Wireless connectivity is here to stay and it is not restricted to data transfer alone but also used for charging devices, streaming music etc. Almost all the new-gen audio devices like speakers and home theater systems come with some form of wireless connectivity feature which enables you to enjoy music without tethering to wires. But say you have an old set of speakers or a sound system that work perfectly fine but doesn’t offer any wireless connectivity. Would you dump it and go for a whole new device with a wireless connectivity?
TP-Link, the popular computer accessory maker, has an interesting solution. The HA100 Bluetooth Music Receiver has the ability to convert almost any speaker into a Bluetooth speaker allowing one to stream music wirelessly instead of relying on an auxiliary cable. You can say this is like a Bluetooth dongle for your music. The device itself is compact and lightweight in the shape of a small puck. It has a power indicator LED, a microUSB port to power the device and a standard 3.5mm audio jack port. The receiver can be connected to your speaker or any other sound system like your home theater or even your in-dash car audio system using a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable or a 3.5mm to an RCA cable, both of which are supplied with the device. The receiver needs external power so make sure you have a power source or a USB port to power it up. Connecting via Bluetooth is simple and the receiver can pair save up to 8 devices. It also comes with NFC, so one can connect an NFC enabled smartphone by simply tapping onto it, making the connectivity process simpler.
While the company claims a range of 20 meters, the range is pretty good and works well even if you are about 10-15 meters away (Without hindrances). There isn’t a loss in quality and overall every single track sounds crisp and clear. Since the receiver is Bluetooth enabled, it supports a wide variety of smartphones and devices that utilise Bluetooth. Even laptops and tablets didn’t show any signs of incompatibility.
The HA100 Bluetooth receiver is quite handy if you want to upgrade your old sound system and add Bluetooth connectivity without any hassles. The device is priced at Rs. 1999 which sounds like a good price. There is also the Logitech Bluetooth Adapter which is slightly cheaper, but requires a proprietary charger, making the TP-Link HA100 a better deal.
