Skip to main content

Hands on with Polk and Definitive Technology’s wireless multi-room speakers

Polk and Definitive technology have been in the speaker-making game for decades. As both companies were launched in part by legendary speaker designer Sandy Gross, both have a storied lineage of producing outstanding, award-winning products. But when it comes to incorporating new technologies, sometimes seasoned speaker companies are slow to catch up. Fortunately for all of us, that’s not the case here.

It should come as no surprise that Polk and Def Tech decided to take on Sonos in the wireless mult-room audio space, but how they’ve gone about doing it is interesting indeed. Based on the Play-Fi wireless system, both brands’ speakers are capable of high-res audio up to 192kHz/24-bit. That means there’s no audio file they can’t handle.

Recommended Videos

While we weren’t able to get a close listen to Polk’s speakers, we did get some ears-on time with Definitive Technologies, and we can sum up the experience in one word: powerful.

Check out the video above for details on the complete lineup from both brands.

Caleb Denison
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
Denon unveils Denon Home: Three new wireless multiroom speakers
Denon Home 350

Japanese audio company Denon has revealed a system of three wireless multiroom speakers called Denon Home: The $249 Denon Home 150, $499 Denon Home 250, and the $699 Denon Home 350. Each model is compatible with Denon's HEOS Wi-Fi audio platform and can play hi-res audio files. AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth round out the speakers' wireless connections. The new models will go on sale in the first quarter of 2020, though no specific release date has been shared.

Intriguingly, all three models of Denon Home speakers will come equipped with two microphones for future voice assistant support. However, these microphones will be disabled and not functional until a future software update is available, according to the company. Denon has not yet indicated which voice assistants will be compatible with these new speakers.

Read more
Enclave Audio’s CineHome Pro is the first THX-certified wireless speaker system
enclave audio cinehome pro thx certified wireless speakers family shot off center

2020 is shaping up to be the year of the wireless home theater thanks to WiSA -- a wireless home theater technology -- and companies like Enclave Audio which is using WiSA to create home theater systems. Enclave's new $1,500 CineHome Pro is one of two new wireless 5.1 systems the company is announcing today and it's also the first wireless 5.1 home theater system to be granted the THX Certification for integrated systems.

The second system is the $1,000 CineHome II, a slightly less powerful version of the CineHome Pro that is not THX Certified. Both systems come with a full complement of speakers: Two front speakers, a center channel, two surround speakers, and a sub-woofer. Because these are WiSA-certified speakers, they're compatible with any WiSA transmitter. So if you already own an existing WiSA transmitter, you can place these speakers around your living room and have them set up in minutes -- no speaker cables or A/V receiver required. If you don't own a WiSA transmitter, Enclave's CineHub is available as a $100 add-on to either the CineHome Pro or the CineHome II.

Read more
There’s a rare deal on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones today
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones seen in black.

The massively popular Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones rarely appear in headphone deals, so if you've had your eye on them for quite a while, you're in luck because they're currently $51 off on Walmart. From their original price of $400, you'll only have to pay $349, but only if you hurry because we don't expect stocks to last long. You're going to miss out on the offer if you take too long, so don't hesitate -- add the wireless headphones to your cart and check out as fast as you can.

Why you should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
The best headphones that you can buy right now are the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones, and it's not even close. At the heart is their outstanding wireless sound, supported by top-quality active noise cancellation that uses two processors and eight microphones to block all unwanted sound, as well as crystal-clear hands-free calling using four beamforming microphones and advanced audio signal processing. The wireless headphones also offer Bluetooth multipoint connection so that you can quickly switch between different devices, touch controls for functions like adjusting volume and calling your digital assistant, and Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention features to stop your music and let ambient sound in without having to take them off.

Read more