Customer Reviews

U.S. Robotics USR6003 SoundLink Wireless Audio Delivery System

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

When I received the SoundLink for my birthday yesterday, I wasn't quite sure if it would work very well, but I just installed it in all of 5 minutes, and it sounds wonderful. I did not need to read the directions at all - the installation is quite painless and intuitive. Here's how things work:

The system comes with two little black boxes - one is a transmitter and one a receiver. Each is clearly marked and powered by either batteries or a power adapter. I was afraid that the adapters would be the bulky kind and not fit on my power strips, but they were actually relatively slim and fit nicely. The transmitter plugs into your PC, Mac, or MP3 player through either the headphone jack or the audio out jack, where you'd normally plug in your speakers. The nice thing about the system, as another reviewer mentioned, is that the transmitter has an audio out jack into which you can now plug your speakers, so the music can be playing on whatever stereo you're transmitting to and at your computer as well. Or just your computer. Or just the stereo. No need to plug and unplug.

The receiver sits by your stereo, plugged into a power source or running on batteries. Here you have a choice as well - you can plug the receiver directly into your stereo using the color coded audio cords which are provided, or you can tune your FM receiver to a choice of stations and the receiver will broadcast to your stereo (you'll notice it has a little antenna wire attached). I tried both methods and think the direct route works better for me, but others here have different preferences depending on their location.

So far I've tried the unit with my PC (listening to the radio on the internet), on my iMac (listening to my MP3s on iTunes), and with my iPod. Each worked very well. Granted, as other reviewers have mentioned, the sound is not absolutely perfect, especially at louder volumes, but it sounds darned good. I also used my 900Mhz cordless phone while using the SoundLink, and did not notice any interference. For anyone wishing to listen to internet radio stations away from their computer (marvel of marvels), or wanting to listen to their MP3 collection, this is an inexpensive, cordless, and effective solution. I'm very pleased with my birthday present!

I recently decided to convert my 300+ CDs to Windows Media format files so I could play them at work through my headphones. As I was recording them at home, I thought about how nice it would be if I could play my music through my home stereo. I then came across this product, which pretty much does the trick.

It comes with two receiver type things that look like fat walkie-talkies. One of them plugs into your computer's audio-out jack. It also has an audio out jack so you can plug your existing computer speakers into it, which is nice. The other receiver goes next to your stereo receiver. You can then either plug it in using patch cords to an audio-in on your receiver, or tune your receiver to 88.1 or 88.3 and flip a switch to broadcast through FM. I personally, for some reason, get better sound in FM mode than through a direct connection, which I can't figure out. I would've thought it would've been the other way around.

I have found that I have to switch the radio station it transmits on periodically for some reason. I have also found that when I first turn it on, sometimes the receivers have a hard time getting in sync with one another, so I just leave them on all the time.

You have to adjust the volume knob on the receiver near your computer. If you have it too high, you will get distortion. Since these music files seem to record at different levels based on the source CD, I just leave it at a middle setting and use the volume on my receiver to make any necessary volume adjustments.

I also am not thrilled that both receivers need to be plugged in. You can use batteries, but since it is all but necessary to leave them on all the time, batteries would be a waste. And they are those stupid big fat plugs that take up valuable space on your power strips. But what can you do. I guess this is the cost of listening to music from your computer.

In summary, I think this audio system does well, and I would recommend it to others.

I've been using this absolutely splendid device for a couple of weeks now and I still can't get over how well it works.

I'm astonished at the clarity of the reception on my bedside radio - indeed all the radios I've used it with (and I'm not even using the direct-connect feature to wire the transmitter to the radio - I'm using what for want of a better term I'll call the "local wireless broadcast option" - placing the transmitter within ten feet of the radio you'll be using).

The battery or mains power feature is ultra-convenient. One unit has to stay connected to your computer, but the unit that broadcasts to your radio works on both battery and mains power, which means you can take it with you and listen to your Internet feed on any radio in the house.

This is the best performing piece of electronics I've bought in years, and at around $100 it's an absolute bargain. For all those British expats like myself who even after 24 years still miss Radio 4, this device can't be beat. Take your browser to the streaming feed on the Web, and listen in hi-fi in bed, in the shower, in the basement - anywhere. Outstanding.

A previous reviewer stated that in an area with a high degree of RF interference performance was poor. I have to agree, I tried various settings, disconnected all wireless devices in my house and still had an audible hiss on all channels. My unit was installed at a distance of only 50ft between sending and receiving units. If they ever come out with a 2.4ghz version, performance might be better but I can't recommend this one.

This product did what it says it will do, but don't expect it to sound like you're listening to a CD. Because it's only 900MHz, it sounds like you're listening to your music on a weak FM station. There is a high-pitched hiss that doesn't seem to go away regardless of the signal strength. I was transmitting line-of-site 10 feet across the room and the hiss persisted.

I had purchased an FM transmitter product from another company, but was very disappointed by the annoying "hum" constantly heard. The SoundLink product works perfectly, with very little distortion and excellent sound reproduction. It is exactly what I wanted, and well worth the money. The only possible negative comment that I could make is that it uses 4 AAA batteries while not on the included AC adapter. I can see where they would drain quickly. AA batteries would probably have been better, but this is a minor complaint. I would highly recommend this product.

I bought this thing with high hopes, took it home and was VERY disappointed. It was very difficult to get a signal and I had to change the output of the sender for every song to get any signal lock but avoid saturation. I just assumed it was bad technology. Luckily there was an LED burned out on the receiver so I returned it for another, with little hope that much would improve outside of the LED. When I hooked the new one it worked PERFECTLY right out of the box. No fiddling with channels, no setting output levels, just a crisp clear stereo signal - no issues. Based on the first unit I would have rated 1 star, based on the second, a clear 5. Just make sure you get a good one.

The product performs as promised. It installed easily. The Soundlink broadcasts to 88.3 FM on the stereo tuner and I have also plugged it into my multiroom amplifier so I can listen to internet radio around the house. After installation, use the scan button on the receiver to get the strongest signal, and adjust the volume contols on the computer to limit static. The only downside I see is the lack of a remote control, but I haven't found that to be a big problem.

Just bought the SoundLink system to pipe streaming I-net radio into my living room. Setup is hassle free: plug the transformers for the two units into a power outlet (they also run on 4 AA cells, if you want to be mobile on either end), run the cinch cables into your stereo, the sound plug into your computer (and the transmitter also has a sound out to plug your computer sound into). Sound quality is great, like FM radio or audiotape, good enough for me since I'm not an audiophile. A neat unit.

I live in Chicago and have had problems in the past with wireless devices; esp. cordless telephones on both 900 mhz and 2.4 ghz which I could never get to work at my house due to interference.

So I was VERY skeptical about the Soundlink. I bought it and I can say unconditionally that it is the best wireless product I have ever purchased. I have no problems with the sound quality or interference.