Aperion Home Audio Link promises to let you go wireless with ease
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 18th 2010 4:06PM
posted January 18th 2010 4:06PM
Looking for a wireless home audio system but not interested in adding any additional docks, speakers or sound systems to your humble abode? Then you might be the sort of individual Aperion is targeting with its new Home Audio Link (or HAL, naturally), which promises to simply let you stream audio from any device to the audio system of your choice (up to three of them, in fact). Similarly to the Mint Studio iPod dock we checked out a few months back, this one passes over WiFi in favor of the plain old 2.4GHz band, which the folks at Gear Patrol say held up plenty well in their tests, with no signs of interference or distortion to be found. Somewhat notably, you can also use the system to wirelessly connect a powered subwoofer, and Aperion is apparently planning on introducing some new subwoofers of its own complete with built-in USB ports to make setup even easier. No timeline for those just yet, but you'll be able to snag the Home Audio Link on January 28th for $150, with additional receivers available for $70 apiece.
um... airport express and airfoil?
@FSEngineer
The Airport Express won't open bay doors.
Does it allow for 'zones', like iTunes with Airport Express does?
How is that different from this?
http://www.audioengineusa.com/w1_home.php
I've been using these for a few years.
@Slocko
The audioengine AW1 is a one to one unit. Aperion's can add up to three receivers to one transmitter.
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Aperion-Home-Audio-Linktrade-System,242,84,771.aspx
I don't need ANY hardware to accomplish the same thing; use this amazing piece of software for free SUCKAS: (Jamcast)
http://www.sdstechnologies.com/
@mrpacs
You can't stream audio to something that's NOT A COMPUTER without some hardware.
I too use the Audioengine product and love it. I'd love to stream simultaneously to more than one location. I wonder if this shows up as a sound device like the W1.
@jstraw "computer" is not required. I stream through my Home Theater with PS3 & Jamcast Software. Will also work with xbox.
@mrpacs
PS3 and XBOX are computers. WTF,
The 2.4 GHz band is almost completely used worldwide by 802.11b and g devices. If as they claim "no signs of interference" was found, they obviously were not near any microwave ovens, cordless phones, bluetooth devices, or common wireless routers.
I can see this taking a hold in the market place as Logitech Squeezebox customer service is completely f****** its customers by not responding to customer inquiries on faults/bugs shared by many. It's all downhill since Sean Adams left. So yes, these guys have a chance.
@Gadgety
I can't specifically address the fault/bugs part of your statement but I will say that my tech support experiences with the people that handle calls for the Squeezebox product line have been FAR AND AWAY the best support techs I have ever dealt with.
Xbox & ps3 are gaming consoles, not computers per was my point.
@mrpacs
Alright, a game console isn't a computer...it's a networked computing device that processes data with a CPU, utilizing RAM and that has a USB port, a display and an input device. Call it what you want. To use an application such as the one mentioned requires a *networked computing device*. To use the Apeiron or the Audioengine-W1, the receiver itself only needs power and a cable to a pair of inputs on an audio system.
Nifty Keen O
Also check out the Audioengine W1 (and the W2 for iPod/iPhone). The Audioengine W1 transmits at a higher bitrate than the Aperion and is only $99 a set, which is great for daisy-chaining to all your gear around the house - think "poor-man's Sonos".
I use the AW1 from my computer out to my living room stereo system and then another set from the living room into the dining room plugged into my Audioengine 5 powered speakers. Easy setup and sounds great.