what receiver is bluetooth and can be hooked to speaker wires
The research
- Why you should trust us
- Who this is for?
- How we picked and tested
- Our choice: StarTech BT2A
- Flaws but not dealbreakers
- An upgrade for improve audio and better range: Audioengine B1
- About Bluetooth pairing and connections
- What to look frontwards to
- The contest
- Footnotes
Why y'all should trust us
I've been obsessing over audio gear for 14 years, going through more than headphones, speakers, and audio components than I care to admit. I spent six years covering audio gear for Macworld, where I reviewed more 75 headphones, DACs, headphone and speaker amplifiers, and computer accessories. I also contributed to Macworld's yearly headphone and speaker buying guides. I'm passionate most practiced sound, and I'm not ashamed to call myself an audiophile. But just as important, I dearest finding great, affordable gear that connects people to the music they honey. I likewise accept a PhD in computational biological science, so I accept a potent technical and scientific groundwork, and I'm non afraid to delve into technical details to reply important questions.
Who this is for?
Whether it'south because your new smartphone has no headphone jack, or yous aren't ready to give up your one-time stereo in favor of a great Bluetooth speaker, a Bluetooth audio receiver adds wireless streaming to your existing dwelling house stereo or speakers, potentially giving you better audio quality for less coin than ownership a whole new audio system. If your smartphone, tablet, or figurer has Bluetooth, but your stereo or other speaker system doesn't, a good Bluetooth audio receiver lets you stream music wirelessly to your speakers with little loss in sound quality.
Our elevation selection is for people who have a traditional stereo system, computer speakers, or a soundbar—pretty much any speaker organisation with an auxiliary-input jack that doesn't already accept Bluetooth. Our upgrade pick is worth considering if y'all've invested roughly $500 or more than on your stereo organisation or speakers and desire to be certain you lot're getting the best audio quality out of them, or if you want to exist able to stream Bluetooth audio from a longer distance: further than ninety anxiety with a straight line of sight, compared with well-nigh 40 for our meridian option.
How we picked and tested
We began by looking at the nearly popular models on Amazon and checking the websites of high-contour manufacturers, ultimately assembling a list of 76 candidates. We then considered how these products are used in social club to identify the most of import features and specifications, which resulted in a short list of serious contenders: 8 models for general home apply and two higher-end model.
The primary appeal of a Bluetooth audio receiver is the convenience of playing audio through your existing speakers without having to plug in a cable. This means that pairing and connecting your devices to the receiver should exist easy and reliable—if connecting your phone to a receiver is besides finicky, you'll only accomplish for the simplicity and reliability of a cablevision. Also, the receiver'southward range should be long enough to cover a typical living area—wireless isn't particularly useful if y'all tin't roam with your device.
Ideally, a Bluetooth receiver should audio every bit good as a directly, wired connection—if wireless audio sounds bad, you lot'll likely put upwardly with the inconvenience of a cable to get better audio. Whether a receiver comes close to this standard depends on the quality of the receiver'south built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and other audio circuitry, as well as how the audio is compressed for transmission: Bluetooth doesn't take enough bandwidth to transmit uncompressed CD-quality audio, then Bluetooth devices use 1 of several codecs to compress audio for transmission, and can vary the flake rate of the pinch based on available wireless bandwidth. The receiver decodes the transmitted data for playback on your speakers.
All Bluetooth devices support Low Complexity Subband Coding (SBC), a codec with depression bandwidth and computational requirements, but that can sound downright bad in some implementations. To provide better sound quality, many newer Bluetooth receivers (including our height option) support the aptX codec; some also support MP3, AAC, and other codecs. Windows and Mac computers, and nearly Android devices, back up aptX; iOS does not, but information technology does support AAC.1
We constitute that receivers that back up aptX also audio pretty proficient using SBC—if a receiver supports aptX, it tin can likely receive practiced-quality audio from your source device in some class or another. So we considered aptX support an almost-mandatory feature for our height choice.
Some other feature we favored was digital audio output, which allows you to use a separate DAC for better audio quality. (Many home theater receivers include their own DAC, and some people have a dedicated DAC in their stereo.) While not anybody needs this characteristic, it'due south something that's nice to have, and models with information technology don't price substantially more than good models without it. That said, we considered two models (the Avantree Roxa and Moto Stream) that lack digital output because they offered other intriguing features not found elsewhere.
