But wires aren’t dead yet
KEF
It used to be that audiophile Hi-Fi setups used wires, period.
We’re not talking about Bluetooth here.
But that doesn’t mean the old tech is going anywhere.
KEF
It’s just that now we have a real choice.
Wired or Wireless
First, lets look at the difference between these types of speakers.
For decades, home Hi-Fi setups have used a source (record player, CD player, etc.
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), an amplifier, and a pair of passive speakers.
These speakers are driven by the amp and require no power of their own.
Then, there are wired active speakers.
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Their advantage is that they dont need a separate amp and that their built-in amplifiers perfectly match the speakers.
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Then we have wireless speakers.
These are all active, from the battery-powered Bluetooth kind to the fancy plug-in-to-the-wall kind.
The wireless part refers to the audio being sent over the air rather than through a cable.
But thats not the whole story.
It will all just work.
And if those speakers break, they can be repaired.
With wireless speakers, can we say the same?
Even if they remain physically reliable for a few decades, will the Wi-Fi still be compatible?
Will the software be kept up to date?
Take Apple’s original HomePods, for example, whichdidn’t last nearly as longas they should have.
“My personal opinion is that expensive speakers should last at least 40 years, probably more.
That means no technology in them for me.
“So for me, anyway, I keep the technology separate.
My speakers are passive, my amplification isn’t ‘smart.’
But these speakers can offer lots of extra features.
it’s possible for you to even mix and match.
