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HomeSpot Bluetooth Speaker Adapter
NFC-enabled audio receiver
© 2014 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
HomeSpot NFC Bluetooth Speaker Adapter Model number BTADP-223. (2-3/8" /60mm square, 1.1 oz./32g, about $28). I bought mine at this link to it at Amazon. My biggest source of support is when you use that or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It helps me keep adding to this free website when you get anything through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you take the chance of buying elsewhere. Thanks for your support! Ken.
Rear, HomeSpot NFC Bluetooth Speaker Adapter.
April 2014 Audio Reviews All Reviews
NEW: Audioengine B1 Review. Far superior!
See also Logitech bluetooth adapter.
Introduction top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
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This tiny little Bluetooth adapter lets you play any bluetooth device through any of your existing Hi-Fi, stereo, audiophile or home theater systems, amplifiers or amplified speakers. It even works to play through any iPod docks or in your car via their AUX inputs.
It takes a button push to set up, and you'll be playing your music or movie sound (or anything) via your big speakers in just moments.
This runs via USB power, and a wall USB adapter and cable is included for home use. For use in your car, just plug it into any USB port or USB adapter for power.
Once paired, plug its audio output where you need it, and you're done.
I don't know why you'd want to, but it's output is strong enough so you can plug headphones directly into it.
Sound Quality
I first tested this by plugging it into a state of the art studio monitor system in an optimized control room environment, specifically into a pair of the professional-standard 100-pound B&W 801 studio monitors via the appropriate outboard amplification.
Played via Bluetooth from an iPhone 5S's Music App, it sounded fine with music. What I heard was what's in the files in my iPhone; I couldn't hear any Bluetooth artifacts on this reference system. The lowest of the low end sounded a little weak, and the overall output level of this adapter is a little (6 dB) less than a direct connection to the iPhone (which is 6 dB less than a CD player), but honestly even with as transparent and revealing a system as this, the sound was at least 99% as good as the files direct. I listened very intently for hours, and nothing was amiss, and anything that might have been would never have been audible via the home or car systems with which people would actually use this.
Sure I could hear artifacts, but these are the artifacts that are in my recordings, like clarinet key clicks, fingertips hitting piano keys, pages getting turned and musicians breathing. This little adapter is clean enough that I can hear all that, especially with wide dynamic range classical music.
The only potential gotcha could be if your audio system has a lot of input noise, in which case you might hear this limitation of your system more because of the lower output from this device than from an iPhone's audio jack directly. There is no audible noise, but there is some rumbling as I switch Apps on my iPhone 5S.
Music sounded exactly like it should have; the fidelity was at least 99%.
With test tones I heard some aliases above 15 kc, and oddly some zipper noise with signals between 2 cps and 20 cps, but none of this affected the music.
I listened with my iPhone set with Sound Check on, which tries to keep all files at about the same volume level.
I could get at least 50 feet away line-of-sight, and maybe 20 feet through walls. As with all Bluetooth gizmos, it works great if you're in the same room as the speakers, but if you want to walk over a large home you'll want to use some other way to connect. The general rule is that if you're close enough to hear the speakers well, you're close enough to connect. If you need more range, then try AirPlay with Apple's AirPort Express, but the whole reason I got this adapter is because I get breaks in my audio too often with AirPlay. With this adapter, it plays for hours without a skip.If you turn off the music and turn up a good preamp all the way, there is a very slight running noise at idle.
This tiny thing sounds great for critical listening. If you're really going to listen any more intently and find anything wrong with the sound, then just plug your iPhone in via the same 3.5mm cord!
The HomeSpot adapter has great channel separation and imaging.
It's full bandwidth from high to low; nothing significant is cut off.
It's smooth, clean and detailed.
It runs cool; neither the Bluetooth nor the USB adapter got warm.
My biggest whine about this is that I always have to go into SETTINGS on my iPhone 5S/iOS 7.1 and assign Bluetooth to this particular adapter. The system isn't as smart as the TDK A33 Bluetooth speaker that just starts playing anytime it comes back into connection.
Specifications top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
HomeSpot NFC Bluetooth Speaker Adapter.
Included
Adapter gizmo as shown at top.
UL-plug USB AC adapter included.
Three cords included:
USB power cord.
3.5 mm to stereo RCA.
3.5 mm plug to 3.5mm plug.
