Bluetooth Audio Receiver - 3.5mm AUX Adapter for Car and Home Stereo

Description

This Bluetooth audio receiver plugs into any 3.5mm AUX input and lets a phone stream to it wirelessly, using Bluetooth 4.1 with a stated range of 10 metres and a built-in microphone for hands-free calls. It is $14.99 at Lets Party. It runs on an internal 180mAh rechargeable battery giving up to four hours of playback, and charges over USB at 5V.

The problem this solves is a specific one: you have a perfectly good stereo, car head unit, powered speaker or amplifier that predates Bluetooth, and a phone with no headphone socket. The equipment is not broken and does not need replacing - it just has an AUX input and nothing to plug into it. A receiver bridges that gap for the price of a couple of coffees. It is also the cheapest way to get wireless audio into a car that is otherwise fine, which matters when the alternative is a new head unit and an installation fee.

Specifications

What's in the Box

Why Choose a Bluetooth Audio Receiver

• Keeps working equipment working - a stereo or head unit with no Bluetooth becomes wireless for $14.99 instead of being replaced.
• Runs on its own battery - it does not need to stay plugged into power, so it can sit anywhere within reach of the AUX socket.
• Hands-free calls - the built-in microphone means a call routed through the car stereo does not have to be taken on the handset.
• Works with anything that has an aux input - car head units, hi-fi amplifiers, powered speakers, older docks and some in-car systems all take a 3.5mm feed.
• Small enough to move around - it is easy to shift between the car and a home stereo rather than buying one for each.

What Does a Bluetooth Audio Receiver Actually Do?

It sits at the opposite end of the chain from a Bluetooth speaker. A speaker receives audio and plays it; a receiver receives audio and hands it on as an ordinary analogue signal through a 3.5mm plug, so whatever you connect it to does the playing. Your phone sees it as a Bluetooth audio device and pairs with it exactly like a set of headphones. The stereo sees an ordinary line input and has no idea Bluetooth is involved at all. That is why it works with equipment far older than Bluetooth itself - it is not asking the stereo to understand anything new.

Will This Work in a Car Without Bluetooth?

Yes, provided the car has a 3.5mm AUX input - usually a small round socket on the head unit face, in the centre console or inside the glovebox. Plug the receiver into that socket with a 3.5mm male to male cable, select AUX as the source, and pair your phone. Two practical notes. The cable is not included, so check whether you already have one. And the receiver runs on its own battery for about four hours, so on long trips it is worth running the USB charging cable to a car USB port and leaving it powered. If your car has no AUX socket at all, this will not help - a car with only a CD player and a radio needs a different solution such as an FM transmitter.

Does Bluetooth 4.1 Still Work With a Modern Phone?

Yes. Bluetooth is backwards compatible, so a phone running Bluetooth 5.3 will pair and stream to a 4.1 device without any trouble. What you should set expectations around is audio quality rather than compatibility. A receiver at this price uses the standard SBC codec, which is the baseline every Bluetooth device supports. It is entirely fine for podcasts, radio, streaming in a car and background music, and it is not the right choice if you are feeding a high-end hi-fi and listening critically. For that use a wired connection or a receiver that supports a higher-quality codec. At $14.99 this is a convenience device, and it is honest to say so.

Buyers are typically drivers with an older car that has an AUX socket but no Bluetooth, people with a good older hi-fi amplifier they do not want to replace, anyone whose phone has lost its headphone jack, and households wanting to stream to a set of powered desk speakers without running a cable across the room.

For the rest of the desk and car kit, see our Tech and Mobile Accessories range, and Essentials collects the everyday items worth keeping a spare of.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the audio cable included?
No. You get the receiver, a USB charging cable and a 3.5mm stereo inlet socket. A 3.5mm male to male cable is what connects it to most stereos and is not supplied.

Which USB connector does it charge with?
The supplier's own documentation is inconsistent here - one section says mini USB and the package list says micro USB. We have asked rather than guess. Assume you may need a micro USB cable and note that one charging cable is included in the box either way.

How long does the battery last?
Up to four hours of playback from the 180mAh internal battery. It can be used while charging, which is what most people do in a car.

Can I use it for phone calls?
Yes. There is a microphone built in, so calls can be taken hands-free through whatever the receiver is plugged into.

Will it connect to two phones at once?
No multipoint pairing is listed. Treat it as a one-device-at-a-time receiver; you disconnect one phone before pairing another.

Does it work with a TV?
Only if the TV has a 3.5mm analogue audio output, which many modern sets no longer have. Optical or HDMI ARC outputs need a different adapter.

Will it improve my sound quality?
No, and nothing at this price will. It adds convenience to an existing system; it does not change how that system sounds beyond the limits of standard Bluetooth streaming.

Fast Australian Shipping

We ship from within Australia, so orders reach Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin quickly rather than waiting on overseas transit. Regional and remote addresses go through the standard Australia Post network.

Specifications including Bluetooth version, range, battery capacity and playback time are supplied by the manufacturer. Wireless range depends on your environment - walls, metal and other 2.4GHz devices all reduce it. Do not operate or adjust this device while driving.