About the size of a Mars bar, give or take shrinkflation, the Audeara Audio Broadcaster is a smart bit of kit that could be the perfect solution for those wanting to add Auracast to their existing home cinema setup.
The Australian-based company says it is designed “to support accessibility in shared spaces such as hospitality venues, classrooms, and presentation environments”. So it is for both home and professional use.
Unlike some other TV streamers, it offers digital optical out and in. This might not sound that exciting, but it means that the streamer can be added to a setup that includes a soundbar. This is a process known as daisy chaining, because it works like a chain of daisy flowers: the digital audio signal passes from one device to another.
We have tested several TV streamers, and this is the first we have encountered that offered this option. We are aware of the FeinTech BT200, but have yet to see it in the wild.
Having a streamer with no daisy-chaining capability is fine if you’re in a house that doesn’t need a soundbar, but if you have some movie buffs who take their home cinema seriously, it could be an issue. So we applaud Audeara for its work here.
The device can be powered via a television’s USB port, but we found that our ancient Panasonic couldn’t do so, whereas it can power the ReSound TVStreamer. This could be down to the television’s age: 15 years means its smart features are no longer so smart, and it has been retired.
No such issues with the LG C5 TV, which we have bought as its replacement. It is currently in use here.
The Audeara Audio Broadcaster can also be powered via USB-C. That is fairly easy.
Once installed, it’s a case of linking it up to your TV or computer. It can be digital out or 3.5mm, whichever works best for you. It officially supports optical, AUX, and HDMI ARC inputs and works with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux devices.
The box contains everything needed to make this a reality. There is a 3.5mm-to-3.5 mm cable, a Digital Optical (SPDIF) cable, and a Digital Optical Adapter. A USB-C to USB-A power cable is included, but no plug socket, something familiar to those who have bought a new mobile phone in recent years.
The rear of the Audeara Audio Broadcaster is very simple and clearly labelled: an HDMI input, a digital input, a digital output, and the USB-C power cable. And the box includes instructions with clear diagrams showing how to power on, connect audio sources, and add an additional speaker. It’s essentially foolproof in setup.
It really is plug-and-play: it just works, and the sound is impressive. There is no worry about whether it will transmit to hearing aids at 24kHz … it does.
We tested this on our computer and found that the sound took a second or two to kick in whenever the audio stopped or started. This meant that during Teams calls, there was a gap at the start of someone’s speech, making it hard to tell where their sentence began. This could be an issue, especially if subtitles/captions aren’t on or working.
However, no such problems with the television as the sound is always coming through, loud and clear – just you would expect from an Auracast.
Our other wishlist item would be the option to change the name of the Auracast stream, especially if you bought several and used them on televisions and hi-fis throughout the home or in a bar. Having them all set up as BT-03 could become confusing. We can’t see an easy way to do this, and this functionality is available on similar devices at a lower price point.
This is a minor quibble.
The Audeara Audio Broadcaster is a neat piece of kit. It looks good: an all-black case that will blend into most TV setups. It feels good in the hand: solid enough to feel sturdy and professional, while light enough to be fully portable, handy if you are travelling and want to take Auracast with you.
It also feels luxurious compared to some of the other gadgets we have tested. The unit itself is lovely, and the packaging is well thought-through.
Overall, this is a great Auracasting unit that can be used in multiple settings. We really like it.
It costs AU$399 – around £210. It runs on Bluetooth 5.3, and has an operating range of up to 50 metres.
For more details, log on to: https://audeara.com/products/bt03-audio-broadcaster
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