[General Accessories] Sebi673:
So I've just received a Bluetooth adapter from UGREEN for review purposes. No strings attached no nothing - 'just write something about it' kind of a deal - which I dig. :D

Being a huge nerd has its perks. I enjoy surrounding myself with tech that makes my everyday life a bit more enjoyable.

For bluetooth streaming, my everyday driver are the MDR-100ABN h.ear on headphones from Sony.

Once I go running or at the gym or in any environment that involves faster-than-walking pace, I switch to my all time darling, the Elecom LBT-PAR500 receiver which securely stays attached on clothes.

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So where does the UGREEN Bluetooth Audio Receiver fit in?​

Well that's easy - It's made to nicely sit on your desk or in your car and hook on to your sound system or dashboard. It's designed that way.​

The nicest feature it has is the user experience. The reason I'm not using my sound system with my bluetooth receiver is because it's a hassle to plug it in, turn it on first and so on.

The UGREEN receiver turns on the moment it's plugged into an USB port - but not due to the lack of battery - it has one which lasts around 7 hours of playback - 8 advertised and the playback time also depends on the output volume, used codec, etc. I find this extremely useful while sitting hooked in the car. As soon as you turn the key, it will flash it's light and be ready for paring/connecting.

Design wise, it's bulky yet modern - nothing too fancy. One big button on top, a light, and the I/O in the back. It has no microphone tho - so no calls can be made/received on it - it does not utilize hands-free profiles so an incoming/outgoing call will be heard only the phone. It's probably for the best since I personally can't stand loudspeaker calls.

Again, it's a device that should be plugged in and forgotten. The auto-pairing mode once on and the auto-power on when fed to a powered usb port makes it excellent for a car. Once you disconnect from it, it automatically powers off after 5 minutes of inactivity. Personally I like to have it hooked to the sound system with power supplied from the PC - so when I turn on the PC, it'll automatically be ready.

The audio quality and transmission range are as good as you'd expect them to be in 2018 so there isn't any obvious difference. The advertised bluetooth class is 4.1 with EDR (enhanced data rate) should have a transfer rate of 24 Mbps or higher - wish I knew the available bluetooth codecs. It uses AVRCP and A2DP profiles. But it's 2018 - most of the bluetooth adapters sound pretty CD/Studio quality like.

As my impressions have been presented, I'll be switching to a Pro / Con list as it follows.

PROs:

Great price/value ratio - 16$ on Amazon;

Solid build quality - there's also a rubber ring on the back to keep it from slipping;

Easy to pair and connect - great for car installments;

Long battery life and one button for ease of use;

Whilst it is no amplifier, it's louder than the average phone 3.5 jack output;

RCA and 3.5mm connectivity is a plus - they can be used simultaneously;

Lightweight and portable - if need arises.

CONs

It's a bit too light - hence the rubber ring on the bottom;

The package usb micro-usb arresting hooks are a bit too tightly clawed in the device - exercise care when removing the cable - not really a con, more of a caution;

I wish the status light was on the button ring instead of on the side of the device;

Lack of loudspeaker capabilities - I don't need it but it's nice to have;

Lack of player controls.

To conclude, it's a great device for its price. Perfect for a car or for adding bluetooth connectivity to home sound systems. As I said in the beginning - it makes connected life a bit easier.

I'd like to thank UGREEN for this device :silly:. You can find more about them and their products on https://www.ugreen.com/ and you can learn more about the device

here

or see their listing on Amazon

here

Have a good one,

Sebastian