[KBL]

Audio Input: Wireless • Stereo, 16-bit, 48 KHz, uncompressed
• Wireless audio system performance
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 87 dB
• Total harmonic distortion: 0.4% (at 1 KHz, Output
2 V RMS
Audio Output: High Efficiency Class D,
Speaker-level
• Supports 4 to 16 ohm speakers
• Audio output power: 2 × 25 W (RMS) into 4 ohms
(no more than 10% THD)
Transmission Delay • 15-20 ms
Power Supply • AC 120 V ~ 60 Hz
Power Consumption • 15 W

I bought a Rocketfish Wireless speaker kit for use with my newly purchased Onkyo AVX690 5.1 set.
However, after attempting to set up the wireless part and having problems I have discovered that I neglected the output wattage of the receiver (2x25w) and am looking for any solution to the problem other than buying more surround sound speakers which have the correct voltage or buying a new wireless sender/receiver set up.
Is the any way to modify the receiver to handle the higher wattage of the speakers I have?
Would be interested to hear your views. TIA.

[Wilseus]

I don't really understand what the problem is, as you haven't told us. What symptoms exactly are you having? 2x25W should be adequate to power most surround speakers, as they usually don't need to go particularly loud. It does not matter if the maximum input power of the surrounds is greater than that of the amplifier powering them.

I notice though that some of those all-in-one systems such as your Onkyo use their own very low impedance speakers. If this is so, the receiver you are using may well have problems driving them, which I'd guess is the cause of the problems you say you are having. Unfortunately using a more powerful amplifier would not solve the problem. Do your surrounds have an impedance value printed on them?

[KBL]

Would that be the ohms readings? If so the ohm reading for the Rocketfish kit is 4-16 ohms per speaker and the Onkyo is 8 ohms. So well within the limits.

Having connection problems and interference. When it does actually connect for a few mins.
I was in contact with Rocketfish and they seem to think that the problem lies with my surround sound speakers being a higher wattage than the Rocketfish receiver can handle, namely 2 x 25W.

[PSM1]

Originally Posted by KBL

Having connection problems and interference. When it does actually connect for a few mins.
I was in contact with Rocketfish and they seem to think that the problem lies with my surround sound speakers being a higher wattage than the Rocketfish receiver can handle, namely 2 x 25W.

That is complete rollocks by Rocketfish and just trying to deflect from the issue being with their equipment. The speakers that come with these all in one packages will be fine with 25W power. I suspect your issue is the same a lot of people have with these lower priced wireless systems and that is they degrade the sound quality. Wires are by far the best way to connect rear speakers to a receiver.

[noiseboy72]

I would return this system, as 15ms of audio delay is way too much for a domestic surround system in any case.

[KBL]

Originally Posted by PSM1

That is complete rollocks by Rocketfish and just trying to deflect from the issue being with their equipment. The speakers that come with these all in one packages will be fine with 25W power. I suspect your issue is the same a lot of people have with these lower priced wireless systems and that is they degrade the sound quality. Wires are by far the best way to connect rear speakers to a receiver.

I was thinking the same thing.
Unfortunately we rent , so wires are a no go, especially as there are wooden floors, but wired is obviously the best way.

[KBL]

Originally Posted by noiseboy72

I would return this system, as 15ms of audio delay is way too much for a domestic surround system in any case.

I doubt I would get my money back due to the fact that it is clearly advertise that they is 15ms of delay when I bought them.
This can be over come though by making an adjustment on the Onkyo Amplifier.

[BlueWizard]

Originally Posted by KBL

I was thinking the same thing.
Unfortunately we rent , so wires are a no go, especially as there are wooden floors, but wired is obviously the best way.

Explain why wires are a no go? Certainly with a little effort you can run the wires along the baseboards and tidy them up to look unobtrusive.

I don't know the layout of your particular room, but virtually everyone with a Surround Sound system manages to find a way to run wires to their rear speakers.

The problem with wireless speakers is that they are, of course, not wireless. They need Power, and they need to be connected to something to receiver the signal, in this case, the speakers need to be wired to the wireless Receiver.

Also keep in mind that the rated 25w to 4 ohms is 12.5w to 8 ohms, and about 16w to 6 ohms. That is indeed on the lean side for power. However, as others have pointed out the demands on the rear speakers are not that high.

What specific speakers are you using in the rear/side?

Wireless seems like a good idea in concept, but there is a reason that all speaker are NOT wireless, because as good as the idea seems in your head, it is simply not that good in execution. You are wasting perfectly good 100w amp channels in favor of 12w low-cost low-quality rear wireless amps.

To really get a wireless system that is the equal of your built-in AV amps cost so much money as to not be worth it. For that money, you could buy better speakers, or likely one or two models better main amp.

