2015/8/18 19:33:02
Source: Web
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Call me late to the party, but I’ve
finally fallen in love with Bluetooth audio streaming. At this point most
readers should be familiar with Bluetooth, which facilitates pretty easy
wireless connections between devices of all kinds. In this case I’m specifically
discussing using Bluetooth to send audio from a computer or mobile device to
headphones, speaker or stereo.
Now, Bluetooth
has been around a good decade, and those little Bluetooth headsets have been
hanging off people’s ears for nearly as long. I even picked one up a few years
ago to make it easier to listen to podcasts while walking or riding my bike
without getting tangled up in cables.
But aside from
that convenience, I otherwise disregarded the development of other Bluetooth
audio devices. I had a perfectly nice rechargeable iPhone dock that I used on
my patio, and was otherwise happy to plug my smartphones into stereos and
speakers via a headphone cable. Sure, it could be a pain when I misplaced the
cable or the connection got weak and scratchy, but nothing I couldn’t prepare
for or deal with.
In the last
year, however, it seems like Bluetooth speakers went from being pricey toys to
becoming near commodity items. On top of that, a number of companies started
offering higher-quality
powered speakers and Bluetooth receivers to plug into your stereo or existing
speakers, all promising a step up in fidelity from the previous generation
devices.
Sound quality
was my biggest point of resistance. Until recently the Bluetooth headphones I’d
heard were adequate for podcasts and phone calls, but pretty lackluster with
music. Listening in the car was a much better experience. Although Bluetooth
uses lossy compression to deliver audio, in the car with road
noise and other sonic intrusions I really don’t notice much difference compared
to a wired connection, and what difference I do hear is fleeting mostly not
bothersome.
What finally
convinced me was driving some rental cars and riding in friends’ cars with
built-in Bluetooth. Not having to remember a cable, or deal with the beat-up
cable already attached to a rental, immediately ramped up the convenience by a
factor of ten. So does the fact that most in-dash stereos control over your
mobile device so you don’t have to futz with it. Plus, you can leave your phone
in your pocket, bag or glovebox, rather than sitting out, and sliding around,
so you can keep the cable connected.
That experience
drove me to check out small portable
Bluetooth speakers, and I picked one up online for a song that’s about the size of a baseball.
What sound quality compromises exist are mostly due to the size of the speaker,
and not the Bluetooth technology. Being able to take it just about anywhere I
want a little music or entertainment without messing with cables or power
outlets pretty much makes up for that.
As I recently
was planning some upgrades and changes in my home stereo I was also considering
adding a high-fidelity Bluetooth receiver. Auditioning equipment at a local
stereo store, I settled on a new stereo preamplifier for my system. Looking closes
at its specs, I realized that it includes a free Bluetooth adapter that plugs
into a USB port on the front panel. Score!
After getting
the preamp installed at home I gave the Bluetooth function a whirl, playing
both some podcasts and music on my smartphone. Even though iPhones don’t
support the higher quality aptX Bluetooth
standard, I found the fidelity to be pleasing and quite good enough for talk
programs, internet radio or background listening. Since I play digital music
using a Sonos Connect I
doubt I’ll use Bluetooth for music too often, but it’s nice for podcasts,
continuing to listen to something I started on my mobile device, or for when a
visiting friend wants to share a song on her phone.
I’m not anywhere
near ready to make a Bluetooth driven stereo my main system, especially for
critical listening. But the convenience of Bluetooth is undeniable for portable
listening, the car, or travel. For me, Bluetooth has helped me listen tomore podcasts
and internet radio as I do housework, spend time outside, or stay at hotels.
Author Arthur C.
Clarke said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from
magic.” Therefore I declare that Bluetooth is magic!
(Credit: Web)