Bowers & Wilkins introduces Liberty wireless speaker system

Apparently, Bowers & Wilkins didn't want the whole world talking at once about its forthcoming Liberty at CES, but regardless, the self-proclaimed "wireless entertainment system" is all out in the open now. Slated to land this fall for a currently undisclosed price, the setup will consist of two XTW 8 towers, a pair of XTW 2 bookshelf units, an XTW Center channel and a PVW 1 subwoofer. Additionally, you'll find integrated class-D amplifiers and a rather sexy (albeit elusive) control unit, and if that wasn't enough, it's also the "first wireless system" capable of transmitting eight channels -- 5.1 for one room and two extra channels for remote zones. This system even utilizes "dynamic channel selection," which enables it to switch frequencies on the fly and choose the least trafficked frequency band to nix delay. Sadly, we've no price to share, but we wouldn't expect it to come cheap by any stretch of the imagination. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via AudioJunkies]

[caleb @ Jan 21st 2008 8:10AM]

B&W make great speakers, but I'm just not sold on wireless yet.

[Hinke @ Jan 21st 2008 9:12AM]

There are some established names in that field already, like sonos et al. They do know a little about good sounding speakers, so who knows?

Hinke

[Dan @ Jan 21st 2008 10:24AM]

Let's set up a new rule:
If the reporter posts a 'report' it must have at least one pertinent photo, or the reporter must, in the 'report', apologize and explain why he/she couldn't complete the job. Engadget is encouraging lousy journalism behavior. Stop it. If nothing else, give us links to photos that pertain to the 'report'. Stop giving journalism work to gadget freaks who can barely write. Use real journalists, like big professional companies do.

[caleb @ Jan 21st 2008 10:37AM]

The image posted with the article is the same as the image from the B&W press release. Am I missing something?

[Peter Graham @ Jan 21st 2008 11:05AM]

Bower & Wilkins are an amazing company, i currently own a 5.1 speaker set up of there's, the 500 Series 3 and they're absolutly fantastic, it's good to see the company properly starting to enter the digital market rather than just analog systems all the way. Their design technique i think is fantastic, high quality materials with minimalistic contempary design, their equitment will still look fantastic 20 years from now, I just hope to see more new stuff like this from them.

[Prashant Singh Pawar @ Jan 21st 2008 11:59AM]

I wonder why they named it Liberty.

Coincidently, I use Airtunes Express, and I always name my wireless speakers "Liberty Bell". Maybe its for the fact that Liberty reaches everywhere and blows her sweet music.

[Joern @ Jan 21st 2008 6:44PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO4X6Qzrvso

It will be around 15K Euros for the entire 5.1 system. Amplifiers in speakers are B&O Icepower.

[crescentdavid @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:05AM]

My wish for wireless speakers, coupled with the digital capabilities of both uncompressed and streaming media is matched only by my ignorance of some of the challenges wireless faces. To me, this looks great-as does the concept in general. Anybody able to point me in the right direction for an overview or comparative reviews? Thanks!