I feature we didn't give much weight to was NFC circuitry for pairing. NFC pairing works only with sure source devices (such as some Android phones), and pairing is generally a simple process that you perform rarely for each device, so we didn't think it was of import enough to touch a buying determination.
To exam our contenders, I paired each one kickoff to a MacBook and then to an iPhone to meet how easy it was to pair source devices to the receiver; how reliably the receiver continued and disconnected from sources once paired; and how piece of cake it was to switch to a different source. For devices that could pair with multiple devices simultaneously, I used up to six devices to test this feature, and up to nine to exam pairing.
I too looked at how each receiver reconnected to source devices following a disconnection (due to the devices moving out of range of another, or one device being turned off); and considered whether each receiver'south beliefs made sense given how it would be used. Models designed for a home stereo will generally be left on—nigh don't even have a power switch—so information technology's all-time if connections to these models are initiated manually to avoid your phone's audio being routed through your stereo when you don't want it to be.
To evaluate audio quality, I outset used each device to listen to background music, and so compared them caput-to-head using my favorite test tracks played on the Mac and iPhone. I tested the home models with a stereo consisting of NHT speakers and an NAD habitation-theater receiver.
Finally, to assess the range of each receiver—how far the receiver can be from the source device and still get a consequent sound signal—I set each receiver on a stand outdoors, started music playback on an iPhone, and walked slowly (to compensate for connexion latency) along a tape measure with the phone held at chest level, noting the altitude at which music started skipping. I conducted this test first obstructed by my body (which significantly reduces range), and then unobstructed. To get a feel for the real-world range of each device, I also connected each receiver to my home stereo, located in the living room near 1 border of my 1,000-foursquare-foot apartment, then walked effectually the apartment with my phone while music was playing.
Our pick: StarTech BT2A
Our option
The StarTech BT2A Bluetooth Audio Receiver is our top pick for most people thanks to its combination of good sound quality, range, usability, connectivity, and toll. It comes from a reputable vendor, has a two-year warranty, and is reasonably priced.
The BT2A paired to new devices, and reconnected to onetime devices, reliably in our testing. It tin can think viii paired devices; if an additional device is paired, the oldest-paired device is bumped from the list. Additionally, it includes NFC circuitry for like shooting fish in a barrel pairing with Android mobile phones and other compatible devices, although the normal pairing procedure is like shooting fish in a barrel enough.
In terms of sound quality, the BT2A supports the aptX codec and features a high-quality DAC that's well-regarded in this cost range. (StarTech specifies the Cirrus Logic Wolfson WM8524G.) When used with my estimator and iOS devices, the BT2A provided the all-time sound quality of the models we tested in this price range. Overall, it offered the best dynamic range, the best loftier-frequency and midrange item, the all-time bass power and tightness, and the least high-frequency distortion. It noticeably bested the audio of the Grace Digital 3Play and Avantree Roxa, and far exceeded that of the Motorola Moto Stream.
If you lot directly compare the BT2A with a wired connection, you may hear a difference in sound quality, particularly with source devices that don't support aptX, only we recall near listeners—specially those listening through computer speakers, soundbars, and other less than high-end systems—won't notice. And even if y'all practice hear the difference, it's likely to be a reasonable trade-off given the convenience of a wireless connection.
The BT2A too has a Toslink optical digital-audio output, allowing y'all to upgrade audio quality by using an external DAC, such every bit the stand-alone models used by audiophiles or the blazon built into nearly home theater receivers and some stereo receivers and speakers.
Reception was about boilerplate for the home models I tested, but enough to cover nearly living areas well. Indoors, each covered my living room and most of an adjacent sleeping accommodation; outdoors, unobstructed range was about 40 anxiety.
Aside from audio quality, no individual aspect of the BT2A was unique in this category, but it was the merely receiver at this price that in our tests offered such a solid combination of performance and features.
(During our testing, we noticed that the StarTech BT2A and Satechi Bluetooth Audio Receiver looked identical on the outside, and the Nyrius Songo HiFi and our now-discontinued Monoprice runner-up were as well very like; all iv had back panels that appeared identical. In our testing, all four models offered essentially identical performance, and each appeared on connected devices as "Music Receiver" without any identifying brand information. I took the four models apart to investigate, and they appear to use the same circuit lath—I saw little difference in iii of the devices' internals, while the Songo HiFi had simply a few dissimilar chips on the board. Nosotros're fairly confident that these are all variations on the same design, though the Monoprice, Satechi, and Nyrius models have since been discontinued.)
