An investment in hi-fi audio gear is largely based on the expectation that you’ll be using the same gear for a long, long time. Good speakers can last decades or more, provided you respect their power limitations. The same goes for turntables and other amplification components. But wireless streaming is a potential scratch in the record. Arcam’s miniBlink Bluetooth receiver is designed to seamlessly integrate wireless streaming technology, letting you upgrade your setup without replacing a single piece of your beloved gear.
The small black device is shaped like a smooth river stone and combines a Burr-Brown 24-bit DAC and other high-quality audio circuitry with a Bluetooth receiver capable of aptX codec support. A lone 3.5mm audio jack along the back makes it easy to connect to anything with an auxiliary 3.5mm or phono input. Pairing it with any compatible Bluetooth audio device is equally simple. Just press and hold the sole button on top to initiate a connection.
Will the sound quality on the $149 miniBlink match the warmth and depth of your favorite LP? Of course not. But it will stand toe to toe with the dynamic shifts and refinement you expect from a well-mastered CD when streaming from aptX compatible sources, providing all of the convenience you’ve begrudgingly come to love about digital.