Editing Openai/692b0b1c-5658-8008-9cb7-4cfb37fbf88a (section)

==== Eliminating the power cords for each speaker is far more challenging, as high-quality speakers and subwoofers require significant power. Currently, mainstream wireless surround systems still require each speaker to be plugged into an outlet for powerpopsci.com<ref>{{cite web|title=popsci.com|url=https://www.popsci.com/reviews/enclave-cinehome-wireless-home-theater/#:~:text=Altogether%2C%20the%20CineHome%20PRO%20system,any%20time%20if%20they%20wish|publisher=popsci.com|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. However, you mentioned Etherdyne’s wire-free power technology – an emerging solution that can beam power through the air over a short range. Let’s examine this and similar technologies for wireless electricity, and see if they could drive a 5.1 speaker setup: ====
* Etherdyne Technologies (ETI) Wire-Free Power: Etherdyne’s evaluation kit demonstrates a magnetic resonance power system capable of delivering usable power within a 3D zone (for example, a desktop area). It consists of a 100 W RF power transmitter and a large loop antenna that you can embed in a surface (like under a desk or into a ceiling panel)etherdyne.net<ref>{{cite web|title=etherdyne.net|url=https://www.etherdyne.net/evalkit#:~:text=%2A%20|publisher=etherdyne.net|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. On the device side, you attach small receiver coils that convert the magnetic field to DC power. The kit includes receivers of various sizes; notably, the largest (130 mm diameter) receiver outputs 24 V DC at up to ~7 W of power, with smaller coils providing proportionally less poweretherdyne.net<ref>{{cite web|title=etherdyne.net|url=https://www.etherdyne.net/evalkit#:~:text=Rx2%2046mm%2C%205V%20Output%20Voltage%2C,Output%20Voltage%2C%207W%20Output%20Power|publisher=etherdyne.net|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. The system can power multiple devices simultaneously (up to a combined 100 W across the zone) – e.g. in a demo, one creator powered a monitor, LED lamp, a microphone, and a pair of small stereo speakers all at once, showing “the power these things can pull”hackaday.com<ref>{{cite web|title=hackaday.com|url=https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/wireless-power-makes-for-cable-free-desk/#:~:text=The%20kit%20from%20ETI%20contained,power%20these%20things%20can%20pull|publisher=hackaday.com|date=2025-06-08|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. The energy transfers over several feet; Etherdyne notes a range of at least 1 meter from the transmitter loop (so devices within ~1 m above or around the loop can draw power)hackaday.com<ref>{{cite web|title=hackaday.com|url=https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/wireless-power-makes-for-cable-free-desk/#:~:text=The%20secret%20is%20embedded%20within,above%20the%20desktop|publisher=hackaday.com|date=2025-06-08|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. Essentially, it creates a wire-free power zone about the size of a desk (roughly 4 × 2 feet) in areaprnewswire.com<ref>{{cite web|title=prnewswire.com|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/powercast-adds-etherdynes-magnetic-resonance-to-its-wireless-power-portfolio-302495266.html#:~:text=Powercast%27s%20Magnetic%20Resonance%20technology%2C%20powered,Free|publisher=prnewswire.com|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. As long as a device with a receiver coil is within that zone, it can receive power without a battery or cord. (Etherdyne’s tech has even received FCC/CE approval for safety, indicating it’s not going to fry nearby electronics or pacemakersreddit.com<ref>{{cite web|title=reddit.com|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/1l2iz7v/true_wireless_power_is_finally_here_building_a/#:~:text=So%20many%20questions%20about%20this,product|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>reddit.com<ref>{{cite web|title=reddit.com|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/1l2iz7v/true_wireless_power_is_finally_here_building_a/#:~:text=They%27re%20FCC%20%20and%20CE,sure%20what%20that%20actually%20means|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>.) etherdyne.net<ref>{{cite web|title=etherdyne.net|url=https://www.etherdyne.net/evalkit#:~:text=Rx1%2034mm%2C%205V%20Output%20Voltage%2C,Output%20Voltage%2C%207W%20Output%20Power|publisher=etherdyne.net|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref> An Etherdyne '''wireless power receiver''' coil (small form-factor). In the Etherdyne evaluation kit, multiple sizes of these receiver coils are provided, outputting DC power (5–24 V) at a few watts each. To use Etherdyne for your speakers, you would embed a receiver coil into each speaker and the subwoofer, connecting it to the speaker’s internal power input. Many active speakers run on DC internally (often 12 V or 24 V), so in theory a 24 V wireless receiver could feed the amplifier directly. Compatibility in terms of voltage is promising – e.g. Etherdyne’s larger receivers output 24 V which matches common amp supply rails. However, power output is the limiting