Do they exist? I want powered speakers I can just plug into an outlet and be able to play audio through them from my PC, just as if they were plugged into my PC's audio outlet or USB. Incredibly it seems nobody makes these...

I absolutely do not want any fancy crap like Sonos, these trap you, are complicated and often refuse to work because they "need" the latest updates every few weeks. I have Sonos and its become a huge pain. Sonos are also not remote speakers, they are a system that can only play music from subscribed sources or a music library.

 

I know you asked about WIFI speakers, but I do not recall coming across one. Have a look around. I just bought a battery-powered (rechargeable) mono Bluetooth speaker for about U.S. $2 plus a little for shipping.

I will not recommend the one I bought because the sound is a little bit muffled (some highs get attenuated) but they are very common from a variety of suppliers.

 

I would think there would be some Bluetooth speakers that would work for that.

 

I have some good Bluetooth speakers. They have several different inputs. Lightning changes which input is used.

 

I have never had any trouble with IP addresses, pairing, configuring, lost settings or passwords because I connect my amplifier and speakers to the signal source with a cable. Cables save a lot of trouble.

 

Bluetooth is short range, if we can play music over RF using Bluetooth, why can't we do so over RF using WiFi? I mean, what's involved? sounds like an opportunity...

 

WIFI is w hardware protocol that is mainly used to carry TCP/IP. Perhaps it is TCP/IP speakers with a WIFI interface that you should be looking for.

 

I find multiple options on Amazon with a search for “Network Speakers”.

 

Bluetooth is short range, if we can play music over RF using Bluetooth, why can't we do so over RF using WiFi? I mean, what's involved? sounds like an opportunity...

Wi-Fi is by no means at all "simple"!! There is a large amount of applications software and "handshaking" involved with making it work in a manner that might be satisfactory.!!
If you buy any bluetooth hardware from amazon, be prepared for NOT ONE BIT OF PRODUCT SUPPORT, and probably no documentation, either.
Ian0 certainly is correct in his statement in post #5. Thee is a bit of effort involved with using cable connections, in that an adequate quality of shielded cable must be used for the interconnections.
I have seen many listings of a variety of bluetooth speakers on line, and assorted sales flyers. So they are certainly available from some sources. Even my local "Dollar Store" has wireless speakers on their shelves. BUT most of them are battery powered, with mains powered operation requiring an external "wall wart" power supply.
I make no claims as to the quality or ease of operation for any of those products.

 

Do they exist? I want powered speakers I can just plug into an outlet and be able to play audio through them from my PC, just as if they were plugged into my PC's audio outlet or USB. Incredibly it seems nobody makes these...

I absolutely do not want any fancy crap like Sonos, these trap you, are complicated and often refuse to work because they "need" the latest updates every few weeks. I have Sonos and its become a huge pain. Sonos are also not remote speakers, they are a system that can only play music from subscribed sources or a music library.

I've used BlueSpoof speakers (ha ha) and had pretty good luck with them, but they are so different the only way to know if you like one is to try it first and send back if you don't like it.
For example, one I got had a LOUD voice that would come out of the speaker that says, "CONNECTED", once it connects, and "DISCONNECED" if it disconnects. The problem is, there is NO way to control the volume of that voice and it is VERY annoying. It's a sort of 'pleasant' female voice, but it's at almost full volume when the program you are watching calls for low volume. It's nuts what these designers think is likeable or even acceptable. Wake everyone else up in the neighborhood if your BlueTooth disconnects from that speaker. Yeah right just what we needed.

I've gone back to the old standard 3.5mm phono jack (1/8 inch) connection which is wired. I use that for everything that I can. It's the only standard that works ALL the time.
What this means is that if you do buy a BlueTooth speaker make sure it also has a 3.5mm jack for using a purely wired connection so you can go back to a wired connection if you have problems.

 

Bluetooth is short range,

So how much range do you want?

 

Consider also that your bluetooth connection is by no means private. Not only for others listening, but also for others sending. So your price for wireless hookup might be higher than you thought. Besides that, all wireless connections are physically a lot more complex, which consumes extra power, requires extra code, and is less reliable simply because of all the additional parts.

 

Consider also that your bluetooth connection is by no means private.

But I would think the short range of the Bluetooth signal would not make that a significant problem, except perhaps if you lived in an apartment with a close next-door neighbor.

 

Your experience with Sonos is unusual. My wife loves hers and they just work fine without hassle. I know because if there was any hassle, she'd be all over me to fix it.

 

one I got had a LOUD voice that would come out of the speaker that says, "CONNECTED", once it connects, and "DISCONNECED" if it disconnects.

I have exactly the same problem with a small Bluetooth stick I use to listen to the TV with my headphones.
I usually move the headphones away from my ears when connecting or disconnecting to avoid the loud announcement.
Otherwise the device works very well for listening with my headphones.

Likely both devices use the same Bluetooth chip with the same female voice (with perhaps a slight Asian accent).

 

I get my music off a server 1000 miles away. It passes through several routers to get across my house jumps to the shop and another router. I think a WiFi speaker will work.

"Amazon Echo Dot, Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker" Is this a WiFi speaker?

 

WIFI is w hardware protocol that is mainly used to carry TCP/IP. Perhaps it is TCP/IP speakers with a WIFI interface that you should be looking for.

Sonos uses WiFi, UDP.

 

I find multiple options on Amazon with a search for “Network Speakers”.

Thanks, I'm looking but not finding, Bluetooth seems to be all there is plus contrived gadgets that you connect speakers to, its incredible this is not rocket science!

 

Wi-Fi is by no means at all "simple"!! There is a large amount of applications software and "handshaking" involved with making it work in a manner that might be satisfactory.!!
If you buy any bluetooth hardware from amazon, be prepared for NOT ONE BIT OF PRODUCT SUPPORT, and probably no documentation, either.
Ian0 certainly is correct in his statement in post #5. Thee is a bit of effort involved with using cable connections, in that an adequate quality of shielded cable must be used for the interconnections.
I have seen many listings of a variety of bluetooth speakers on line, and assorted sales flyers. So they are certainly available from some sources. Even my local "Dollar Store" has wireless speakers on their shelves. BUT most of them are battery powered, with mains powered operation requiring an external "wall wart" power supply.
I make no claims as to the quality or ease of operation for any of those products.

Sonos uses wifi and has for years, but they trap you into their system. I can cast youtube video to my TV but incredibly cant do the same with audio!

 

Thanks, I'm looking but not finding, Bluetooth seems to be all there is plus contrived gadgets that you connect speakers to, its incredible this is not rocket science!

This

This

This

And there are more….

All say WIFI and Bluetooth.