your performance may vary, 2.4GHz devices can experience interference from cordless phones, microwaves, and WiFi networks so keep that in mind when considering a wireless solution.
Wireless Surround Speakers
You can use the HAL system to connect your surround speakers with the following caveat. You need to use powered speakers for your surrounds. While not and ideal way to hook up a surround system it will work great if you live someplace that you can't run wires. For this application we recommend the Audioengine A2 Powered Multimedia Speaker System.
Whole House Audio
The HAL system allows you to connect one sender to three receivers. Each receiver will run you an additional $70.
Conclusion
The Aperion Audio HAL System is the easiest way to extend your audio to additional listening zones without running wires or cables.
Reader Comments (9)
The major problem I have had with any 2.4 GHz product is not interference with other products but rather the fact that almost all of them crash my WI-FI network when operating. I have had this issue with phones, audio transmitters, and remote cameras. Even changing frequencies within the narrow 2.4 GHz band does not help, as they all seem to walk all over the band. I guess I may solve this when I install a new "N" band router that operates in the 5 GHz range.
Can you have more than one sender and separate receivers for each
If you're thinking of building a HTPC, take a look at the Ceton tuner that is coming out. It supports cable m-cards, so you can get all your premium channels (no on demand though). It also has 4 separate tuners built in, so it's the equivalent of 2 Tivos.
Hey guys. HDMI 1.4, includes the ability for devices to share network connectivity via HDMI. It is exactly what were saying...plug your AVR into your home network and it will share the connection to all devices connected to it that are HDMI 1.4 compliant.
Great device but I'm just working on getting my apple Airtunes to build my whole house audio which is a little bit more affordable and user friendly, but this Aperion has a bit more features.
In our family we call it the"Popcorn Effect". Whenever someone uses the microwave it screws up someones internet wireless connection. I don't mind running more wires if it builds a more robust system.
As for all the features on receivers, there is an unintended consequence for packing all of them into limited space, the amplifier inside the receiver. Even though on the spec sheet says that it still does over 100w per channel it's no where near that
Matt, that sounds like it would be very useful. Hopefully in the near future the hardware begins to adopt this, saving unnecessary Cat5 runs to the HT area of the house.
Also check out the Audioengine W1 (and the W2 for iPod/iPhone). The Audioengine W1 transmits at a higher bitrate than the Aperion and is only $99 a set, which is great for daisy-chaining to all your gear around the house - think "poor-man's Sonos".
I use the AW1 from my computer out to my living room stereo system and then another set from the living room into the dining room plugged into my Audioengine 5 powered speakers. Easy setup and sounds just as good as wires.
I'll check those out Don, thanks.