Add Bluetooth to A/V Receiver Amplifier Within 3 Minutes

This is a very simple upgrade that you can do to any amplifier that does not have Bluetooth built in. In my case I will be adding Bluetooth to my Home A/V receiver amplifier. It only takes about 3 minutes and is completely removable should you decide to change your setup in the future.

Step 1: Parts List

1. USB Bluetooth receiver ($3 to $10 Ebay or Amazon (I recommend getting one that has V4.1+EDR its gonna give you better sound quality)

2. USB Charger ($1) Ebay or Amazon

3. RCA to 3.5 mm audio cable ($2) Ebay or Amazon

4. Audio Video stereo receiver amplifier ( or any amplifier with RCA input )

Step 2: Making Connections

Start by finding a unused RCA input on the back of the A/V receiver that you could use for Bluetooth. If all are being used it is possible to use the auxiliary input on the front of the unit, however you will likely need a different cable for that. I choose the CD to use as my Bluetooth input and plugged the RCA cable into it and on the other side connected it to the USB Bluetooth adapter. Next plug the USB Bluetooth adapter into the USB charger and plug it into an outlet. Its a good idea to plug the A/V receiver and USB charger into the same switched surge strip so you can flip power on or off to both at the same time.

Step 3: Pairing

All that's left is the pairing of the Bluetooth adapter with with any streaming device that you prefer. I used my cell phone which happens to be android but even with apple devices the setup is about the same. Simply go into your phone settings and turn on Bluetooth and it will automatically scan for any Bluetooth devices within range. (Bluetooth has a range of around 30 feet) The Model of the Bluetooth adapter should show up under available devices. (mine showed up as EC502) Once your device finds it just click on it and it should move to paired devices and also say connected next to it. If your A/V receiver is on you will hear a pairing sound from the speakers which means your have successfully paired your device to the A/V receiver. Congratulations your all done! enjoy your tunes via Bluetooth on that A/V receiver amplifier.

Comments

[Robyn2020]

I want to have my cell phone connect to y guitar amp via Bluetooth. What I have so far is connect cable directly to amp.

even though transmitter is operating, I do not see a Bluetooth connection to my phone so that I can hear music out of my Amp.

Note: There are 4 settings on the Bluetooth transmattee/receiver: AUX, optical fiber, coaxial, mode. Noy sure which to choose but I think I should choose Aux, since this is the same input as I do my guitar. Anyways, I have tried all choices, but still no luck.

Any ideas how I can get this to work? Can I get this to work??

[Robyn2020]

No wait, I can find transmitter/receiver in my cell phone Settings. I just don't know how I can turn digital music from my cell into analog sounds from my amp.

[Mikky007]

How do I use the auxiliary port??

[Shrestha78]

What about the sound quality? Can I do this on my Phillips CD player?

[kpchisholm]

Okay let me get this straight...do I have to purchase the several different products or can I purchase all in one. I have a Techniques reciever with Bose speakers that attach with wires (not wireless...) Purchased eons ago...but those speakers rock.
So I want to be able to either attach my computer or my Itouch...to rock the house.
Help...I know enough to be dangerous.
PS...I have a Sony network media center and don't know if that can be used to convert...Help!!!

[schumpert.willie.nsi]

Wow! Would you believe I have the exact old school Receiver and your instructions were perfect. We are now streaming old school throughout our home, thanks to you. Blessings. Willie

[thems5]

Hi. How can I connect the old receiver to Bluetooth speakers? Thanks

[pcchimp]

Hi I have a denon avr X1200. I connected to rca in behind the avr. USB Bluetooth to the front to power. Phone is connecting with Bluetooth when I play song on iPhone I can select the Bluetooth device but no sound is coming from my denon speakers. Is there something I’m doing wrong?

[Imran687]

Just make sure you have the right input selected on the denon ,, for example if the Bluetooth is plugged into aux 1 input

Make sure it is selected as the input you are using on the denon and it should work ,, other then that make sure volume is up on your cell phone ,, and enjoy

[NeillJ1]

"I choose the CD to use as my Bluetooth input and plugged the RCA cable
into it and on the other side connected it to the USB Bluetooth adapter" How to do this?? I have a bluetooth adapter but I've never seen one with a 3.5mm input. Did I miss something???

[Imran687]

you have to use a Bluetooth audio receiver module and that will have a 3.5mm jack on it .. there are hundreds to choose from on eBay and Amazon

[redrooster]

I have a Sansui AU-11000 amplifier built in 1974/75. You would spend thousands of dollars now days to get the same quality of sound.The 1970s and 80s are considered the golden age of sound.Its when they made amplifiers to last.Checkout AudioKarma.org or DIYAudio.com to restore these Museum peices.

[ScottH76]

oh yeah. good ole Sansui. I had friends that came back from Viet Nam with them. They were great. so were the speakers. Side note: they would pack the boxes with "candy" from Nam and Thailand. It was very tasty! :-)

[Imran687]

totally agree with you on that rooster .. they certainly don't make them like they used to.

[redrooster]

Thats for sure! I asked for a service manual for a Digitech amplifier I was checking out in an electronics store a while ago. They said they dont have service manuals anymore? If that doesnt say built in obsolesence I dont know what does? I refuse to buy anything that doesnt have a service manual anymore because it would invairiably be plastic junk that fails just after the warranty runs out. lol

[that canadian guy]

I picked up an '87 Nakamichi Stasis SR-4a receiver a few years ago for $125 and it's definitely a favourite of mine, compared to my Denon and Onkyo home theatre receivers. I set up my bluetooth exactly the same as this 'ible and it works great when I want to listen to some "current" music that I don't have on vinyl. Or if I'm too lazy to get up and flip my LP's.

[Imran687]

awesome

[huntinark16]

If I had known it was this easy, I would've had Bluetooth long ago. I'm going to Ebay right now to order my parts. Thank you very much, Imran687!

[Imran687]

Your Welcome and parts are very cheap thanks to eBay!

[Arrowanaguy]

So the rca plugs into the back of the radio (we can see that), but where does the audio jack end of the rca plugs to? The Bluetooth device? (Thanks)