Monaco 5.1.2 with WiSA SoundSend

This wireless Bluetooth sound surround sound system has really good audio quality. We like it very well. The subwoofer is a little weak compared to our previous system, but the lack of wires everywhere and the convenience of controlling it via our phone make up for it.

Sound is pretty good, not great. No sound cables but you still have to plug in to the wall so not completely wireless. Sound gets lost sometimes and you have to power cycle to recover. Overall pretty good but would like louder and better sound.

Great sound, Easy to install

The system looked promising on paper, but it turned out to be a joke. 1. After setting everything up I attempted to upgrade the firmware on the Wisa SoundSend. The upgrade failed and bricked the device. Tech support via email/online ticketing was non-responsive. After several attempts I finally was able to speak with a human on the phone twice, and they confirmed the SoundSend was um-repairable and that they would figure out how to send me replacement which he said might be difficult as I live overseas. The replacement never arrived, and all my further inquiries via email/ticketing system went unanswered. They even deleted the support ticket I created online (I have email copies). 2. I ended up buying out of my own pocket a replacement SoundSend from their official distributor in Europe. When it arrived two of the speakers would connect but would not produce sound (they worked with the original soundsend). Again tech support was unresponsive. For no reason at all, the speakers finally started working by themselves after moving the unit to a different room and them back to the original room. But it was obvious the system was unreliable. 3. Once getting everything connected, the main center keeps loosing connectivity for several seconds every minute or two. This is even though the speaker is only 5 meters in front of the soundsend, with no obstacles in between. Furthermore, me just walking in front of the SoundSend causes the audio to drop. This system is a joke. Do not buy. I'm returning mine.

I haven't spent this much on a speaker set in a long time, and I had high hopes for experiencing modern, wireless sound from this well-reviewed system. The setup is a breeze, and from a wireless functionality standpoint, these are great. The full 5.1 system worked out of the box with no setup needed. The sound, though, felt very small and separated. Left and right were distinctive sounds from the center, and the range of sound was minimal. It was better than my old soundbar, for sure, but not $849 better. After packing this all away, I went and got my 10+ year old receiver and 20+ year old speakers from the garage to try. They blew away this set in terms of richness and soundstage. Overall, very disappointing.

The heart of this system is a wireless transmitter, which easily connects to a TV via Optical or HDMI, similar to hooking up a soundbar. From there, the transmitter sends sound wirelessly to each speaker in the system, which can be easily configured through the mobile app. What sets this system apart is its upward-firing Atmos speakers built into the front left and right speakers. Each speaker is labeled with its specific location, so for the best setup, make sure to place them accordingly. Aesthetically, all the speakers have removable magnetic grilles, giving you the option to use them with or without. One tip is to place the subwoofer under your couch, as its low-profile design fits under most couches. This placement maximizes its performance since it's not as powerful as typical 10" or 12" subs. Positioning it under the couch makes the most of its potential. While upward-firing speakers may not be ideal for everyone, they are a good compromise for those who can't mount speakers high on the ceiling. They are the only reasonable option to achieve any Atmos experience without ceiling mounts. In my setup, sitting on the couch normally, the sense of sound coming from above was not as noticeable. I could hear direct sounds from the top of the speakers but not much from the ceiling. The sound seemed to come from above the TV, which is still better than everything coming from below the TV. The best effect was achieved when sitting 5-6 feet from the speakers/TV, though this was too close for my setup. Still, I appreciate that the upward-firing speakers are built into the system rather than being separate, as I don’t have the option to install speakers up high. Despite being housed in a sturdy and reasonably sized MDF cabinet, the drivers are only three inches in diameter. This size is standard for many soundbars these days, but I would prefer slightly larger drivers. Overall, the sound quality is on par with higher-end soundbars priced between $1,000 and $1,500. A significant advantage of this system is that the front soundstage is not confined to one soundbar housing; you can position the soundstage as narrow or as wide as you like. I prefer having my left and right speakers on the sides of my TV, which is a huge plus. However, the center speaker is a bit too tall and can obstruct the view if placed underneath the TV. In my final setup, the soundstage is wide, immersive, and rich. The subwoofer under the couch enhances the experience with a cinematic low rumble that soundbars alone simply can't produce. Although this is a wireless system, meaning no speaker wires are needed, each speaker still requires an AC power outlet. This could be a problem for some, so it’s worth double-checking the location of your AC outlets before ordering this system. Otherwise, you may end up with many power cables snaking around the room. Overall, this system offers fantastic value for the price, providing better sound and soundstage than any soundbar in this and even a $500 higher price range.

Simple installation and setup. The audio is very good and 5.1 recordings offet impressive results. Wish it converted lower level recordings to simulated 5.1, but that's not really a fair critism. Ernie