Best Bluetooth Receivers For Your Sound System
The best Bluetooth receivers on the market perform their function seamlessly and without intrusion, and that is the hallmark we are looking for in our roundup today. Music enthusiasts and audiophiles often have to make compromises when buying new equipment for themselves. Besides cost, the most common dilemma is deciding between convenience and overall performance. You could get a huge sound system, but then there’s the issue of space. Perhaps the biggest issue is deciding between a convenient Bluetooth speaker or a high-end system.
Well, why not both? While most aficionados will hate the thought of it, you can add a Bluetooth receiver to your stereo system for added convenience. You can make your stereo amplifier equipped home theater system into a Bluetooth system by this method and control it from your phone. This is helpful if you’re feeling lazy, or want to save yourself the hassle after a long day’s work. However, if you want maximum performance, these things can cost a considerable amount.
Our Picks For The Best Bluetooth Receivers
| # | Preview | Product Name | Award | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Denon Professional DN-200BR | Best Overall Bluetooth Receiver | Check Price |
| 2 |  | Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver | Best Bluetooth Receiver For Stereo | Check Price |
| 3 |  | Etekcity Unify Bluetooth Receiver | Best Budget Bluetooth Receiver | Check Price |
| 4 |  | Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter | Best Small Bluetooth Receiver | Check Price |
| 5 |  | Mpow Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver | Best Bluetooth Receiver For Car | Check Price |
| # | 1 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Denon Professional DN-200BR |
| Award | Best Overall Bluetooth Receiver |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 2 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver |
| Award | Best Bluetooth Receiver For Stereo |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 3 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Etekcity Unify Bluetooth Receiver |
| Award | Best Budget Bluetooth Receiver |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 4 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter |
| Award | Best Small Bluetooth Receiver |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 5 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Mpow Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver |
| Award | Best Bluetooth Receiver For Car |
| Details | Check Price |
Last Update on 2024-04-25 at 16:52 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Bluetooth receiver market is huge. There are hundreds of options out there with many features and come in different shapes and sizes. Pairing a Bluetooth receiver with a nice pair of budget computer speakers is a surefire recipe for a seamless listening experience. Hence it is a good practice to properly research in this regard to avoid any confusion and end up in a buyer remorse scenario. Without further ado, let’s get straight into our top 5 picks for the best Bluetooth receivers for the stereo systems.
1. Denon Professional DN-200BR
Best Overall
Pros
- High-quality Audio
- Remarkable Build Quality
- Balanced XLR Outputs
- Mounting Option
Cons
- Minor Loss In Audio
Outputs: 1 XLR, 1 RCA (both stereo) | Range: 100 feet | Weight: 600g
Check PriceDenon is a household name in home theater technology, so it is no surprise that it makes the list. For our top pick, we wanted to include a receiver that could form a reliable Bluetooth connection and have great audio performance. Along with that, good value for money is also very important. Thankfully, the Denon Professional DN-200BR excels in all of that and more. The “Professional” part of the name is definitely justified here.
The most striking thing about this Bluetooth receiver is its build quality. It is constructed out of metal and feels incredibly solid. There is some heft to it as well, which means it won’t break apart any time soon. Denon has engineered this in a manner so that it can be installed near or on your system. It has built-in eyelets for mounting screws.
At the front, we have a status indicator, a level adjustment, a proprietary port for the Bluetooth module, and a 5V 2A DC input for power. At the back, we have two unbalanced quarter-inch outputs and two balanced XLR outputs. This is great if you want to use high-end gear with it. If you want to use it with a traditional 3.5mm jack, you’ll need an adapter.
As you would expect from Denon, the sonic performance is absolutely exceptional. Unless you are using a very high-quality Dac/Amp combo, you most likely won’t notice a major dip in audio. Of course, there is a bit of loss in audio, but it is barely noticeable. It is priced just a bit higher than what most people would be comfortable with, but it is worth it as it is best overall Bluetooth receiver out there.
2. Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver
Premium Pick
Pros
- Premium Fit And Finish
- Great Range
- Small Footprint
- Amazing Audio Performance
Cons
- Pricey
Outputs: 1 RCA (stereo), 1 Optical| Range: 100 feet | Weight: 450g
Next up, we have a Bluetooth receiver that is from a very recognizable company. Audioengine has been long known for making great high-quality equipment. The Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver is no different. It looks very similar to their 24-bit D1 DAC and sounds exceptionally good.
