Do you want to add modern speakers to the older TV but you want to avoid all the wires? How can you do this if your TV is not Bluetooth enabled? Few people know that you can indeed use Bluetooth speakers and headphones on a TV that is not Bluetooth enabled. Bluetooth adapters can connect your TV audio system to a Bluetooth speaker or headphone. They convert your TV to a Bluetooth audio system. You can use headphones or Bluetooth speakers system as the receiver. Read on to learn more about Bluetooth TV adapters and why you need them. Bluetooth TV adapters are extremely easy to use as they are plug and play devices.
How to Set-up Bluetooth on Your TV
You can add Bluetooth to your TV using a Bluetooth transmitter. Setting it up is an easy process. Before you get too deep into the process, you will want to know what options your TV supports. The first thing is to check if your TV is Bluetooth enabled or not. Some TVs have Bluetooth built-in. If yours does, you may not need a Bluetooth adapter.
The next important thing to note is the various audio-output options that your TV supports. If your TV doesn’t have built in Bluetooth, you are likely using a 3.55mm AUX, RCA, or optical audio output. You need to know what options your TV supports so that you get the one that will work with your TV.
How do Wireless Headphones Work for TV?
You need a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver to establish a wireless connection between the TV and your wireless headphones. The transmitter sends digital signals to the receiver which in turn converts them into analog signals that you hear in your headphones. The wireless headphone is the wireless receiver. However, your TV might or might not be the wireless transmitter. It depends on whether the TV has a built-in Bluetooth transmitter. So how do you know if your TV has inbuilt Bluetooth?
Why Do You Need A Bluetooth TV Adapter?
One of the benefits about adding Bluetooth technology to your TV with a Bluetooth wireless adapter is that you can move away from all the wires and cables that can be a nuisance. Bluetooth adapters eliminate some of the cords and wires that can be such a nightmare to manage. Besides, the cost of management is low. You don’t have to worry about replacing any cables. The initial cost of buying the Bluetooth adapter is enough.
Once you add a Bluetooth adapter to your TV, it will have the capability of the wireless technology networking aspects of Bluetooth. This will allow your TV to wirelessly communicate and interact with other Bluetooth enabled devices that you own.
Bluetooth TV adapters allow connecting multiple headphones and speakers at the same time. This improves the user experience because it allows you and your family members to stream audio from the television using different headphones simultaneously.
Bluetooth adapters allow private listening that won’t disturb others. You can even walk outside and move around while staying connected wireless. Besides, Bluetooth TV adapters make it easy to stream audio and video from your smartphone to other audio-based devices.
Checking if Your TV has Bluetooth Support?
If your TV came with a smart remote then it supports Bluetooth because that is how it pairs with the TV. You can also check the user manual to know if your TV is Bluetooth enabled. If your TV is labeled as Smart TV” then it most likely has Bluetooth support. Check the Sound Output option under Sound in the Audio Setting to see if there is an option for Bluetooth speakers.
Another reason why you need to use Bluetooth TV adapters is that they are easy to connect with your TV. You do not need to be tech savvy. They are plug and play devices. Once plugged in, you only need to turn Bluetooth and pair the devices. AN instant connection will be established.
Using a Bluetooth Transmitter for TV
The process of adding a Bluetooth transmitter to your TV is relatively simple. Follow the following steps.
- The first step is to get a Bluetooth transmitter that will work with your TV. The best Bluetooth TV adapters can transmit to two devices simultaneously, they can take audio inputs from USB, RCA, optical, and 3.5mm AUX outputs on your TV and support low latency audio.
- Connect the transmitter to a power source. However, some Bluetooth TV adapters have their own battery. You will then have to connect the transmitter to one of your TV’s audio outputs.
- To pair Bluetooth headphones or speakers, make sure they are close to each other and set each device to pairing mode. Check the specific instructions included with your transmitter, speaker, or headphones because activating pairing mode will be different for each device.
