Tech Specs

B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver

The B1 Bluetooth receiver allows you to cast music and other audio from your device and send it out to any music system, without losing any sound quality along the way—even to those extended ranges. It works great with those vintage systems that have been waiting in the wings.

Quickstart Guide

Technical Specifications

General specifications

Bluetooth receiver type
Bluetooth 5.0

Supported Bluetooth codecs
aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC

Supported Bluetooth profiles
A2DP, AVRCP

Inputs
Bluetooth

Outputs
Stereo analog RCA
Digital optical (SPDIF)

Required power
5V, 200mA

Wireless operation range
Up to 100ft (30m) typical

Full-scale output
2.0V RMS

Output impedance
57 Ohms

D/A converter
Wolfson WM8740

Power filtering
3-stage redundant regulation

SNR
SNR (DC to 20 kHz)
100dB

THD+N
(1 kHz FS 96 kS/s) <0.02%

Frequency response
10Hz - 20kHz (+/-0.5dB)

Crosstalk
>-86dB

Input bit depth
24-bit (upsampled)

Input data rate
Determined by Bluetooth

Latency
~30 milliseconds (ms)

Product dimensions
3.5 x 4 x 1

Shipping weight
1.0lbs (0.5kg)

Shipping box dimensions
11 x 7 x 3

Environmental Requirements
Operating temperature: 32° to 105°F (0°C to 40°C)
Storage temperature: -4°0 to 115°F (-20°C to 46°C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% non-condensing

Included accessories
RCA audio cable (3ft/1m)
Power adapter with detachable cable
Microfiber bag
Setup guide

Technical Features
Supports all Bluetooth-enabled devices
High-fidelity Bluetooth with aptX transmission and extended range
Stream high-resolution 24-bit digital audio from the Audioengine B1 to any music system.
Includes built-in Wolfson WM8740 DAC for superior 24-bit upsampled playback
Aluminum case with audiophile-grade connectors
Analog and optical outputs
2.0Vrms maximum output level

Experience stunning audio quality with aptX HD coding, built-in 24-bit upsampling DAC, and extended wireless range.

DAC Characteristics
The B1 Bluetooth Receiver utilizes the Wolfson WM8740 DAC, widely known for its low noise and high fidelity. B1 is essentially an upsampling 24-bit Bluetooth DAC and will pad all bit depths internally to 24-bits, thus achieving a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Due to the WM8740's high signal-to-noise specs, the fact that the digital signal is converted (upsampled) to 24-bits and the added benefit of triple redundancy power source conversion and filtering, the B1 presents impressive low noise and low distortion characteristics with a noticeable improvement over other Bluetooth devices.

Extended Range
Most Bluetooth implementations have very limited range, usually within just one room. But with careful signal management circuitry and antenna tuning, we offer a superior solution that will reach more than one room with no degradation in audio quality.

High quality Bluetooth audio
The B1 features aptX HD coding which is an advanced Bluetooth audio codec that provides much higher-quality sound than previous versions. The B1 is backwards-compatible with all previous Bluetooth implementations as well, so you can wirelessly stream music from any device and still enjoy outstanding sound.

Optical Output
B1 also functions as a wireless audio bridge from your device to your favorite DAC or preamp. Use the internal DAC with RCA analog outputs or connect the optical output into another DAC.

Quickstart Guide

B1 Quick Setup

Step 1: Connect audio cables from the B1 rear panel to your music system audio input.

Step 2: Connect the power adapter to B1 with the included power cable and plug the power adapter into an AC outlet.

B1 will automatically go into pair mode and the Pair button on the B1 front panel should be flashing.

Step 3: On your device, turn on Bluetooth and go to Bluetooth preferences.

Step 4: Select "Audioengine B1" to pair and connect. The Pair indicator on the B1 front panel should be solid.

Step 5: Play your music and adjust volume levels on B1 and your device.

Repeat steps 3 thru 5 to add additional devices. B1 can connect only one device at a time, however it will remember up to six devices.

To disconnect B1 from a paired device and put B1 back into pair mode, press and hold the Pair button until the indicator begins flashing.

For the full setup guide, download the attached PDF:
B1 quickstart guide-web

B1 Setup Video

Troubleshooting

B1 Troubleshooting Tips

The following troubleshooting tips can help diagnose and correct most concerns with the B1. We have attempted to make this list as comprehensive as possible. So, even though some of these may not apply to your issue, please still go through each one.

If you haven’t already, power cycle your B1 by unplugging the power connection, and reconnecting it.

1) Please make sure all of your connections are complete; also, check that all of your connector cables are in working order. You will want to swap out some interconnects to test for this.

