S-AIR Wireless Rear Amplifier

These guys are looking for cheap extravagance...

Pros: Good Wireless System

I read a couple reviews and these guys aren't thinking or are looking for a million dollar product for cheap. Another guy would rather not have an amp and wires, but rather wireless built right into the speaker. This would require two power outlets near the speakers. How inconvenient is that Einstein?

COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY

Pros: NONE

Cons: ANYTHING BUT WIRELESS

This product is an illustrative example of false advertising, as it is anything BUT wireless. You will pay approximately $200 for the main unit wireless transmitter and this "wireless" amplifier, only to open the amplifier box and see WIRES. The amplifier receives a signal from the main unit transmitter, but then still needs to be connected, via ugly wires, to the speakers. In my case I wanted to utilize the amplifier to power the rear surround sound speakers in a 5.1 channel system, but when I found out the the speakers still needed to be connected to the amplifier via wires my question was obvious...why not just connect the speakers directly to the main unit and save the money??? In my opinion, there is absolutely no reason to spend the money on this anything-but-wireless product, and it is false advertisement at its worst. Oh, and not to mention that you can hardly find the "wireless" accessories in any electronics stores, to include the Sony Style retail locations. Just horrible.

Could never stay connected...

Pros: When it worked it was great

Cons: It rarely worked for more than a few minutes

I bought this to use with my HT-SS370 system. I have tried for several months to get these units to consistently stay connected but no matter where I placed the units, which channel I picked, and how many times I pared the unit they would never stay connected for more than a few minutes. I do live in a heavy wireless networked area (apartment buildings) so this may be the issue, but after repair attempts by a sony dealer and an extension unit for the transmitter, nothing worked. The units are no more than 7 feet away and in line of sight so I hate to say this unit just doesnt work as well as it should. Save your money and just run the wires!

Not what I expected

Pros: Unsure

Cons: Does not come with transmitter for the home theater system

I ordered this package expecting I would be able to plug in the included card and the amplifier would work to accept the signal for the rear speakers. The included card is for this amplifier and you need to purchase a seperate TRANSMITTER card for the back of your home theater system. Unfortunately, SONY is no longer selling this part yet they still sell the other systems that require the card.

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED

Cons: TOO MANY

I BOUGHT THE SONY BDV-T57 FROM COSTCO AND THE BIG DRAW FOR ME WAS THE WIRELESS CAPABILITIES. NOT HAVING TO HAVE WIRES FRONT TO BACK SOUNDED AWESOME. THEN I OPENED THE BOX AND WAS SETTING EVERYTHING UP AND THEN QUICKLY REALIZED THAT I HAD TO GET A TRANSMITTER $50 AND A REAR AMPLIFIER $150 SO ANOTHER $200 FOR A SYSTEM THAT IS NOT ACTUALLY WIRELESS. YOU STILL HAVE TO CONNECT THE SPEAKERS TO THIS UNIT WHICH MEANS INSTEAD OF NOT HAVING WIRES FROM FRONT TO BACK I KNOW HAVE WIRES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. OH YEAH THAT MAKES IT BETTER. WITH ALL THE MONEY THIS COMPANY AND OTHERS SPEND ON TECHNOLOGY R&D YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THEY CAN'T COME UP WITH A TRUE WIRELESS SYSTEM SERIOUSLY. AND I LOVE SONY PRODUCTS BUT THIS ONE WAS JUST HORRIBLE!

Come on Sony, you can do better than this

Pay $200 to get rid of 2 wires and that too with a bad design? S-AIR has interference problem with the home wifi (2.4ghz). I have a good old router with 802.11b/g which uses the same frequency as waht sa-20 and hence the interference. I had to upgrade my wireless router with a dual band 802.11n router. Though the setup works, I ended up spending $300 ($150 for wahtsa-20 + $50 for ezw transmitter + $100 for dual band wireless router). Dont make everyone pay for such a low thought design. Come on Sony, you can do better than this.

Completely Satisfied.

Pros: Easy to install and set up.

Cons: None.

I own the Sony SS370 Home Theater System which is S-Air ready for wireless rear speakers. To do this, needed to purchase the EZW- T100 Transmitter ($50) and the WAHT-SA20 Receiver/Amplifier ($150). The EZW-T100 Transmitter easily plugs into a socket located on the back of the SS370 receiver, and the two rear speakers connect to the WAHT-SA20 Receiver/Amplifier. Set up consists of selecting the same channel at both the SS370 receiver and the WAHT-SA20 Amplifier, and then communication between the two is automaticaly established. The sound coming through the rear speakers is perfect; it is the same quality and volume as when they were wired. And there is no interference what so ever with our home's Wi-Fi network or wireless telephones. This setup works perfectly, and I am very happy.

Ok but could have been better

Pros: Sony, Sound Quality

Cons: Few Features

It's nice that you can use this to expand your existing by another 2 channels, but not being able to choose 'front' speakers.... in case I wish to use it in another room... is beyond me. I am aware that there is another sony unit for that purpose, but I also purchased that unit. That unit lacks a built-in amplifier.... seems only logical that this unit should be able to perform the same functions as the non-amplified system. As another person wrote... this should have been built-into the speakers directly, and simply required a power cable to the speaker.. Now I have to hide the box, the power cable, and the speaker wires for this wireless system to trully be wireless... guess i'll just run the speaker wire, and then I can use this as the 7 channel system amp, and have it sitting on top of the main unit. Still love my sony products though... don't get me wrong...

Not compatible with Sony TVs with built in wifi

Cons: Won't allow Internet content to stream on wifi TV

This unit prevents watching Internet content (Netflix, etc.) through a Sony TV with built in wifi. There is a conflict in the frequencies that can not be fixed. Either you watch TV / DVDs with full surround or watch Internet content with only the TV speakers and the surround system off, the choice is yours. It is a dumb system!

Excellent Unit

Pros: Works perfectly. Sounds great.

Cons: None

I have an excellent wireless surround sound system, thanks to this unit which works like a charm. I had no problem with the installation. You also have to buy the S-Air EZW-T100 to make this unit work. For those who are having problems with this unit to work properly, I suggest that you read the instructions in the manual carefully and follow all the instructions to the letter, and you will be rewarded with one of the best sounds ever.

Reviewer Images: (click to see full-size image)

This is RIDICULOUS!!!

Pros: None what so ever...

Cons: Everything that sounds good, isn't good!

This product is far from what was advertised; no wonder their no longer selling it! Why use the name "wireless" in the title for a product and it's everything but that! Why not mention that you will need an additional component to get this "wireless" system to operate? It's crazy to buy a $149 system and the main piece to get it to operate cost $169... Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Totally a waste of time and money. Save yourself and go buy a bundle of speaker wire and run it neatly along the edges of your base board. It's CHEAPER and actually looks better... Total RIP OFF! ***NEVER AGAIN***