Flaws only not dealbreakers
Our biggest complaint about the StarTech BT2A is that information technology doesn't support multiple agile connections: If you're listening to music from your telephone and want to switch to playing music from your tablet, you have to suspension the active Bluetooth connection with the phone (for example, past disabling Bluetooth on the phone), and and so connect the tablet. Three models we tested—the Grace Digital 3Play, Motorola Moto Stream, and Avantree Roxa—support multiple active connections:two In the to a higher place scenario, your tablet would already be connected, then when you begin playback on the tablet, the receiver would automatically switch to playing the tablet's audio. If you have multiple streaming source devices and ofttimes switch between them, this is a very convenient characteristic, and one we wish the BT2A offered. Nonetheless, the three models that include it all have big drawbacks in other areas, and the feature itself often didn't work as expected.
The range of our top pick isn't outstanding, but it'south comparable to that of most Bluetooth devices: xxx to 40 feet unobstructed or xx to 30 feet through walls and other obstructions. To become significantly better range without making compromises in other areas, y'all demand to opt for something more expensive, such equally our upgrade selection. Similarly, similar all but one of the devices nosotros tested, the BT2A occasionally skipped for no credible reason, despite beingness nigh the transmitting device with a clear line of sight. Our upgrade pick was the only device that never had this issue in our testing.
Mutual to Bluetooth streamers in this cost range, the BT2A is relatively light, so heavier audio cables can cause it to motion effectually, but this is easy to address with some Velcro strips or Blu-Tack
If the BT2A hasn't been receiving audio for more than a few minutes, the first 2nd of audio will exist cutting off when y'all resume playback. But as long equally audio continues playing, this won't happen again. Ultimately, this is a minor annoyance that doesn't outweigh our pick's many positives.
Finally, as nosotros mentioned above, the audio quality of the BT2A isn't perfect. We think it will be more than good enough for well-nigh people, only if you want the best possible performance, you lot tin can utilize the optical output with a college-quality DAC, or take a expect at our upgrade pick.
An upgrade for better sound and better range: Audioengine B1
Upgrade pick
The B1 is based on the same circuitry equally Audioengine's well-regarded D1 DAC, and the unit'southward sound quality reflects this: It offers better sound, past a good margin, than the less expensive Bluetooth receivers we tested. Music is lively and involving, with crisp, articulate highs; detailed midrange; and tight, clean bass, particularly when used with devices that support aptX. In fact, because the B1's DAC is likely better than the built-in DAC of your phone, tablet, or estimator, streaming to the B1 could wind upward sounding better than connecting that source to your audio organization with a cable: I constitute that streaming audio from my laptop to the B1 (using aptX encoding) sounded significantly better than connecting the computer to my stereo using a cable from the calculator'south headphone jack. On the other hand, my iPhone (which doesn't back up aptX) sounded a flake improve with a wired connection to my stereo than through the B1, though the differences were small.
Like the StarTech BT2A, the Audioengine B1 supports the aptX and AAC codecs, and information technology includes optical-digital output if you want to hook it up to an even better DAC in the time to come. It also has RCA analog sound outputs, which are sturdier than the iii.5 mm stereo minijack used by well-nigh other models we tested, so it'southward less likely that your cablevision will come up unplugged accidentally, or that heavier cables volition damage the jacks. Another prissy characteristic is a defended pairing button, which is useful not only for pairing new devices, but as well for rapidly dropping the current Bluetooth connection in order to switch to some other source device. (The B1 can remember up to seven paired devices.)
Finally, the B1 is the only model we tested that includes an external antenna. Co-ordinate to Audioengine, thanks to this rigid, plastic antenna, which sticks up a few inches from the forepart of the unit of measurement, the B1 has a range of 100 anxiety, three times what nearly other receivers merits. Indeed, the B1 outperformed all other models I tested: Using my smartphone equally a source, I was able to walk everywhere in my 1,000-square-foot, single-floor flat without any skipping or dropouts. (The farthest the apartment's layout would permit me get from the stereo was about thirty anxiety, with walls in between.) In our outdoor test, I was able to get 90 feet away earlier I ran out of testing surface area—I wouldn't exist surprised if Audioengine's 100-foot merits is bourgeois. The B1 never skipped, even when my torso obstructed the line of sight between the receiver and my telephone. Because that some receivers I tested had problems when people or big objects disrupted that line of sight, this is extraordinary performance. The B1'due south combination of features, build quality, neat sound, and long range brand information technology a big step upward from our main selection if these improvements are meaningful to you.
