Audioengine B1 vs BluDento BLT-2: Which Fits Your System?

If you are comparing the Audioengine B1 with the BluDento BLT-2, start with one important detail: the Audioengine product currently sold is the B1 Next Gen. It is not identical to the earlier B1 discussed in the original 2021 customer note on this page. The most useful comparison is therefore between the specifications each manufacturer publishes for its current product.

Both devices add Bluetooth reception to an existing stereo, amplifier, powered speaker, or other audio system. Neither should be treated as an amplifier, and the best choice depends more on your source devices and required outputs than on a single headline specification.

Quick comparison

The table reflects the manufacturers' current product pages. Codec availability alone does not guarantee that a particular phone, computer, television, or transmitter will use that codec. The source and receiver must support a compatible option, and the connection can fall back to another supported codec.

Choose by the output your system accepts

The BLT-2 provides optical, coaxial, and analog RCA outputs. That makes it the more flexible option when a dedicated DAC or older receiver specifically needs coaxial digital input. The current B1 Next Gen provides optical and analog RCA outputs, which covers many powered speakers, integrated amplifiers, and receivers but does not add coaxial output.

Before buying, inspect the input panel on the equipment you already own. If the system has only analog inputs, either product can connect by RCA. If you intend to use an external DAC, confirm whether it accepts optical, coaxial, or both.

Choose codecs around the source device

BluDento lists aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, aptX, AAC, and SBC for the BLT-2. Audioengine lists aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, and SBC for the B1 Next Gen. This creates a practical difference: a compatible low-latency transmitter may make the BLT-2 relevant for video use, while a compatible aptX Adaptive source may favor the current B1.

Do not choose by codec name alone. Check the exact phone, tablet, computer, television, or Bluetooth transmitter you will use. codec support varies by source and operating configuration.

Setup and everyday use

Both receivers are designed to connect to an existing audio system and receive music from a Bluetooth source. The BLT-2 product page states that volume is controlled from the paired source or connected system and that it is a receiver only—not a transmitter or amplifier. It also advises using a wall adapter rather than a potentially noisy device USB port; the adapter itself is not included.

Audioengine packages the B1 Next Gen with its power supply and describes a straightforward pair-and-play setup. If an all-in-one package and manufacturer support terms matter more than coaxial output, that may justify shortlisting it even when both units can feed the same RCA or optical input.

Which one should you choose?

• Choose the BluDento BLT-2 when you need coaxial digital output, your transmitter explicitly supports aptX Low Latency, or you want optical, coaxial, and RCA choices in one receiver.
• Choose the Audioengine B1 Next Gen when your source supports aptX Adaptive, you prefer the current Bluetooth 5.3 specification, or you want the supplied power adapter and Audioengine's current support package.
• Pause before buying either if you have not confirmed the input on your stereo and the codecs supported by your source. Those two checks often decide the result.

Review the current BluDento BLT-2 product page and the Audioengine B1 Next Gen product page before ordering, because product specifications and included accessories can change.

Frequently asked questions

Can either receiver turn passive speakers into Bluetooth speakers?

No. A Bluetooth receiver supplies an audio signal; passive speakers still require an amplifier.

Does aptX work if only the receiver supports it?

No. The source or transmitter and receiver must support a compatible codec. Otherwise the connection uses another codec supported by both devices.

Can these devices transmit television audio to headphones?

No. Both products discussed here are Bluetooth receivers. Sending audio from a television requires a Bluetooth transmitter or a device with transmitter functionality.