Add bluetooth to any audio device

How to Add Bluetooth to Any Older Music System

High-quality audio systems, like the Logitech Z550 (on Amazon), are expensive and can last for decades, so you might already have a system and are curious if you can add Bluetooth compatibility and take it into the 21st century. Fortunately, you are not alone in this sentiment, and many people have faced this problem and found solutions that are simple and don’t diminish the audio quality.

You can add Bluetooth to any older music system by purchasing a Bluetooth adapter. There are several options for this that range from cheap and simple to more expensive and higher quality. Setup is usually easy, and most systems can transmit high-quality audio.

If you are interested in retrofitting your old speakers (or protecting them from outside elements which we have a guide on), there are a couple of more complicated solutions out there. For example, If you aren’t too keen on Bluetooth, you can still purchase products that will add modern functionality to your old speakers. To discover how to retrofit your old speakers read on.

Recycled Older Speakers into Streaming Units

If you are looking to recycle old speakers into streaming units, you can use a couple of methods. Some require the addition of streaming units that plug and play, while some are more involved. Remember that many of these following options may need a little more tech know-how than using a Bluetooth adapter. Some techniques even take advantage of either a Raspberry Pi or Arduino board setup to add streaming capabilities.

Using a Music Streamer

These devices are meant to connect to your amp/receiver and add modern connectivity to your system. This is an excellent option if you have already found the perfect speaker and amplifier combo and don’t want to sacrifice this matchup. A music streamer will help integrate your system into the modern era and help create a future proof solution to your Hi-Fi music needs.

Here are a couple of popular music streamers:

• The Sonos Port (on Amazon) – Sonos has made a name for itself in the high-end audio market, and their solution to the old speaker problem is no exception.
• The Bluesound Node 2i (link to Amazon) – This is another excellent option for music streaming. The award-winning Node 2i can access multiple streaming services, internet radio stations, and network storage devices.
• The Echo Link (from Amazon) – Amazon’s solution to the Hi-Fi streaming issue comes packed with features and has Alexa voice compatibility.

Using a Smart Amplifier

If you want to replace your amplifier entirely, then a smart amplifier will be the perfect solution. These combine all the features of a music streamer while at the same time offering the amplification needed to power passive speakers. This is an excellent solution if you have older speakers and no amplifier.

Here are a couple of great options:

• The Sonos Amp (on Amazon) – Another great addition from Sonos, this amplifier is a music powerhouse that allows you to stream across multiple devices and has the power needed to pump into a massive speaker system.
• The Bluesound Powernode (Link to Amazon) – This unit is similar to the other option by Bluesound but contains a powerful amplifier.
• The Echo Link Amp (on Amazon) – Much like Bluesound, Amazon has taken their original Echo Link and added an amplifier. Enjoy additional features like voice commands and interconnectivity with other Alexa devices.

Using a Raspberry Pi or Arduino Board

If you are looking for a cheaper option and have a little patience, you can customize a streaming unit custom to your system. This will require some additional components and a little bit of tech knowledge.

For this solution, you will need either a Raspberry Pi (on Amazon) or an Arduino Board (link out to Amazon). As you can probably guess, you will need to find a specific tutorial on how to set up these mini-computers to work with your system. You will need to be comfortable working with small parts and maybe even have a little coding knowledge. But even for the tech novice, this can be done and can even be a fun project.

For Raspberry Pi, you will need to source some additional software. For more information on this solution, follow this tutorial. Using an Arduino board can be a bit more involved than the Raspberry Pi solution, but you can find information here if you are up to the task.

Using an Adapter to add Bluetooth Functionality

HiFi Wireless Audio Adapter, Bluetooth 5.0 Receiver with 3D Surround aptX Low Latency Optical RCA AUX 3.5mm Coaxial for Home Stereo System

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How to Add Bluetooth to Any Old Pair of Speakers

Matt Klein

Matt Klein
Writer

Matt Klein has nearly two decades of technical writing experience. He’s covered Windows, Android, macOS, Microsoft Office, and everything in between. He’s even written a book, The How-To Geek Guide to Windows 8. Read more.

We love Bluetooth and all its possibilities. Once the domain of dorky headsets, Bluetooth is now in mice, keyboards, phones, Windows computers, tablets, fitness trackers, and so much more. One of the best applications we’ve seen, however, is Bluetooth audio. Bluetooth audio is simply the ability to pair your device, be it a phone, tablet, computer, or other, to a speaker or speakers for pure wire-free listening enjoyment. Bluetooth speakers are a big seller nowadays, and you’ve likely seen commercials for various models such as the Beats Pill or the Jawbone Jambox. We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing a Braven model and even have a full-on guide to portable Bluetooth speakers.

