Review: Wireless Computer Audio with Akoo's Kima

Though you might get the idea from browsing Akoo's web site (www.akoo.com) that Kima is an Internet radio, or has something unique to offer when playing MP3s or other online media files - it's not and it doesn't. At least no more than a standard stereo audio cable.

Kima is a 900MHz transmitter and receiver/FM rebroadcaster that provides a wireless connection between your computer's sound card and your home audio receiver. However, there's nothing to stop you from using Kima between any two audio devices. I tested the unit by transmitting signals from my guitar to an amplifier in the next room, as well as from my computer to my stereo system.

Having recently reviewed the conceptually similar $100 Sonicbox iM Remote Tuner, I was disappointed to find that the $150 Kima has no remote control or tuner software. The iM Tuner's remote allows you to control the company's iM software Internet radio tuner and access the company's carefully collected content without hanging out by the computer.

Perhaps I'm being too hard on the Kima. There's nothing wrong with the product. It works well and its FM rebroadcast feature is something the iM Remote Tuner lacks.

Kima's Look and Feel

The Kima transmitter and receiver share the same futuristic silver, blue and gray styling (see cover picture), but differ slightly in both size and detail. The body of the base station/transmitter is approximately 4.75 inches high, by 5 inches wide, by 4 inches deep. A 2.5 inch black antenna extends from the top. A power button, power light, low battery light and signal gain knob adorn the front, while the back of the unit is home to a mini-stereo audio input, a mini-stereo pass-through output, a 900MHz channel select switch (like you'll find on portable phones) and a jack for a 6-volt adapter.

The remote receiver is perhaps .25 inches shorter and less deep than the transmitter, lacks the gain knob on the front, substitutes two RCA audio output jacks for the mini-stereo jacks and has a two-way 88.1/88.3 FM frequency selector.

Instead of using the RCA output jacks, you can rebroadcast the Kima transmitter's signal to your stereo FM receiver on either of those two channels.

Akoo claims that both transmitter and receiver can operate for about 75 hours on the four AAA batteries located in screw-secured compartments on the bottom of the units.

To hook up the Kima you first run a stereo cable from the audio source to the input of the Kima transmitter. Then you set your stereo receiver to 88.1 or 88.3 and the Kima receiver/rebroadcaster to the corresponding frequency, or run a stereo RCA cable from the Kima remote receiver to your means of amplification. After that you need only turn both units on (transmitter on first/off last or you'll get a loud chorus of white noise from the receiver) and adjust the levels. Complete hardwired installation took me less than ten minutes. However, getting the FM rebroadcast to work was trickier since my Sony stereo receiver wouldn't allow me to set the proper frequency manually and often failed to find the Kima's rebroadcast signal when it scanned.

How's the Quality?

Kima's sound quality is quite good, though it seemed slightly thinner than the sound produced when I ran real wire between my computer and stereo. However, the difference was so vague that I could easily attribute that to my imagination.

Akoo claims you can separate the transmitter and receiver by up to 1,000 feet, a claim I didn't put to the test due to space and time restrictions. I did however transmit signals through several walls to about 60 feet in my "black hole for wireless" apartment with no variance in quality. After going further away and through more walls , I started to run into static and signal fade.

If you need or desire a wireless connection between some of your audio devices, by all means check out Kima. However, if Internet radio is truly what you're looking for, Sonicbox's iM Remote Tuner (www.sonicbox.com) is the less expensive, more focused product.

Akoo Kima Wireless Audio transmitter and receiver
List Price: $149.95
www.akoo.com
(708) 583-9600