Three products from Acoustic Research (a brand of Audiovox) caught our eye at CES 2009. In addition to a pair of XSight universal remotes, the company also previewed the ARW5.1 Wireless Conversion System, which converts any standard surround speaker system to "wireless" operation--albeit with some caveats.
The entry-level XSight remote will be available for $180 when it hits in spring 2009.
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Acoustic Research XSight Touch AARX18G
The step-up XSight remote includes a touch screen and built-in RF.
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Acoustic Research ARW51
The Acoustic Research ARW51 can convert any 5.1 surround speaker system to "wireless" operation. Connect the base-station transmitter to your AV source (the AV receiver), and each of the wireless receivers to one of the speakers. The caveat, of course, is that each wireless receiver needs to be plugged into a power outlet, and wired to each speaker--which could mean for more (albeit shorter) cables. The ARW51 will retail for $600 when it hits later in 2009.
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Acoustic Research ARW20
The wireless system is also available in a stereo configuration, the $250 ARW20.
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Acoustic Research ARWR2
The ARW51/ARW20 system is expandable--just add an ARWR2 ($100, built-in 60-watt amp) for each additional channel you want to mirror.
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5.1 channel-ready
The wireless transmitter accepts standard speaker-wire and subwoofer-level outputs from your AV receiver and beams them to the individual channel receivers, which are connected to each speaker.
