Has anyone got experience of the CA BT-100

[Feral]

I'm thinking of getting some streaming service to my SM6 via bluetooth. Anyone got exerience with the BT 100 or can recommend compatible alternatives?

I don't need a DAC as the feed would utilise the SM6 dacs but not sure i want to lay out £70 on an experiment.

 

[John Duncan]

I have it and it works perfectly with my Android tablet. Bluetooth range is not enormous though.

Depending on the devices you have you might find an Airport Express or Apple TV more practical/flexible? What services do you want to use?

 

[Feral]

Thanks for the quick reply John :cheers: . Just started playing with Spotify mostly on a Galaxy S3 but also with the iPad as i use that for the SM6 app and if i have the iPad thethered then i don't have the random playlist.

I tried to use the 3.5 out into the back of the amp but didn't like the sound as had to turn volume right up which creates some disortion but also sods law means someone would swich the input and zap the speakers .

Currently SM6 is in the conservatory wireless to a wireless extender about 3-4 feet behind a wall. The extender has wired connections into TV, SkyHD and BD and links to a router upstairs. I wouldn't expect the device to be more than 10ft away from the receiver.

 

[John Duncan]

I have just checked again (Nexus 7 via Bluetooth) and sound is very good from Spotify on the Nexus via bluetooth (after a minor pairing issue). There are of course other options like Arcam's miniBlink Bluetooth DAC reviewed here, but the BT-100 is a very neat, if proprietary, solution.

 

[Feral]

I'll keep looking for now as I don't need a dac, just a USB aptx Bluetooth receiver. Could you confirm my assumption that any aptx receiver should pair and send the audio via USB to the SM6 rear port for DAC upscaling. Not trying to cheap out but not wanting to spend where not required.

if the receiver is simply a conduit for the data then musically I wouldn't expect any degradation on the signal if the conversion is onboard the SM6, correct?

 

[John Duncan]

That's my understanding of it certainly. However, from your description of your requirement above, I'm not sure that any old USB dongle would work (or indeed whether they exist) - I suspect the implementation of the BT100 via the rear socketry is proprietary.

 

[Feral]

Thanks John, appreciate your help.

 

[radiorog]

Hey ferel, not totally following all your requirements, re USB,aptx, etc etc, but I use the Harman kardon bta . sound quality is good.possibly v good but not compared any others. I'm def not complaining.its detailed and warm...I prefer it to my denon radio most of the time. Its not aptx but HK promise they use the latest and best components. There are also very good things said about the lindy wireless receiver.

 

[Feral]

Hey ferel, not totally following all your requirements, re USB,aptx, etc etc, but I use the Harman kardon bta . sound quality is good.possibly v good but not compared any others. I'm def not complaining.its detailed and warm...I prefer it to my denon radio most of the time. Its not aptx but HK promise they use the latest and best components. There are also very good things said about the lindy wireless receiver.

Hi Radiorog,

basically, got my nas flacs streaming nicely but the SM6 doesn't have Spotify or some of the other services so thinking of steaming via Bluetooth to the sm6. I don't need a dac but the unit has a USB rear port for their own bt100 but wondered if there's an alternative receiver i can play with which isn't near the 70 quid.

 

[radiorog]

Mmm,well the HK plugs into the rca ports of amp. As does the other one I suggested. My HK was £50. You might be able to get it cheaper. There is of course the logitec one for about £25 which is apparently the best around that price point, but I gambled on wanting a slightly better sound.