Back in the day, audiophile Hi-Fi setups used wires, period. Now wireless speakers are coming close, just as good, and maybe even better than the old wired versions.

We’re not talking about Bluetooth here. When we say “wireless” speakers, we mean speakers that connect to your home Wi-Fi and transmit uncompressed or lossless audio data over the network. In recent years, high-end wireless speakers have begun to compete with the passive wired speakers that audiophiles and music lovers typically favor in their home setups. But that doesn’t mean the old technology is going anywhere. It’s just that we now have a real choice.

“I still personally believe that connected speakers sound better when compared side by side, but in most cases it’s negligible and wireless can maintain the intended audio experience. Victrola’s Stream line of turntables, designed for Sonos connectivity, is a great example of a product that seamlessly brings analog vinyl into a digital, wireless environment while maintaining a great sonic experience,” Don Inmon, head of product and brand at Victrola, told Lifewire via email.

First, let’s look at the difference between these types of speakers. For decades, home hi-fi systems have used a source (turntable, CD player, etc.), an amplifier, and a pair of passive speakers. These speakers are driven by the amplifier and do not require any power themselves. They are essentially just speaker cones with magnets and coils, and the amplifier provides the power to move the cones.