Again, wireless seems like an ideal solution ...in your head, but typically it does not deliver either in economics or in performances. Especially when compared to the relatively modest cost of just plain wire.

What is really required is ingenuity. Finding a workable wired solution to your problem, that reasonably meet your aesthetic needs. Life is filled with compromise, you just have to decide which compromise best serves you in the moment. And in the realm of compromises, 'wire' certainly has the economic advantage, untidy as it may be.

Just one man's opinion.

Steve/bluewizard

[KBL]

Hi BlueWizard,

Believe me, I do realise the advantages to having wired over wireless. I could put my ingenuity to work, but seeing as we plan on moving to our house in 2-3 years I thought I would forego the hassle of wiring and try the wireless route.
I would be more than happy just to get some sounds out of this Rocketfish kit that would make it worth listening to until such point I could do the job properly.
I have posted again on the Rocketfish forum and told them that I do not think this kit is working properly.
The speakers used for the Onkyo AVX690 surround sound are Onkyo Model SKR-548: Max Power Handling 120W: Impedance 6 Ohms.
Now even I would have thought that there would have been no problem getting some sound from the speakers via the wireless kit, but it seems that the sender and receiver just don't want to work. Hence my query to Rocketfish support, but they seem to be trying to say that the power of the speakers is too much for the kit.

[Arcam_boy]

2 - 3 months then I wouldn't bother but 2-3 years then just buy a bit of cable and some cable clips for your rears and bobs ya uncle.

Run the cable along the skirting board or under the carpet. Pointless messing around with wireless receivers/senders. Only kit that might be worth looking at is the new Dynaudio xeo system although I'd guess it'll be well over the £1000 mark!

[BlueWizard]

Perhaps Rocketfish support can give you some help. But their explanation so far sounds rocketfishy to me. The power rating of the existing speakers means very little. The Sensitivity specification might mean something, but looking at your kit, I don't see anything unusual that would require tons of power to drive them.

Is this your system and are these your speakers? -

Onkyo AVX690 Black | 5.1 Package System inc Speakers excl DVD player | Richer Sounds

I agree that for 2 or 3 months, it might not be worth the hassle, but then for 2 or 3 months you can just leave the wires laying on the floor. For 2 or 3 years, then I still say wire is the best solution, and as I said, and as Arcam_Boy re-enforced, a little applied ingenuity, and you can tidy up your speaker wires nicely.

Again, we can't see your space, there are too many details missing for us to give specific wire tidying methods. But certainly you can live with the wire for a couple of years. I find that after a month or so, you don't even notice the wires.

Lastly, could you give a more detailed explanation of how the existing system is not sounding right? Is the signal being transmitted but doesn't sound good? Again, it is difficult to say what the problem is, but I would try REAL hard to find a way to make wire work.

You can get wire clips, you can get wire trunking/raceways. There is no prefect solutions, but there are probably acceptable solution especially for a temporary situation.

Just one man's opinion.

Steve/bluewizard

[KBL]

Yes, those are my speakers and amp.

This is what I told Rocketfish..

"I have removed all wires, unplugged and switched off everything except the RF-WHTIB. They still will not connect. They do connect when they are placed about 4-5ft apart, but as soon as they are moved any further apart they lose connection."

When they connected briefly the sound was just like listening to interference, but I had all broadband wrieless and phones turned off. They are also supposed to connect up to 100 feet away, but if they can't connect over 5-6 feet away there must be something wrong.

[BlueWizard]

"if they can't connect over 5-6 feet away there must be something wrong. "

Or they are just crap to start with. The 'power' of the speakers should have nothing to do with whether the Transmitter/Receiver can connect over distance.

Keep in contact with RocketFish. Your speakers are pretty small and pretty ordinary. If the Rocketfish can't connect to these, then it can't connect to anything.

Steve/bluewizard

[Nevaborn]

Ive got the solution for you.

Ditch this crap ( someone needed to say it ) and get some cables. Wooden floor no problem. Run them tight to the skirting and just use some clear tap to stick it at like 30cm intervals.

If the cable would cross a door then run them up to the door and across it there and along the room. By the door you can either use slightly thicker tape or ideally a metal cover you can get from most d.i.y places. They used to join 1 room to another keeping carpet or flooring from impeding on the door and to stop you tripping on any protruding surfaces.

Doesn't get much simpler than that.

2-3 years is a massive amount of time for such a small job. =)

[KBL]

Originally Posted by BlueWizard

"if they can't connect over 5-6 feet away there must be something wrong. "

Or they are just crap to start with. The 'power' of the speakers should have nothing to do with whether the Transmitter/Receiver can connect over distance.

