There are a couple of technologies that are more integrated with the fireplace, depending on what kind of fireplace you have. Can you tell me the make and model of your fireplace, or post a photo so I can ID it visually?

This is the fireplace.

Do you know if you have the millivolt or electronic ignition version? This manual covers both. If you can snap a photo of the area behind the bottom louver, I can see what kind of control valve you have.

That is the millivolt model. I will send you a link when I am back in my office to something you could try.

Were you able to get back to your office?

Sorry. Crazy week. This little guy can hook directly to your control valve so it only turns on when the fire is on: http://www.petersonfirelogs.com/buy/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=10316

It is essentially the same "crackling" technology as the unit you referenced above. Sounds a little like static instead of a wood fire. I am not aware of any technology like the one you have referenced in the patent that is commercially available.

We see some new products every year at the big fireplace show, and there's usually someone that has something along those lines, but there is a big gap between the simple digital audio technologies that are common now and existing (common) fireplace technology. There just isn't a simple way to bridge the technology gap and make them work together.

Thanks. I just read the description of that crackler and it says it's battery operated and I don't see any way to connect it to the control valve. It appears completely stand alone.

Maybe there is a different product you were thinking of.

I don't have a hearth, so I would need to put it on the floor in front of the fireplace which would make it obvious.

It sells for about $100. For $100, they should have been able to make a product that's heat resistant enough to be placed behind the bottom louver to hide it and allow it to be powered with the switch used for turning the logs on and off.

Also, for $100 they should be able to make it with a speaker with quality that sounds more realistic than "static." If not, another $20 in costs for a better speaker would fix that.

I tried putting this Bluetooth shower speaker behind the louver https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Bluetooth-AYL-Resistant-Rechargeable/dp/B014VJD6PQ/

It sounded amazingly realistic because the sound quality is great and the sound was coming through the louver, but it's plastic and has an internal battery inside so it cannot handle the heat generated by the fire for more than few minutes. However, it only sells for $25.

For $100, it should be possible to make something similar but made heat resistant.

The crackler has two input leads that attach to the two "TH" terminals on the valve so that it works in parallel with the fireplace when your turn the flame on with your wall switch.

You can place it behind the fireplace bottom louver. The pine cone works as an insulator to protect it from the heat, but it doesn't really get that hot down there typically. There are a lot of battery operated remote controls that go down there, too, and they are no less susceptible to heat issues. If you have a really high efficiency gas fireplace, you might need a heat shield, but that would still work.

The crackler still requires 3 AA batteries, but it would work from your wall switch. FYI, the power that actually turns your fireplace on is generated by the thermopile at the pilot.

It's not a cheap speaker that makes it sound like static. It's a random sound generator, not a pre-recorded fire.

I agree that is possible to do it, but there apparently isn't a big enough market to make it commercially viable, since I've seen a number of ideas come and go.

Your bluetooth idea is probably the best one. The trick would be hooking it up so it would sync with the fireplace. As long as your fireplace fan is plugged into a straight 120V outlet and there no speed control up in the wall, you could plug the power adaptor into the outlet underneath and it would work without have to recharge it or relying on battery power. The coolest place under that fireplace is right behind the louver at the far right or left. For 25 bucks, it might be worth a little more experimentation.

Thanks. I read a few reviews on the crackler that say the recording sounds super-fake and more like rain at best or radio static white noise at worst and has a noticeably short repeating sound loop.

When I tried the Bluetooth speaker playing the a high quality 2 hour long recording of a real fire, I was happy with the sound, but I had to get a pot holder to get the plastic speaker out after less than an hour. So, I decided it was not a good idea or safe to put a speaker not specifically designed to handle heat heat behind the louver.

Until someone makes a proper product similar to the patent, a Bluetooth speaker playing a good quality recording outside the fireplace would be the best option.

It would be great if there was some way to camouflage it as something that doesn't look out of place outside the fireplace (vase, decorative fireplace tools etc.),

That sounds like a good idea.

The next fireplace show is March 8th in Nashville. If I see something, I'll let you know!

I got a bluetooth speaker that also has a MicroSD slot... I ripped the audio from a youtube fireplace video to an MP3 and put it on the MicroSD card --- so I just turn it on it starts crackling and I don't have to worry about bluetooth.
It sits behind the control panel door on the base of the firebox insert. That area stays cool... just. the top of the unit gets hot.

Once upon a time there was a product called Firesong.

I have two of their units and I have been looking for a third, but it seems as though they may have gone out of business as I cannot find them.

So what was so good about them?

The system fit under the fireplace insert or zero clearance DirectVent unit and consisted of two small 'stereo' speaker boxes meant to go on the left and right edges underneath as well as an interface to the gas valve and an AC power supply.

Possibly due to the stereo effect and quality if the recording, the sounds was realistic - and with a stepped volume control. The unit went on and off automatically with the gas valve.

Anything like it on the market?

~ Joe

Hey Joe and others, any updates you might be able to share? I'm looking to do the same. I agree that this shouldn't be that complex. With a bit of effort at the sound mixer, I have no doubt I can compile a great sound loop to store on an SD card. One challenge will always be the nuances (size, shape, etc) of everyone's fireplace and the quality of the speakers. The second challenge is the syncing with the fireplace power source. I'm thinking, the power source issue is a concern for another day and only after successfully identifying a viable speaker and high-quality audio.

Hello Dave,

I have not found a system to replace Firesong by Redfire. Thanks to a message about your post from Houzz, I looked again and discovered that a used one in like new condition was sold through Ebay on 10/17/20. Ouch! ;-)

The company Redfire has a Facebook page which has been inactive since 2015 and the company URL is no longer active.

2012 installation video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDLzkXBc87A

If someone finds a substitute and posts here, I reckon we will get an email from Houzz.