2) Try playing audio from more than one application on your source device (phone, tablet, computer, etc.)

3) Check to make sure your source device is running the most up to date version of software available. If an update is available, make sure you restart your device after the update is installed.

4) Try disconnecting from, and "forgetting" the B1 through your source's Bluetooth settings. Then, try re-pairing and connecting to the B1. If your B1 is already connected to a device, then the LED will be on and solid. If your B1 has been idle (and not connected to a device) for more than two minutes, the LED will be off. Tap the LED and it will begin blinking to indicate it is ready to pair, then select the B1 in the Bluetooth settings of your source device. If your B1's LED indicator doesn’t light up, try using a different power source, and/or micro USB cable (many Android smartphones use the same connection, so your charger may be a good way to test for this).

5) Try using a different source device with your B1 to see if the issue follows. Try using the analog as well as the digital optical output, to see if you have this issue with both connections.

6) If at all possible, try your B1 in a different location and / or setup to see if something is causing interference in the current location. Something as simple as a router, cordless / mobile phone, halogen lamps, etc. near the speakers may be causing the issue in your setup.

FAQ's

What are the QA Stickers?

We take great pride in our products, and go through great lengths to ensure consistency and quality. For that reason, this item was randomly selected for an additional step of Quality Assurance.

How many devices can I connect via Bluetooth at one time?

There can be only 1 active pairing at a time.

Are firmware updates or driver downloads needed for my Audioengine product?

No, there are no firmware updates or special drivers needed unless you own our A1-MR multi-room speakers or our B-Fi multi-room wireless streaming device.

If a firmware update is released for the A1-MR or the B-Fi, you will be notified of the update the next time you open the Audioengine Control App. If an update is needed, simply click "update" on the DEVICES page next to the product that needs to have the firmware update applied. The app will handle the rest of the process from there!

Standard plug-n-play drivers that are provided by your computer's OS are utilized when using the USB input on our A2+, HD3, and HD4 speaker models.

And all of our Bluetooth speakers/products are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, and the A2DP profile for streaming stereo audio. This includes most smartphones, tablets, and computers. For computers that don't include Bluetooth support out of the box, you can simply add a USB Bluetooth adapter.

Why does my B1 have no power?

For starters, try pressing the Bluetooth LED on the front of the B1 to confirm it's not on. If the device that was paired with the B1 last is out of range or has been turned off, the light on the front of the B1 will turn off and remain off until the LED button is pressed.

From there, to assure it's not simply an issue with one of the accessories, swap out the USB cable and the USB AC adapter to see if that fixes things. If you have a micro USB cable laying around from an older cell phone model, you would be fine using that. And most current cell phone USB power adapters would work just fine with the B1.

If you have no success with either of the above, try plugging the B1 into a different power outlet to see how the unit reacts. If there is still no indication of the unit powering on, please contact our Support Team for further assistance.

How can I connect the B1 for my car audio?

You could use a B1 to stream Bluetooth audio in your car if you use USB power from either a cigarette lighter USB power adapter or USB port, and your car audio has an aux 3.5mm input. You can then pick up a RCA to 3.5mm adapter for the connection and the B1 will be ready to pair to your device/play through the car stereo. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Why do I hear my phone's notifications over Bluetooth?

Your Bluetooth connection works by projecting the sound from your phone. So, if your ringtone volume is on, that sound will come through Bluetooth too. This is a simple fix by changing the phone's ringtone settings to either vibrate or silent.

How much latency do Audioengine Bluetooth products have?

Though overall latency can be affected by some external factors (including things like signal strength, how well the source device's manufacturer has implemented it's Bluetooth, and even simply from being physically further away from the speakers) Audioengine Bluetooth products have very low latency when compared to most Bluetooth receivers, 30ms or less.

Here are some tips you can use to minimize any latency issues you may run into with your Bluetooth setup:

1) Try restarting both your device as well as the speakers (by switching them off, and back on, with the power switch on the rear of the speakers).

2) Check to make sure your source device is running the most up to date version of software available.

3) Try disconnecting from and forgetting the your Bluetooth speaker or device through your source’s Bluetooth settings, and then re-pair to your Bluetooth speaker/device.

4) If you have multiple apps or windows open when the delay occurs, try closing all of the apps that are not currently in use. The more multitasking your system is having to do, the greater the potential delay in audio when using Bluetooth -- this would apply to both your smart phone and computer.

5) When using your iPhone, we've found that resetting your network settings can help improve the overall functionality of Bluetooth with your device -- including the latency.

Can I change the name of my B1?

It depends on the device it is connected to. Most Android devices and computers can rename the device, but only for that specific connection. The B1 will still show as Audioengine B1 to a different device. You may also be able to change the name when using Apple products, but it will depend on the operating system.

