Bluetooth Receiver Recommendations

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scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#157279 26-Nov-2014 13:12

Tired of plugging in my phone to listen to music on home stereo and home theater (neither Bluetooth equipped) and losing the use of the phone otherwise. Would also be nice to be able to stream music from the computer.

Has anyone had any experience or can offer an opinion on an after market plug-in Bluetooth/Audio receiver? They seem to range from $20 on trade me to $100 in some stores, they all claim to do pretty much the same thing. Would prefer something with both 3.5mm and RCA connections, but can live with just 3.5mm. Will need to run off 240v power supply - I see many just use USB power (meaning additional cost for a power supply)

For example

http://www.cnet.com/products/belkin-bluetooth-music-receiver-bluetooth-wireless-audio-receiver-series/
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/bluetooth-audio-adapter
http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/ipod-mp3-accessories/other/auction-811630562.htm

Cheers

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

trig42

5809 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1183271 26-Nov-2014 13:23

What sort of phone?

Airplay to an AppleTV or Airport Express works brilliantly, but only if you are on iOS

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1183276 26-Nov-2014 13:31

trig42: What sort of phone?

Airplay to an AppleTV or Airport Express works brilliantly, but only if you are on iOS

Yes all iOS, but includes an old (iOS4) iPod touch and a Win7 computer. Nice idea but additional cost as well (tight budget otherwise would just replace the stereo).

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1183691 26-Nov-2014 22:17

I've used a few different options...
And the best to date have been Airport Express and QED.
The QED will kick your budget to touch... it's retailing at roughly $199. However it does sound the best to my ears.

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1183881 27-Nov-2014 10:37

Dunnersfella: I've used a few different options...
And the best to date have been Airport Express and QED.
The QED will kick your budget to touch... it's retailing at roughly $199. However it does sound the best to my ears.

Thanks, it appears on the feedback I may be better just investing in a newer system with integrated BT.

Cheers

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#1183918 27-Nov-2014 11:02

If is just bluetooth audio any $50 adapter will do - I have used a Nokia one, but as you found most cheaper ones are usb powered.

jonathan18

7413 posts

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#1447053 10-Dec-2015 11:48

Came across this thread when looking for advice on the same matter...

Looking for a Bluetooth receiver for a present; needs to be under $50, and be mains powered.

Nearly every unit on TM below this price is USB-powered (or battery powered that can be USB-charged), such as this one; I know I could get a USB mains charger, but I was hoping to find a decent all-in-one solution. Can anyone offer any advice, in particular suitable models?

I thought I'd found something of potential at DSE (http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/ds-bluetooth-music-receiver-with-a2dp-sbc-support-dsnz-cn4224), but the customer reviews of it state that it loses memory of any paired devices when it loses power, which seems a fatal flaw.

I've also come across the Logitech unit, but that's a bit over-priced for my budget.

Any other ideas gratefully received.

davidcole

6029 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1447128 10-Dec-2015 13:30

Volumio on an raspberry pi (+ a USB soundcard). Plug it into your existing amplifier and either airplay to it, ot get it to play spotify/streaming audio or files off your "nas" ie computer with sharing.

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jfanning

438 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1447136 10-Dec-2015 13:51

I have one of these which works well

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RJKRYVC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

jonathan18

7413 posts

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#1447220 10-Dec-2015 15:15

jfanning: I have one of these which works well

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RJKRYVC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

That seems a good deal, but sadly it doesn't ship to NZ (so YouShop charges would push it over budget); there's a more basic Amazon model that does, however, which would cost $46 incl. shipping and works with 240v.

The main alternative to this is the Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter, which I can get with work discount for $56, so not too far above the $50 budget.

I checked out the DSE model I linked to above, and indeed it does forget the device when power's disconnected; similarly, even when it does remember the device (ie power's maintained) it needs to be actively connected to force a connection.

davidcole: Volumio on an raspberry pi (+ a USB soundcard). Plug it into your existing amplifier and either airplay to it, ot get it to play spotify/streaming audio or files off your "nas" ie computer with sharing.

Thanks for the idea, but it's for a present so needs to be both $50 or under and not too complex.