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Adding wireless speakers to my current, vintage analog system.

I’d like to add wireless speakers to my current setup (listed below). 

Ideally I would be able to control volume and basic EQ for the wireless speakers independent from the wired speakers, while also having a main receiver where I have control over the overall EQ/volume for all speakers - if that makes sense.

 

I like the sound and look of my vintage receivers, and would like to stay with true stereo (not single or paired mono speakers).   And I don’t want to add too much bulky gear, if possible.

 

I mainly stream Spotify (from an old MacBook to the R-2000) and play vinyl records and CDs (and occasionally cassette tape or MiniDisc). 

So far vIdeo and TV (home theater setup) have not been on my improvement radar - I’m fine with a good sound bar for the TV for now.

 

 

I live in an approx 1200 sqft open warehouse space with high ceiling, wooden floor and large windows. I don’t have a particular listening spot - I like to have good sound when I dine, but also when I cook in the kitchen corner or work in the upper mezzanine loft. 

 

Currently the KEFs and the Klipsch woofer (living room area) are driven by the R-2000, and all the Minimus-7s (upper loft and kitchen/dining area) are driven by the Nikko. 

 

For the time being I’d just replace the Minimus’ with some decent, small wireless speakers.  Probably not so easy as the Mins are surprisingly good for their size.

 

If, whatever I will add to my rig for enabling it to send sound to wireless speakers, can also function as a high-quality DAC and/or direct music streamer, that’d be an added bonus, but is not my main concern right now. 

 

 

Current setup:

  • Yamaha R-2000 - serves as main receiver and powers a pair of KEF Q500 and a Klipsch 120SW (mains). The R-2000 is then connected to:
  • Nikko NR-1219 which powers 3 pairs of Minimus-7 (secondary) in the mezzanine lofts and the kitchen/dining room
raphaz
mahler123
3,263 posts
 

I didn’t say anything about the quality of wireless speakers.  Merely pointing out that afaik they come with their own amplification.  The quality of that amplification can vary, as with any system.

mahler123
3,263 posts
 

  I haven't used wireless speakers myself, but there are are a lot of theoretic advantages.  One would need less power and they eliminate a crossover, and there are obvious space saving advantages.  I've heard the KEF and another smallish powered speaker and they have a surprising amount of bass for such small units.  I just don't think that thee is a way to work your vintage AVR into the equation.  You could perhaps use the preamp section of the AVR, if it has pre amp out, but then you are attached to the speakers with wires, and you want to avoid that

raphaz OP
34 posts
 

I thought there were Bluetooth transmitters which take a receiver signal and translate and forward a digital signal to wireless speakers?
Sort of a reverse DAC - an ADC if you will. Or did I just make that up? 

raphaz OP
34 posts
 

I’m more confused now then when I started this thread

mahler123
3,263 posts
 

You can get a Bluetooth receiver , such as Audioengine, and it will attach to your receiver via RCA cables.  You can transmit from a Bluetooth source, such a cell phone.  The signal will go to the Bluetooth receiver which yes has a DAC inside.

The DAC will send the now analog music signal via aforementioned cables to your AVR, which will then send it to your speakers, via the cables that attach the speakers to the AVR.  I hope you haven’t got lost yet.

  What you CANNOT do is send the Bluetooth signal directly to your speakers because your speakers have no way to receive and then amplify the signal.  In your original post you said that you wanted to transmit wirelessly from your receiver to speakers.  I suspect what you meant to say was you wanted to transmit wirelessly from a source, such as a cellphone, and otherwise keep your present system ( receiver and speakers).

  Pick up an Audioengine (I have had one for several years in one of my systems).Plug it into your receiver, stream from your phone via Bluetooth, start enjoying music, and relax

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