Product Review: Cables Unlimited SPK-VELO-001 Wireless Speakers

Cables Unlimited's SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers are nicely designed, and provide reasonable sound quality. Volume control of each speaker separately using the enclosed remote provides stereo sound wherever you sit. The price of these wireless speakers is right too. Unfortunately, SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers' reliability leaves something to be desired. You may be tempted by their convenience and features, but keep your receipt and original packaging for ease of return.

The SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers come with a 900 MHz base transmitter which can reach the speakers up to 150 feet away (spec range; my test at 70 feet inside the house with walls intervening showed no problem). Each speaker and base unit has a separate power adapter, but batteries allow easier placement of the speakers outdoors. The SPK-VELO-001's wireless speakers are small enough at 10" high and 5" diameter to be unobtrusive, and light enough for easy wall mounting.

Hook up an iPod or other MP3 player, or even a laptop with a 3.5mm audio-jack cable, and the SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers can send your music nearly anywhere. The sound quality of these wireless speakers is great for the price. While not high-fidelity units for the audiophile, the SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers provide a crisp clear sound without static or other electronic artifacts and without inconvenient and unsightly wires.

Available e.g. from Newegg for under $100 with add-on speakers at $50, the SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers provide a great set of features and incomparable convenience at the right price. If this was all there was to the SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers, I'd buy a pair right away. In fact, I did, and for the first two weeks I was very happy.

After two weeks however, the SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers' base unit stopped transmitting to the speakers. I returned the defective SPK-VELO-001 to Newegg for replacement. The replacement speakers arrived as expected. Less expected was the failure of the new SPK-VELO-001 base unit to transmit right out of the box. At this point I returned the second SPK-VELO-001 for a complete refund (which took some convincing given that the 30-day Newegg return period had expired).

After additional research I found several other users had posted negative reviews of the SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers reporting similar problems in 2007. Still wanting wireless speakers I've ordered a pair of Audio Research wireless speakers which have yet to arrive.

My conclusion regarding SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers is that competing products may be better. If you do buy SPK-VELO-001 wireless speakers, use a credit card that doubles the manufacturer warranty and keep your receipt and packaging for easier returns.