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How Do Bluetooth Speakers Work?

Lawrence Bonk Profile image

Written by:

Lawrence Bonk
Updated March 15, 2023

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If you are new to the world of personal audio devices, you may wonder how Bluetooth speakers work to listen to music. Many of the best speakers, after all, are Bluetooth speakers, and they seem to operate using magic. So why use the best Bluetooth speakers in the first place? What do they offer, and how do they work? Keep reading to find out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Bluetooth protocols offer a wireless connection to many modern compatible devices, speakers, smart devices, and mobile devices included.
  • Bluetooth wireless technology standard has been around since 1989, beating wireless routers to the punch for several years.
  • These speakers work by receiving a wireless audio transmission and using a built-in driver to make it line-level and deliver great sound quality.

Why Use Bluetooth Speakers?

If you are wondering what a Bluetooth speaker is, you are in luck. These wireless speakers are a great way to cut cords while you listen to music, which you understand when learning how to connect a Bluetooth speaker to a phone or another output device. Bluetooth devices deliver seamless wireless audio, even if you have recently learned how to sync a soundbar to a TV. They are also easy to use, which is a relief after wondering why your soundbar keeps cutting out.

Insider Tip

If you have wireless speakers, make sure to charge them between uses to ensure maximum longevity.

How Do Wireless Bluetooth Speakers Work?

Bluetooth connectivity is a relatively ancient wireless communication standard, though it is constantly being improved upon, with the current version being Bluetooth 5.0. The first Bluetooth version came on the scene all the way back in 1989 when wireless routers were still a decade or more from achieving any sort of market dominance. Nowadays, Bluetooth connectivity is in a wide range of products, from speakers to headphones to televisions.

Bluetooth Speakers

These wireless speakers are not that different from traditional wired speakers, except for the way that they receive audio signals. There are no cables here, so Bluetooth sends the signals from the audio source to the speakers. Bluetooth speakers, as their name suggests, receive audio signals wirelessly via Bluetooth so you need to make sure you are in the wireless range. The built-in power amplifier within the speaker receives these audio signals.

STAT: A wireless Bluetooth speaker uses the same technology as a car radio. It connects directly to the source of the sound instead of needing wires. (source)

Benefits of Bluetooth

There are many benefits to choosing Bluetooth for your wireless needs.

  • Bluetooth protocols easily carry line-level signals without breaking a sweat, so you won’t need a preamp in many instances to get up to that line level.
  • Bluetooth devices are wireless, and wires are annoying. Clear up the clutter by going Bluetooth.
  • Bluetooth technology has been around for a long while, so there are not many hiccups, and most issues are easily solved, even by novices.
  • Using Bluetooth devices is easy. Just power the speaker on and make it available for device pairing. Your audio source, such as a cell phone, handles the rest.
  • Bluetooth connectivity is not just for speakers. You find this technology in everything from smart home appliances to earbuds.

How Bluetooth Works FAQs

What is a wireless Bluetooth speaker?

A Bluetooth speaker uses Bluetooth 5.0 audio waves, or another iteration, to allow for wireless phone calls and other actions with reduced power consumption.

How do I put Bluetooth speakers in pairing mode?

This differs depending on the mobile device, compatible device, and Bluetooth speaker. Generally speaking, hold down the power button until you see a light of some kind to enter pairing mode. There will be no radio waves involved.

What are near-field audio speakers?

Near-field speakers, otherwise called induction speakers, work slightly differently than traditional Bluetooth speakers. These are either active speakers or passive speakers and work to reduce power consumption without sacrificing sound quality.
Lawrence Bonk Profile image
Lawrence Bonk
Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.