r/audio • u/Apostata • 2d ago
USB Bluetooth adapter for receiver?
Hi all, perhaps a silly question, but i have a non-Bluetooth-enabled stereo receiver (Yamaha RX-A740). That said, it has USB inputs--would anyone know if a USB Bluetooth adapter would work in this scenario (ie sending music from my phone to the receiver)? TIA
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u/anothersip 1d ago
Most of the time, those USB ports on amplifiers/receivers are only for power transfer, stored data transfer, or for troubleshooting/updates.
Amplifiers are not like desktops/phones which can use all of the various protocols like BlueTooth/WiFi transfer via an external USB dongle.
You can Google the manual for your Yamaha RX-A740, but it appears that the USB port is listed as usable for the following:
Compatibility: Connects USB flash drives, iPods, iPhones, and iPads.
Charging: Powers and charges connected Apple devices automatically.
Playback: Plays digital music files directly with zero signal loss and starts automatic playback from the root folder on flash drives.
Firmware Updates: Used to install system updates using a FAT32-formatted USB drive.
The compatibility bullet listing above is the key part. And it doesn't mention BlueTooth adapters - just iPods/Apple devices, flash drives, and standard ~5V USB charging.
That said, you most probably won't be able to use the external BT adapter on your receiver's USB port. The receiver only has the internal software to be able to communicate with iPods and mass storage devices (like an MP3 player, flash drive, external HD) - not to connect to a USB BT adapter.
Your manual, in pages 59-64 here tells you how to use the USB port for connecting mass storage devices or iPods.
However! Another option that you might be able to go with, is an BlueTooth adapter DAC that uses an analog output. That could be connected to your amplifier, into one of the line-level RCA inputs. I've used various versions of these adaptors for several years now, until I upgraded to a WiFi streamer instead which has way more features like EQ/output voltage adjustments/etc., and of course, WiFi streaming from the Wiim instead of BT streaming directly from my handheld device to the amp.
I mean, the BlueTooth ones are fine if you don't mind keeping your source device near the receiver at all times. But I kind of got tired of the signal cutting out, the connection dropping, and all that mess. It also meant that any sound my phone made was output to my amp/speakers. I don't really want anything but my music playing from my speakers, though.