I appreciate everyone's input, and i definitely can see the advantages of the Squeezebox over the HAL.  With that being said, i still feel like the HAL has a nice niche to fill.

I'm still mulling it over, but I may purchase a HAL to hold me over until I can afford a Squeezebox...  or a Sonos.  But that may be many years.  

Among many of Aperion's qualities, I like that they are pretty straight up about their products.  So I'm going to just go ahead and ask a blunt question...

I've been thinking about purchasing the HAL.  I can actually see a number of uses for it.  The most recent use I thought of was to make my headphones wireless so that I can watch movies on the TV, late at night without disturbing anyone else in the house.  ...well, at least I think that is possible... Please correct me if I am wrong.

Anyways, I was about ready to purchase the HAL until I came across the Audioengine W1.  It seems to be a very similar product to the HAL.  The only two differences I can see are: 1) The Audioengine W1 is $50 cheaper.  2) The HAL comes with all the cables and components necessary for a variety of setups, whereas the Audioengine seems to be lacking a second AC power supply.   Other than that, the technology seems to be very similar.  So here is my blunt question.  Is there any reason that I should purchase the HAL over the Audioengine W1?  Does Aperion claim to have better sound quality or wireless technology in the HAL?

Here is the link to the Audioengine W1.  http://www.audioengineusa.com/w1_home.php

Thanks!

gpzbc:

Among many of Aperion's qualities, I like that they are pretty straight up about their products.  So I'm going to just go ahead and ask a blunt question...

I've been thinking about purchasing the HAL.  I can actually see a number of uses for it.  The most recent use I thought of was to make my headphones wireless so that I can watch movies on the TV, late at night without disturbing anyone else in the house.  ...well, at least I think that is possible... Please correct me if I am wrong.

Anyways, I was about ready to purchase the HAL until I came across the Audioengine W1.  It seems to be a very similar product to the HAL.  The only two differences I can see are: 1) The Audioengine W1 is $50 cheaper.  2) The HAL comes with all the cables and components necessary for a variety of setups, whereas the Audioengine seems to be lacking a second AC power supply.   Other than that, the technology seems to be very similar.  So here is my blunt question.  Is there any reason that I should purchase the HAL over the Audioengine W1?  Does Aperion claim to have better sound quality or wireless technology in the HAL?

Here is the link to the Audioengine W1.  http://www.audioengineusa.com/w1_home.php

Thanks!

You would be able to use the HAL unit with headphones, but you'd still need to power the receive unit the USB wall adapter so it wouldn't be truly wireless, and I don't really see the advantage of that set up. 

Funny you should mention the Audioengine W1, it was $149 just like our HAL units. . .  until ours came out and they realized they would have to compete with us.  

However the HAL allows you to add two additional zones for a total of three zones for one send unit while the W1 must have an additional send unit for each receive unit.  So that's the big advantage of going with the HAL, of course in addition to supporting Aperion Audio! 

Jason Hicks:

So that's the big advantage of going with the HAL, of course in addition to supporting Aperion Audio! 

Believe me, that is one of my considerations.  I like what Aperion is doing.

Thank you for your input, and your honesty.

Jason Hicks:

Plus as PJ mentioned the HAL has some other applications such as the wireless connection to a sub or powered surrounds from an AVR that are exclusive to the HAL.  

I have 4 sets of questions regarding HAL I was hoping you could answer: 

1)  I'm very interested in purchasing HAL for use with the placement of my subwoofer.  I'd like to move my subwoofer to a different location across the room.  Probably no more than 15-20ft from the receiver.  I read the Pro Reviews and they all had glowing reviews of it.  In the features section of the product page, it says it has a latency of 25.5ms.  In real-world operation, is this perceivable with a subwoofer (assuming I have audiophile ears)?  You also mentioned before that HAL is 14-bit versus CD which is 16-bit.  I'd like to get your opinion on how much that would affect the quality of sound of the bass as a bass signal changes less quickly versus say a signal around 15KHz.  

