Bluetooth Amplifiers

A Bluetooth amplifier integrates a wireless receiver that receives music from a phone, tablet or computer, with no cable or setup required: pair the device once, start playback, and the amplifier does the rest. The connection covers a room and is enough for quickly listening to what is on the phone, including a streaming app, without going through a network. Quality depends on the codec negotiated between the source and the amplifier: SBC provides basic compatibility, while higher-bitrate codecs come closer to wired audio when both devices support them. Bluetooth remains a convenience, added to physical inputs that handle serious listening: analog line inputs, a phono input for a turntable, and digital inputs on models with a built-in converter. This is the dividing line between it and a network-connected amplifier: Bluetooth is controlled from the transmitting device and depends on its range, whereas Wi-Fi plays at higher resolution and is controlled by a dedicated app. For anyone who primarily wants to connect their phone to their speakers without configuration, this connection is sufficient. A network-connected amplifier goes further in terms of resolution and multiroom; on the speaker side, this amplifier drives a pair of passive floorstanding or bookshelf speakers connected with speaker cable.