Nearly Bluetooth pairing and connections
When it comes to using Bluetooth-audio devices, you'll hear talk of "pairing" and "connecting." Pairing is the initial configuration process that associates two devices (in this example, your smartphone, tablet, or figurer and a Bluetooth receiver) then that they can communicate. Once you've paired the devices, they remain paired, even if yous turn one of them off or if they're out of range of each other. You should accept to pair those devices only in one case.
Connecting refers to establishing an active wireless connection between 2 paired devices. When y'all turn one device off or move one out of range of the other, the two disconnect in order to conserve energy and to free each other for connecting to other devices, but you tin can hands reconnect them when necessary—disconnecting does not affect the pairing betwixt the two. However, unpairing two devices ways they'll no longer connect unless you put them through the pairing process again.
Some receivers automatically reconnect to a paired source when within range, while others crave you to manually reconnect them through your device's Bluetooth settings—the verbal beliefs depends on how the manufacturer designed the receiver to function.
What to look forward to
The contest
Many of the affordable receivers that we tested for this guide have been discontinued, including the Monoprice Bluetooth Audio Receiver, the Satechi Bluetooth Music Receiver, the Nyrius Songo HiFi, the Avantree Roxa, and the Motorola MotoStream.
Several other models we came across appear to use the same circuitry every bit our overall top pick, although brusk of obtaining and taking autonomously samples of all of them, we can't say for sure. Of these, we eliminated the NuForce BTR-100 because it'southward about $15 more than the StarTech model. Several other models appear to be discontinued or otherwise unavailable: the Rocketfish Bluetooth Music Receiver, the Betasphere Audio Beacon Hr-120 Bluetooth Link, and the Crystal Acoustics BluDAC. If you find any of these at a good toll, they may be worth considering, but we oasis't tested them.
The Grace Digital 3Play supports three simultaneously connected devices, but our top pick sounds significantly improve. The 3Play includes an optical audio output and—interestingly—a battery for portable use (only no book control for utilise with headphones). However, getting the 3Play to pair and connect to source devices was sometimes hit or miss, and its range was too the worst of the devices in this category, with dropouts occurring at the edge of my living room, about 20 anxiety from the receiver.
The inexpensive HomeSpot NFC-Enabled Bluetooth Audio Receiver is one of the most pop models on Amazon. We briefly tested a seemingly identical model, the at present-discontinued Outlaw Audio BTR-100, which performed relatively well, but we felt it was too expensive given its features and performance. While the HomeSpot's price is bonny, our top picks offering digital-audio output, and—assuming the HomeSpot sounds similar to the Outlaw BTR-100—offer better sound quality for not much more money.
At the high cease, we also tested the at present-discontinued Arcam miniBlink. This model offers skilful sound quality, but the Audioengine B1 sounds better, and the Arcam lacks the B1's digital output and boggling range. (The miniBlink'southward range, indoors and out, is comparable to that of our top home option.)
For 30-pin dock models, the RadTech WaveJamr, Nyrius Songo Link, and CableJive dockBoss air all performed relatively similarly to ane another, but none were ultimately every bit reliable in connecting and pairing to source devices as the Samson BT30, nor did they friction match the Samson'south range and sound quality.
We had high hopes for the thirty-pin CoolStream Duo, thanks to an impressive Amazon rating. The Duo's sound quality is good, it supports two actively continued devices, and it sports a congenital-in rechargeable battery and a three.5 mm audio-out jack, so you lot can likewise utilise it as a portable receiver or with a non-docking speaker system. However, we institute using the Duo frustrating, equally we ofttimes had to pull it out of the speaker dock and then insert it once more to "wake it upward," and, because of its bombardment, turning off the speaker dock wouldn't e'er pause the Bluetooth connection with our paired device.
Footnotes
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-bluetooth-audio-receiver-for-your-home-stereo-or-speakers/
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