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Post subject: Wireless Speaker Kit?
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 7:51 am
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Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:27 pm
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I have a Fender 250PD which is a gem...and has been for something like 10 years! I now have a situation where I would like to place a speaker where I cannot conveniently run the speaker cable. Does anyone know of a wireless transmitter/receiver I can use to send the signal to the speaker? (Ideally one that can be battery powered, since I also cannot conveniently run a power cord to the location.)

It obviously has to have a speaker level out. The only ones I can find (Amazon and elsewhere) are designed for transmitting audio/video via RCA-type connectors. I know I can get RCA/Phono adapters, but aren't these line level? I'm afraid to try one and fry my Passport speaker.

Would a bluetooth adapter with a 3.5mm headphone out work?

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Wireless Speaker Kit?
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 9:12 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
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Okay, here's the basics on audio equipment:

Dynamic microphones have mic level signals that feed into "preamps" in a mixer that bring the signal level up to "line level". From there, they go to a power amp to bring the signal up to "speaker level", then they go on to the speakers.

Your Fender Passport is a "passive speaker" system, meaning that the power amplifier is built into the mixer (the middle section of the unit), and "speaker level" wires connect this middle unit to each of the two speaker units.

"Active speaker" units put the power amp in the speaker box instead of the mixer box. The active speakers take line level input and the "speaker level" wires are internal to the speaker box.

BlueTooth speakers are active speakers that receive a wireless signal from a transmitter. It's a weak signal with about a 30 foot or 10 meter distance limit. The power amplifiers built into these speakers need power. For a PA level volume, they will need a LOT of power.

Your 250PD has two speakers, each of which are rated at 125 watts. Battery powered speakers are typically rated 5-15 watts. They are not very loud. In order to be loud enough for PA, they would require very large, very heavy batteries.

I recommend that you find a way to run speaker wires from your Fender 250PD powered mixer to your speakers. That's your first, best choice.

Line level won't fry your Fender speakers. Line level is very near the level that runs headphones. You won't hear much from passive speakers with line-level signal going to them.

If you gave more specifics about the setting that you have, I might have better suggestions. You have not given me enough information to help you very much with your problem setting.


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Post subject: Re: Wireless Speaker Kit?
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 5:43 am
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Thanks, ContraCaller.

Yes, I am aware that running wires is the first, best solution. I was looking to explore other possibilities. I appreciate the reply.

I do have powered speakers also, and so I know that some are "active" and some "passive," just as, for example, sub-woofers in a home theater system. I guess I was hoping there would be some transmitter/receiver system which would ultimately provide a "speaker level" output for passive speakers, although I didn't think about it in those terms until I read your reply.

Although I am (somewhat) familiar with these audio terms and concepts, your explanation prompted me to "think it through" a little more thoroughly. It makes perfect sense, now that I think about it, that "line level" is a weak signal, not strong. (Hence its need to be amplified!)

And I never knew exactly where headphone outputs fell in this hierarchy, but you touched on that and it helped me get a better grasp on things.

Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: Wireless Speaker Kit?
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:32 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:24 am
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I still don't know the details of your application.

If you want to have sound in different rooms, can't run cables, but you do have AC power in each room, there are a number of solutions to your problem.

If you are in a park and you want a loud speaker in a tree far from AC power or speaker wire, then, no, I have nothing useful to suggest.


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