factor: ~7 W per receiver is much lower than what a decent speaker or subwoofer typically draws. For context, a small bookshelf speaker might use on the order of 20–50 W when playing loud, and a subwoofer can easily demand 100 W+ for deep bass. With only 7 W available, a speaker would either be very quiet or starved of headroom. Even if each speaker had one coil, the total 5.1 system could only get ~35 W plus ~7 W for the sub (42 W total), which is likely insufficient for dynamic home theater sound. The 100 W transmitter capacity isn’t the bottleneck – the issue is each receiver’s limited wattage. There are a few workarounds one might consider: using multiple receiver coils per speaker to increase power (for example, two coils could double the available wattage). In practice, this would be a complex DIY modification – you’d need to physically attach multiple coils in or on the speaker, each wired either to separate power circuits or combined to feed the amplifier. The transmitter’s 100 W budget could support this in aggregate (e.g. 4–5 coils drawing ~20 W each), but it’s unclear if the system can efficiently drive many large receivers concurrently. Etherdyne’s tech is still in an R&D phase (the product is an evaluation kit intended for prototyping), so scaling it up would require experimentation. Also, to cover an entire living room, you might need a larger or differently placed transmitter loop. The standard loop is optimized for a desk-sized areaprnewswire.com<ref>{{cite web|title=prnewswire.com|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/powercast-adds-etherdynes-magnetic-resonance-to-its-wireless-power-portfolio-302495266.html#:~:text=Powercast%27s%20Magnetic%20Resonance%20technology%2C%20powered,Free|publisher=prnewswire.com|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. For a living room, you might need to embed the loop in the floor or ceiling to encompass the seating area and all speaker positions. This is technically possible but would involve a custom installation (e.g. running the loop wire under your floorboards or in the attic above the room). Signal strength diminishes with distance, so each speaker likely needs to be within a meter or so of the loop plane for reliable power.
* Other Wireless Power Technologies: Etherdyne (now partnered with Powercast) is at the forefront of mid-range wireless power. Alternatives include WiTricity (magnetic resonance, known for wireless EV charging and some consumer electronics) and Energous WattUp or Powercast RF (far-field RF power). WiTricity focuses on higher-power transfer (tens to hundreds of watts) but usually at short range (inches to a few inches, or targeted solutions like car charging pads). It’s not commercially available as a living-room-spanning system yet – mostly in prototype stages for TVs/monitors or automotive use. Energous/Powercast (RF) can send power over longer distances, but only in the milliwatt-to-watt range suitable for small gadgets and sensorsprnewswire.com<ref>{{cite web|title=prnewswire.com|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/powercast-adds-etherdynes-magnetic-resonance-to-its-wireless-power-portfolio-302495266.html#:~:text=%2A%20Over,toothbrushes%20and%20shavers%2C%20and%20more|publisher=prnewswire.com|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref> – not nearly enough for speakers. In fact, Powercast has integrated Etherdyne’s resonant tech to fill this mid-power, mid-range gap (i.e. powering multiple devices in a room with up to ~100 W total)prnewswire.com<ref>{{cite web|title=prnewswire.com|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/powercast-adds-etherdynes-magnetic-resonance-to-its-wireless-power-portfolio-302495266.html#:~:text=Powercast%27s%20Magnetic%20Resonance%20technology%2C%20powered,Free|publisher=prnewswire.com|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. So at this time, Etherdyne’s solution is the most viable for attempting a truly wire-free audio setup.

Bottom Line – Is True Wireless Power Feasible for Now? In its current form, **wireless power tech can run low-power audio devices (like small desktop speakers or voice assistants), but for hi-fi speakers and subwoofers it’s on the bleeding edge. You could certainly experiment with the Etherdyne kit in a DIY project – for example, embed a transmitter coil in your living room ceiling and install 2–3 receiver coils into each speaker’s circuitry. This might power small satellite speakers at modest volume. In fact, the DIY Perks project demonstrated powering stereo speakers on a desk along with other peripherals using Etherdyne’s kithackaday.com<ref>{{cite web|title=hackaday.com|url=https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/wireless-power-makes-for-cable-free-desk/#:~:text=The%20kit%20from%20ETI%20contained,power%20these%20things%20can%20pull|publisher=hackaday.com|date=2025-06-08|access-date=2025-11-29}}</ref>. However, to faithfully drive a full 5.1 home theater at reference volume, the technology isn’t quite ready to replace all power cables. You’d risk clipping or reduced sound quality if the amps can’t draw enough power for demanding scenes.