Hello,
Having subscribe recently to some audio streaming service, I'm looking on how to add bluetooth to my amplifier. The amplifier does have several cinch inputs as well as an optical input. I can see some stuff are available on the web, but i'm looking for some real world experience here! I'm not really after a budget option, just something which can do the job well. I don't want to buy a new amplifier right now.
thank you.
Main options are a bluetooth adapter to amp and preamp / streamer which connects to amp.
First is one cheap option and latter is more expensive and much more flexible and you are not dependent on the phone as much.
I have Wiim something or other which connected to active speakers, it has its own remote and can be used with phone as well.
Do you want bluetooth or wi-fi streaming? Bluetooth is OK, but if you have your phone in your pocket & wander into another room the music will cut-out once out of range. Your phone is constantly sending the music to your hi-fi.
If you get something that allows you to stream over wi-fi then your phone is really just a controller & doesn't need to always be in range.
I've got a Chromecast Audio on my stereo although they are no longer made. Not sure if you can get them on ebay or not.
I saw this article the other day about Majority Audio & thought they look like interesting devices. Not available quite yet though.
Wiim seems to be a popular option.
I saw this article the other day about Majority Audio & thought they look like interesting devices. Not available quite yet though.
I've got the dinky Majority Robinson DAB thing and it's a cracking wee device - gives connectivity options for bluetooth and internet radio, podcast player, Spotify, and remote control in an ornament sized package. When its off I displays quite a discreet analog clock so its even fairly functional when you're not using it and
theres a reseller on ebay with discounted factory refurbs to which makes the Robinsons remarkably cheap to buy
If you're after cheap and cheerful then this is what I run my garage speaker system through
https://uk.ugreen.com/products/ugreen-bluetooth-adapter-for-hifi-with-rca-and-3-5mm-jack
We have an ARCAM blink attached to the 'big' system but those aren't made anymore.
I occasionally catch myself looking wistfully as the NAIM streamers but right now dropping that much on a hi-fi component would be 'domestically awkward.'
thank you all! looks like I need a Wi-Fi streamer, thanks Stumpy.
That WiiM Ultra looks good and the price possibly domestically awkward.
You don't say whether your phone is Apple or Android - it does make a small difference to the advice.
BT - as above, cheapest option. You can pick up dirt cheap adaptors from Ebay like the one above. We used an £8 BT rechargeable headphone adaptor permanently connected to a usb charger for a few years. It will theoretically be the worst sound quality but you likely won't notice. Music will cut off If you get a call, walk out of range within your house (though BT range is surprisingly good now) or use social media that has audio on it. Can be annoying.
next up, some sort of wifi adapter. If you've an apple phone you want one that does Airplay 2. This list seems comprehensive. I've got a couple of the Belkin Soundforms and they work well but £90 seems steep (for some reason I managed to get mine for £30 each a few years back - assumed they were discontinuing but seems not). Airplay 2 means you can send music to more than one device at the same time.
Lastly, if you use Spotify then think about something that does Spotify Connect which probably narrows it down to the Wiim Mini as the cheapest option (and it's the same rrp as the Belkin). Wiim seems to work well (I've got an Audiopro A15 thing) and will do Sonos style multiroom if you get more compatible devices later. Spotify connect means Spotify is playing on the audio device itself rather than from your phone. Even if you leave the house or reboot your phone it will keep playing and any devices that are logged into the same Spotify account can work as a remote control.
Wiim's own software effectively does the same as Spotify connect for other sources (eg internet radio).
The one thing I'd say about multi-room is that for geeks like me it had been an ideal since teenage years and I've gone from trailing line-level cables or using wireless transmitters to connect amps in different rooms, to streaming stuff with Squeezeboxes to Airplay 2 all over. But the number of times I actually use it it really small.
What amp is it? If it has optical in then it already has a DAC. No point in buying a fancy new streamer with a premium DAC then bypassing it with an optical cable. If the amp already has a good DAC then a simple streamer will suffice,
This, and I'd want to keep a digital signal path for as long as possible. This is obviously a big old case of "it depends" with a side order of "you probably wouldn't hear any difference anyway," but I'd wager that you're not going to get a better external DAC than the one already inside a hi-fi amp without getting seriously spendy. There's a time and a place for a dedicated DAC, but streaming audio from the Internet to hi-fi separates is not one of them IMHO.
If you're not looking for a budget solution then I'd be looking for a device which streams natively in its own right and just uses the phone (or smarts) as a controller, rather than something which is reliant on the phone as the audio source.
