bluetooth speakers for the mba

[ducatidoc]

i was shopping at best buy and poking around the mac section when the local apple rep started tried to sell me stuff. i already own a macbook air, but decided to play along saying that i was contemplating getting one but was "worried about the limited number of connections." he told me a bunch of stuff i already knew about my mac, and then said this: "with a bluetooth mouse, keyboard, and speakers, you can just pick it up and go." now i was aware of the BT enabled mouse and keyboard (obvious apple staples), but not the speakers.

came home and a quick google search later found these:

http://www.tkarena.com/Articles/tab.../mid/382/ArticleID/54/PageID/242/Default.aspx

and these:

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProd...e=Main&category=PAS+Stereo+Bluetooth+Speakers

so.... anyone tried these? i read on some forums that BT headsets had some snap, crackle, pop to them with the MBA but am wondering if similar rice crispy issues may plague speakers.

 

[tasset]

i was shopping at best buy and poking around the mac section when the local apple rep started tried to sell me stuff. i already own a macbook air, but decided to play along saying that i was contemplating getting one but was "worried about the limited number of connections." he told me a bunch of stuff i already knew about my mac, and then said this: "with a bluetooth mouse, keyboard, and speakers, you can just pick it up and go." now i was aware of the BT enabled mouse and keyboard (obvious apple staples), but not the speakers.

came home and a quick google search later found these:

http://www.tkarena.com/Articles/tab.../mid/382/ArticleID/54/PageID/242/Default.aspx

and these:

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProd...e=Main&category=PAS+Stereo+Bluetooth+Speakers

so.... anyone tried these? i read on some forums that BT headsets had some snap, crackle, pop to them with the MBA but am wondering if similar rice crispy issues may plague speakers.

You aren't even limited to just those! There are tons of iPod compatible speaker systems at virtually all stores. I have one and plopped in one of these bluetooth receivers for $6 at Best Buy and works great:
http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-player-...etooth-receiver-for/4505-6519_7-32820009.html

 

[n0de]

I have heard that the quality from bluetooth stereo speakers isn't very good, any have a set and what do you think?

I am considering this http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/notebook_products/speakers/devices/3503&cl=us,en as it would also give me a usb hub. You can find them online for under $80.

 

[tasset]

Headphones and speakers that I have used range from good to great, but not outstanding. I'm not sure if it's a bluetooth thing or manufacturer quality.
I know though using my wife's walkman phone and a bluetooth car stereo it sounded excellent.

 

[jont-fu]

I have been using this: http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=HWS-BTA2W - connected to my home stereo and paired with the Air. The sound is usually fairly good for background music and movies, but sometimes - especially if the Air is under heavy load - it starts crackling and distorting. Also heavy wi-fi traffic seems to cause interference sometimes, as bluetooth and wi-fi share frequency bands. I haven't found anywhere information on the bitrate OSX uses for BT audio. 320kbit is the maximum spec for ADPC and it should give fairly high quality.

Whenever the sound starts cracking constantly, I fix it by stopping playback, disconnecting the bluetooth device ("Don't use headphones" from bluetooth device menu), and then connecting it again ("Use headphones"). After that it works. I hoped that 10.5.3 update would have addressed this issue but I guess we'll have to wait some more. Anyhow it is very pleasant to have wireless audio, it feels natural to the Air. The range I get is to the adjacent room, maximum of 5 meters before it starts breaking up.