Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver

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If you care about your music, then you simply must check out the $189 Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver. And since Audioengine offers a no-strings attached “30 Day Audition”, there’s no reason NOT to check it out and add high-quality Bluetooth streaming to your current sound system. Easy to set up, it will be music to your ears.I have an old pair of Audioengine A2 powered desktop speakers. They sound great, but the lack of wireless connectivity resulted in their spending time in the closet for the past few months. Thanks to the Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver they are out, on my desk, and getting tons of use again.

Audioengine B1

The B1 is made from sturdy aluminum that speaks to the quality of the product. It works with any Bluetooth-enabled computer or other device and connects it to powered speakers or any music system with an audio input. As Audioengine explains, “The B1 is a high-fidelity audio component that easily integrates into your music system and plays music directly from your library or streams from any app. The B1 streams high-quality audio from your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, computer, or tablet to any music system or powered speakers.”

Inside the box were

  • The B1 Receiver
  • An RCA audio cable (3ft/1m)
  • A power adapter with detachable cable
  • A microfiber bag
  • A setup guide

Setup could not have been easier. I pulled the B1 from its box, and plugged the included RCA cable into it. I took the free end of the cable and plugged it into the RCA ports on the back of the A2 powered speakers. (The B1 also has a Digital optical (SPDIF) output.) After that I plugged the B1 in and the light on the front began blinking. That indicated that it was in pairing mode. I jumped to my iPad mini’s Bluetooth settings, and it was there. Pairing took just a few seconds. (The B1 connects to one device at a time, but it will remember multiple devices.) Once the set up was complete, I was immediately able to enjoy amazingly good sounding music streaming from my iPad to the A2 speakers. I was completely impressed. Best of all, once the Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver is set up and connected, it simply does its thing in the background.

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Three key reasons the B1 blows away other BT receivers:

  • It offers CD-quality (16-bit) aptX® audio codec
  • It has 24-bit upsampling DAC
  • It gets up to 100 foot extended range
  • It has nalog and digital outputs

 

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B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver

 

Video review of the Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver:

 

 

As noted above, the Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Receiver features aptX and a 24-bit upsampling DAC for great sound. Add in the “precision-tuned antenna to extend the wireless range” of up to 100 feet and the B1 offers and you will be free to move about and enjoy your tunes like never before. It is one of those audio accessories that will simply delight you!

 

 


The B1 literature notes that with the B1, “Audioengine 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!” That is exactly what the Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver does. My small A2 speakers have never sounded better and, thanks to the streaming prowess of the B1, I’m now able to cut the cord. Check it out; buy the B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver [Affiliate Link] on Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the Audioengine B1 Premium Bluetooth Music Receiver

What I Like: Easy to set up; Solid and well-built; RCA and Optical connection options; Pairs with multiple devices; Streams music from any Bluetooth device; Serves up 100 feet of distance; Takes music quality to new heights

What Needs Improvement: Only pairs with one device at a time

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.