I've currently got Logitech ZZ550 speakers for my PC, which are wired but I am looking to upgrade.

I have been researching 5.1 surround systems but I am a little confused. They are advertised as smart, 3D Wifi & Bluetooth speakers but are they wireless?

I have a tower unit and monitor kind of PC, and don't mind the plug behind the computer obviously connecting to the system (and perhaps the subwoofer) but what I'm really looking for is a 5.1 surround system where the front two speakers and back 2 are wireless, so cables aren't running all around the room and the speakers are mounted on the walls?

Are there any systems that do this?

Thanks

Unless you enjoy spending huge amounts of cash on batteries no speaker system can be truly wireless. The speakers may not need any wire between themselves and the main unit but they still need some sort of amplifier to make any noise. The amplifier will of course need some sort of power source.

Hence you either need a standing order with Duracel or mains power. And if there are no mains sockets close to where the speakers are mounted then you end up with wires all round the room, just carrying mains voltage rather than speaker voltage.

As for systems that are advertised as WiFi or Bluetooth. Chances are that has sod all to do with how the speakers are connected. Bluetooth probably means they use that technology to connect to an iPod or smartphone or similar to play music on the iPod/phone over the system.

WiFi would be used for something like internet radio streaming or connecting via your home network to music and/or video files stored on a PC or network hard drive.

Generally 'wireless' only means no connection from the amplifier to the rear speakers, the fronts, centre and sub all connect via wires to the amplifier (although subs are often wireless, independent of anything else). The rears are usually the 'wireless' part, but require a mains connection to one, and then a wire from that one to the other.

So 'wireless' isn't anywhere near as useful as it sounds.

Yep calling them Wireless is a bit naughty, you still need wires, and at the end of the day, you'll also need pug sockets in close proximity to each speaker, who has that? And I assume the power cables are thicker than speaker cable, making them more unsightly.

Usually only one of the rears requires a mains plug, the other connects via a speaker wire to the rear with the amplifier built-in.

Either way though you still end up with wires trailing across the floor at some point. Which does kind of defeat the whole purpose of "wireless" speakers

Yes that's my point as well

So basically all your saving is one very thin (in general) speaker cable running tight into your wall/under carpet etc, but still need a cable running between the rears and a power cable. I know which I prefer.

The other issue with wireless rears is compression. It could be argued that with the limiting quality of the rear speakers in a typical system with wireless rears that the compression isn't as noticeable.

Likewise

Wireless subs are handy though, as it allows you to easily position then with no messing about.

^ Yes subs can be a pain, and generally do need their own power supply, so yes I agree wireless subs could be handy.