Wirelessly Stream Music From Your iPod

As wireless technology business continues to grow, it seems as if almost everyone is looking to cut the cords from their devices. Audioengine, a company that got its start designing and manufacturing hand-built, professional quality speakers for the consumer market, is now answering the call for iPod users with the W2 Premium Wireless Adapter for iPod.

Incredibly easy to use, the W2 allows a user to wirelessly connect his or her iPod to a stereo or amplified speakers. Consisting of a sender and a receiver module, the W2 transmits uncompressed, CD-quality music over the same frequency bands as 802.11 Wi-Fi using an encoded proprietary protocol on a closed network.

The sender is a small dongle measuring approximately 1 x 2 inches and has an iPod docking connector protruding from its top. The receiver is a similar-size device with a USB connector on one end and a stereo minijack on the other.

Powered by the media player, the sender simply plugs into the bottom of an iPod Touch, Classic or Nano. The receiver is then connected to an amplifier, stereo or set of powered speakers using one of the two included cables. A power adapter also is supplied with a USB port for the receiver to plug into (the receiver can be powered via a computer's USB port as well).

After both units are connected, all the user has to do is turn on the iPod and start listening to music. In our lab, the W2 worked flawlessly. Using a first-generation iPod Touch, reviewers connected the receiver to a pair of amplified speakers and instantly heard our music crystal clear. All functionality is controlled on the iPod. We were even able to walk the iPod out into our parking lot without losing the signal -- no small feat considering we can't even receive most cell phone carrier signals in the lab.

Audioengine compares the W2 to a "dockless dock" and that is probably the most accurate way to describe its functionality. It works exactly the same way as Apple's universal dock and merely eliminates the connecting cable.

Because the sender and receiver are paired to a specific frequency, multiple units can be used without interference from each other (initial pairing already is configured out of the box). Additionally, one sender can be paired with up to eight receivers and "hop" between them, one at a time.

With a retail price of $169, the Audioengine W2 may seem a bit expensive, but the ease of use and sound quality prove it to be worthy of its price tag. For those who can afford it, the W2 provides the freedom of music in every room. Audioengine also makes the $149 W1, a similar system designed for non-Apple media players, which substitutes a 3.5-inch jack in place of the iPod docking connector.