My parents have an older stereo system in the living room that has no Bluetooth of its own, and rather than replace a perfectly good amplifier and speaker pair, I picked up a TaoTronics TT-BA07 to bridge the gap. It has been sitting on top of that stereo for months now, and it does exactly what it promises without much fuss, which is honestly all I wanted from a fifteen dollar accessory.
What the TT-BA07 actually does
It is a 2-in-1 Bluetooth 5.0 adapter that works as either a transmitter or a receiver through a single 3.5mm jack. In receiver mode, it takes Bluetooth audio from your phone and sends it out to any wired speaker or stereo. In transmitter mode, it takes audio from a wired source, like a TV headphone jack, and beams it wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
Setting it up as a receiver
Flip the switch to RX mode, plug the 3.5mm cable into your stereo’s aux input, power it on, and pair it from your phone’s Bluetooth menu just like any other Bluetooth speaker. Once paired, it reconnects automatically every time both devices are powered on and in range.
Setting it up as a transmitter
Flip the switch to TX mode, plug it into your TV or other audio source’s headphone or line-out jack, and put your Bluetooth headphones into pairing mode. The TT-BA07 can pair with two sets of headphones or speakers at the same time in this mode, which is genuinely handy for watching TV with someone late at night without disturbing anyone else in the house.
Audio latency is the number one thing people worry about with cheap Bluetooth transmitters, and I will be honest that there is a small, noticeable delay in transmitter mode, especially watching fast dialogue or lip syncing closely to a video. It is not bad enough to make content unwatchable, but if you are pairing this with a TV for gaming, you will likely notice a slight lag between button presses and audio feedback. For casual TV watching and podcasts it is a non-issue.
- Bluetooth 5.0 with a range that comfortably covers a living room from the couch
- Rechargeable built in battery, roughly 8 hours of use per charge via a Micro-USB cable
- LED status light that shows solid blue once paired and connected
- Weighs almost nothing and is small enough to lose in a junk drawer if you are not careful
One quirk worth mentioning: switching between RX and TX mode requires powering the unit off first, flipping the physical switch, then powering back on. It is a small extra step compared to devices that switch modes with a single button, but once you settle into using it in one mode most of the time, it barely matters. I keep mine permanently in receiver mode on the stereo and have not needed to switch it since setup.
If you want a deeper technical read on how Bluetooth audio profiles like A2DP work under the hood, which is the profile this adapter relies on for streaming stereo sound, the Bluetooth SIG technology overview covers it well without getting overly technical.
Who this is actually good for
- Anyone with an older wired stereo or speaker system they do not want to replace
- People who want to add Bluetooth to a TV that lacks it natively for late night viewing
- Car owners with an aux input but no built in Bluetooth for hands free calls
- Not a great fit for competitive gaming where audio latency matters a lot
A quick note on connecting to a car stereo
I also tested the TT-BA07 in receiver mode with an older car that only has an aux input, and it worked reliably for streaming music and taking calls through the car speakers using the built in microphone. Voice quality on calls was serviceable but noticeably behind a proper factory installed Bluetooth system, which is expected from a device this size and price. For music streaming in the car it is a genuinely good, cheap upgrade if your vehicle predates built in Bluetooth.
Pairing tips that saved me some frustration
The first time I set this up, I made the mistake of trying to pair it while it was still connected to another device from a previous session, and it refused to show up in the Bluetooth list. If yours does the same, hold the power button for several seconds until the LED flashes rapidly, which forces it back into pairing mode and clears the old connection. It is also worth remembering which mode, RX or TX, you left it in the last time you used it, since the physical switch position determines what shows up when you search for it on your phone or headphones.
- Keep the adapter within roughly 30 feet of the paired device for a stable connection
- A dead battery will not hold a Bluetooth pairing, so charge it fully before first use
- If audio cuts out intermittently, move the adapter away from other 2.4GHz devices like routers
Final take
The TaoTronics TT-BA07 is not a glamorous product, but it solves a specific, common problem cheaply and reliably. If you have older audio equipment sitting around that just needs Bluetooth added to it, this little adapter earns its spot on the shelf and mostly disappears into the background once it is set up, which is really all you can ask from an accessory like this.
Common questions
Can it connect to two headphones at once?
Yes, but only in transmitter mode, where it can pair with two Bluetooth receivers simultaneously.
Does it work with optical audio?
No, the TT-BA07 only supports 3.5mm analog connections. TaoTronics sells other models with optical support for TVs.
How long does the battery last?
Around 8 hours per charge in my testing, recharged over Micro-USB in a couple of hours.
Is there noticeable audio delay?
A small delay exists in transmitter mode, noticeable during fast dialogue or gaming but fine for casual TV and music.
Ryan
PC and gadget enthusiast, has rescued more old audio gear with cheap Bluetooth adapters than he can count