Unfortunately, a good Bluetooth speaker is going to set you back between $150-$200. There are others that can be had for less, but what you’re really paying for is the convenience of not being tethered by a wire. You’re not going to get a whole lot of bass or oomph from one speaker about the size of a pint can of beer.

That’s not to say a Bluetooth speaker isn’t worth considering if you’ve got money set aside for such luxuries, but we suspect most people still have an old set of desktop speakers sitting there, or even a real stereo with auxiliary inputs. The great thing about these, other than that they’re already paid for and play music just fine, is that they can easily be upgraded to accept streaming Bluetooth audio for well under $50. RELATED: The Best Bluetooth Speakers of 2023

Tiny Receiver, Huge Possibilities

Bluetooth receivers pair with any Bluetooth-enabled device, allowing you to stream everything, from anywhere, to your very non-portable speakers. It’s so cheap and easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it before. We decided to test out the Nyrius Songo wireless Bluetooth receiver, which can be had for as little as $25 on Amazon. We don’t recommend this particular receiver over any others, we’re more interested in the ease and viability of this type of solution. We recommend you do a little research before making your own purchasing decisions.

Bluetooth receivers can come with a variety of outputs and features depending on your needs. Some might have optical audio connections, others sport RCA plugs for left and right channels. You can pair via Bluetooth, or for a little more money, some models come with NFC for instant tap-to-pair abilities.

This receiver is pretty barebones, though it doesn’t really need to be fancy. A simple LED on the front tells us when it is paired to a device. On the back is a 5V USB power connector, and a 3.5mm stereo output.

The setup is simple. Plug the device into a power source, connect it from the audio out directly to your speaker’s audio cable or an auxiliary input.

With that done, the only thing left to do is to pair it. This particular model can store up to eight different audio sources.

When the device is plugged in, it will automatically broadcast its identifier. Simply open the Bluetooth settings on your preferred device, and connect. On a low-end receiver such as this, you can only pair one device to it at a time, so if you want to switch sources, you must first disconnect the currently paired device.

A Pairing Primer

We were able to pair all of our devices to the receiver with no problems. Whenever we wanted to pair a new one, we’d just disconnect the device by turning off its Bluetooth or disconnecting. After that, it was a simple matter of just opening the Bluetooth controls on the new device and pairing or reconnecting it to the receiver.

Pairing with an iOS device:

Open the settings, tap “Bluetooth” and then tap the receiver to pair or reconnect to it.

Pairing with an Android device:

Open the settings, tap “Bluetooth” and then tap the receiver to pair or reconnect to it.

Pairing with OS X:

Open the Bluetooth system preferences (use Spotlight, it’s faster), and click on the device to pair it. From thereon, you can reconnect using the Bluetooth system preferences, or you can click on the Bluetooth symbol on the menu bar.

Pairing with Windows:

If you’re using Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, the easiest way to pair any Bluetooth device is through PC Settings -> PC and devices -> Bluetooth. Tap or click the device and then “Pair.” If you want to do this via the Control Panel (such as on Windows 7), click “Devices & Printers” and then “Add a device.”

Windows will search for available devices and printers. When the device in question appears, tap it to pair.

Using Bluetooth devices on Windows is kind of a pain. There doesn’t appear to be an easy way to disconnect and reconnect devices. With everything else, if there’s no obvious way to disconnect from a device, then one only needs to turn off Bluetooth for a moment. Windows, however, only gives users the option to remove the device, which mean you have to re-pair it when you want to use it again.

Yes but, How Does it Sound?

We should probably be skeptical of something smaller than a deck of cards (seriously, this thing is tiny), but it works really well. Sound quality obviously will depend on the music source (streaming service? lossy? lossless?) as well as the actual sound system. That said, it was fairly impossible to tell the difference between playing music while attached by wire, or magically beaming it through the air from up to 33 feet away. Granted, this is not an audiophile’s solution, though nicer equipment probably evens the playing field a great deal. That said, just about everyone probably has an old pair of speakers with maybe even a subwoofer, which surely sounds a far cry better than the tinny little speakers on their phone or tablet.

We’d like to hear it from you now. Knowing that many of you have perfectly serviceable stereo systems and desktop speakers lying around, do you or have you considered adding a Bluetooth solution to them? If so, how’s it working for you? Speak up in our discussion forum and tell us about it.

Matt Klein
Matt Klein has nearly two decades of technical writing experience. He’s covered Windows, Android, macOS, Microsoft Office, and everything in between. He’s even written a book, The How-To Geek Guide to Windows 8.
Read Full Bio »

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