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These Andrew Jones designed Wi-Fi speakers don’t get the respect they deserve. So I made a thread just for them. Initially, they were quite expensive. Pioneer dropped the prices very low and they flew. I got my XW-SMA3 for a steal.
But, Pioneer messed up by including a horrible “folding map” manual with it. A nightmare. Wi-Fi set up was confusing, unless you knew exactly what to do. Also, Pioneer renamed some technical Wi-Fi terms which, only confused set up more. The smooth touch only front controls (mirror black on mirror black) make for a nice clean surface but a crappy user experience. Pioneer customer service was of no help.
Once you make it over that mountain and set them up right, in my case - on my Wi-Fi network - they work great for AirPlay. Well, most of the time. Sometimes, rarely, they act up and seem to vanish. Then, it is best to back off and come back in 5 minutes when things seem to “reset”. But this is as much an AirPlay issue as anything else. While I keep mine on standby (low power but on network) mode, they also seem to vanish from that. This could also simply be my old Airport Extreme too. Regardless, patience and time are needed in setting up and, when they don’t seem to be working right on AirPlay.
It is a good idea to do the factory reset on your XW-SMA. Then do the firmware upgrade. Tricky, I could NOT get Safari to run Bonjour/Airplay form its menu. Eventually, I downloaded a free plug in for Firefox that allows Bonjour/AirPlay devices to be picked. It worked immediately (ironically) with no fuss. I updated, then renamed the XW-SMA. After that, I used the WPS “add” method of getting on the network. (In an all Apple Wi-Fi world, use the AirPort Utility and pick "add WPS printer" from a menu. For other routers, I think you just press the WPS button on it. Both are easy.)
There is a wireless direct option and some even say to just do that. But I found it easier and more reliable to have the XW-SMA set to standby mode so the Wi-Fi is on my network and ready to go. Then, I just pick from the AirPlay menu in iTunes or via AirPlay on my iOS device.
I also use the Pioneer app often. It includes vTuner (but, sadly, does not use my vTuner account, kind of a hassle to use it since one has to search each time and there is no bookmarking of stations or organizing at all. Dumb.). The app also has Pandora which, works well but is nothing to write home about with UI and user experience, and uses your Pandora account. It seems to play a single non repeating ad very rarely compared to regular free Pandora or other free services. There is also Spotify but, you have to pay for that to work. Keep in mind, these services just mean that they are built into the speakers. So you can start one up, leave town with your iOS or other device and, the speaker keeps on playing! I can see no other advantage.
There is also a USB, LAN and Aux-in ports on back. So you can skip Wi-Fi or use an old iPod in a pinch.
It also has Android HTC Connect and dlna too. But, I don’t have those.
Having said all that, once you figure it all out, the XW-SMAs are very nice indeed. You can turn up the volume to the point it is dangerous for hearing, so don’t.
The XW-SMA3 is portable only in that it has a battery (works well, lasts long, but slightly less power) and has some water resistance. But, why would you put this right next to a pool? You can just as easily plug the XW-SMA1 or XW-SMA4 into a nearby outlet and crank them up. Just make sure it is not raining. The XW-SMA3 is not for wet or humid places long term. Not a bathroom speaker either.
I use it in an office during the day and sometimes portably if I am doing taxes in another room, sitting in the sun, stuff like that.
Here is a model comparison chart: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/ephox/StaticFiles/PUSA/Files/Home/SMA_compare_spotify2.pdf
The product sheet: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/e...es/Home/XW-SMA3-K Single Sheet_Spotify_v2.pdf
To find each speaker page with more info on Pioneer, google the model.
But, Pioneer messed up by including a horrible “folding map” manual with it. A nightmare. Wi-Fi set up was confusing, unless you knew exactly what to do. Also, Pioneer renamed some technical Wi-Fi terms which, only confused set up more. The smooth touch only front controls (mirror black on mirror black) make for a nice clean surface but a crappy user experience. Pioneer customer service was of no help.
Once you make it over that mountain and set them up right, in my case - on my Wi-Fi network - they work great for AirPlay. Well, most of the time. Sometimes, rarely, they act up and seem to vanish. Then, it is best to back off and come back in 5 minutes when things seem to “reset”. But this is as much an AirPlay issue as anything else. While I keep mine on standby (low power but on network) mode, they also seem to vanish from that. This could also simply be my old Airport Extreme too. Regardless, patience and time are needed in setting up and, when they don’t seem to be working right on AirPlay.
It is a good idea to do the factory reset on your XW-SMA. Then do the firmware upgrade. Tricky, I could NOT get Safari to run Bonjour/Airplay form its menu. Eventually, I downloaded a free plug in for Firefox that allows Bonjour/AirPlay devices to be picked. It worked immediately (ironically) with no fuss. I updated, then renamed the XW-SMA. After that, I used the WPS “add” method of getting on the network. (In an all Apple Wi-Fi world, use the AirPort Utility and pick "add WPS printer" from a menu. For other routers, I think you just press the WPS button on it. Both are easy.)
There is a wireless direct option and some even say to just do that. But I found it easier and more reliable to have the XW-SMA set to standby mode so the Wi-Fi is on my network and ready to go. Then, I just pick from the AirPlay menu in iTunes or via AirPlay on my iOS device.
I also use the Pioneer app often. It includes vTuner (but, sadly, does not use my vTuner account, kind of a hassle to use it since one has to search each time and there is no bookmarking of stations or organizing at all. Dumb.). The app also has Pandora which, works well but is nothing to write home about with UI and user experience, and uses your Pandora account. It seems to play a single non repeating ad very rarely compared to regular free Pandora or other free services. There is also Spotify but, you have to pay for that to work. Keep in mind, these services just mean that they are built into the speakers. So you can start one up, leave town with your iOS or other device and, the speaker keeps on playing! I can see no other advantage.
There is also a USB, LAN and Aux-in ports on back. So you can skip Wi-Fi or use an old iPod in a pinch.
It also has Android HTC Connect and dlna too. But, I don’t have those.
Having said all that, once you figure it all out, the XW-SMAs are very nice indeed. You can turn up the volume to the point it is dangerous for hearing, so don’t.
The XW-SMA3 is portable only in that it has a battery (works well, lasts long, but slightly less power) and has some water resistance. But, why would you put this right next to a pool? You can just as easily plug the XW-SMA1 or XW-SMA4 into a nearby outlet and crank them up. Just make sure it is not raining. The XW-SMA3 is not for wet or humid places long term. Not a bathroom speaker either.
I use it in an office during the day and sometimes portably if I am doing taxes in another room, sitting in the sun, stuff like that.
Here is a model comparison chart: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/ephox/StaticFiles/PUSA/Files/Home/SMA_compare_spotify2.pdf
The product sheet: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/e...es/Home/XW-SMA3-K Single Sheet_Spotify_v2.pdf
To find each speaker page with more info on Pioneer, google the model.