Best Products > Audio 226 226 people found this article helpful The Best Seamless Bluetooth Audio Receivers of 2024 No built in Bluetooth, no problem By Emmeline Kaser Emmeline Kaser Writer Sarah Lawrence College University of Michigan Emmeline Kaser is a tech writer and former editor for Lifewire. She writes and edits commerce content about consumer technology for Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 8, 2024 We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Audio Home Theater Headphones Earbuds Speakers Instruments Accessories A Bluetooth receiver is a relatively small investment that opens possibilities. Some things to look for in a Bluetooth audio receiver include audio codecs, range, and output types. Bluetooth 5.0 is a great find since it offers an impressive range and excellent audio codecs. You also want to ensure that whatever receiver you get will output correctly to your car or stereo, depending on where you want to use it. These are our top picks. in this article Expand Our Picks What to Look For in a Bluetooth Audio Receiver FAQ Best Overall Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Receiver Amazon View On Amazon $189 View On Walmart $189 View On B&H Photo Video $189 Pros Sound is high quality Great range Lots of output options Cons Expensive The Audioengine B1 music receiver has Bluetooth 5.0, aptX HD, aptX, and AAC codecs for high-quality audio. These codecs will give you CD-quality audio with minimal loss. Bluetooth 5.0 also gives you up to 100 feet of range, so you can use your phone while it plays through your home stereo. Plus, you'll get 24-bit playback and low latency, which is a fancy way of saying you get clear audio with no lag. The B1 appeared on our Bluetooth lists when we put it in pairing mode, which is great to see from a device that costs this much. We could beam music from two rooms over through thick concrete walls on Bluetooth with no problem. This is one of the best Bluetooth audio experiences we’ve ever had in real-world use. Lifewire / Jason Schneider The B1 has optical audio and RCA outputs, which will work with any stereo system. It also includes an impressive digital-to-analog converter, helping achieve a lower signal-to-noise ratio. Input: Bluetooth | Output: Optical, RCA | Range: 100ft | Audio Codecs: aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver Review Best Budget Besign BE-RCA Long Range Bluetooth Audio Adapter Amazon View On Amazon $25 Pros Great price Very small Bluetooth 5.0 Cons Included cables are short Prone to interference If you're on a budget, we like the Besign BE-RCE long-range Bluetooth audio adapter. It has Bluetooth 5.0, aptX technology, and CD-quality sound from up to 100 feet away. The receiver is powered by micro USB and requires pressing the power button to turn it on. Some reviewers mentioned that they'd hoped to connect a smart plug that they could power on to power on the Bluetooth receiver. That won't work with this unit. It's a minor point, but it may factor in depending on your use case. Input: Bluetooth | Output: 3.5mm, RCA | Range: 100ft | Audio Codecs: aptX, SBC Best Range Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter Amazon View On Amazon $40 View On Walmart $52 View On Best Buy $40 Pros Low price Solid connection and 50-foot range Durable Cons Missing premium codecs Cheap design No digital output The Logitech Bluetooth audio adapter has one of the best ranges in a Bluetooth receiver. We tested it and found a range of about 50 feet, 30% or more than most others. It doesn't have many other bells and whistles you might find in other receivers, but for the price, you're getting a tiny, durable little receiver that can do what it needs to do. Our tests showed minimal dropout, even from the next room through fairly thick concrete walls. The Logitech adapter can store up to eight different Bluetooth devices in its memory, and you can even have two connected to the receiver simultaneously. There isn't any Wi-Fi connectivity or app support. Lifewire / Jason Schneider The main downside you'll find here is the lack of digital outputs. You get RCA outputs only. Add that to the SBC codec that's on board, and you'll get basic functionality and versatility. RCA and SBC are the most common output and codec, respectively, so Logitech checks many boxes. The extra range is a bonus and makes this a good pickup at a great price. Input: Bluetooth | Output: 3.5mm, RCA | Range: 50ft. | Audio Codecs: SBC Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter Review Lifewire / Jason Schneider What to Look For in a Bluetooth Audio Receiver Portability Would you like to hook your new Bluetooth receiver to your car stereo, cinema system, or headphones? Ensure your solution is small enough for travel if you want to bring it on the go. Additionally, check the power supply, as some units are designed to work only in cars, while others use a standard AC wall adapter or batteries. Audio Inputs If you’re using a Bluetooth receiver in your car, you’ll likely be OK with a 3.5mm AUX input jack. However, if you are considering hooking up your adapter to a cinema system, you might want to search for a solution that supports RCA inputs. Lifewire / Jason Schneider Audio Quality Bluetooth isn’t always about high quality. If you want the best possible sound, search for a device supporting the AptX codec for high-quality streaming from Android phones, MacBooks, and PCs. FAQ How do I connect Bluetooth headphones to an audio receiver? To connect Bluetooth headphones to an audio receiver (for example, your headphones to a TV), put headphones into pairing mode, go to the device's Bluetooth settings, and select your headphones. For TVs that don't support Bluetooth, add a Bluetooth transceiver. How does a Bluetooth audio receiver work? A Bluetooth audio receiver is a way to provide wireless transmission through Bluetooth to wired devices that don't have it built-in. For instance, you can connect the receiver to a non-Bluetooth device with an aux or RCA cable and transmit it to another device, like Bluetooth headphones. This setup is an excellent way to cut the cord in your car or entertainment center. Can iPhone receive Bluetooth audio? Yes, all iPhones can connect to Bluetooth devices. The newer iPhone models, in particular, lack a headphone jack, so Bluetooth is your only option. The same is true of an increasing number of Android devices, with all significant flagships ditching the 3.5mm port in favor of Bluetooth-only. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit