Nowadays most mainstream audio electronics have Bluetooth connectivity inbuilt. However when you have older home-audio gear, similar to a beloved stereo receiver or a set of powered audio system, there’s an opportunity that both it lacks Bluetooth connectivity altogether or its Bluetooth reception is poor. That doesn’t imply you must scrap your system and begin over.
A Bluetooth audio receiver enables you to pair your older gear with the newest Bluetooth audio sources—and the very best ones provide you with nice sound. The iFi Audio Zen Air Blue is our favourite because of its glorious vary, exhaustive format help, and surprisingly good audio efficiency for the value.
Our decide
This Bluetooth audio receiver sounds wonderful, is easy to arrange, and provides surprisingly good vary—but it surely lacks digital audio outputs.
Though you possibly can actually pay extra for a Bluetooth receiver to get further options and even longer vary, the iFi Audio Zen Air Blue delivers the place it issues most. The sound high quality is on a par with that of Bluetooth audio receivers costing practically twice as a lot, and its small variety of connections and controls makes it simple and intuitive to function. Plus, the Bluetooth vary is surprisingly good contemplating this mannequin’s lack of an exterior antenna.
Stereo analog RCA outputs are the one connection possibility, and that’s advantageous for most individuals since just about each residence stereo system has an analog enter. The Zen Air Blue helps the entire related Bluetooth audio codecs (coder/decoders, algorithms that compress audio knowledge to make it simpler to transmit wirelessly), so it’s nearly actually able to receiving the very best Bluetooth sign that your cellphone, pill, or laptop is able to transmitting.
Improve decide
The Zen Blue V2 is a expensive however worthwhile improve to our prime decide should you desire digital outputs or have a bigger residence that requires extra sign vary.
When you have a high-end audio system or would like a Bluetooth audio receiver with digital audio outputs, the iFi Audio Zen Blue V2 was with out query the best-sounding Bluetooth receiver we evaluated in our newest spherical of assessments. Connection-wise, it has you lined with each optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, in addition to a 4.4 mm balanced audio connection and stereo analog RCA outputs.
The Zen Blue V2 can also be an awesome alternative should you want extra sign vary than most Bluetooth receivers can present. All the remainder of our take a look at models both turned unstable or misplaced connection someplace inside the 1,518-square-foot suburban residence through which we did our testing, however the Zen Blue V2, fitted with the equipped long-range antenna, maintained a steady connection from an iPhone situated all the best way within the far nook of the yard.
Mix that with simple setup, dependable and near-instantaneous reconnections, and a gorgeous type, and the Zen Blue V2 is the very best decide for demanding audiophiles, regardless of its lofty price ticket.
Funds decide
In the event you’re in search of an affordable, dependable Bluetooth audio receiver with transportable potential, the Monoprice 38071 performs effectively. However it has some quirks.
In case your primary priorities when searching for a Bluetooth receiver are worth and portability, versus ergonomics and pristine sound high quality, the Monoprice 38071 Premium Bluetooth 5 Transmitter and Receiver wins out over different comparably priced choices. It helps the most typical Bluetooth audio codecs however lacks help for a few the extra esoteric ones that audiophiles could respect.
The 38071 can perform as a Bluetooth receiver or transmitter, although we examined solely its reception capabilities for the needs of this information. As well as, you possibly can both depart it related to energy or use it as a transportable machine, because it has fairly first rate battery life. It additionally has transport controls that can help you skip tracks with out unlocking your cellphone or different transportable media participant.
Sadly, it has some operational quirks that seem like frequent for fashions in its worth class and make it much less intuitive than the iFi Audio picks. However so long as you’re utilizing its optical output as a substitute of its 3.5 mm analog output, the sound high quality is fairly stable.
