Bluetooth amplifiers function and install pretty much like traditional amplifiers, except they have integrated Bluetooth modules installed. The Bluetooth module makes all the difference between traditional and Bluetooth amplifiers by allowing the latter to connect wirelessly to Bluetooth-enabled devices such as tablets and smartphones.
The purpose of a Bluetooth amplifier is to boost the audio signal received from a connected Bluetooth device. In doing so, a Bluetooth amp minimizes signal loss to maintain signal integrity and increases headroom, creating a high-fidelity listening experience.
You can learn more about headroom on Wikipedia here.
There are various types of Bluetooth amplifiers made for specific applications, such as listening through headphones, car audio, and home audio. Here are three examples of how a Bluetooth amp expands the functionality of the existing sound system:
- Home AV Receiver: Send audio straight to your home theater receiver and listen through your existing speaker setup.
- Wired headphones: Pairing a Bluetooth amp with your favorite headphones instantly turns them into wireless headphones.
- Car sound system: In addition to sound amplification, installing a Bluetooth amp in your car adds wireless Bluetooth streaming functionality to its sound system. Depending on the type of amp you use, this installation can also add the convenience of hand-free calling because some Bluetooth amps come with wired microphones.
Are Bluetooth Amplifiers Worth It?
There are options around the $50 range for a Bluetooth headphone amplifier, depending on your application. Then there are home A/V receivers with Bluetooth built-in that cost a couple of hundred bucks, can cost as much as a thousand dollars, which begs the question: do you really need to pay that much for a Bluetooth amp? Is it worth it?
To answer that, let’s explore the advantages of using a Bluetooth amplifier, given your specific situation.
Comparing a Bluetooth Amplifier to Traditional Amplifiers
Comparisons between Bluetooth receivers and traditional ones will only be the same if they use the same equipment for outputting their signals. In other words, comparing a cheap $30 receiver to a standard home theater receiver is unfair because not only is the cheap receiver not powerful enough to drive speakers, but it doesn’t have the same features as the more expensive receiver.
Comparing a Bluetooth amplifier to a traditional one is another story because both receive audio input and send an amplified signal to an output device. So what are the advantages of using a Bluetooth amp over traditional amps, and is it worth it?
A Bluetooth amplifier capable of streaming audio wirelessly from your mobile devices makes it an all-in-one piece of equipment with multiple applications.
On top of that, most Bluetooth amplifiers also come with additional features that increase their value, giving them an edge over traditional amps.
Let’s explore the advantages of using a Bluetooth amplifier through three different applications: headphones, car audio systems, and home audio receivers.
Is a Car Stereo Bluetooth Amplifier Worth It?
Is a car stereo Bluetooth amplifier worth it in this age of smartphones?
The answer to that question lies in usage.
A car stereo Bluetooth amp is worth the cost if your car cannot already connect to Bluetooth, you don’t want any additional external devices, and you want to stream audio from a Bluetooth device such as a smartphone or tablet.
If you’re planning to install the Bluetooth amp in a car without Bluetooth functionality, then a Bluetooth amplifier is worth it. Many vehicles with older stereos lack built-in Bluetooth.
The alternative way to add Bluetooth functionality to your automobile would be to install a new Bluetooth adapter, but that requires a wired connection from your stereo to the adapter.
Some adapters plug into the aux-in headphone jack, and in some cases, there are Bluetooth modules you can add that require cutting wires and removing parts from your dashboard.
It’s up to you how comfortable you are with messing around with wires. Still, without proper knowledge of car wiring, you can easily damage essential components in your car’s electrical and stereo systems.
Here are some examples of your options for adding Bluetooth to your car’s sound system.
Is a Home Theater Receiver with Bluetooth Worth It?
One of the benefits of having an AV receiver is that they amplify sound and provide a more theater-like sound. Theater-like sound includes surround sound and not just stereo.
Bluetooth can transmit stereo audio (2 channels), but not anything more, such as that required by surround sound.
The most popular layout in home theatres is 5.1 surround sound. It features five full-bandwidth channels and one low-frequency bass channel (the “point one”) for use with a subwoofer.
So is a Home Theater Receiver with Bluetooth Worth It?
Buying a new Home Theater Receiver with Bluetooth built-in is not worth it just for gaining the use of Bluetooth. Bluetooth amplifiers can be connected and send the same audio quality for far less money if you already have an existing AV receiver.
Most new AV receivers will have Bluetooth built-in once you reach a certain price point. Basically, if you see wireless connectivity, it will likely have Bluetooth. So, if you are already in the market for a new Home Theater AV receiver for other reasons than Bluetooth, it may be worth it to buy one capable of connecting to Bluetooth devices.
Is a Headphone Bluetooth Amplifier Worth It?
The most common reason to get a Bluetooth amplifier is to use it with wired headphones. Wireless Bluetooth headphones are becoming increasingly popular, but you can’t use them with wired devices if the headphones themself have no Bluetooth functionality.
You will find that most high-end headphones are wired, and that is because they are designed for listeners who expect the highest quality audio and to get that kind of audio quality requires being plugged in.
Devices designed for high-fidelity sound have DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) that have extremely high sample rates (253.8 kHz and higher), as well as high bit rates (Up to 32-bits).
The good news is that there are headphone amplifiers with Bluetooth.
So, are Bluetooth headphone amplifiers worth it?
A Bluetooth headphone amplifier is necessary and worth the cost when you need to connect cordless headphones to a device with Bluetooth but no headphone jack or in situations where you aren’t close enough for the cord to reach.
Remember that Bluetooth is designed to be short-range, about 20 feet or so. You can’t get that far from your phone when using a Bluetooth headphone amplifier.
I’ve found that Bluetooth headphone amplifiers are convenient for newer phones that don’t have a headphone jack. Having one enabled me to keep using my favorite pair of headphones (beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro), and I use them in the office all the time.
As far as headphones go, the last point I want to make is that a Bluetooth headphone amplifier is only necessary as a means of connecting to another Bluetooth device.
If your headphones already have Bluetooth, you don’t need to get an amplifier.
The Bottom Line
For home theaters, external Bluetooth amplifiers can be connected and send the same audio quality for far less money if you already have an existing AV receiver.
Most new AV receivers will have Bluetooth built-in once you reach a certain price point. Basically, if you see wireless connectivity, it will likely have Bluetooth. So, if you are already in the market for a new Home Theater AV receiver for other reasons than Bluetooth, it may be worth it to buy one capable of connecting to Bluetooth devices.
For car stereo systems, an external Bluetooth receiver can be connected to any existing stereo system with an auxiliary input or FM radio antennas.
Bluetooth amps are an upgrade for when you already plan to install an amplifier or when looks matter, and you don’t want something hanging from your console.
For headphones, As you can see, whether you need a Bluetooth amplifier for your headphones or stereo system boils down to the type of sound system and headphones you have and the circumstances in which you are using them.
Having understood how you stand to benefit from a Bluetooth amp in different situations, it’s up to you to find how much the amp you’re eyeing costs and use that info to determine whether its price tag is worth the benefits we’ve covered.