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How to Choose a Best Bluetooth Adapter for Your Own Computer
Bluetooth Adapter Introduction
Bluetooth ability is now a must part of most devices like cell phones, gaming consoles, and headsets. With the use of this wireless alternative, connection of electronics at work and/or at home is made easier and more convenient. Bluetooth adapter often refers to a tiny USB thumb drive with a Bluetooth chip which adds Bluetooth ability to the computer have no built-in Bluetooth.
It can be utilized to operate electronics as well as exchange files. An USB bluetooth adapter helps with secure syncing with cell phones, wireless headphones and other hardware. So you connect PC wirelessly with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, printer, PDA, cell phone, headset, presentation device and much more. 
The Main Features for a Best Bluetooth Adapter
Bluetooth adapters have some critical characteristics to perform well. By this, I mean: Range, pairing, compatibility, Bluetooth protocol version and size.
Transmitting range for a bluetooth adapter
A USB Bluetooth device’s transmission range is majorly determined by which Bluetooth Class it belongs. Class 1 Bluetooth adapter offers a wireless range of 330 feet (100 meters), while Class 2 Bluetooth adapter is capable of wireless transition within 33feet(10m). Most bluetooth adapters on the market are class 2 and in most cases that 10 meter ranges are fair enough for us to connect with Bluetooth mice, printer and other Bluetooth accessories.
But if you had demands of the larger broadcasting range a Bluetooth Class 2 adapter maybe not the best choice. A Class 1 adapter can provide 10 times the normal range of a class 2 device. It will be more than enough for your need.
**ATTENTIONS**
Just keep in mind 100 meters is the ideal situation it can only be archived without obstacles between them in an open space. That means a Class 1 bluetooth adapter can provide a fair large range than Class 2 devices. But a class 1 Bluetooth adapter combines with a Class 2 receiving device can usually get part of the maximum range.
Systems and Devices a Bluetooth Adapter Support
A best usb Bluetooth adapter must have an effective way to support the rapidly growing list of the Bluetooth Smart peripherals on the market, including printers, Bluetooth headsets, Bluetooth speakers and the latest Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.
Bluetooth protocol compatibility
And of course, a good Bluetooth adapter must be compatible with both Mac and PC computers. It must work with different systems: Windows 8, Windows 7, XP, Vista, 2003, 2000 Me 64/32 bit and Mac OS, with an available USB 2.0 or 1.2 port
Bluetooth version for a good Bluetooth adapter
From Bluetooth v2.1 EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), technology is featured for transferring rates 3Mbps. That is 3 times faster than traditional Bluetooth 1.1 and 1.2 adapters. Bluetooth 4.0 adapters can provide better stability and ultra-low power consumption, makes itself a perfect partner for your laptop. The adapter with Bluetooth 4.0 is also backward compatible with previous Bluetooth standards (v3.0, 2.0, 1.2 and 1.1) to ensure connectivity with all of your Bluetooth devices.
Verdict
A thumb size Bluetooth® 4.0 USB Adapter is what we are trying to find. It will offer pairing range up to 30/300 feet and work well with most Bluetooth-enabled devices (v1.1, v1.2, v2.0. v2.1 and the latest v4.0 devices) and computers. It is so small you can leave it in your laptop’s USB port without interfering with its portability. Simply plug the Bluetooth 4.0 USB adapter into a USB slot on the back of the computer or laptop and you’re ready to connect. Once you’ve verified that your Bluetooth adapter is installed, and the device you wish to connect with is discoverable, you can add most Bluetooth enabled devices to your computer.
We make the table below to assist you find the most suitable adapter for yourself. This table is based on the popularity, customer rating and technical features like range and Bluetooth version. All the rating data is from Amazon.com at the time this post is published, so it will be a little different when you visit the same page. Nonetheless, the trend will be the same.