As I just mentioned, this Bluetooth Receiver looks very similar to the popular D1 DAC. They have implemented a minimal aluminum design here, with a very small footprint. The Bluetooth antenna extends upward from the back. The back panel houses the outputs and connectivity.
It has an RCA stereo output, a 24-bit optical output, and a micro-USB port for power. Pairing this receiver with a phone is incredibly easy, and takes a matter of seconds. If your phone supports the aptX codec you’ll benefit from even better performance along with Bluetooth 5.0. Since it is so portable, it even comes with a carrying pouch.
This receiver really does bring modern convenience to an older sound system. It performs exceptionally well, and it is a bit ridiculous just how near-perfect reproduction it has. It has a 100ft of extended Bluetooth range, and if you don’t have routers in the way, it can form an even better connection. You also get Audioengine’s excellent customer service.
The major downside is the price. You can actually find a good pair of powered Bluetooth speakers for a bit more money. Nontheless, decent option as Bluetooth Receiver For Stereo.
3. Etekcity Unify Bluetooth Receiver
Budget Option
Pros
- Great Budget Option
- Small And Compact
- Easy Setup
Cons
- Not The Best Performance
- Short Range
Outputs: 3.5mm auxiliary | Range: 33 feet | Weight: 158g
If you are on a budget and just need to get that old audio system to work with your phone, this is an excellent option. The Etekcity Unify Roverbeats is a simplistic Bluetooth receiver. It’s not going to replace your high-end audio equipment, but for general purposes, it’s actually quite the bargain.
Helpful Guide: How To Check Bluetooth Support In Windows 10
The design is nothing much to write home about, but it does happen to be super compact. It just so happens to be one of the smallest Bluetooth receivers out there. This could be a major plus if you are short on space. The build quality is mostly glossy plastic, but you wouldn’t expect much at this price.
It is also very lightweight, weighing about 28g. You could carry this around with you if you wanted to use it in a car. It is fairly simple to get it up and running. A seamless connection once entered in pairing mode keeps things nice and simple. It uses Bluetooth 4.0, so you get about 33ft of range.
There is only one 3.5mm output, while a micro-USB port is used for charging. The battery holds up for about 10 hours. Sound quality gets the job done if you just want to do casual listening. It depends on how good your speakers are, but there is a considerable amount of lossy compression. However, it’s perfect for the car or if you want to bring back those old speakers to life. All in all, one of the best budget Bluetooth receiver.
4. Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter
Compelling Value
Pros
- Extremely Small Size
- Included 3.5mm To RCA cable
- Good Audio Performance
Cons
- Inconsistent Connection
- Makes Annoying Noise Beeps Disconnected
Outputs: 3.5mm auxiliary, RCA (stereo) | Range: 50 feet | Weight: 100g
Moving on, we have an extremely small and compact Bluetooth receiver from Logitech. Seriously, you could put this thing in your pocket and barely notice it. This Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter definitely looks and feels the part, and it sounds great too. However, it’s not without its quirks.
The small size makes it incredibly easy to hide in your entertainment setup. You could even add double-sided tape on it and hide it underneath a table. It draws power from a power adapter that can be plugged into the back of the device. It has a 3.5mm auxiliary output, along with RCA. Logitech even includes a 3.5mm to RCA cable for added flexibility.
The giant Bluetooth button on the top is what activates the pairing process. From there on, you simply pair the device with your phone, and you’re good to go in a matter of seconds. It has a range of about 50ft. Sound quality is actually quite good, considering the small size. There is a little bit of lossy compression, but nothing to make it unenjoyable. At the end of the day, this is the Best Small Bluetooth Receiver
The real issue, however, is the connection. It does form a strong connection but tends to jump around a lot. If you pair two devices with this receiver, it will often switch to the one with the stronger signal, even while playing audio. You could say it’s inconsistent. Apart from that, it makes a very loud noise when connected, which is frustrating in the middle of the night.
5. Mpow Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver
Best For Car Stereos
Pros
- Perfect For Cars
- Surprsingly Solid Construction
Cons
- A Bit Pricy
- Short Battery Life
- Unexceptional Sound Quality
Outputs: 3.5mm | Range: 33 feet | Weight: 92g
Mpow has been a well-known name in the Bluetooth audio space for a while now. As more smartphones keep on removing the headphone jack, using the aux cable in your car isn’t exactly easy anymore. If you happen to have a car stereo system without Bluetooth, you absolutely need an adapter to play your favorite songs while on the go. The Mpow Bluetooth Receiver is the best option for that.
