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Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter
Wireless audio receiver
© 2014 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter Model Number S-00113. (3-1/8" /80mm square, 3.4 oz./96g, about $40). 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, Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter.
April 2014 Audio Reviews All Reviews
NEW: Audioengine B1 Review. Far superior!
See also HomeSpot bluetooth adapter.
Introduction top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
Adorama pays top dollar for your used gear.
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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.
Once paired, plug its audio output where you need it, and you're done.
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%. The only oddity I heard was a slight additional room rumble that I realized was low-frequency noise in the adapter. You won't hear this unless you're enjoying very wide dynamic range classical music and have your levels turned way, way up. If you do, it sounds exactly like air conditioning noise so common in these recordings anyway. This low level adapter noise mutes itself after a few seconds of telling your device to mute.
I get about 30' range indoors, not line-of-sight. It starts cutting out nicely and keeps playing back solidly when i get back in range. The light stays green all this time.
After 20 seconds dead of being disconnected, the light goes red and you'll have to reconnect.
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.
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!
It 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.
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 and included USB power supply on top of a CD.
Included
Adapter gizmo as shown at top.
5V AC adapter included.
3.5 mm to stereo RCA cord. Since it has both RCA and 3.5mm outputs, this one cord cleverly lets you plug into either 3.5mm or RCA inputs.
Audio Outputs
RCA stereo pair.
3.5 mm output jack.
Functions
Bluetooth connectivity: Stream your audio entertainment instantly from any Bluetooth smartphone.
Supports Android phone, tablet or almost any other Bluetooth device.
Size
Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter and included 5V power supply on top of a CD.
Tiny: 3-1/8" (80mm) square by 1-1/8" (30mm) high, measured.
Weight
3.385 oz. (96.0g), measured.
Measurements top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
Output Level
527 mV (-5.5 dBV) at full scale into 200 kΩ.
Signal to Noise Ratio
The maximum output is -5.5 dBV.
The output noise level is -92.4 dBV, A-weighted, and -81 dBV unweighted.
Therefore the SNR is 86.9 dB A weighted, and 75.5 dB unweighted.
In practical use, there is a very slight rumbling noise only audible if you turn the levels way up with not much playing.
By comparison, the iPhone 5S' signal to noise ratio is 107 dB, A-weighted, at its output jack.
Output Source Impedance
957 Ω, measured.
Frequency Response
Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter Frequency Response.
The response is broad and flat.
The low end is my concern: it's -1 dB at 38 Hz and -3 dB at 20 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 audibly attenuated to the trained ear.
THD: 0.007 %.
THD is negligeable at any level.
Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter THD at full output.
Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter THD at -20 dB.
Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter THD at -40 dB.
Logitech Bluetooth Speaker Adapter THD driving 300 Ω at full output.
Compared top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
This Logitech Bluetooth adapter is better than my AirPort express because it just plays and doesn't cut out as AirPlay does for me.
This is small, but not as tiny as the HomeSpot bluetooth adapter on top of it, both shown on top of a CD case:
This sounds the same as the HomeSpot, but has less noise ansd slightly better low bass response, so I prefer this HomeSpot adapter over the Logitech — and the HomeSpot costs less. The gotcha is that this HomeSpot makes some big thuds everytime you swap between Apps.
Usage top
Intro Specs Measurements Compared Usage Recommendations
Just a short tap to the CONNECT button will let you pair; don't hold it down. Mine appears as "(92)Logitech Adapter."
I always need to reconnect it in iPod Settings to play each time.
The output has too high an impedance to drive headphones well.
When power goes off off to the Logitech, my iPhone stops playing.
Both the 3.5mm and RCA outputs are active at the same time.
It makes one short beep when it reconnects, which it does automatically after a short disconnect, but you have to hit play again on your iPhone.
There is a little thump when power is unplugged to the adapter, but a BIG thump when it's plugged in. Thankfully most amplifiers have slight power-on mutes so you don't have to hear this.
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 the HomeSpot Bluetooth adapter slightly for its lower noise and slightly better low-end response, but this Logitech has no problems with distortion at 100% modulation.
I prefer either of these greatly over Apple's AirPlay, which cuts out too often for my taste.
Either this or the HomeSpot Bluetooth Adapter sound good for their intended use, which is to play high quality music from your portable device over your speakers.
Honestly, this and the HomeSpot 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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