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When putting together a large home audio setup, you’ll quickly find out it’s the little things that matter. A Bluetooth audio receiver may not be the showiest centerpiece of your dream audio soundscape, but it’s vital if you want reliable wireless sound.
Bluetooth audio receivers, once connected to your sound system, receive a signal from your phone, convert it to analog, and send it through to your speakers or device for you to enjoy. Plus, they’re great for making the old new again – dusting off your old turntable and giving it wireless capability. Want to make it easier to control the tunes on your existing speakers and home sound system? Here’s what to know about the best Bluetooth audio receivers.
Bluetooth Audio Receivers Buying Guide
Once you start using Bluetooth, it’s hard to use anything else. The convenience of eliminating wires provides a clean look for your media setup, not to mention has adjustable settings from up to 100 feet away, or anywhere in the world from a phone’s app over WiFi. Some of the higher-end models have a noticeably smoother “edge” to the sound they produce, with a more balanced mix that won’t fatigue your ears after long listens.
Sound Quality: While Bluetooth’s sound capabilities have come a long way, and improve with each generation, the truth is there there’s a cap to sound quality – about 320kb – and anything over that can’t (yet) be transmitted wirelessly. Most people, with a good set of headphones or speakers, will hardly notice the difference. But if you’re an audiophile that’s paying for premium sound-streaming services like Tidal, don’t be fooled into thinking that a Bluetooth receiver can carry that bitrate.
Ports: Rarely will you find a headphone jack on these – but that’s okay, since most modern headphones have direct Bluetooth capability anyway that can connect right to your audio source. If you do want to have a backup option for wired though, look to the underrated optical cable. Not only are you more likely to find a unit with a jack built-in, but you’ll be getting better data transmission too. You will, however, commonly see RCA and 3.5mm connectors to make things quick and streamlined to hook up.
