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To find the best Bluetooth transmitter, we scoured the internet, taking a deep dive into what makes a transmitter fantastic, including its audio quality, transmitting range, audio connections, and power source. Newer Bluetooth transmitters can take advantage of the latest wireless audio standards, such as AptX, allowing for crisper and higher-definition audio. Depending on where you will be using your transmitter, such as in your home or car, knowing how you’ll be powering your transmitter, how it will connect, and its overall range is essential. Check out our best car accessories for more options to deck out your vehicle interior.
In our research, we quickly found the TaoTronics Portable Bluetooth Transmitter to be our top pick. Sporting AptX technology, the TaoTronics delivers a high-quality Bluetooth signal from your source device’s 3.5mm headphone jack. Reaching up to 33-feet when transmitting, this transmitter is excellent both in your home and on your next jog. The only genuinely portable option on our list, the TaoTronics, can be plugged in at all times via a micro-USB cable, or its built-in battery enables up to 8-hours of audio playback on the go. Keep reading to learn more about the best Bluetooth transmitters.
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TaoTronics provides a portable Bluetooth transmitter that shows you can stream audio from your device’s 3.5mm headphone jack to a Bluetooth compatible pair of headphones or speakers without sacrificing quality. Featuring a compact, portable design, you can easily slip the transmitter into your pocket for use with an older media player or stick it behind your TV to avoid clutter. If you do opt to use it on the go, you won’t be disappointed in the TaoTronics’ 8-hours of battery life and up to 140 hours of standby time. You may also want to upgrade the safety of your vehicle with the best car battery.
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The setup process is straightforward and carried out by pressing only a single button – no complexity here. We would have liked to see a more extended transmission range than only 33-feet, but as long as you keep your device close at hand, we know you’ll find a winner with TaoTronics. If you have an older iPod without Bluetooth, the TaoTronics is the best Bluetooth transmitter for AirPods, so you can listen along without wires. This on the go transmitter will even let you listen to music when you’re emptying out your best car garbage can.
Avantree delivers a powerful Bluetooth transmitter that is perfect for high-end audio setups thanks to its support of high-resolution aptX audio and its outstanding transmitting range. Able to broadcast a signal up to 328-feet, you’ll never find yourself disconnecting in the middle of your favorite song or tv-show. The Avantree can also act as a receiver, accepting Bluetooth transmissions with a range of around 295-feet, great for adding wireless audio to older speaker systems. The Avantree’s design also makes it the best Bluetooth transmitter for PC desktops as it can plug-in and remain connected without worry.
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The built-in voice setup assistant speaks to you, alerting you of the device’s status during setup, which we quite liked. The Avantree isn’t portable, so its best to find another option if you are looking for an option on-the-go, and despite its relatively higher price tag – it stands out above the rest when it comes to quality. Set this up in your car alongside the best car diffuser to make your ride luxury. For another great wireless Bluetooth transmitter made by Avantree, check out the aptX Low Latency Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter and Receiver Set. This transmitter receiver set can serve as a Bluetooth adapter for your TV, PC, or another home device and a wireless audio adapter that can make wireless headphones and speakers out of any wired audio device. The one drawback to this product is that it’s not a portable transmitter receiver set.
If you are looking for a Bluetooth transmitter for your vehicle, then the VicTsing V5.0 might be a great option. Featuring a small, unobtrusive design, the VicTsing plugs into your vehicle’s 12V accessory port, allowing you to stream music via Bluetooth from your device to your car or truck’s FM radio. Not only can you enjoy music with the VicTsing, but the built-in microphone also allows for taking hands-free phone calls with ease.
We also like that the VicTsing V5.0 features two USB ports for charging your device, such as your smartphone, during use. While the compact minimal design is great for hiding away the device, depending on where your vehicle’s accessory port is located, the screen can be challenging to read in cramped spaces – something to consider if the port is tucked away. Now, if you’re stuck on the side of the road with a flat, you can still have your phone and music while you grab your best tire pressure gauge. For another option that’s more suitable for your home, there’s the Avantree Oasis Plus aptX HD Low Latency Bluetooth 5.0 Long Range Transmitter & Receiver, which uses Bluetooth 5.0 for quality performance while serving as both a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver. This way, your wired home devices can have quality Bluetooth connectivity and Bluetooth audio output to transform your home entertainment system and living spaces. Also, you can easily switch between HD and aptX low latency Bluetooth priority if your devices support both. The Oasis Plus utilizes digital, AUX/3.5mm, RCA Out/optical audio ports.
The Nulaxy is the best Bluetooth transmitter for your next road trip. Featuring a large, easy to read LCD screen, you can easily select which FM frequency you wish to broadcast and the current status of your Bluetooth device. We found the transmission within the Nulaxy to be especially impressive, cutting through normal FM-static to provide you with a high-quality audio transmission.
The control pad unit is on a flexible mount, which is excellent for getting the perfect view of the screen but can be quite a large and intrusive design for those looking to keep things minimal. While the device does feature a USB charging port, the competition sports at least two-typically, limiting how many devices you can charge with the Nulaxy. On the flip side, we love that the Nulaxy supports three play sources – TF cards, Bluetooth, and an AUX cable. Be sure to also check out another great transmitter: the TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Long Range Transmitter Receiver for your home. This device supports dual device connection and utilizes Bluetooth 5.0, where you can stream audio wirelessly up to 50m away. The 5.0 adapter is also capable of connecting to older versions of Bluetooth, like Bluetooth 4.0. It also has multiple different operating modes, like TX, RX, and Bypass Mode. While you’re at it, you might want to also check out the best tire inflator.
Searching for Bluetooth transmitters on the web will lead you to a never-ending list of choices, so we picked through the options to find the absolute best available. All of the Bluetooth transmitters we selected were pitted against several factors, including their audio quality, transmitting range, audio connections, and power source. For each category, we set a minimum set of requirements, so that no matter which Bluetooth option you choose, you’ll have picked a solid choice.
For each Bluetooth transmitter, we took a close look at their audio quality and the factors that would affect it, such as the audio codec utilized and, in the case of a car transmitter, the strength of the FM transmission signal. All non-FM transmitters include the AptX low-latency codec that helps to ensure your audio streams in high-quality and remains in sync if you are watching a movie or playing a game. For FM transmitters, we assured that they would not have any issues with interference when broadcasting to your vehicle.
When it comes to transmitting ranges, we made sure that portable units would feature a minimum 10-meter distance and more powerful, non-portable units could send up to nearly 100-meters. With these transmission ranges, you can take your portable Bluetooth transmitter on a jog without losing signal, or grab a snack in the kitchen while staying connected to your TV thanks to a more powerful transmitter in non-portable units.
Audio connections and the utilized power source were also an important marker. We ensured that all devices supported Bluetooth as you would expect, with some devices also adding options for TF cards, AUX cables, and RCA connectors. When it comes to power, we made sure that portable units had at least 8-hours of battery life, and car units could be connected easily to already available 12V accessory ports.