Keep in contact with RocketFish. Your speakers are pretty small and pretty ordinary. If the Rocketfish can't connect to these, then it can't connect to anything.

Steve/bluewizard

This is their point about the speaker power "..it looks like the speakers you are using require more power than the Rocketfish product outputs (25w x 2 at 4ohms)"

I would have thought that 25 watts would have been enough to power 120W speakers. I am not letting rocketfish get away with this, I will hound them for a replacement kit until I get one, then if the same thing happens I know it's down to the kit being crap.
Wires, may have to if it doesn't workout, not wasting any more money on wireless. I have plenty of wires already which are an eyesore, xbox, sky box, amp, bluray, power cables etc. Oh well two more won't hurt if need be.

I'll let you know how it goes, won't be able to do anything for a while as I am going away tomorrow for a while.

[Nevaborn]

Originally Posted by KBL

This is their point about the speaker power "..it looks like the speakers you are using require more power than the Rocketfish product outputs (25w x 2 at 4ohms)"

I would have thought that 25 watts would have been enough to power 120W speakers. I am not letting rocketfish get away with this, I will hound them for a replacement kit until I get one, then if the same thing happens I know it's down to the kit being crap.
Wires, may have to if it doesn't workout, not wasting any more money on wireless. I have plenty of wires already which are an eyesore, xbox, sky box, amp, bluray, power cables etc. Oh well two more won't hurt if need be.

I'll let you know how it goes, won't be able to do anything for a while as I am going away tomorrow for a while.

Honestly mate these wireless things no matter what they are all sound great in writing. People are paid millions to make crud sound amazing but doeset change the fact they fall short in real life.

Cables may look crud but are the best way for speed, sound,vision,data.

I hear ya on cables but most are behind or near tv. In relation to that speaker cables will blend much easier. Especially if against the skirting on the floor.

[Wilseus]

Originally Posted by KBL

This is their point about the speaker power "..it looks like the speakers you are using require more power than the Rocketfish product outputs (25w x 2 at 4ohms)"

I've never read such a load of absolute cobblers in my life. The product's output power (which I'm confident is adequate, by the way) has absolutely no bearing on its ability to connect its base unit. In any case, how can it possibly "know" what wattage your speakers are? I would be very surprised by the way if your speakers are actually a proper 120W RMS anyway.

Having said that, I'm sure the Rocketfish is a decent product, but it does appear that yours is perhaps faulty.

[S.DJ]

I no nothing about wierless setups but shortly if the wierless speakers are say 25w and you have a 110w amp don't you then connect a wierless sender to the 110w amp to sent signal to the wireless speakers audio output your not sending 110w to the wierless speakers just a signal to the wierless receiver ? Witch would be compatible with the kit surly. Or have I missed the point completely lol
As said sorry if I make myself look silly
You not going to get quality sound from wireless well not like a real av set up with floorstanders and subs

All my opinion.

[Wilseus]

Originally Posted by S.DJ

if the wierless speakers are say 25w and you have a 110w amp don't you then connect a wierless sender to the 110w amp to sent signal to the wireless speakers audio output your not sending 110w to the wierless speakers just a signal to the wierless receiver ?

That is correct.

[KBL]

This is Rocketfishs final say on the matter...

"Unfortunately due to how our warranty works I won't be able to provide you with any further solutions such as reimbursement or replacement. The warranty is only valid in the United States and when purchased from a Best Buy (or Best Buy affiliate). I would suggest contacting the company that you purchased it from and explain to them that it was dead on arrival. I wish that there was more that I could do to assist you and I apologize for the inconvenience that you have experienced."

[PSM1]

What a nice company!!!! That is one I will not be dealing with in the future then.

[spyder viewer]

How have you resolved the ac mains difference? I assume for the tx you have a uk plugtop power supply but what about the receiver? Where did you source this kit from?

Regardless of sound source or speakers, do the tx/rx lock together when on?

[Wilseus]

Originally Posted by KBL

I would suggest contacting the company that you purchased it from and explain to them that it was dead on arrival.(

To be fair, that should always be your first port of call anyway. It's the retailer that is responsible for replacing/refunding faulty items, not the manufacturer.
Where did you actually buy it from?

[KBL]

The original seller is forwarding another unit to me free of charge.

They will test it thoroughly before sending it as well.

[Ambient Fish]

No more than 10% THD is that a typo? if not you are better off without those wireless rears mate.

• Audio output power: 2 × 25 W (RMS) into 4 ohms
(no more than 10% THD)
Transmission Delay • 15-20 ms
Power Supply • AC 120 V ~ 60 Hz
Power Consumption • 15 W

[KBL]

This arrived this morning. Worked as soon as I plugged it in, no need to push connect buttons at all.
Great service all round and not from Rocketfish.