Audioengine B1 5.3 Bluetooth Receiver for Older Classic Stereo Speakers and Sound Systems - Long Range HiFi Adaptive Wireless Up to 32 Bit Audio Music Streamer

---------------------------OVERVIEW---------------------------Audioengine's B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver is the affordable, simple wireless home audio solution we've been waiting for. When Apple's AirPlay debuted, with its relatively high-fidelity wireless audio, it was exciting. Bluetooth, which lagged behind in sound quality, eventually caught up and arguably surpassed AirPlay, which would sometimes stutter from network hiccups. Bluetooth, not needing any extra hardware (like a router), is far less likely to stutter, so the final piece of the home audio puzzle is a Bluetooth receiver for high-end musical tastes.The aluminum case of the B1 reflects traditional Audioengine design and the high-quality components and audio fidelity are typical of Audioengine's commitment to great sound at affordable prices. The Audioengine B1 continues to close the gap between your computer music and home hi-fi and even if you're not an audio enthusiast we guarantee your music will sound better!The audio quality of most Bluetooth products isn't usually very inspiring and their limited range can be frustrating. The B1 solves these problems by implementing the aptX codec, which is a high-quality audio converter designed specifically for audio. The B1 also has special circuitry and a precision-tuned antenna to extend the wireless range, providing much more versatility than other Bluetooth receivers.Upgrade your Bluetooth and breathe new life into your audio system. You already have Bluetooth on your tablet, computer, or iDevice, so get more out of it and experience stunning audio with the Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Receiver including aptX, 24-bit upsampling DAC, and extended range.---------------------------WHAT'S IN THE BOX?---------------------------- (1) B1 Receiver- (1) RCA audio cable (3ft/1m)- (1) Power adapter with detachable cable- (1) Microfiber bag- (1) Setup guide---------------------------FEATURES---------------------------- Easy setup, connects in seconds- Plug-n-play, no software to install- Superior sound and extended range- Streams audio from any media player (iTunes, Amarra, Youtube, etc.)- Connects to any music system with an audio input---------------------------SETUP---------------------------1. Connect the included (or your own) audio cables from the B1 rear panel to your music system.2. Connect the included power adapter to B1 and plug into an AC outlet. B1 will automatically go into pair mode.3. On your device, turn on Bluetooth and select "Audioengine B1" to pair and connect.4. Play your music. Setup is really this easy!A well written instruction guide is also included.---------------------------SOUND QUALITY---------------------------Due to the fact the AudioEngine has a built-in 24-bit DAC it will upsample the audio while supporting APT-X is a HUGE bonus. Wireless audio has improved by leaps and bounds in the short space of a few years, and the Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver is possibly my favorite device to come out of this high-fidelity revolution thus far. It solves the problem of shaky wireless home audio streaming, and it never degrades (and often improves) audio quality. Improvement in Bluetooth technology is the real hero here, but Audioengine takes it a step further and adds a top-notch DAC, which results in a top notch audio accessory worthy of our Editors' Choice designation. While it's expensive compared with the Apple AirPort Express, it does exactly the job it's supposed to do, with solid, reliable resultsThis thing performs exceptionally and is just bliss for wireless music.---------------------------VERDICT---------------------------After using the Audioengine B1 for several weeks, I didn't find anything wrong about the product. I didn't encounter any hiccups or degradation of sound quality even when the receiver is farther from the source. This small aluminum box is simply a "magical instrument" that would easily replace those long audio cables, connecting your source and speakers, without any loss in audio quality. This is simply a great wireless Bluetooth DAC, and you really can't complain about its price. I've seen wired DACs from other companies that are priced higher than the B1, and they probably offer the same audio quality.Here is how I rank the adapters I test, from best to worst;BEST:Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver - $189GOOD:Philips AEA2000/37 Bluetooth Hi-Fi Adapter/Receiver (Discontinued) - $28.99Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter - $29.99OK:HomeSpot NFC-Enabled Bluetooth Audio Receiver - $29.00WORST:Amped Wireless Long Range Bluetooth Speaker Adapter - $55

UPDATE 1/27/2016CHECK YOUR BLUETOOTH VERSION! If your playback device uses an older Bluetooth standard (i.e. Bluetooth 2.1 or, God forbid, 1.0), the B1 will skip and stutter like an old CD player. While this has a certain nostalgic appeal, it soon becomes unbearable. Bluetooth 2.1 (which is what my aging computer has) can only transfer data at a theoretical maximum rate of 3.0 Mb/s (0.375 MB/s), which isn't enough bandwidth to stream high-quality audio—the files are simply too big. Newer versions of Bluetooth, meanwhile, can serve up 24 Mb/s (3 MB/s), which should be enough for even uncompressed audio (though why you'd send uncompressed audio over heavily compressed Bluetooth is a question worth asking). Fortunately, my phone supports Bluetooth 4.0, so I'm still keeping the B1.ORIGINAL REVIEWThis is the first and only Bluetooth receiver I've ever bought. I looked at cheaper options, but given that I'm streaming 320 kbps Spotify tracks to M&K Sound MPS1611P reference monitors, it seemed like a tragic bit of false economy to cheap out on the device that's actually getting the music to the speakers. I've had a pair of Audioengine A2 White speakers for nearly five happy years now, so I have a lot of respect for Audioengine's products. They make superb, no-nonsense audio gear at prices that can only be called "disruptive" in an industry famous for bombast and snake oil. By way of example, the Pangea Audio AC 9SE MKII Signature Power Cable - 1.5 Meter costs more than the B1 and it's just a damn power cord.So when you consider just how much this little antenna box will improve your quality of life, especially compared to the comically diminishing returns to be had in the audiophile underworld of overpriced copper, $190 isn't just reasonable, it's CHEAP!Fortunately, the B1 performs like anything but a cheap device. Pairing has been quick and hassle-free with both my Mac computer and Android phone (LG Nexus 5). The signal strength has been rock solid, even from rooms away. The connectivity is simply flawless (at least for me), and that's the highest praise I can give any wireless gadget—as a category, wireless networking devices tend to be finicky, failure-prone, and frustrating. The B1 is not.Audioengine really doesn't make a big enough deal about the onboard DAC—it's the B1's secret sauce, and the reason it's worth the premium over much cheaper competing options. Poking around the "Tech Specs" sections of Audioengine's catalog, I discovered that the B1 contains the same DAC (AKM AK4396) used in their highly regarded D1 and D3 standalone DACs, as well as their new flagship HD6 powered speakers. This is a Very Good Thing, and makes the B1 a totally unique product (to my knowledge): perhaps the world's only 24-bit Bluetooth DAC.But what about the sound? I did a quick A/B listening test of the same track played through the B1 and the HRT - Music Streamer II, which is my wired DAC. I'm sorry to say that compared to a good wired DAC, there's really no contest—the sound quality penalty for going wireless is noticeable and significant, but the experience of wireless music through good speakers is magical enough that I'll take the tradeoff. That's not to say that it doesn't sound good, but where the Music Streamer renders music crisp, detailed, and clean, the B1 produces a more Bose-like sound with aggressive highs and exaggerated, rumbling lows. Mids are the B1's saving grace, though, and vocals sound beautiful. I suspect, however, that this is attributable to the limitations of Bluetooth and not because the B1's onboard DAC is inherently inferior. That said, unless you're used to the orchestral precision of a wired DAC, you're unlikely to find anything to complain about—with decent source files and decent speakers, this will absolutely blow the doors off any dedicated Bluetooth speaker, most of which sound like someone jammed a car speaker into a perforated tin can upside down.