Suggestions for Bluetooth device to hook up iPhone to amp

Try to get something with the more recent Bluetooth 5.1, or 5.0 at the least.

The new iFi Zen Air Blue has 5.1 but I'm not certain how it compares to the highly rated Zen Blue 2 which has 5.0.

The codex in iphone is limited to AAC.  AAC is a very processor-heavy codec since it uses psychoacoustic modeling to transmit data.  Iphone typically weighs energy efficiency over performance and will encode AAC Bluetooth (BT) to a lower bit rate and quality.  Therefore, the sound quality thru iphone bluetooth is not good, worse than the sound quality transmitted from laptop bluetooth.  The bluetooth from laptop/PC is very close to CD quality (44.1Hz sample rate).  So if you want to use laptop as a streamer, invest a quality DAC/BT with the money you have planned for a BT receiver.  Loxjie D30 is a solid all-in-one DAC/BT/headphone device (new version $260) for your consideration. 

If you still want to stick with iphone as the streamer, purchase a good external DAC and use the lighting to USB cable to connect iphone to DAC and then power amp.  Amazon sells a lighting cable that has a Y spliter into both USB Type B (to DAC) and USB Type A (to charger) so you could charge your iphone while listening to music.  Quite convenient.

audioguy85
Thanks, I’ll check into it!

That's too easy...the topping bC-3 @ Apos Audio, $69.....designed for exactly what you are looking to do......https://apos.audio/products/topping-bc3-wireless-bluetooth-decoder-dac-amp?_pos=3&_sid=eefbc38bd&_ss=r

hotei
Thanks, that sounds good.

sfar
Thanks, I’ll check it out.

fuzztone
Thanks, I’ll look into that!

ozzy62

Yeah, for when I’m working or having a get-together and I can’t change LP’s.

Just use one of these into your stereo.  Lightning to RCA Cable Audio Aux Adapter, Stereo Y Splitter Adapter for Select iPhone, iPad and iPod Models for Power Amplifier, Car, Home Theater, Speaker and More Silver 6FT

Just buy a receiver.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FZ3G7SC/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_9J0HEM8335K2MCSFDVCJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Half that $$ on eBay but half of them don't work right.

If you would rather use WiFi to avoid the data compression that happens with Bluetooth, Audioengine also has a similar unit for that, the B-Fi, at the same price.

You sure you want to do that?

The Audioengine B1 Bluetooth receiver is well made and from a reliable comany.