iFi Zen Air Blue - High Resolution Bluetooth Streamer - Update Your System with high res Audio Streaming

I shouldn't have had to buy this product. I owned it's big brother, the iFi Zen Blue V2, which is a couple of years older and also supports balanced output. But then I was an idiot when re-installing an integrated amp, and plugged the wrong power supply in the the V2, causing smoke signals and eau du plastique. Since I wasn't using balanced in this application, I was pleased to see this new Zen Air Blue at half the price.While waiting for delivery, I brought in a FIIO K9 PRO ESS I had because well, it can also Bluetooth. Hey, I guess I should explain that in my office (a real professional office, not at home) I decided I wanted sound, and I stream high-resolution from an iPad to an amplifier to speakers. Not cheap stuff, but good enough for critical listening. The weakest link in the system is the Bluetooth link over BT 5.1 for about 8 feet.Both the older V2 and the FIIO use external BT antennae and the Zen Air Blue does not. Everything is internal. Nevertheless, I'm getting BETTER connectivity with the new Zen Air Blue. This is exceptional.The Zen Air Blue is a very light box, and comes with a short USB-A adapter cable for power. I guess they expect you to use a spare 5V power supply. I had the 5V from the older unit so I just used that. Build quality of the unit is well - light plastic, but it doesn't need anything more than that. Two RCA outlets on the back, they work fine. Easy to hook up.Pairing was quick and easy. I can stream high res Qobuz or Apple music with no issues. The sound has no artifacts, and is very neutral. It seems to be every bit as good as the older by almost 2 years V2 if you are in single-ended use. I thought the FIIO was a bit warmer and smoother, but then the FIIO is an $800 buck desktop DAC/AMP which also happens to be able to stream Bluetooth. I use the FIIO to power headphones, not generally as a line-out unit dedicated to streaming.Yes, the Zen Air Blue provides streaming and LINE OUT, designed for volume control by other devices or applications. I run it into an AUX line in on my integrated amp. It does not need or want a volume control. In my use case, I set a volume I do not wish to exceed on the amp, but use the iPad to control volume all of the time.If this is the item you need, then it serves it's purpose very well. If you aren't sure you need to spend more money, then you don't need to.

Just got this last week. It was easier to install than I expected. It works great with my Denon receiver and speakers and my Apple IPhone /Apple music app. The price seemed reasonable and the sound quality is better than my Google home speakers. Really glad I bought this!

I wanted to replace a cheap bluetooth audio adapter I was using to connect my iPhone to a 1990s high-quality stereo. The cheap one worked, but the sound was muddy and didn't really have any high-end detail. I thought it might be my ears, but I saw a recommendation for this unit. The sound is immediately different... both more high frequency detail as well as overall better clarity -- the cheap one, which used default Bluetooth/mp3, was definitely muddy in comparison.The only thing to note is that there is no power supply provided (a small USB charger of the kind most of us have sitting around works fine), and the provided power cable (USB to power adapter for this unit) has a _very_ short cord.

This is exactly what I was looking for. I am able to stream from my phone and hi-res portable audio player to my main audio system using LDAC. FLAC files and 320kbps internet radio sounds excellent. Pairing is easy, and I have experienced no drop-outs. The upstairs area of our house where this is located is <1000 sq ft., and I have had no issues maintaining connection anywhere on the floor. At first I was worried that the Bluetooth pairing light would keep blinking nonstop after I disconnected, but the unit goes to sleep and the blinking stops after 5 minutes. The lack of a power block and adequate connections is annoying, as almost everyone has noted. Fortunately I had spare RCA cables laying around, as well as an old 5V block from a previous cell phone. The USB power cord is ridiculously short. For the record and since I don’t think I’ve seen it mentioned anywhere, the supplied power cord is 65.5 cm., or a little under 26 in. I used it for a temporary connection while I waited for Amazon to deliver an inexpensive 4-ft. cord that allowed for more flexible placement. Highly recommended product. I do see that Amazon seems to be selling all of these from third-party Amazon Marketplace vendors. That may or may not affect your service. I ordered a unit from one vendor and it never arrived. Second time around with a different vendor, it arrived in 2 days. Track your shipping.

I was very excited to get this product as it would be an easy way to stream music from my phone into my older stereo receiver. When I opened the box, I first noticed the "instruction manual" was for another Ifi product, and when I plugged the unit in (with the USB cord inserted in to a spare cellphone charger adapter and into a wall socket) it wouldn't power up. I tried everything: long pressed the pairing button, short pressed the pairing button, but to no avail. This thing never powered up to put out a Bluetooth signal my phone could connect to (no lights, no nothing) . it was basically a nonworking expensive piece of plastic to sit on top of my stereo receiver so I returned it. I scoured the internet to see if others have had the same problem with this product not powering on but found nothing. And further frustration the instruction manual said that if the unit had no power to "plug the USB into an adapter and power source 5 times" what the heck do they mean by 5 times? makes no sense. Something got lost in translation in this instruction. Anyways, if I could give it zero stars I would. Just hope this unit I returned doesn't get resold to someone else.