Getting your Home Cinema to go Wireless

We all know that one of the most consistent annoyances about home cinema systems is the setting up of the rear speakers. The front speakers aren't so bad because they are physically near the amplifiers or home cinema system, but the rears never are, so trailing the speaker cables around the room can be awkward and often difficult, and normally leaves the cables visible and unsightly.

Whilst some people may be able to hide the cables under carpets and behind skirting boards, it is often not a simple job and can involve a lot of work for even thin cables.

Fortunately, some manufacturers have started to release wireless add-ons for some of their home cinema systems to enable you to get all the enjoyment from home cinema surround sound, and the ease and convenience of doing it, at least partially, without wires. Whilst the technology is still relatively young, both of the following add-ons are much improved from the early versions and will give you at least a partial home cinema system.

Sony WAHT-SA1 S-Air Wireless Speaker Kit

The Sony WAHT-SA1 is a separate amplifier with additional receiver and transmitter boxes to plug into your compatible system. The WAHT-SA1 still requires you to plug your rear speakers into the supplied amplifier box, it does at least enable you the sought after solution of being able to keep your rear speakers physically separate from the main amplifier unit.

Panasonic SH-FX70 Wireless Speaker Kit

The Panasonic SH-FX70 is very similar to the Sony’s solution and is compatible with their very popular SC-BT200 and SC-BT205 home cinema systems. The Panasonic is a little flatter in design that the Sony so may be a little easier to position in your room which may be something to consider if you are buying a new system.

These wireless add-ons are both very welcome and we hope and expect that the future will bring more simple and cost effective solutions like this to enable more people to embrace home cinema and not be put off.