Kinivo announced this week its release of a new Bluetooth receiver that can transform some of the audio gear you’ve already got into a wireless rig. The BTE40 can turn any pair of headphones into a Bluetooth-enabled headset able to connect to any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet, computer, etc. And on the flipside, the receiver can also allow any Hi-Fi home system to connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device.
The Bellevue, WA-based audio/video tech company has an impressive line of sleek and innovative products (like last month’s M2 Bluetooth 2.1 speaker system), many of which are focused around Bluetooth and NFC technologies, a strategy that makes sense considering recent data indicating consumers’ growing desire for wireless speakers/multi-room audio systems. The BTE40’s versatility means the user can listen quietly by themselves with their favorite pair of headphones when, for instance, others in the home are asleep, all without being tied down to a bulky device via short cable. On the other hand, users can blast their tunes wirelessly through the receiver to any set of speakers, using any Bluetooth-enabled device (much like BeeWi’s headphones that do the same thing via dock).
Kinivo’s BTE40 has a standard 3. 5mm headphone jack output that allows users to connect many powered speaker systems or headphones for Bluetooth capabilities (a separate adapter cable can also be used with any system featuring RCA inputs), and the receiver is “multi-point,” meaning you can connect up to two devices simultaneously without interruption. The device can play music for five hours and sit in standby mode for 500 hours before requiring a recharge, and comes with a pair of in-ear headphones, two 3.5-mm audio cables, and a Micro USB charging cable. The device’s built-in noise-cancelling microphone allows for hands-free calling, and music automatically pauses upon an incoming call.
It looks great, but will it sound great? That’s the real question here, as not all Bluetooth chips are created equal. However, at only $30 at Amazon, it’s kind of hard to go wrong. Digital Trends will be giving one a whirl and we’ll update this article without findings.