| Image | Model | Bluetooth version | Broadcast Range | Customer Rating | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Cinolink® Bluetooth 4.0 USB Adapter - Plug and Play, Class 1, 50 Meter, APT-X | Bluetooth 4.0 apt-X Better sound quality | Bluetooth Class 1, range 50 meter | 4.0 out of 5 stars |  |
 | StarTech.com Class 1 EDR Wireless Mini USB Bluetooth 4.0 Dongle | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 1, 50m 160-Feet | 3.9 out of 5 stars | |
 | Plugable USB Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy Micro Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy For Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Raspberry Pi, Linux | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.4 out of 5 stars 1000 customer reviews Best Seller | |
 | TRENDnet Low Energy Micro Bluetooth 4.0 Class I adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy | Bluetooth Class 1 100Meters 328 Feet | 3.4 out of 5 stars | |
 | Kinivo BTD-400 Bluetooth 4.0 USB adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.2 out of 5 stars1700 customer reviews | |
 | Azio BTD-V201 USB Micro Bluetooth Adapter | Bluetooth v2.1+EDR | Bluetooth Class 1, range 330 feet | 4.3 out of 5 stars 120 customer reviews |  |
 | Medialink USB Bluetooth Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.2 out of 5 stars 1470 customer reviews |  |
 | Kinivo BTD-300 Bluetooth 3.0 USB adapter | Bluetooth 3.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.3 out of 5 stars 800 customer reviews |  |
 | Satechi USB 4.0 Bluetooth Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.3 out of 5 stars 150 customer reviews |  |
 | Plugable USB Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy Micro Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.3 out of 5 stars 320 customer reviews |  |
 | Bolse® Bluetooth 4.0 (Latest Version) USB Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.3 out of 5 stars 120 customer reviews |  |
 | Azio USB Micro Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter with apt-X | Bluetooth 4.0 A2DP+apt-X | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.0 out of 5 stars |  |
 | ASUS USB Adapter with Bluetooth (USB-BT400) | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 4.2 out of 5 stars 70 customer reviews |  |
 | Cirago Bluetooth BTA6210Micro Bluetooth Adaper | Bluetooth v2.1+EDR | Bluetooth Class 1, range 330 feet | 3.9 out of 5 stars47 customer reviews |  |
 | Cable Matters Gold Plated Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy USB Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 3.8 out of 5 stars 200 customer reviews |  |
 | GMYLE(R) Ultra-Mini USB Micro Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy Wireless Dongle Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 1, range 330 feetBluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet2 versions | 3.8 out of 5 stars 50 customer reviews |  |
 | TRENDnet Micro-Bluetooth USB 3.0 Adapter | Bluetooth 3.0 | Bluetooth Class 1, range 330 feet | 3.6 out of 5 stars101 customer reviews |  |
 | IOGEAR Bluetooth 4.0 USB Micro Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 3.8 out of 5 stars 440 customer reviews |  |
 | SoundBot® SB341 Bluetooth 4.0 USB Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 3.6 out of 5 stars 230 customer reviews |  |
 | Sabrent Micro Wireless USB Bluetooth Adapter | Bluetooth v2.1+EDR | Bluetooth Class 1, range 330 feet | 3.9 out of 5 stars 120 customer reviews |  |
 | UtechSmart USB Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy Micro Adapter | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth Class 2, range 30 feet | 3.9 out of 5 stars 90 customer reviews | |
| http://www.portablehifi.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to, but not limited to, Amazon.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com or amazonwireless.com. |
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Can any of these stream music from my laptop/PC to a Belkin G3A2000 bluetooth music receiver?
This is what bluetooth dongle designed for.
Thanks for the reply. Any recommendations on which one should I get? Amazon has too many reviews and I haven’t seen anyone mention they paired it to a Bluetooth receiver.
I’m not sure why but this website is loading
slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue
on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the
problem still exists.
The general info is good.
Some aspects are not included. Audio protocols for instance. AptX etc.
USB 3.0 doesn’t play a role?
These same aspects are also missing in the listing, as are prices. I think there are models that cost like € 100 which I would personally never consider.
Thanks for your comment. Your advice is very valuable for us. I have adjusted some items accordingly. In fact Bluetooth audio protocols have been tightly connected with Bluetooth versions.
And I find only one tiny adapter capable of apt-X codec presently.
Azio USB Micro Bluetooth Adapter V4.0 EDR and aptX (BTD-V401)
In the top five of the favourite articles, thanks!
HELP! HELP!
I’m so exhausted trying to find a solution. Can you please help.
I purchased a new LG TV that has Bluetooth version 3 and only toslink sound output. All of my receivers ie; soundbar, headphones are Bluetooth version 2.1. Why can’t I get them to pair with my TV. Do I need to buy an adapter. Were do I go from here. Please take the time to respond.
Thanks so much,
Don Benedict.
If you can’t get access with your old Bluetooth devices maybe you need a Bluetooth transmitter with toslink input to solve your problem.
See our post about the Bluetooth transmitter. You can find it in comments
I hardly ever comment on these posts, but I assumed this on deserved
a well done
bookmarked, fantastic blog!
TRENDnet’s presented: The Mini Bluetooth USB Adapter (Type TBW-106UB) coverage Bluetooth opened gadgets like the cell phones, key-boards and also headsets. The measurements of a micro, easily connect this micro-device into an existing USB slot on your notebook or PC and also familiarity outstanding Bluetooth network.
This site seems to just rate devices by amazon reviews and so doesn’t really help much in identifying the best performance devices through any accurate comparative testing.
The generic device I have works ok but with my headphones I keep getting temporary drop outs and stuttering sound even when sat directly beside my desktop PC. The device I am looking for is just to power a PC with use restricted to the same room for things like speaker, headphones as well as other peripherals.
I would like for example to know if there are some which have graphic equalisers like the one my wired headphones use? Which devices offer the most stable connection and high quality signals. I am not concerned about whether they are ultra small as I have plenty of USB space – I wouldn’t mind it having a small aerial if that improved performance / range. The big problems with amazon reviews are – the sample size, honesty and the users experience with other comparable devices.
Most people I suspect buy a device and if it works give it a good review – this doesn’t tell me if a £25 adapter is likely to be much better than a £10 one. Also is class 1 or 2 just asbout range or does it indicate other aspects of quality?
Per the website link above your # 1 Cinolink BT403 Certified Bluetooth 4.0 USB Adapter, Class 1, 50 Meter, APTX for Windows 8/7/Vista /XP does NOT have APT-X: Does this device support the aptx codec? So I could use a Bluetooth headset and their would be the high quality and low latency of aptx
Answer: Thank you for your interest in our Bluetooth 4.0 USB Adapter.
Excuse me; this product doesn’t support the APTX,
What is your Computer System, If Window XP/VISAT/7, you can choose:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012EVAME6， It support the APTX
Please contact us at support@cinolink.com, if you have any additional questions.
Thank you,
Cinolink Product Support
Email: support@cinolink.com
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