Airplay speakers you can actually buy

#1 Macworld

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 09:01 AM

Post your comments for Airplay speakers you can actually buy here

#2 HobbesDoo

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 09:24 AM

When I read "you can actually buy" I thought inexpensive. At these prices, an airport express and computer speakers are still the best option to enjoy AirPlay. At least for me. Some of those speakers look really nice, but too expensive still.

#3 inq1784

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 09:38 AM

I agree. The prices are rediculous. All they had to do was add a little circut board to an existing speaker and maybe some sheilding. $200 should be the high end.

#4 brobdingnagian

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 09:43 AM

Is Airport Express still the best (or only) fairly inexpensive device to which one can attach speakers and stream via Airplay?

#5 JimB

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 10:52 AM

Has anyone critically listened to the Fidelio SoundSphere DS9800W/37? Is it a truly hi-end sound? It's a lot of money to spend on a system you can

#6 BradPDX

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 12:31 PM

Boy, it would appear that people in the comments like dirt-cheap sound. I've been a musician and avid listener to many systems for decades, and can't think of any sub-$200 speakers worth throwing a shoe at. Flubby, tinny, gutless junk like JBL, Harmon, Logitech and worse - ugh. Maybe OK for gamers, but not music.

Right now we have 2 Airport Expresses connected to 2 full stereos in the house - one of which is very inexpensive, a small $500 setup. Both sound just fine and we use them all the time.

Since these are Airplay speakers, I would assume that they are intended to "stay put" in your home. In that case, they replace a regular sound system and I'd consider $300 - $1000 to be reasonable for a quality level one can bear to spend time with. I can abide compromise for portability, but that doesn't apply here.

#7 MonroeM

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 12:37 PM

Unfortunately, the iPhone 4s has AirPlay audio problems and it's unclear whether it's an issue with the firmware of the speakers or the firmware of the iPhone 4s. Check out this iLounge article (http://is.gd/yJMN9K) and this discussion thread from Apple's forums (http://is.gd/F5FOlf). I was seriously considering purchasing the iHome iW1 until I found out about this problem.

#8 wigby

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 01:02 PM

BradPDX, on 01 December 2011 - 12:31 PM, said:

I think most people like dirt-cheap sound and that goes for bandwidth too. 128kbps usually sounds fine to me for most music genres. similarly, i have never spent more than $400 on speakers and amplifier combined because that sounds fine to me too. i see the promise of airplay as just an extension of that convenience and affordability. unfortunately, i stopped going through the slideshow when i realized that nothing would fit that $100 or $150 price range. to me, airplay is meant to be moved around and put out by the pool because it's wireless. why would you bolt down an overpriced wireless speaker system in your home?

that's what overpriced stereo systems are for ;-)

#9 Dan Frakes

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 01:31 PM

inq1784, on 01 December 2011 - 09:38 AM, said:

I agree. The prices are rediculous. All they had to do was add a little circut board to an existing speaker and maybe some sheilding. $200 should be the high end.

Part of the issue is that, according to vendors, the circuitry and Apple's certification add significantly to the cost of the product.

That said, $200 isn't even expensive for non-AirPlay speaker systems—it's roughly the minimum you'll pay if you want something that offers nice, balanced sound. (That's not to say there aren't good speakers for less than $200, but you're making various sacrifices to get that price point.

wigby, on 01 December 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

unfortunately, i stopped going through the slideshow when i realized that nothing would fit that $100 or $150 price range.

$100 to $150 covers just the AirPlay price premium alone

brobdingnagian, on 01 December 2011 - 09:43 AM, said:

Is Airport Express still the best (or only) fairly inexpensive device to which one can attach speakers and stream via Airplay?

Both the AirPort Express and the Apple TV can be used to add AirPlay functionality to an existing stereo or powered speaker system.

Dan Frakes / Senior Editor, Macworld

#10 Dan Frakes

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 01:35 PM

MonroeM, on 01 December 2011 - 12:37 PM, said:

Unfortunately, the iPhone 4s has AirPlay audio problems and it's unclear whether it's an issue with the firmware of the speakers or the firmware of the iPhone 4s.

FWIW, I've heard a good number of reports of AirPlay issues with the 4S, although I haven't had any problems with it myself.

Dan Frakes / Senior Editor, Macworld

#11 BradPDX

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 02:30 PM

wigby, on 01 December 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

to me, airplay is meant to be moved around and put out by the pool because it's wireless. why would you bolt down an overpriced wireless speaker system in your home?

that's what overpriced stereo systems are for ;-)

AirPlay requires access to your home WiFi, which may reach your pool but probably doesn't reach the beach or your friend's house. For those cases, something like a good BlueTooth speaker (e.g., Jambox or Bose SoundLink) are the right flavor of solution.

Hence I judge AirPlay devices to be "semi-portable".

#12 alextheukrainian

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 02:36 PM

Dan Frakes, on 01 December 2011 - 01:31 PM, said:

inq1784, on 01 December 2011 - 09:38 AM, said:

I agree. The prices are rediculous. All they had to do was add a little circut board to an existing speaker and maybe some sheilding. $200 should be the high end.

Part of the issue is that, according to vendors, the circuitry and Apple's certification add significantly to the cost of the product.

This is a ridiculous statement, sir. NO circuitry that simple costs that much. Certification is a one-time cost. Just excuses all around. The speakers cost so much because the seller wants to charge that much. I am fine paying for quality sound, but to tell me that AirPlay circuitry adds more than $15 in cost is just ridiculous, this isn't 80s.

#13 jsignorino

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 02:39 PM

Love the hardware but who can afford it? Got any suggestions for "The Rest of Us?"

#14 ChrisEdgington

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Posted 01 December 2011 - 06:25 PM

Wake me up when someone makes an AirPlay shower radio...that doesn't cost a fortune. I don't need reference quality sound just to mangle KC and the Sunshine Band while lathering up.