MUSIC LOVERS, listen up. In case you weren’t
aware, there are several great ways to enjoy your
music in and around your home.
Most solutions today are wireless, enabling
you to play music stored on your smartphone or
streamed from an online service. But the big
question is speaker type. Whether you’re into
light classical or heavy metal—or soon, Christmas
tunes over and over again—here are a few solutions that should be music to your ears.
Wi-Fi systems
One of the hottest trends for music fans is
the “whole home” audio solution. In these systems, premium speakers work through your
home’s existing Wi-Fi network. Using Wi-Fi to
stream music typically yields better sound compared with Bluetooth (see below), as it doesn’t
compress (or shrink) the audio signal
during transmission. What’s more,
these speakers can all talk to one
another in a home, meaning
you can choose to play the same
music throughout the house or
individually, via an app. Also,
you can turn two matching
Wi-Fi speakers into a stereo
pair. And you can play your
own music or stream from an
online station or service.
Some Wi-Fi speakers also let
you plug in an Ethernet (wired) connection, if you prefer, and a few also
work with Apple’s AirPlay, which is another
wireless technology.
Bluetooth speakers
The beauty of Bluetooth speakers is that they
are small, lightweight and portable, making them
great for on-the-go music. They can be placed
around your home or in the yard, as many are
water-resistant or waterproof.
You use your smartphone, tablet or laptop as
the music source, and simply pair your device with
the speaker. You can wirelessly play music for
many hours on end, thanks to rechargeable
built-in batteries in the speakers.
The latest Bluetooth speakers have a range of
over ;;; feet. As with Wi-Fi systems, you can
play your own music or stream from an online
station or service. There’s a wide variety of these
speakers, so be sure to read up on the features
you want, such as the ability to add a second
speaker to double the sound or split it into two
(stereo) channels.
Sound bars
Plugged into the wall for power, a sound
bar’s primary purpose is to amplify the sound
from your favorite TV shows, movies, sports and
video games. But many sound bars take advantage of built-in Bluetooth so you can also wirelessly play music from a nearby device, such as a
smartphone. In other words, you can use your
cool TV speaker for your music, too.
While they typically cost a bit more than
small, portable speakers, sound bars offer louder,
clearer and better-balanced sound, and many
include a wireless subwoofer to place
elsewhere in the room for deep bass.
Some Bluetooth-enabled sound
bars work with a remote that
comes with the unit, but all will
let you adjust volume on your
phone or other device.
Smart speakers
Finally, you might have
bought a hands-free personal
assistant for your home, such as
These small Wi-Fi speakers are big on
sound, so you can also use your voice to ask for
music tied to services like Google Music, Spotify
and so on. Ask for a particular song, an artist
you like, a genre of music you’re in the mood for
or a playlist you’ve created. Sometimes there are
small subscription fees associated with the
music services, but it sure is convenient to ask
for music by name—especially if your hands are
occupied. You can add a few of these around
your home, perhaps in the rooms where you
spend the most time. C
Music for your ears
Filling your home with beautiful sound
COSTCOCONNECTION
Costco features a variety of
high-quality speakers in various formats, including Google
Home, in the warehouses and
on Costco.com.
THE
TECHCONNECTION
MARC SALTZMAN
Marc Saltzman, a leading
high-tech reporter, contributes to more than three dozen
prominent publications,
appears on radio and TV,
and is the author of more
than ;; books. He’s on
Twitter @marc_saltzman
Saltzman will answer selected
questions in this column.
He regrets that unpublished
questions cannot be
answered individually.
EMAIL
connection@costco.com
Please include “Marc Saltzman
Q&A” in the subject line.
MAIL
Q&A with Marc Saltzman
The Costco Connection
P.O. Box 34088
Seattle, WA 98124-1088
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