Skip to Content

iHome gives further details on AirPlay-ready speakers

by Matt Tinsley Jan 5th 2011 at 1:00PM

iHome's first AirPlay compatible wireless speaker system didn't make it out for the holiday season as expected, but they have just released further information on the system, now known as the iW1.

We first got wind of the iW1 last September. Back then we simply knew that it would be a wireless speaker that incorporates Apple's AirPlay technology, and that it runs off of a rechargeable battery. It streams digital lossless audio from your iTunes library and compatible device (using Apple's Remote app or iHome's own custom app).

Today, iHome has shared some additional tidbits, including:
  • Multiple iW1 speaker support -- enjoy music streamed all around your house simultaneously with AirPlay and multiple iW1 speakers
  • Built-in rechargeable li-ion bettery with included charging base
  • Studio Series speakers -- high performance audio featuring Bongiovi Acoustics DPS with specially tuned woofers and tweeters with a clean, efficient Class-D amplifier
  • iPhone / iPod / iPad docking, charging and local audio playback via USB cable
  • A capacitive, backlit, touch-sensitive control panel
Electricpic reports that the iW1 will retail for £299 (roughly US$465 as of this writing) and should be available around February or March of this year. That's quite a steep price, but just slightly undercutting Sonos ZonePlayer 120 at US$499 (we recently reviewed the $399 Sonos S5).

[Via MacRumors]

View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

Apple Music

iHome's first AirPlay compatible wireless speaker system didn't make it out for the holiday season as expected, but they have just...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum Comment Moderation Enabled. Your comment will appear after it is cleared by an editor.

19 Comments

Filter by:
James

Hi Dorv,

You can stream audio to multiple sources over AirPlay using iTunes, not iOS.
You can also control iTunes from iOS via the Apple Remote app and stream to multiple sources: iOS > Remote App > iTunes > Sources. For more info on this check out http://airplayspeakers.com/confirmed-airplay-cannot-stream-to-multiple-speakers-from-ios/

As far as iHome iW1 pricing goes, iHome is saying $299US, not $499 according to their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/iHome/posts/145725772142869

January 05 2011 at 2:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to James's comment
James

Correction: as far as iHome iW1 pricing goes, iHome is saying $299US, not $465

January 05 2011 at 2:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dorv

Thanks ... I updated the post above. For whatever reason, running iTunes & Remote seems to be one step too many.

Maybe now that they're used to it, and appreciate the ability, they'll be able to "take the next step" as it were :)

January 05 2011 at 4:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tony d

Wow. Sorry iHome but thats way too steep. Think I'll just stick to my Airport Express.

January 05 2011 at 1:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jhughes766

I like the features, but £300 is way too expensive especially when (as stated) the Airport Express is £83 and can connect to the speakers I already own.

January 05 2011 at 1:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom

That is an astounding price. I was visualizing decent AirPlay speakers arriving at around the $100 price point. Ugh. How disappointing.

There are a fair amount of extras in the iW1, though -- let's see if anyone decides to build something that's nothing more than speakers in a box with the AirPlay chipset attached. *That's* what I want to toss around my house.

January 05 2011 at 1:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dorv

Here's my other big problem with Airplay ... Can it push to multiple speaker sources?

January 05 2011 at 1:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Dorv's comment
brett

Not the first Airplay speaker -- any wireless speaker using a2dp works fine, and triggers the Airplay icon on an iphone. So does a bluetooth-to-dock connector adapter.

January 05 2011 at 1:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to brett's comment
mike

one of these turns any dock into bluetooth speakers for $20:
http://www.generalsaving.com/productfile/G_BlueT_A2DP.php

I have one and it works great.

January 05 2011 at 2:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brett

yep, that's the same one I have in my car.. Works great, except that it automatically triggers playback on my iphone as soon as it is in range. a bit annoying to have to pause playback if I don't want to listen to it right then.

January 05 2011 at 2:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mkvirt

but way more expensive than a Logitech Squeezebox which does all the same things (including playback from your iTunes library) without AirPlay.

January 05 2011 at 1:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gsuhuey

YIKES! Really iHome? Who would buy this when $69 will get me a refurbed airport express that I can attach any speakers too? That's ridiculous!

I was thinking about decking my house out in airport expresses and buying some computer speakers to go along with them but was waiting to see the first line of airplay speakers, this just put the nail in the coffin. For the same price I can get 4 refurbed airport expresses and 4 sets of pretty decent computer speakers and wire up the house (with the added bonus of extending my wireless network in the process).

RIP OFF!

January 05 2011 at 1:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to gsuhuey's comment
brett_x

Does it make Toast at that price?

January 05 2011 at 1:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.