- Once paired, you are to listen, Note that you may need to unplug the adapter to resume using your TV’s built in speakers, though this depends on your TV and which audio port you use.
As you can see, it’s simple to set up. However, getting a good experience out of a Bluetooth TV adapter can be complicated. We have reviewed a number of Bluetooth TV adapters that may help you get a higher quality, latency free experience.
How to Check what Audio Output is Available on Your TV
For the transmitter to plug correctly into the TV audio output, you need to know what type of audio output is available on your TV. The different types of audio output can be found at the back of your TV. The RCA jacks are labeled L and R, the 3.5mm headphone jack is labeled AUDIO while the optical TOSLINK output is labeled OPTICAL.
Most of the old TV models do not have the 3.5mm headphone jack and the optical TOSLINK output. They only have the RCA jacks for audio output. Some TV models are even more complicated. They only have optical TOSLINK output. This means that you will need a device for converting the TOSLINK into 3.5mm and RCA audio output. Make sure to physically check your TV audio Output to avoid the extra cost of buying plug adapters.
Possible Issues and Alternative
Although Bluetooth is an attractive option for setting up wireless speakers for TV, it has its faults and limitations. Here are problems you may experience with your Bluetooth TV adapter and how to solve them.
- Audio Sync: Most Bluetooth Tv adapters only support a limited number of devices at a time. Some support two pairs of headphones allowing you and your partner to listen at the same time. While using this feature to set up two Bluetooth speakers, you may run into issues with the audio being out of sync. The stereo sound may be of poor quality unless the speakers are designed to work specifically for that purpose.
- Audio Quality: Bluetooth audio quality is not as good as other options like wired connections or other wireless audio types. The audio quality depends on the Bluetooth codecs supported by both the transmitting and receiving ends.
- Latency: Latency is another common problem. This means the audio you hear may lag behind the imagery on TV.
- Wiring: If you are using Bluetooth to avoid the nuisance caused by wires, it is worth to note you will likely be wiring a Bluetooth transmitter from the back of your TV to somewhere where its signal isn’t blocked by the TV. In a nutshell, you will still be dealing with wires.
- Bluetooth Range: Audio transmissions from Bluetooth devices are limited to less than 100 feet. This may limit the uses of a Bluetooth adapter. When out of range, you may experience a noticeable lag in voice transmissions that can cause audio and video to be out of sync.
5 Tips to Buy The BEST Bluetooth TV Adapters
Choosing the best Bluetooth adapter for your TV can be a daunting task. Usability is definitely important here. There is no point of buying a device you can’t use. After looking at usability, there are four important factors that you need to consider.
- Good Sound Quality: Streaming audio via a Bluetooth adapter is not the best way of streaming audio. Wired connections are the best. When you choose carefully, however, you can find high quality Bluetooth TV adapters that provide a crisp and uninterrupted audio.
- Range: To connect to speakers in your house, make sure to buy a Bluetooth TV adapter with excellent range. Anything around or over 100 feet is ideal. If the range is lower, you might struggle with connectivity.
- Connectivity: Is the device easy to set up? Will it connect via a simple Bluetooth pairing, or extra steps are needed? Make sure you have double checked all these necessities before you order.
- Price: What is the price of the Bluetooth adapter? Look to spend around $30 – $50 on a solid Bluetooth TV adapter. Buying cheaply might seem cost effective but your purchase might be fragile or even with a smaller range.
Wrap Up
When you are choosing the best Bluetooth adapter for your TV, it’s important to pick what functionality that best suits your needs. Some Bluetooth adapters are either transmitters or are both a transmitter and receiver. Transmitters allow connecting your TV to Bluetooth devices, while receivers allow you to stream and play music from your smart devices to your home entertainment system. This brings us to the end of our article on why you need a Bluetooth adapter for your TV. I hope that you found this article informative. Keep it here for related articles.
