Auris Blume Pro HiFi Bluetooth 5.0 Music Receiver
$169.00
What We Dig
- Great Build Quality
- Informative OLED screen
- Nice sound with nice detail and separation
What To Think About
- The screen is hard to read at a distance
Auris bluMe Pro Review: This Bluetooth Receiver/DAC is a great value for anyone looking to add wireless audio streaming to their stereo system. It’s especially a good option for those in rural areas that can’t get speedy Wi-fi!
Auris bluMe Pro Review: Intro
Right now, music streamers are very popular. They allow you to play popular online music services thru your older (or basic) music system, adding new life to your setup.
In the general scheme of things, Wi-Fi streamers provide the most features and the best sound quality. That said, if your network doesn’t have the capacity to support the streaming of large music files or you want a more straightforward setup, you may want to check out a Bluetooth receiver/DAC with high-res audio circuitry.
Such a device will be compatible with higher-bandwidth Bluetooth codecs such as aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, and LHDC/HWA. Moreover, whened with a compatible smartphone or tablet will enable you to enjoy CD-quality or near-CD-quality sound without paying for costly high-speed internet, downloading an extra app, or going through a complicated setup procedure.
Additionally, these units send the digital audio signal from the Bluetooth chip through a high-quality DAC chip for clean analog output to your amplifier.
One such Bluetooth DAC is the Auris bluMe Pro HiFi Bluetooth 5.0 Music Receiver. It has everything mentioned above and one significant feature many Bluetooth receivers lack.
That would be an OLED display with data such as Bluetooth connection state, audio coding format, sampling speed, and track name, amongst other things.
Additionally, it features a USB input, which adds even more flexibility. That allows you to use the bluMe Pro as a USB DAC for your laptop, another option you don’t see on many Bluetooth receivers.
More:
For: Those who want a nicely priced Bluetooth Receiver/DAC with great extras like a USB Input and information-filled display.
Key Features/Specs:
- BT audio codecs supported: LDAC, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, AAC, and SBC.
- Audiophile quality 32-bit/384kHz ESS SABRE ES9028Q2M DAC Chip
- Cirrus Logic digital conversion chip.
- Stereo Analog RCA, Digital Optical, and Coaxial outputs.
- High-gain antenna for streaming up to 30m/100ft.
- Aluminum design with 1.3″ Oled display screen.
- Works seamlessly with all your apps…Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Pandora
What we love:
- Great Build Quality
- Informative OLED screen
- Nice sound with nice detail and separation
- Easy to use
What to think about:
- The screen is hard to read at a distance
Auris bluMe Pro Review: Our Impressions
The Auris bluMe Pro is a sleek, well-built component with a solid aluminum housing and tight construction. Setup is straightforward, mainly consisting of plugging in the included cables to your system, plugging the power cable, and turning it on via the power button on the side.
Connecting the bluMe Pro to most phones or tablets should only take a few minutes, depending on how familiar you are with Bluetooth pairing, and the OLED screen will confirm your connection. In addition, once you play some music, bluMe Pro will display the BT codec in use, the music sampling rate, and the song name, which is pretty cool.
That said, keep in mind the type is pretty small, so if you’re more than a foot or two from your system, it will be pretty hard to read.
The bluMe Pro uses Bluetooth version 5.0, which means quick connections and strong signals from across the room. It’s rated to work up to 100 feet, par for the course with BT 5.0.
Regarding connections, flexibility is the order of the day, as you get a set of analog RCA outputs that lets you tap into the built-in DAC, along with both coaxial and optical digital outputs to send out a pure bitstream. The latter is nice if you have an outboard DAC you want to take advantage of.
Additionally, there’s a USB connection that doubles as a power connection and a USB input. The USB input lets you leverage the ESS SABRE ES9028Q2M-based DAC section (supports PCM up to 384kHz / 32bit) and play music from a PC, an excellent option to have. By the way, it’s also an option much of the competition lacks.
In the box, you get an RCA to RCA cable, an 3.5mm to RCA cable, a power adapter with a detachable USB to USB-C cable, self-adhesive rubber feet, and a Quick Start Guide. So you get everything you need right in the box, except for a coax or optical audio cable if you want to make a digital connection.
Listening Impressions
I love the way this receiver sounds. Especially when using the LDAC codec set to the best sound quality option. Of course, when you move down to While I feel it falls slightly behind the iFi ZEN Blue V2 streamer in terms of overall transparency, it’s still very detailed and has a good amount of separation between the elements of the mix. It’s a good alternative to the Zen Blue V2 if you prefer having a screen and/or a USB Input.
Listening to “Coyotes” by Bill Callhan, the texture of the backing strings and the emotion of the vocals were fully fleshed out with a lot of detail. I also liked the balance and neutrality of the presentation.
Unlike the aforementioned iFi ZEN Blue streamer which tends to sound a little warm and romantic, the bluME Pro has a much flatter and analytical presentation, which will allow your system’s character to shine a little bit more.
Auris bluMe Pro Review: The Wrap Up
If your looking to add music streaming to your system without the need for additional software or Wi-fi, the Auris bluMe Pro is a great sounding and affordable option. It will be a godsend for people in rural areas that don’t have speedy Wi-fi service.
I also like the screen that shows you what’s going on along with the music being played, even if it may be hard to read while sitting on your listening chair. Additionally, its well built with top notch components and its easy to use.
If you have a very analytical system, and you want add a little warmth to your setup, you may want to check out the iFi ZEN Blue V2, but if you’re looking for a flatter, more neutral sounding Bluetooth DAC, then you’ll probably like the bluMe Pro. The ability to use the Auris unit as a USB DAC (which the iFi unit doesn’t do) is also a nice touch. Highly Recommended!
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I’m an audio writer who started as a young audio salesman/consumer electronics professional back in the late 90s. That’s where I discovered the magic of 2-Channel sound. My hunger for great sound has led me on a delightful music quest that continues today.
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