2)  Can you have multiple Send & Receive units in the same area/household?  If I had 2 pairs of them, will I be able to link them separately and have 2 separate sources transmitted at the same time without interfering with each other?  

3)  If I have a Send unit connected to a USB port on a PC and the Receive connected to an AVR, when I power down the PC, I'm assuming the USB port will power down as well thus turning off the Send unit.  When I turn on the PC again, will I have to re-Link the units again or does it have memory to auto-connect back to the last Receive?

4)  Does HAL have the same 30-day moneyback guarantee as the speakers?  In case I don't like how they perform, can I return them without any penalty? 

Ok, so wait, I can use this gadget to make my subwoofer wireless?  Is that true?

My subwoofer has been sitting unplugged for about a year now, because I got tired of answering the door to tell the neighbor I was sorry and, yes, of course I'll turn it down...

 BUT, if this thing can make my sub wireless, I may be able to use it again if I first move it to a different place away from the wall I share with the neighbors, and also put it on top of one of those Auralex isolation pads.  Maybe that will work?

Anyway, I really do hope this thing will make a subwoofer wireless!

aprebyl:

Ok, so wait, I can use this gadget to make my subwoofer wireless?  Is that true?

My subwoofer has been sitting unplugged for about a year now, because I got tired of answering the door to tell the neighbor I was sorry and, yes, of course I'll turn it down...

 BUT, if this thing can make my sub wireless, I may be able to use it again if I first move it to a different place away from the wall I share with the neighbors, and also put it on top of one of those Auralex isolation pads.  Maybe that will work?

Anyway, I really do hope this thing will make a subwoofer wireless!

Yes this is one application for the HAL and that is why I'm asking all these questions.  I would say I'm fickle about sound and I think most people would be if they spend as much as we do on speakers.  I, too, am having neighbor issues and would like to move it to the other side of the room.  Not sure if it would help with reducing the bass to the neighbors, but at least I'll be able to put it in a place where there would be optimal sound. 

JonL:

Jason Hicks:

Plus as PJ mentioned the HAL has some other applications such as the wireless connection to a sub or powered surrounds from an AVR that are exclusive to the HAL.  

I have 4 sets of questions regarding HAL I was hoping you could answer: 

1)  I'm very interested in purchasing HAL for use with the placement of my subwoofer.  I'd like to move my subwoofer to a different location across the room.  Probably no more than 15-20ft from the receiver.  I read the Pro Reviews and they all had glowing reviews of it.  In the features section of the product page, it says it has a latency of 25.5ms.  In real-world operation, is this perceivable with a subwoofer (assuming I have audiophile ears)?  You also mentioned before that HAL is 14-bit versus CD which is 16-bit.  I'd like to get your opinion on how much that would affect the quality of sound of the bass as a bass signal changes less quickly versus say a signal around 15KHz.  

2)  Can you have multiple Send & Receive units in the same area/household?  If I had 2 pairs of them, will I be able to link them separately and have 2 separate sources transmitted at the same time without interfering with each other?  

3)  If I have a Send unit connected to a USB port on a PC and the Receive connected to an AVR, when I power down the PC, I'm assuming the USB port will power down as well thus turning off the Send unit.  When I turn on the PC again, will I have to re-Link the units again or does it have memory to auto-connect back to the last Receive?

4)  Does HAL have the same 30-day moneyback guarantee as the speakers?  In case I don't like how they perform, can I return them without any penalty? 

 

Hello Jon, 

Sure thing, I'll answer your questions in order below:

1.  I don't hear any latency myself, but if you do you can always compensate for it by increasing the distance setting in your receiver.

2.  I have tested this, and while it did work while I was listening for about 15 minutes there were a couple of drop outs.  I will say that the second HAL pair was about at the distance limit of 100 feet, so that may have been the issue but I'm not sure.  In my opinion it's worth trying, but I can't guarantee that it would work without some amount of interference.

