Wired vs wireless surround sound: 9 Considerable Points

Connecting speakers through wire is old technology and still performs better than any connectivity. However, the scenario has changed after introducing wireless technology to sound systems.

Surround sound systems first come with a wired connection, and then it comes with wireless. Both have their pros and cons.

Table of Contents

We covered every considerable point of Wired vs wireless surround sound. Without extraordinary sound knowledge, you can’t find any quality difference between them.

Comparison of using Wired vs wireless surround sound

*A red cross mark does not mean, that are not capable. Here just tried to show which one is dominant using a tick or cross symbol.

The wired vs wireless surround sound: Which one is best for you?

Find the purpose of using surround sound, it can help you to choose any of them. Both sound systems are capable of producing immersive audio.

We highlighted a few pros and cons of using wired and wireless sound systems. Let’s dive into it:

1. Sound Quality:

Wire: A wired-connected surround sound system always performs better than any other option.
Wireless: Wireless technology evolving every day, but still behind the wired connectivity.

2. Cost-effective:

Wire: Wired surround sound systems always cost less than wireless systems. It can save you a couple of thousands of dollars.
Wireless: In a lower to premium segment, it will cost you more than a wired sound system. Sometimes, it may not, depending on system specifications.

3. Installation cost:

Wire: Installing a wired sound system costs you a hundred dollars. If you want to install Surround sound speakers, a few tools are needed to place them on walls or roofs.
Wireless: You can do it without paying any money to professionals. So, the installation cost of wireless surround sound is almost zero.

4. Speaker Placement:

Wire: Although you can change the place of wired speakers if the wires go through the walls; it can be a difficult task for you.
Wireless: Wireless speakers have the flexibility to be placed anywhere.

5. New technology:

Wire: A sound system connected through wires is not a big thing, it’s the oldest technology. And still, this technology continues.
Wireless: Wireless sound technology improves, every year that passes. Many premium companies launched satellite and self-powered speakers, that work more efficiently.

6. Interior:

Wire: In a clean interior, wires may create a cluttered look and feel. To clean up your interior, hide the surround sound speakers wire.
Wireless: Wireless speakers always look premium in terms of interior purposes. Choosing a wireless surround sound system is more practical, where the interior is the first priority.

7. Distance:

Wire: You can cover any distance through wires to connect those speakers places far away from the receiver.
Wireless: The range of the Bluetooth connection is approximately 30 feet (10 meters), more than 30 feet distance can trouble your speakers to connect with the receiver.

8. Extension purposes:

Wire: Adding more speakers to the existing sound system through the wire is much more complicated. Before adding any wired speakers, check the receiver has extra output jacks.
Wireless: Check your receiver’s specification, if it is capable of adding more speakers, add more speakers. Just put your wireless speaker under the connectivity areas, and pair it with the receiver.

9. Consistency:

Wire: For a surround sound system, consistency matters when it comes to connectivity. A surround sound system connected through wire provides more stable and consistent connectivity.
Wireless: If the wall or other objects come between speakers and the receiver, your connectivity may not perform as you expect.

While both have pros and cons, address the exact purposes and choose between them. A wired surround sound system is recommended, for a permanent in-wall surround sound setup. But look wise a wireless sound system is a headache-less solution for non-expertise (Speakers setup) persons.

I have a wired surround sound setup and used it for the past three years without having issues. In the future, if I need to shift somewhere else, I like to go with a wireless surround sound system. Wireless surround sound is easy to install and manage.

Can you convert wired surround sound to wireless?

Yes, you can convert wired speakers into wireless speakers. Wireless audio transmitter and receiver kits are required to connect both devices.

The number of receivers depends on how many speakers you have, and a Wireless audio transmitter is enough.

Let’s follow the steps:

Step 1. Connect your transmitter with audio sources like AV receiver, and television through RCA or 3.5mm audio jack.

Step 2. Connect each receiver with the speakers using wires(Use existing speakers wire).

Step 3. Now, the transmitter and receiver are ready to connect wirelessly. Both transmitter and receiver need the power (AC adapters) to operate, ensuring both are connected.

Step 4. Turn on both wireless devices and pair them manually (Follow user manuals). Now, the speaker can play wirelessly.

This wireless converted surround sound system may not work better than a wire connection. A modern wireless surround sound system can deliver immersive audio quality, but it depends on your budget.

Modern wireless audio transfer technology like aptX, aptX HD, AAC, or LDAC is preferable. This technology can transfer audio without compressing.

Converting wired speakers to wireless speakers through kits may cost you more than wireless speakers. I like to suggest you buy wireless speakers for better results.

Is Bluetooth surround sound as good as wired?

Bluetooth surround sound is not as good as a wired sound system. However, the latest 5.2 Bluetooth is not far behind in audio connectivity.

Bluetooth connectivity depends on many things like audio codec, the distance between receivers, and the quality of the speakers.

Bluetooth technology has become more accurate than previous ones. Advanced codecs like aptX, AAC, and LDAC have significantly improved audio quality over Bluetooth connectivity.

Although Bluetooth significantly improved itself, a wired connection is known for its stable and consistent connectivity. As a professional user, you have to choose a wired connection.

Can I use wired and wireless speakers at the same time?

Technically yes, you can use wired and wireless speakers for surround sound systems. Delay times on wireless transfers are the reason why most users don’t want to try this combination.

Also, using wired and wireless speakers at the same time is not a joke. Either hire a professional or you must have the proper knowledge of it. There are no brands, that provide this type of sound system combination.

If the wire and wireless speakers are not paired perfectly, you may experience horrible sound quality. If this works for you, congrats enjoy the unique sound system.

Final Word:

Wired and wireless, both surround sound systems have their advantage and drawbacks. Before choosing any one of them, consider those nine considerable things we provided earlier in this article.

I shared my view as a happy wired surround sound user, but I also like to having a wireless surround sound system. Wired vs wireless surround sound is a vast topic that we covered in this article, if you still have any questions regarding it, comment below.

Sourav

I’m sourav, a music lover and sound enthusiast. After experiencing multiple sound qualities, I thought many people searching regarding this topic, but there is not enough detailed information on it. That’s the main reason why I created this blog.