If you want wireless audio throughout your house and office -- and don't mind spending some not-inconsiderable scratch to make it happen -- the Eos Converge from Eos Wireless (http://www.eoswireless.com) offers a painless way to do so.
Eos Converge offers a way to stream music from a Mac, PC, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or other audio source into every area of the house. It's easy to set up and use, but costs US$89.95 per unit.
Connect the Eos Converge transmitter to one of the previously mentioned devices or another audio device and you can stream digital, CD quality audio through walls, floors, doors and ceilings, upstairs, downstairs, inside and out. It purportedly has a wireless range of up to 150 feet, though my "real world" test showed the practical limit at about 120 to 125 feet.
The EOS Converge comes with good instructions so implementation is a no brainer. And it includes all the wires and adapters you'll need.
By connecting to a computer via USB port, you can listen to your entire lineup of tracks from iTunes, or from Pandora, Rhapsody or any MP3 music Player, as well as thousands of Internet radio stations. Even XM, Sirius Radio and other MP3 Players are also supported through the transmitter’s auxiliary port, though for some of these, a subscription may be required.
The transmitter uses power from the USB port if connected to a computer, so you won't need a separate power connection. By the way, if your Mac doesn't switch sound over to the transmitter automatically (though mine did), you can go to the Mac OS X System Preferences app and choose Eos under the Sounds component.
When used with an iPhone and iPod touch and Apple’s “Remote” application (available as a free download from the Apple App Store) you can remotely control music selection and playback through your existing home WiFi network. The Remote App also enables you to display album cover artwork on you iPhone or iPod touch, as well as globally control the system volume to all Eos Converge wireless receivers.
The good news is that the Converge offers a surprisingly strong and high quality signal thanks in part to the 2.5-inch antenna. The bad news is that it may interfere with your WiFi network. It also chunkier than I'd like, though its rubber pad on the bottom helps it say in place.
It's a bit pricey and bulky; still, the Eos Converge system has a lot of convenience as it offers multiple receiver components that can be mixed-and-matched with any Eos Converge Transmitter and can connect to a main home audio system, theater system, or amplified speakers. Just be aware of the potential WiFi interference.
Macsimum rating: 7 out of 10
-- Dennis Sellers
