Customer Reviews

Acoustic Research ARW20 2.4GHz Modular Wireless System with 2 Receivers (Black)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I built my Great Room (22ft x 32ft) 10 years ago to accommodate a 5.1 system. All the speaker wiring is in the walls to connect a BOSE Accoustimass 15 cube speaker system. Then along comes 7.1 and I buy this amazing 7.1 Marantz amplifier but I have no way to run wires for the left side/right side surround speakers. I search high and low for wireless thinking this should be easy but no way, and as many of you have learned there is seemingly nothing that addresses this problem. EVERYTHING on the market is for 5.1 back surround but not 7.1 SIDE surround.
This means suppliers assume you can run speaker wire across the back wall from ONE receiver to TWO speakers. Well, obviously you cant do that when its 7.1 side speakers, not back. You can't run wire through the middle of a room. I sure can't. Then I discover Acoustic Research (AR).
Acoustic Research apparently gets this problem. Hence, TWO receivers - or actually as many single receivers as you need up to five. The transmitter has 5 outputs - then One receiver per speaker, including one for a subwoofer.

Other Issues - Then I learn that signal delay is a problem. And secondly, also that there is a loud hum on AR wireless in standby mode. (Some on line reviewer complained about it, and it is true . . . sort of)

So here's the review - I took a chance on this, granted expensive, system. I figured I could always return it if I was not satisfied.

I am amazed.

1. There is absolutely NO delay in signal - the two wireless speakers are giving perfect sound reproduction in tandem with my BOSE Accoustimass 15 System (1998 system 5.1) the two new wireless speakers are in perfect synch with the other 5 speakers.

2. I added 2 new BOSE Accoustimass cube speakers L/R side speakers to get 7.1 (by the way - the Bose factory says don't run their speakers direct to the amplifier, only connect them through their sub-woofer module - but the internet buzz says that's bull and they work fine direct from amp to speaker - and guess what, they work GREAT direct from amp AND on this wireless system.

3. The HUM thing - well the reviewer was right it does hum, but another reviewer said just run an RCA line from the AR transmitter/subwoofer RCA output to any unused RCA speaker input on your amp and that will ground the AR transmitter, eliminating the hum. Well he was absolutely right. I ran the AR Subwoofer output line on the transmitter to my amp (an unused speaker output) and the hum disappeared. PLUS I'll go you one better. All amps have AC outlets so you can plug in peripherals, like WIRELESS transmitters. Plug your AR transmitter into the amplifiers "Switched" AC socket and when you turn off the amp you turn off the AR transmitter and your speakers go DEAD, No hum. Double protection against standby hum.

4. Another reviewer complained that AR interfered with his internet. Well, he's right. I use my Apple lap top in the great room all the time, and it is hooked up to the internet wireless. And the AR is so strong (which is why it is so good) that it knocks my computer off the internet almost every time. Apparently they are both on the same frequency. But you know what? I can live with that because my new 7.1 sound system works so perfectly I don't mind. Anyway - either watch and listen to your home theater or work on the internet - make a decision and live with it.

BOTTOM LINE - Acoustic Research has solved my problem and I am impressed beyond expectation. Yes it's expensive but it is absolutely worth it!! It would have cost me a fortune to hire a contractor to run the wires through the walls so to me it's cheap.

I'm always a little hesitant about purchasing something that costs this much online and without seeing it but I've been wanting this for a while now and wasn't able to find it locally. It works great. My only complaint is that you have to unplug (there's no off switch) the wireless receivers whenever your stereo receiver is off. Otherwise the speakers that are connected to the wireless receivers will make this annoying sound. I connected my wireless receivers to surge protectors so that I can easily turn them off when I'm not using them.

After much time and research I decided on the ARW20 system. The PRICE and TWO recievers plus two Atlantic speaker stands for a total of $217.00 plus some excellent reviews made this purchase quite easy. Also knowing I would have no problem with Amazon if I was not satisfied.Recievd every thing in less than one week. I hooked up the system based on some helpful hints from other reviews and the results were outstanding. The sound is great, no hum or pops. Shuts off CLEAN and CLEAR. Very happy with this purchase.

We choose this product because most other had a single receiver for both rear speakers. We required separate receivers since our rear speakers are separated by a fireplace. We've had only minimal interference with our wireless network. Also, as others have suggested, make sure you use the power supply on the back of your receiver; otherwise they have an annoying hum if powered on and not in use. You will need a power source for both rear receivers. Overall it is a great product.

I bought this as a solution for my rear speakers simply because my wife didn't want to see cords running across the floor. Setup was incredibly easy. The receivers were labeled for the speakers they belong to so all I had to do was hook them up. The system has a synchronization button but I did not have to use it. It synched up immediately when powered on.

I have only had one issue but I am not sure if it is related to the product. I have had the receivers lose sync every so often, but only for a couple seconds. The area I live in has a lot of RF interference so that could have been the reason, but other than that the product has performed beautifully.

The system works flawlessly to support two additional rear speakers. If you have a 7.1 system, however, you will need another pair of receivers to support all four rear speakers wirelessly. I have so far been unable to find just the pair of receivers, minus the transmitter, on Amazon. You should be able to save a few bucks by buying two additional receivers without a transmitter.

If you need one, a subwoofer receiver would have to be purchased separately, as well. It is not included in this system, as suggested by the Amazon advertisement. However, since the position of the subwoofer is not important in most systems (you can't tell where the low, bass sound is coming from), most people will not need a wireless subwoofer.

I like the way each of the two receivers is plugged into a separate power source (not sharing a single receiver). That way, each rear speaker can be located anywhere, and is not dependent upon the location of the other one, which works great in my oddly shaped room.

The annoying hum that emanates from the rear speakers after you turn the system off can be disabled if your amplifier has a "switched" AC outlet, into which you can plug the transmitter power supply. If your amplifier doesn't (my Onkyo has none), then you should position the transmitter where you can easily unplug it (the transmitter does not have an on/off switch). To save electricity, I would prefer to turn the transmitter off rather than ground it to eliminate the sound, as another usere suggests, but this is your decision.

I find no interference between this system and the internet, either on the 2.4 or the 5 gigahertz bands. For those who do get interference, it would be on the 2.4, and purchasing a dual band WiFi on your next upgrade would solve this problem.

Most importantly, there is no delay in transmission of the sound, the transmission range is really great, and sound quality appears perfect (to my ears, at least).

By the way, "battery life" should not be one of the "three attributes" because there are no batteries involved in this system.

Seemed to work well at first, but there are multiple wifi stations near my home and they seem to be causing significant enough interference that my surround speakers are unusable. They cut out so often that I can't stand listening to them. Unfortunate as I initially was quite pleased with the system.

Would appreciate any recommendations of alternative options, or suggestions as to how to reduce interference.

These work exactly as advertised. I have had no static, no reduction in sound quality from direct connect to my amplifier, and NO WIRES !! I will be getting more of these for other areas of my house.

Excellent product. You don't have to configure anything, just plug and play. Excellent reception and sound clarity. Is an excellent option to rid off all the cabling to your surround speakers.

These worked exactly as advertised right out of the box. Good clear sound on my Mirage table top speakers.

As others have said I wish there was an on/off switch on the transmitter and receivers. I solved the transmitter problem by plugging it into a switched outlet on my receiver. This eliminates the speaker hum when the stereo is turned off. The receivers are on all the time unless unplugged which is not great but neither is it that big a deal.