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gadget — Episode 094 – i2i Stream :: Wireless Streaming Audio
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The i2i Stream is a wireless audio sharing system from Aerielle Technologies. The heart of the system is a device about the size of cigarette lighter that allows you to take any analog audio signal and broadcast it wirelessly to other i2i Stream units in range.
The review package that we received included 2 x Stream units, 2 x 12″ audio cables, 2 x 28″ audio cables, 2 USB charging cables, and two sets of neck lanyards and pocket clips. Aerielle also has a variety of accessories available for the i2i Stream. They include various skins and covers, as well as a car adapter that can broadcast from an iPod or other media device. |
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The beauty of the system is that each i2i stream device can act as either a transmitter or receiver, broadcasting at 2.4Ghz with a range of about 30 feet. You plug your audio device into the bottom of the unit using one of the included 3.5mm to 2.5mm stereo cables. The other end of the device has a standard 3.5mm headphone port for plugging in your headphones of choice, either to listen to your audio in pass-through, or wirelessly from another i2i Stream.
Charging the i2i Stream is simple thanks to the integrated micro-usb port on the side of the unit. Charging the first time from completely dead took about 5 hours. Each subsequent charge took about 2 hours. The battery is rated for between 5-7 hours, but in our tests we rarely got more than 6 hours of usage before needing to recharge. Volume can be controlled using the rocker switch on the top right corner of the i2i. That switch doubles as the power button. Using the i2i Stream reminds me of the old-school CB-Radios. There are three buttons on the face of the unit. The top button puts the i2i into transmitting mode. While in transmitting mode, the center button will flash to indicate that it is broadcasting. The bottom button puts the unit into receiving mode. The center button selects the channel. You can choose from seven different channel presets, each represented by a different color. Once the transmitting i2i is up and running, anybody can listen in by pressing the center button on their i2i until it matches the color of the transmitting unit. Audio quality was very good. We expected hiss and a popping as with most wireless audio systems, but we couldn’t detect any, even when we played quiet classical music. There was a hint of compression distortion when we used the i2i at the limits of their range, but typical usage with media players and game consoles, won’t suffer much from the wireless. One of the nice engineering touches is the fact that the pass-through works even when the unit is shut off. That means that you don’t have to take the i2i out of line when you aren’t using it to broadcast. The i2i Stream is available online now in two packs for ~$90. |
