Bluetooth receiver for 552 based system.
Posted by: Skip on 06 August 2016
The UnitiQute2b uses a high quality Bluetooth with aptX codec. My son is crazy about it and uses his iPhone or computer via Bluetooth as his primary source. He says it is lossless. I would like to get a high quality Bluetooth receiver with a mini-plug out into my Tuner input on the 552. I already have the iChord mini-to-RCA ready to go. My wife will use this to stream Sirius FM and Spotify from her iPhone. What is the small Bluetooth aptX receiver which is worthy of a 552?
I mean something simpler and less expensive than the UQ2b.
Thanks for the help.
I use a Arcam Miniblink in a 252 system works well.
Unless the codec is specifically 'AptX Lossless' it will not be lossless and the AptX will use lossy psychoacoustic masking compression similar to AAC and MP3.. it can still sound good, it's just not really true hifi. I didn't think the latest Apple devices supported the specific AptX Lossless codec extension... I think for lossless you still need to use AirPlay which uses ALAC as the lossless codec... but happy to be shown I am incorrect on what Apple currently support.
Simon
My son has a Denon DSB100 & that has aptX. He uses it mostly in a conservatory or in his office/study for background music. It's remarkable considering its size, but hifi it ain't.
If it is not for hifi and if the iphone app supports it chromecast audio is probably the cheapest way to stream to a 552 system.
I have tried to use the Bluetooth on my UQ2 but, while it works ok sometimes, it is quite prone to drop outs and stutters - this whether I BT to it from my Macbook pro, iPhone or Sony ZX2. I have the UQ2 in an open faced cabinet about 10 feet away so maybe one needs to be closer? (within a few feet, it's fine, but then I could just connect via an interconnect for much, much better sound quality). As to moving around with the BT transmitting device, forget it. It may well be better if the UQ2 is in open space, or perhaps not... Also, sound quality is quite a long way off from connecting via even the most basic physical interconnect. My impression so far is that like Wifi, bluetooth is just another wireless technology that doesn't quite fully deliver on the promise.
My experience of Bluetooth audio is similarly poor, in both sound quality and reliability (but the OP says his son likes it, so presumably it's reliable for him?) I'm slightly bemused as to why a 552 owner would be considering such a cheap, low quality source - presumably it's just an add-on convenience feature. Maybe an Airport Express and/or Sonos Connect would be the answer.
I'm not a fan of www/magazine reviews, but it seems the Audio Engine B1 Premium 24 Bit DAC Digital Music Receiver is a good choice for higher end systems
ChrisSU posted:My experience of Bluetooth audio is similarly poor, in both sound quality and reliability (but the OP says his son likes it, so presumably it's reliable for him?) I'm slightly bemused as to why a 552 owner would be considering such a cheap, low quality source - presumably it's just an add-on convenience feature. Maybe an Airport Express and/or Sonos Connect would be the answer.
My wife uses the system to listen to Sirius and can save $120 per year if we can stream it from the app instead of using their dedicated satellite device.
Sounds like we should just stick with the Airport Express.
When I use a computer source, I plug in my Halide Designs DAC HD cable. It is a great 552-worthy product. She can't be bothered to plug in.
My son can't be bothered to plug in either and streams to the UQ2b from his Android Oneplus phone. It sounds great at his place.
If convenience and low cost is the priority, the AE is more than likely an ideal solution, if you are using AirPlay enabled apps on an iOS device. Then if, in future, you want to improve the sound a bit, you can always add a DAC and connect it to the AE with an optical cable. This is the path I took when I first started to dabble in computer audio, and although it was in no way acceptable as a serious main system, it got me up and running and introduced me to a multitude new of ways to access music.
If the One plus is rooted (he'll probably know if it is) then there are Android apps which can stream to airplay receivers. If not, and convenience is the focus rather than quality, then I believe Cambridge Audio do a Bluetooth receiver. Or a bit more up market, a Blue sound Node?
I get decent results with a Musical Fidelity V90-BLU
If wifi an option, why not get chromecast audio?
Direct streaming from Spotify, Tidal, Tunein radio and BBC iradio. If android device you can cast anything played on phone/tablet.