Audio Output
3.5 mm output jack
Functions
Play music wirelessly from your Bluetooth-capable smartphone, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad and Android.
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; Support A2DP profile; Store 8 paired devices.
Range up to 66 feet, line of sight.
Tap-and-pair and tap-and-connect the receiver with NFC-equipped Android, Windows 8 and Nokia phones.
NFC Bluetooth pairing function claimed OK with: Google Nexus 4, Nexus 7, LG Optimus G, G Pro, 4X HD, Samsung Galaxy S4 SV, Galaxy S3 SIII*, Galaxy Nexus*, Galaxy Note II, S3 mini, Galaxy Victory 4G LTE, HTC One, OneX/XL/SV*, HTC First Facebook Home, HTC EVO 4G LTE, HTC Windows Phone 8X, Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8, Nokia Lumia 820, Nokia Lumia 822, Nokia Lumia 810, Nokia 301/700/701/720/610 NFC, Sony Experia S, Experia P, Experia Ion, Xperia TX (ST29i), Experia V, Motorola Droid Razr M, Droid DNA.
Size
HomeSpot NFC Bluetooth Speaker Adapter and included USB power supply on top of a CD.
Tiny: 2-3/8" (60mm) square by 5/8" (18mm) high, measured.
Weight
1.130 oz. (32.0g), measured.
Measurements top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
Output Level
There's one problem: it clips at 100% level! With a 0 dBFS 1 kc sine wave played at full level, it clips slightly. With the iPhone's Sound Check option ON as I usually run and auditioned this adapter there's no a problem, but when I turned off that option to get full output I discovered clipping:
3.5% THD at 555 mV into 200 kΩ at 0 dBFS.
1% THD at 440 mV at 1 click down in level at 0 dBFS.
0.33% THD at 335 mV at 2 clicks down in level at 0 dBFS.
0.1% THD at 250 mV at 3 clicks down in level at 0 dBFS.
0.05% THD at 190 mV at 4 clicks down in level at 0 dBFS.
0.024% THD at 143 mV at 5 clicks down in level at 0 dBFS.
Signal to Noise Ratio
The maximum output is -5 dBV.
The output noise level is -95.9 dBV, A-weighted, and -87 dBV unweighted.
Therefore the SNR is 90.9 dB A weighted, and 82 dB unweighted.
In practical use, there is no audible noise.
By comparison, the iPhone 5S' signal to noise ratio is 107 dB, A-weighted, at its output jack.
Output Source Impedance
3 Ω, measured.
This means you can drive any sort of cable of any length with no signal loss.
Frequency Response
HomeSpot Bluetooth Speaker Adapter Frequency Response.
The response is broad and flat.
The high end is gone above 15 kc, but there's no music up there anyway.
The low end is my concern: it's -1 dB at 25 Hz and -3 dB at 14 Hz. This is more than good enough for any sort of music and any sort of high-end system, but if you're me with a system flat to 16 cps, the lowest of the low end is slightly attenuated.
Compared top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
This HomeSpot Bluetooth adapter is better than my AirPort express because it just plays and doesn't cut out as AirPlay does for me.
This is much smaller than the Logitech Bluetooth Adapter on the bottom, both shown on top of a CD case:
This sounds the same as the Logitech, but has less noise, so I prefer this HomeSpot adapter over the Logitech.
This HomeSpot adapter will play directly into headphones and is powered via USB for use in your car, while the Logitech can't play into headphones and will need power adapters to play in your car.
Usage top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
Tap the tiny rear button button to connect the first time.
Have to select it each time in iPhone > Settings.
Hopefully your audio system mutes for the first few seconds when it all turns on, otherwise you'll get some big thumps and then some foolish beeps when turned back on.
The front LED has slow green throbbing when working; it should just glow green.
Quadruple flashes mean it's no longer connected. If you walk out of range, you have to go back Into Settings to reselect it.
Watch your output levels, you can distort slightly under some conditions if the playback levels get too high.
Recommendations top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
This is a great way to play from my portable devices into my home Hi-Fi systems.
I prefer this slightly over the Logitech Bluetooth Adapter and greatly prefer it over Apple's AirPlay, which cuts out too often for my taste.
Honestly, this and the Logitech have small problems as I mentioned. Either is OK for a car or a portable system, but if you want the best performance from a good home audio system, see my Audioengine B1 Review.
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