The phone makers have started to shun the 3.5mm headphone jack. Yeah, there are a few exceptions, but that’s what they are — Exceptions. With the world going wireless, it’s painful to let go of your favorite wired headphone/earphone. Luckily, this problem can be averted with the help of Bluetooth receivers.
These tiny devices breathe life into wired devices like the car’s music system. You need to plug these devices into the 3.5mm AUX output. Plus, they do not cost much and beats the cost of upgrading to a new sound system or buying a pair of new Bluetooth earphones.
Read on to find out some of the best and affordable Bluetooth audio receivers that balances both looks and functionality.
1. CrossBeats Mini Bluetooth Receiver
The CrossBeats Mini Bluetooth Receiver is a pencil-shaped device that promises great performance — be it the audio quality of the wireless connectivity. It’s very simple to set it up, and all you need to do is plug it into the AUX port of your car or your wired speaker and then pair it like you pair your phone. Plus, it can also handle dual connections.
The battery backup is quite decent. On a single charge, this little device lasts up to 5 hours. Again, the battery of most Bluetooth wireless device depends a lot on the volume levels.
However, the build quality of this product isn’t that great. So should you choose to buy it, you may want to be a bit careful with handling it.
2. Cubetek Bluetooth Audio Receiver
Another highly reviewed Bluetooth audio receiver is the one by Cubetek. It comes with a detachable 3.5mm metal connector. So, if you want to use it on your wired speaker or your car’s music system, the pin stays on. Quite naturally, if you have to use it with your headphones/earphones, you’ll have to take out the pin. Cool, right?
So, if you are okay with a slightly bigger Bluetooth receiver, you can consider buying it. Secondly, it comes with a backup of around 6 hours and needs a recharging time of only 1.5 hours.
And well, when it comes to the primary feature — sound quality — it doesn’t disappoint. It has found many takers, thanks to its good audio quality.
3. Tantra Fluke Pro Bluetooth Receiver
If you want a slightly stylish Bluetooth receiver with unusual looks, you should check out the Tantra Fluke Pro. It comes in three parts — head, USB charging cable, and an AUX out cable. You can attach the head somewhere near the steering wheel of your car so that the buttons are easier to access, while the other two cables go into their usual places. Thanks to the USB Type-A cable, you do not have to worry about charging the device from time to time.
The Fluke Pro packs a multi-function button using which you can answer/reject calls. Tantra claims that the device responds to voice commands too.
Making and receiving calls is a smooth affair with it and many users have stated the Fluke Pro to deliver clear audio.
And the same can be said of the audio quality as well. There are no lags or stutters, and you can listen to your favorite songs peacefully.
However, you’ll have to deal with the wires on the dashboard.
4. VeeDee J19 Bluetooth Receiver
The VeeDee J19 Bluetooth Receiver bundles several important features. For one, it comes with Bluetooth 5.0, meaning you will get better sound quality and a longer range and not to mention dual connections. And the battery backup isn’t bad either. On a single charge, the J19 provides 10 hours of playtime. Plus, the form factor is loved by many. It’s a simple pen-drive shaped device where the 3.5mm headphone jack connects to the AUX port of your car’s stereo.
Plus, there’s a button at the top, which lets you control the playback or receive/reject calls. And the volume controllers at the edge allow you to tweak the volume levels easily.
When it comes to sound quality, many users have praised it on Amazon for its clarity, and the same can be said of the mic quality. There is minimal lag, and you can carry on a conversation normally.
The only issue with this product is the re-pairing process. At times, the J19 fails to auto-connect to the paired phone after the engine is turned on. Though it dampens the experience a bit, switching it off manually solves the issue. If this is not a huge deal-breaker for you, you may consider buying this product.
5. FiiO uBTR HiFi Bluetooth Receiver
If you look closely, the above Bluetooth receivers are basic ones. They do not have any Bluetooth codec to up your music experience. So, if you’re looking for an enhanced music experience, you can consider the FiiO uBTR HiFi Bluetooth Receiver. This comes with the Qualcomm CSR8645 Bluetooth chip and an additional amp to give you a superior audio quality, something which has been echoed by many users in the reviews section on Amazon.
It sports a similar design wherein you can plug in your 3.5mm headphone jack into the device. Plus, the flat styling ensures that it doesn’t look odd when you clip it to your shirt collar. It comes with the usual bells and whistles like built-in mic and volume rockers on the edges.
However, the feature that makes this product stand out from the rest is its support for Bluetooth codecs like aptX, SBC, and AAC. So, if your phone supports these codecs, you will enjoy lag-free and high-resolution songs.
The battery life is quite decent with the FiiO uBTR HiFi providing more than 8 hours on a single charge. However, it has its share of issues. For one, its range is a tad low and tends to disconnect easily.
So, you might want to consider this limitation should you plan to buy it, especially if you plan to move around with your phone while keeping the receiver connected to a speaker.
6. Tantra Magico Smart Mini
If you are on the market for a sleek Bluetooth receiver with advanced controls, you can take a look at the Tantra Magico Smart Mini. It promises fast pairing, and you can use it on both your car or on your earphones/headphones. The battery life is quite decent, and the calls are mostly free of background noises.
The company also ships an air vent clip along with the product. You can hook this in the air vents of your car to have direct access to it. That makes it easy to control the volume or to answer or reject calls.
You also get a collar clip along with this product to be used while it’s connected to headphones/earphones. Coming to the sound quality, users have praised it for its sound fidelity. And for its price, it also provides a good range.
Last but not least, it’s small & sleek and doesn’t have a plasticky look that’s common in some products in this price range. However, if you pin it to your shirt’s collar, you might end up earning some enquiring looks.
Go Wireless
So, if you ever wanted to amp up the music on your old pair of headphones, Bluetooth receivers are the answer. With these, you can bid goodbye to the hassles of wired connections. Just make sure that you have a proper clip, and you’re good to go.
Last updated on 02 February, 2022
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
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DID YOU KNOW
The Apple Watch Series 4 boasts of Bluetooth 5.0.
