Onkyo gadget streams like a good idea
Streaming music should be as easy as tying up a shoelace, or playing ‘count the normal people’ on Big Brother. Those freaks. Where were we? Ah, stream
Streaming music should be as easy as tying up a shoelace, or playing ‘count the normal people’ on Big Brother. Those freaks. Where were we? Ah, streaming…
Sadly, if you buy your music from iTunes, Napster or any other online store, you need a streamer that’ll make sweet love with those copy-protected files. Limiting, to say the least – especially if you’ve stapled your special place to Apple’s mast.
Onkyo’s (deep intake of breath) UWL-1 Wireless USB Audio Transport System uses 2.4GHz wireless technology to wirelessly stream music from your PC to a hi-fi – and the best news is that it can play any format, regardless of DRM protection, and without compressing the files even further.
You get a USB transmitter to plug into your computer and a wireless receiver for connecting to your stereo via either analogue or optical digital audio inputs. Range is about 30 metres.
And if free plug sockets are in short supply round your parts, you’ll be pleased to know you can power the receiver directly from the new Onkyo CR-715DAB micro system – an undeniable boon to going Onkyo-centric.
There’s no denying the value for money, at £80, but remember you can only control the music through your PC – unlike the neat solution offered by Logitech’s Wireless DJ.
Onkyo UWL-1
Price: £80
On sale: September
Contact: Onkyo
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Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief 
