Avantree is one of the companies that has quickly realised the importance of personal devices that can bring plug-and-play Auracast anywhere.
It has created a range of low-cost gadgets including transmitters for televisions as well as listening devices such as earbuds and headphones. It also has Venucast, an Auracast system for venues with limited budgets. One of its party tricks is offering free trials and demo kits so that clinics can showcase the versatility of Auracast and venues can test whether the setup will work for them.
It’s fair to say that Venucast sits in a space between the TV transmitters that some venues have installed and the professional-grade systems such as Bettear, Ampetronic’s Auri, and Williams AV Infinium. This highlights the strength of the Auracast ecosystem: there is something for every price point, expertise, and knowledge level.
What is the Avantree Voyager?
For our recent trip to the World Congress of Audiology and GN Resound’s Auracast demonstration at a K-Pop concert, we faced a long-haul flight from London Heathrow to Seoul. It was the perfect opportunity to test the Avantree Voyager, a Bluetooth aeroplane adapter with Auracast built in.
It costs £39.99 in the UK and can be bought directly from Avantree or from online retailers such as Amazon (UK Affiliate link).
What comes in the Avantree Voyager box?
The package is slimline and slightly bigger than A5, meaning it could easily fit through a letterbox. The box includes the Voyager transmitter, a dual 3.5mm male-to-female adapter (as some airlines use this headphone arrangement), a USB-C charging cable, and a carrying pouch.
Instructions and a safety manual complete the package. These instructions are very straightforward: scan the QR code on the back of Voyager, and follow the setup guide. Alternatively, visit avantree.com/support to access them.
The Avantree Voyager unit itself is about the length and half the height of a matchbox. With rounded corners and only three buttons, it is very easy to get the hang of. The plus/minus is volume up or down, while the middle button changes the mode.
The 3.5mm cable is built into the device and is a fixed length of approximately two inches. This means that it hangs in the air once plugged into a device: on an aeroplane, that looks weird. While we appreciate that the Voyager is always ready to go, if the cable breaks, the unit is useless. A retractable cable that rolls into the gadget when not in use would be helpful, but it could add to the unit’s bulk.
How to set up and use the Avantree Voyager
The Voyager can transmit in either Classic Bluetooth or Auracast, and the mode is determined by a switch on the side. Just flick it to the mode you want, then press the main button to begin pairing.
Simple? Well, almost.
The screen on the Voyager we received had a different display from the one in the promotional pictures, which was a little confusing at first. We wondered if we had received a different unit to the one we’d ordered.
This concern was compounded when we couldn’t get the Auracast to work, but it turned out that the unit we had needed a firmware update – something we hadn’t picked up on ahead of the outward flight. This meant we were unable to use the Voyager in the initial journey.
Thankfully, the firmware update is fairly straightforward to do, and the instructions are provided on Avantree’s website https://avantree.com/pages/firmware-updates
Once we had done this, it was fine for the return leg.
Avantree Voyager battery life and performance in flight
This was a 14-hour flight, and we hadn’t fully charged the unit before takeoff – a second user error!
The Voyager lasted for most of the flight, but because our USB charging ports weren’t working, we couldn’t top it up, so we don’t know the unit’s full capacity. Aventree claims it lasts for around 15 hours on a sub-two-hour charge.
That said, once everything was working the way it should, it was excellent. It paired to our Auracast-enabled hearing aids – both Oticon Intents and GN ReSound Vivia, enabling us to hear the dialogue of the films we watched. Being able to adjust the volume on the device and hearing aids was helpful, meaning we could have it at a level that was comfortable to us.
How far is the range? Well, that’s an interesting question, as mobility is limited in the air. We sat in the back row, and the toilet was in the middle of the plane. We could still hear the Auracast while away from our seat.
Final thoughts
At 22g, this is a lightweight piece of kit that contains everything people would need for a flight: the carry pouch means everything can be kept in one place ready for the next adventure. We also commend Avantree’s very clear instructions for use.
It uses Bluetooth 5.4 and, in addition to Classic Bluetooth and Auracast, supports aptX-Adaptive protocols.
We’re impressed.
For more details, log on to: https://avantree.com/products/voyager-bluetooth-adapter-airplane-auracast
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