When you’re shopping for speakers, there are countless decisions to make. Do you buy something lightweight and portable or a heavy-duty setup? Should you pick a stereo pair or an all-in-one soundbar? Opt for multiple inputs or keep it simple?
While all these choices are important, one decision rules them all: Where do you stand on the wired speakers vs. wireless speakers debate?
If you don’t have a position yet, you’ve come to the right place. To help you decide which speaker type to choose, we’re diving into the wired vs. wireless speakers question.
Understanding Wired Speakers
Wired speakers are the original speakers. These tried-and-true sound machines rely on cables to connect an audio source—your phone, tablet, computer, or TV—to the speakers. The audio data passes from your device, through the wire, and into the speaker before coming out as music.
Wired speakers tend to have more than one wire. They also have a power cable branched to the wall and, if you’re dealing with a pair of speakers, a cable linking the two together.
Thanks to all these wires, wired speakers are generally stationary. They’re perfect for a home theater, living room, or desktop.
Advantages of Wired Speakers
Wired speakers have been around for a long time, and during that time, manufacturers have worked out the kinks. As such, wired speakers come with some notable advantages. For example, you’ll enjoy:
- Unlimited playtime – Because wired speakers are usually plugged directly into the wall or receive their power input from audio equipment like receivers or integrated amplifiers, you don’t need batteries. As such, the music never has to stop.
- Minimal latency – Latency is the delay between when you press play and when the sound emerges. Wired speakers have little to no latency, making them perfect for gaming or professional audio use cases.
- Affordable options – You’ll likely spend less on wired speakers than on a similar wireless setup. That’s not to say you can’t drop thousands on wired speakers, but as a rule of thumb, you’ll find more low-cost models.
Limitations of Wired Speakers
At the same time, wired speakers have their drawbacks. If you’re committed to owning wired speakers, you’ll have to deal with:
- Reduced mobility – Once you set up a pair of wired bookshelf speakers, they’re staying on that shelf. All those cables are too unwieldy to carry around—and that’s if you can detach from the wall in the first place.
- Unnecessary complexity – Speaking of “all those cables,” you’ll have no shortage of plugging in when setting up wired speakers. That complexity becomes especially cumbersome when creating a multi-room system with several sets of speakers. What’s more, every cable is another potential point of failure. Troubleshooting becomes more difficult with all those variables.
- Impacted aesthetics and safety – Unless you’re a cable management master, all those wires give your space an untidy appearance. Worse, they present a tripping hazard for your kids, pets, and clumsy house guests.
Understanding Wireless Speakers
As you might imagine, wireless speakers are cable-free. You don’t need to plug a cord into your phone or tablet to start playing music. Some wireless speakers still need to be plugged a power outlet, but many are totally untethered.
Now, before we venture any further, let’s clear something up: There’s more than one type of wireless speaker. Wireless speakers can connect to your audio source by WiFi or Bluetooth. Some speakers even do both.
However, because our expertise lies in Bluetooth speakers, we’ll keep this as a wired vs. Bluetooth speakers debate from here on out, ignoring the other types.
Bluetooth speakers use Bluetooth technology to send audio data from your audio device to the speakers via ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio waves . The speaker converts the digital information into sound, and voilà: You have music without cables.
That freedom makes Bluetooth speakers ideal for:
- Beach days
- Backyard BBQs
- Vacations
- Hikes
- Outdoor events
Advantages of Wireless Speakers
Wireless speakers have long been a favorite for music fans, and it’s easy to see why. With Bluetooth speakers, you enjoy all kinds of benefits, such as:
- Limitless flexibility – When you’re wireless, the whole world is your stage. You can bring portable, battery-powered Bluetooth speakers just about anywhere.
- Simplified setup – No wires means no configuration—all you have to do is turn on the speakers, pair your device, and press play. This simplicity makes Bluetooth speakers especially valuable at parties, like when everyone’s taking turns playing their latest musical obsessions.
- Multiple connectivity options – Some Bluetooth speakers can also play music via WiFi, as well as via 3.5mm or USB cables, making them ridiculously versatile.
Limitations of Wireless Speakers
While there’s a lot to love about wireless speakers, nothing in life is perfect. Some of the drawbacks of your average Bluetooth speakers include:
- Limited battery life – With no constant power source (a wall outlet), Bluetooth speakers rely on rechargeable batteries to stay on. Eventually, these batteries run out and need to recharge. Some speakers won’t even play while the battery charges.
- Possible interference or latency – The fact of the matter is that wireless connections aren’t as flawless as port-to-port connections with a cable. In some cases, you might experience noises or clicks from interference or audio delays caused by latency.
- Added costs – All the fancy technology packed into a Bluetooth speaker can increase the price. If you use all those features, it’s a worthwhile investment, but the price tag is still worth mentioning.
Of course, not all Bluetooth speakers suffer from these disadvantages. Well-designed, quality-built speakers like the Electrotec Stage One circumvent these issues by utilizing Bluetooth 5.3 LE technology and offering up to 120 hours of battery life—all for a reasonable price.
Wired vs. Wireless Speakers: A Comparison
To wrap up this Bluetooth speakers vs. wired speakers comparison, let’s examine the two options side by side. The factors we’re considering are:
- Sound quality – In many cases, wired speakers sound better. They don’t have to compromise on quality for the sake of portability, and the direct connection eliminates interference. That said, as long as you keep your audio device within the specified range of your Bluetooth speaker, you shouldn’t experience audio problems. For example, with the Stage One, you can go 164 feet (50 meters) away from the speaker without issues.
- Cost – Prices vary from brand to brand, but quality Bluetooth speakers are often more expensive than quality wired speakers. However, you get what you pay for. Wireless connectivity is convenient and aesthetically pleasing, so you might feel the added cost is worth it.
- Use cases – Wireless speakers are infinitely more usable. While wired speakers have to stay in your home, Bluetooth speakers can join you anywhere.
- Convenience and complexity – Without a doubt, Bluetooth speakers are simpler. All you have to do is pair your device and hit play. Wired speakers take more time to set up and enjoy.
If You Choose Wireless, Choose Electrotec
Ultimately, the speaker you choose is up to you. If you never plan on listening to music outside your home, a set of wired speakers will probably do the trick.
But if you want freedom, convenience, and a clean aesthetic, there’s nothing better than a Bluetooth speaker.
And if you want all that without compromising on sound quality, you need the Electrotec Stage One. Sign up for our waiting list today, and be the first to know about this extraordinary speaker with high-resolution audio, 100+ hours of battery life, and more.