Please let us know how you get on.
excellent feedback , as always.
I'm thinking to go for wiim-pro.
I will use the optical input - my amplifer is an AV-amplifier Yamaha RX-V465
I will use the optical input - my amplifer is an AV-amplifier Yamaha RX-V465
Hah, no way. So is mine I think.
IIRC Yamaha made a proprietary plug-in wireless module for that receiver.
I have the Yamaha DSP-AX763, it's ancient now, but has been decent. I took a pic, then noticed how disgustingly dirty it is
We've got a Wiim Pro in the back of an old Denon mini-Hifi unit. It's very good
I have speakers in every room and use it a lot. one setup runs 3 rooms from an amp with a yamaha music cast box that i dont think is sold anymore. Thats proper wifi streaming using the phone as a controller
I also have a tangent ampster witch is a Bluetooth and amp together. thats bluetoith only but is astonishing sound for a tiny cheap box. i think it has pre amp level line out.
proper wifi streaming is better particularly with a decent amp and speakers
We have one of these and it's great. Once set up it appears as an option in all the streaming services as a "cast audio to" device. Kind of like a Sonos-lite in that the connectivity is there but you get to use your own speakers.
Wiim for sure, they started out a bit glitchy, but I've had several pros running really well for the last couple of years now.
Clearly you need a new HiFi system..... 💰
Don't get the yamaha proprietary thing, it'll limit you if you upgrade the amp later. Wiim pro is a good shout, I have a Wiim mini plugged into the hifi in my garage, works very well.
What phone and service are you using? Some services will play directly from the Wiim and be controlled from your phone a bit like a remote control, which is better. I prefer to cast the music from my phone to the Wiim using airplay rather than connect via bluetooth, but that's because I'm using Apple Music and it won't stream directly from the Wiim, and airplay works better than bluetooth as I can still take phone calls and use the phone normally
(I have a proper streamer into a proper hifi in my office, and that will do Apple music natively)
You haven't said if you are iPhone or Android. If iPhone, the old Airport Express can be picked up for ~£20 used and has optical out. Airplay over wifi so you avoid all that Bluetooth nastiness. Having Airplay means it's minimal advantage to have the box itself do the streaming IMHO. Airplay is also great if you later add other speakers round the house (e.g. Sonos), as give you total flexibility on where you want to send audio.
e.g. https://n1ugk.com/2024/12/airport-express-2nd-gen-for-airplay-streaming/
Don't get the yamaha proprietary thing, it'll limit you if you upgrade the amp later.
I'd be interested to hear why this is the case. It's just a receiver with RCA output. How would that limit a different amp?
It will theoretically be the worst sound quality but you likely won't notice.
It's bloody awful, that's why i bought a cheap WiFi streamer.
Don't get the yamaha proprietary thing, it'll limit you if you upgrade the amp later.
I'd be interested to hear why this is the case. It's just a receiver with RCA output. How would that limit a different amp?
He isn't talking about the Yamaha streamer you posted about.
It is some archaic proprietary adapter, that nobody in their right mind would buy:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144282520766
You haven't said if you are iPhone or Android. If iPhone, the old Airport Express can be picked up for ~£20 used and has optical out. Airplay over wifi so you avoid all that Bluetooth nastiness. Having Airplay means it's minimal advantage to have the box itself do the streaming IMHO. Airplay is also great if you later add other speakers round the house (e.g. Sonos), as give you total flexibility on where you want to send audio.
e.g. https://n1ugk.com/2024/12/airport-express-2nd-gen-for-airplay-streaming/
Ha! I’m using what therefore must be à first gen AirPort Express to do this- great as it appears as an audio output on Apple devices, including laptops and desktops on the network. Great use of something I bought over twenty years ago.
Also using an older AirPort Express, as above has an optical out but also a built in dac, Ken Rockwell tested the dac and rated it very highly, it's dead simple and pops up on phone or laptop to connect and sounds great with Apple Lossless ( to my ears anyway).
The gen 1 wall wart AirPort Express will only do single room, the gen 2 puck will do Airplay 2 multi room. (I’ve got one of those as well).
Another vote for WiiM here - have had a Mini for a year or so (mostly as we couldn't justify the cost of the equivalent Sonos).
Decent app, does Airplay well and sounds good (to me). In the kitchen so gets used lots from different phones/streaming services etc - definitely in the ‘just works’ category. Would recommend.
