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Audio manufacturers Polk Audio and Definitive Technology have each announced new wireless speaker systems. Polk Audio’s Omni Wireless Music System and Definitive Technology’s Wireless Collection are vastly different speaker lines, but they both incorporate DTS’s Play-Fi technology to enable multi-room music over Wi-Fi.
DTS Play-Fi is a Wi-fi-based wireless audio system, similar to Apple’s AirPlay and the networks used by Sonos and Bose SoundTouch speakers. While Bluetooth is a point-to-point standard, Play-Fi and other Wi-Fi standards incorporate all compatible speakers in a given Wi-Fi network to let users manage them in groupings and play music simultaneously through multiple devices. Because Play-Fi is an open standard, multiple companies’ speakers can work together in the same network, including Polk’s Omni and Definitive Technology’s Wireless Collection devices.
The Polk Omni series features two versions of wireless speakers, a subwoofer-equipped soundbar, an amplifier, and an adapter. The Omni S2 speaker features two 2-inch drivers powered by a two-channel amplifier, and is available in a $179 corded version and a $249 rechargeable, battery-powered version. The Omni SB1 Sound Bar is a three-speaker soundbar coupled with an 8-inch wireless subwoofer that will retail for $699.
If you want to use your own speakers with Play-Fi and Polk’s Omni products, the Omni A1 and Omni P1 are viable options. The Omni A1 is a 75-watt stereo amplifier with a $399 price tag, and the Omni P1 is a $299 wireless adapter that lets you connect your current sound system to your Omni wireless setup.
Definitive Technology takes a similar tack, with two wireless speakers, a soundbar, an amplifier, and an adapter. The W7 and W9 are differently sized wireless speakers, neither of which are battery-powered. The smaller W7 is available for $399, and the larger W9 is available for $699. The W Studio Sound Bar is a soundbar with a separate 8-inch wireless subwoofer and a $1,299 price tag.
The W Adapt and W Amp, like the Omni A1 and Omni P1, let you connect your own speakers to a wireless sound system. The W Amp is a 150-watt stereo amplifier that will retail for $499, and the W Adapt is an adapter that includes both analog and digital connections for home theater systems and will retail for $399.
Polk and Definitive’s new Play-Fi systems will be available for preorder on Sept. 10, and will ship on Oct. 5.
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Source link : https://www.pcmag.com/news/polk-audio-definitive-technology-tip-dts-play-fi-wireless-speaker-lines