3.  It should auto connect.  

4. Absolutely. 

Just let me know if you have any other questions, thanks! 

aprebyl:

Ok, so wait, I can use this gadget to make my subwoofer wireless?  Is that true?

My subwoofer has been sitting unplugged for about a year now, because I got tired of answering the door to tell the neighbor I was sorry and, yes, of course I'll turn it down...

 BUT, if this thing can make my sub wireless, I may be able to use it again if I first move it to a different place away from the wall I share with the neighbors, and also put it on top of one of those Auralex isolation pads.  Maybe that will work?

Anyway, I really do hope this thing will make a subwoofer wireless!

Indeed it can, whether it will make a huge difference with the neighbors is hard to say, but I would give it a shot.  

Jason Hicks:

JonL:

Jason Hicks:

Plus as PJ mentioned the HAL has some other applications such as the wireless connection to a sub or powered surrounds from an AVR that are exclusive to the HAL.  

I have 4 sets of questions regarding HAL I was hoping you could answer: 

1)  I'm very interested in purchasing HAL for use with the placement of my subwoofer.  I'd like to move my subwoofer to a different location across the room.  Probably no more than 15-20ft from the receiver.  I read the Pro Reviews and they all had glowing reviews of it.  In the features section of the product page, it says it has a latency of 25.5ms.  In real-world operation, is this perceivable with a subwoofer (assuming I have audiophile ears)?  You also mentioned before that HAL is 14-bit versus CD which is 16-bit.  I'd like to get your opinion on how much that would affect the quality of sound of the bass as a bass signal changes less quickly versus say a signal around 15KHz.  

2)  Can you have multiple Send & Receive units in the same area/household?  If I had 2 pairs of them, will I be able to link them separately and have 2 separate sources transmitted at the same time without interfering with each other?  

3)  If I have a Send unit connected to a USB port on a PC and the Receive connected to an AVR, when I power down the PC, I'm assuming the USB port will power down as well thus turning off the Send unit.  When I turn on the PC again, will I have to re-Link the units again or does it have memory to auto-connect back to the last Receive?

4)  Does HAL have the same 30-day moneyback guarantee as the speakers?  In case I don't like how they perform, can I return them without any penalty? 

 

 

Hello Jon, 

Sure thing, I'll answer your questions in order below:

 

1.  I don't hear any latency myself, but if you do you can always compensate for it by increasing the distance setting in your receiver.

2.  I have tested this, and while it did work while I was listening for about 15 minutes there were a couple of drop outs.  I will say that the second HAL pair was about at the distance limit of 100 feet, so that may have been the issue but I'm not sure.  In my opinion it's worth trying, but I can't guarantee that it would work without some amount of interference.

3.  It should auto connect.  

4. Absolutely. 

 

Just let me know if you have any other questions, thanks! 

aprebyl:

Ok, so wait, I can use this gadget to make my subwoofer wireless?  Is that true?

My subwoofer has been sitting unplugged for about a year now, because I got tired of answering the door to tell the neighbor I was sorry and, yes, of course I'll turn it down...

 BUT, if this thing can make my sub wireless, I may be able to use it again if I first move it to a different place away from the wall I share with the neighbors, and also put it on top of one of those Auralex isolation pads.  Maybe that will work?

Anyway, I really do hope this thing will make a subwoofer wireless!

Indeed it can, whether it will make a huge difference with the neighbors is hard to say, but I would give it a shot.  

Thanks for the quick reply Jason.  I will try it out and see how it sounds. 

Being asked the same question from JonL, I would like to ask another question relate to #1

I have Bravus 10D and i'd like to move it around, especially to behind the couch.  

Question:  How is sound quality if using Home Audio Link System with subwoofer  and I only use this for Movies.?

thanks.

michaelv20850:

Being asked the same question from JonL, I would like to ask another question relate to #1

I have Bravus 10D and i'd like to move it around, especially to behind the couch.  

Question:  How is sound quality if using Home Audio Link System with subwoofer  and I only use this for Movies.?

 

thanks.

 

You shouldn't hear any sound degradation, so I say go for it!