Will the B1’s range work between more than one room?

The overall range you can expect will vary depending on the device you use with the B1. We tested using mostly a variety of smartphones though, and found 100 FT to be a realistic expectation, and that's through one wall.

Is the B1 compatible with TIDAL music streaming service?

The short answer is yes! You can use TIDAL on any compatible source device (PC, Mac, iPhone Android, etc.). The B1 is compatible with most all of these devices as well since they almost universally also include Bluetooth.

Connecting a Bluetooth turntable to an Audioengine Bluetooth device

Setting up your Bluetooth turntable with your Bluetooth-ready Audioengine speakers/components should be simple! First, you would also need to make sure your Audioengine Bluetooth device is on, in pair mode (LED light flashing), and near the turntable. Next, you would need to use the pairing button to send the turntable into pairing mode. Depending on the turntable, you will need to either press and release the turntable's pair button or press and hold it; for example, on the Audio Technica AT-LP60-BT you would need to hold the turntable's pairing button for about two seconds, until the light flashes different colors. Once the turntable is in pairing mode, it will search and connect to the nearest available Bluetooth device. Once the turntable if paired and connected to your Audioengine Bluetooth device, the pair light on the receiver should turn solid.

Why is the Bluetooth LED orange instead of white?

If the Bluetooth LED is illuminated orange that means you are streaming in aptX HD which is a higher grade of Bluetooth signal.

I'm having trouble connecting my Windows machine to my B1.

The B1 uses the Bluetooth drivers located on your computer, so you may need to ensure you're using the most up to date drivers for your computer's Bluetooth. We'd also recommend going to the manufacturer of your computers website, and see if they have Bluetooth drivers there.

Can I use the B1 with my original A5s?

Yes, you can still use the B1 with the original A5 model! With this kind of setup, you'd just need to use either an RCA to mini-stereo adapter (like the one that was included with your A5s) or an RCA to mini-stereo cable. You would just connect the RCA end into the RCA outputs of the B1 and the connect the mini-stereo side to either the top or back mini-stereo inputs of the A5s.

What if my source doesn't support aptX®? Can I still use B1 and if so, how will it sound?

You can absolutely still use the B1, and it will sound great. aptX® is a high quality Bluetooth audio codec that works really well. With that said, in addition to mandatory support for SBC, Bluetooth also includes optional support for many other codecs, like MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and AAC, all of which have their own advantages, and some of which sound very close to aptX®.

How can I tell if my device supports aptX®?

AptX® keeps an up to date list of supported device on their site. See here, for supported smartphones:

https://www.aptx.com/products?field_product_category_tid=126

And here, for supported tablets:

https://www.aptx.com/products?field_product_category_tid=135

Do I need to install any special drivers for the B1?

No extra software or drivers are needed. The B1 is compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, and the A2DP profile for streaming stereo audio. This includes most all Smartphones, Tablets, and Laptop Computers.

What does the LED indicator light on the B1 mean?

If it's on and solid - This means the B1 is powered on, and currently connected to a Bluetooth enabled device.

If it's on and blinking - This means the B1 is powered on, but not currently connected to a device

If it's off (and plugged into power) - This means the B1 is powered off (standby) and not connected to a device. The B1 is however still visible to Bluetooth enabled devices in this state. So simply connect to the B1 using your device, and it will automatically wake up.

Does B1 transmit a stereo signal?

Yes, the B1 transmits 16-bit stereo audio.

Does B1 work with any stereo, music system, or powered speakers?

Yes, any audio product with a standard analog audio input can connect to B1 with the included RCAs. B1 also includes a digital output so you also can connect via optical (TOSLINK).

If B1 is connected, do I need to do anything else to play music from my computer using iTunes or Amarra?

Once your B1 is paired and connected then any app (iTunes, etc.) or online players (such as Youtube) will automatically play your music through Bluetooth.

Will B1 interfere with my network and slow it down?

The B1 uses Bluetooth, which operates on the same 2.4GHz band as most Wi-Fi Routers. There's always a possibility for interference with wireless technology on the same frequency, but in our testing this was very uncommon.

How do I power off my B1?

B1 automatically powers-down and mutes the output after about 10 minutes. The BT input, however, is still active so you can just pair to it again without pressing the front panel button. B1 will remain on if a device is paired with it and turned on though.

Does the optical output of the B1 utilize the built-in DAC?

The B1's optical out is designed to pass the digital signal to another DAC; using the optical output wouldn't utilize the B1's DAC and would simply send the received signal out without padding the bit-depth. The RCA outputs of the B1 would utilize the built-in DAC, so the output would be padded to a 48kHz sample rate.