Audioengine W2: Wireless Transmitter for iPods
Wireless audio takes many forms- Bluetooth works pretty well, but only over short distances. And FM radio transmitters are cheap, but have issues with interference, static, and low audio-quality in general. Hence, Audioengine’s solution, using the 2.4Ghz frequency to transmit over a reasonable range (around 30 feet) and with CD audio quality.
The W2 comes with both the transmitter adapter for the bottom of your iPod, iPod Nano, or iPod touch, as well as the receiver that can plug in to your boombox, stereo, or home audio system. No batteries are required for the transmitter, though it will drain your iPod’s battery life a little faster. The receiver comes with a power cable, and can even be powered via USB. We also tested the W2 with an iPhone, and it will work just fine- “Works with iPhone” official approval is in the works but we had no issues with it, in or out of airplane mode.
Unfortunately, the receiver only connects to minijack, and though the box includes both the minijack cable and a handy minijack-to-RCA cable, we wish it had optical audio as well for use with higher-end receivers. We also wish that the W2 receiver had volume controls or remote functions built in- though that could be confusing for most users. We just happen to avoid subjecting our iPhones to the kitchen environment, and wanted to drag our speakers in there but still have control over our sounds.
Overall, the units work quite well, and even feature the ability to “hop”, and connect to multiple devices in a house (which we didn’t get a chance to try).
The price may seem a bit high at around $170- but these light, easy to setup, and durable units allow you to unwire your iPod, and enjoy your music from afar.
