It also has transport controls that allow you to skip tracks without unlocking your phone or other portable media player. In addition, you can either leave it connected to power or use it as a portable device, as it has pretty decent battery life.

The 38071 can function as a Bluetooth receiver or transmitter, though we tested only its reception capabilities for the purposes of this guide. It supports the most common Bluetooth audio codecs but lacks support for a couple of the more esoteric ones that audiophiles may appreciate. If your main priorities when shopping for a Bluetooth receiver are price and portability, as opposed to ergonomics and pristine sound quality, the Monoprice 38071 Premium Bluetooth 5 Transmitter and Receiver wins out over other comparably priced offerings. Combine that with easy setup, reliable and near-instantaneous reconnections, and an attractive form, and the Zen Blue V2 is the best pick for demanding audiophiles, despite its lofty price tag. All the rest of our test units either became unstable or lost connection somewhere within the 1,518-square-foot suburban home in which we did our testing, but the Zen Blue V2, fitted with the supplied long-range antenna, maintained a stable connection from an iPhone located all the way in the far corner of the backyard.

The Zen Blue V2 is also a great choice if you need more signal range than most Bluetooth receivers can provide.

Connection-wise, it has you covered with both optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, as well as a 4.4 mm balanced audio connection and stereo analog RCA outputs. If you have a high-end audio system or would prefer a Bluetooth audio receiver with digital audio outputs, the iFi Audio Zen Blue V2 was without question the best-sounding Bluetooth receiver we evaluated in our latest round of tests.

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