Audio Video News

Bang & Olufsen - the Danish maker of fabulous audio and video gear seen in movies, TV shows,and magazines but rarely seen in homes such as yours and mine - now has a multi-room wireless audio system. B&O says the new BeoLink Wireless 1 system offers "unrivalled performance and superior sound quality", and the audio can be distributed to as many as 21 rooms simultaneously with zero delay and no echoes (well, except for the ones you'll hear in acoustically dreadful rooms...)

As with all wireless systems, this one isn't truly wireless; but it is pretty close. You'll need to get power to the receiver/transmitter unit using that old standby called a powr cord (a good installer can hide this part - especially if you choose the wall-mount option), and the local room speakers will have to be connected to the receiver by speaker wires. The connection with the main system is wireless, at least. The receiver/transmitter itself can be wall-mounted using one of two different brackets, or it can be placed on the floor, a shelf, or in a bookcase.

A BeoLink Wireless 1 unit can be used as a transmitter or receiver. One transmitter will deliver audio to up to seven receivers, and the system will handle a maximum of three transmitters and a total of 21 receivers. B&O says a transmitters and receivers can be placed up to 100 feet apart in a typical home - or up to 330 feet apart when used outside.

The system uses the 2.4 GHz band with special B&O technology that eliminates interference with everything else in your home that transmits wanted information or undesired garbage in that band.

You can find BeoLink Wireless 1 units in Bang & Olufsen stores. (Don't be looking for it in Circuit City, folks, or you'll get some really strange looks.) Suggested MSRP is $450 for each receiver/transmitter unit. They're available in black or white.