i2i Stream

When it comes to audio technology, ‘wireless’ still sounds like an old-fashioned word for a radio. Speakers are connected to stereos by wires, headphones are plugged directly into MP3 players and most audio equipment continues to be hooked up using wires. The i2i Stream aims to change all that by converting wired devices into wireless ones.

Features:
The i2i Stream is basically two identical boxes that plug into either end of an audio set-up – your stereo and your headphones, for example – and wirelessly stream from one to the other. Either unit can be set up as the transmitter or the receiver and you can choose from seven frequencies to help avoid interference. If you’re feeling sociable, you can use several i2i Stream units to receive audio from a single transmitter. Getting wireless access for your headphones is one option, but you could also use it to send music to speakers in another room or transfer music from a PC to a stereo without having to wire it up.

Performance:
These devices can stream 16-bit stereo at 48KHz – a tad better than CD quality – so you shouldn’t notice any drop in standard as long as you’re streaming from digital recordings. Having said that, the quality of the stream can reduce (mostly by breaking up) if you decide to leave the room or move about a lot. It’s meant to work up to a radius of 30 feet but, as with Wi-Fi, if you throw enough walls, doors and glass between your transmitter and receiver, the signal will weaken. It works very well at close range and we found that putting a single wall between us and the signal was fine, but any more than that and we started running into problems.

Ease of use:
Although playing music through these devices adds an extra level of complication beyond simply plugging your speakers into your stereo or MP3 player, it remains relatively simple. You plug one of the devices into your player, then plug your headphones into the other one. Turn them both on, get them on the same frequency (there are seven to choose from and they’re colour coded with lights for extra simplicity) and set one to stream. It may sound complicated but it really isn’t.

The biggest drawback is that the devices are charged via USB, so you need to have them plugged into a switched-on PC or hub in order to get the battery up. Traditional wall chargers are available as an option in the US but if you want to charge your UK model via the mains, you’ll have to buy a wall charger separately and check to ensure that it has the compatible fittings.

Value for money:
If wireless audio is a priority for you, then this comes at a pretty good price. You get two devices in a pack, and all you need to get it working is what’s provided in the kit. If you’ve already got decent-quality audio equipment, this is a very cost effective way of turning your high-end gear wireless.