It is a bit pricey for such a small adapter, but considering the overall quality, it’s not a bad deal. It is quite compact, so you can plug it into your car’s stereo system and forget about it. There is a prominent power button at the front and volume buttons at the side.
There is also a button at the top to switch between devices. It even has a microphone built-in to take calls, although the quality is pretty bad. It automatically reconnects to the last paired device, so you never have to mess around with it. The sound quality is acceptable for the size and it’s actually quite decent if you want to use the car stereo.
The only downside is the price and battery life. Battery life is good enough with about 10 hours of use, but if you want to use it in the car, you’ll need a car charger with you. You’ll need to frequently unplug it to charge otherwise. Still, it can be considered one of the best Bluetooth receivers for car use.
Things You Must Know While Buying Bluetooth Reciever
Bluetooth is a technology that is simple yet convenient for everyday lives. It is a wireless data transfer technology developed with the reduction of cluttered wires from electronic devices in mind. From laptops, mobile phones, audio equipment, and even most smart electronics are Bluetooth enabled. Bluetooth is no longer a luxury or cool to have, rather it is a necessity for communication between everyday electronic devices. Like every technology, Bluetooth has its flaws despite its benefits which shouldn’t be ignored. Moreover, understanding how Bluetooth works, its versions, latencies, and quality of data exchange is necessary while dealing with audio equipment.
After years of improvement, you’d think that every Bluetooth receiver for stereo speakers or party speakers performs the same way as the other with price being the only difference. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Despite concluding the top rated Bluetooth receivers for studio speakers list, some of us might not make the right choice. Either we spend too much or too little on features we need. Not to worry folks, and let us go through some crucial factors to consider before buying a Bluetooth receiver for our stereo system.
Audio Quality
It is evident from our top choices, there could be some discrepancies when deciding for which Bluetooth receiver to go for. Although we have reviewed Bluetooth receivers that are the best of the best, there is one important detail to hunt for before forking out any money. Audio quality is the only feature an average audiophile looks for before buying audio equipment. Due to the nature of data signals, interferences caused by natural or human factors seriously deteriorate the quality of data that reaches the end-user. And Bluetooth stereo receivers aren’t new to this problem.
Whether it’s a cheap or expensive Bluetooth receiver, both have tendencies of losing audio quality in the air. So in response to this, we have seen companies strive harder and harder to maintain audio quality and low latency such that you can enjoy your music with zero lag and distortion. It is similarly important to know which Bluetooth module each receiver ships with. Currently, Bluetooth 5.1 is the latest Bluetooth technology but many retailers tend to hide this in a bid to clear stock shelves. It is very perplexing to find the best Bluetooth receiver for stereo systems. So in this case we emphasize you to check out reviews on Amazon and Youtube to see what others have in mind.
Portability
Bluetooth receivers come in all packages with each having its distinctive features. Some people need that extra portability so that they can travel with their receivers without feeling its weight or perhaps want to play music in the car. Hence, portability is another aspect to look for before getting your hands on a receiver that is totally against your needs. Some of the Bluetooth receivers can fit into your pockets, weigh significantly less, and may even have wide compatibility. The only con of portable receivers is that they may lack ports, battery life, and audio quality.
If you work with audio that you know you will be featured in, it’s perhaps best to just get a normal beefy receiver instead with more ports, features, and long-lasting battery life. Otherwise, go for any convenient choice for backyard party music or listening in the car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bluetooth is a common wireless medium for exchanging information between two devices. We have seen many electronic gadgets come with Bluetooth. It is a DAC system that inputs and outputs sound without using cables. We have seen many uses of Bluetooth such as wireless computer peripherals competing in the market. Bluetooth stereo audio receivers are the real game-changer.
It is fairly simple to connect amplifiers with Bluetooth stereo receivers. All you need is an audio jack or AC output to connect it. Next, pair your Bluetooth receiver with any device such as your laptop or smartphone and pair them. After this, hopefully, you can easily listen to music in peace and harmony. Please be advised that some Bluetooth adapters on the market might require an external power source to make it work so keep that in mind.
