In a second test, we connected the Vii receiver up to an MP3 player to test its ability at handling a music transmission across frequently moving distances, and were again left unimpressed. Since both units require their antennas to be upright for any decent signal to be transmitted or received, using the Vii to broadcast music from a laptop or stereo while walking around the house doing, say the washing-up, is a no go. If the receiver is connected to a pair of headphones and put into a pocket, the signal received is reduced and the connector begins rotating in its socket, which badly affects the quality of audio received.

Which is the transmitter and which is the reciever?

To be fair, the Vii units are intended for fixed locations, or at least to be portable rather than mobile. But with a built-in power supply, why shouldn't you be able to carry the thing around?

We also tried resting the reciever on a sofa arm, while sitting still, but even small head movements resulted in a constant crackling and hissing as the connector rattled around in its socket.

Both the transmitter and the receiver took a fair amount of physical punishment during our tests, for example, sometimes being mistakenly dropped from tables and knocked over because of the upright antenna. These somewhat unintentional tests did prove both units' durability, and both only suffered minor scratches, on a par with the daily damages an iPod could suffer, but audio quality was not affected.

Verdict

The Vii is undoubtedly an aesthetic improvement on its previous model, gaining a slimmer body and more stylish feel. It also lives up to its claim of enabling wireless audio transmission from one device to another. However, the Vii has several disadvantages, including a limited transmission range and the connectors not fitting securely, causing interference and crackling audio.

So, if you're looking for something to axe a few wires between your laptop's iTunes library and your stereo, the Vii is a good little device. But, if you're looking to transmit good quality music between different rooms as you stroll around, the Vii is not for you.

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