About the McIntosh MB20
Stream high-quality Bluetooth to or from your home audio system
Stream high-quality Bluetooth to or from your home audio system
McIntosh's MB20 adds high-quality Bluetooth to your stack of McIntosh gear, or any home audio system you love. It sends and receives Bluetooth signals, which gives you lots of flexibility. Want to add Bluetooth to an old stereo? Want to play your vinyl records on a Bluetooth speaker or set of wireless headphones? The MB20 can handle all of these scenarios without skipping a beat. It uses advanced Bluetooth 5.0 to ensure crystal-clear audio up to 150 feet away, whether it's transmitting or receiving
Analog and digital inputs and outputs for your gear
The MB20's input connections accommodate just about any wired audio source you might want to enjoy over Bluetooth, including your turntable, CD player, and more. These include optical and coaxial digital, and XLR balanced and RCA unbalanced analog inputs.
There are similar analog and digital connections on the output side, which let you plug the MB20 into just about any receiver, amplifier, or home audio system and add clean, high-quality Bluetooth as a source.
Product highlights:
- receives and sends Bluetooth audio signals
- rear button to toggle between transmission and reception modes
- Bluetooth 5.0 with high-quality aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, and AAC audio streaming
- aptX HD and AAC decoding provides high-quality music streaming from compatible devices
- aptX Low Latency decoding helps sync audio and video on compatible devices
- range: up to 150 feet
- built-in 32-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converter
- supports digital audio input signals up to 24-bit/192kHz
- digital output is fixed at 24-bit/96kHz
- black aluminum chassis with black glass top panel
- front panel button with LED indicator light
- White: standby, Blue: Bluetooth receiver mode, Green: Bluetooth transmission mode, flashing Blue or Green: Discovery mode (Searching for Bluetooth devices)
Connections:
- analog stereo RCA inputs and outputs
- analog stereo balanced XLR inputs and outputs
- coaxial digital input and output
- optical digital input and output
- frequency response: 20 to 20,000 Hz (±0.5dB)
Other info:
- Bluetooth antenna included
- weight: 2.5 lbs
- 9-1/2" W x 2-1/2"H x 4-13/16"D (4-7/8"H with antenna raised)
- warranty: 1 year
- Our 60-day money-back guarantee
- MFR # MB20
What's in the box:
- Bluetooth transceiver
- USB/AC power adapter
- 41" microUSB-to-USB cable
- Antenna
- Owner's Guide
- Warranty Information
- Product Registration Card
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Features
Bluetooth Transceiver: The MB20 Bluetooth Transceiver has been designed to provide a superior Bluetooth connection to audio equipment that lacks Bluetooth connectivity. The McIntosh MB20 can act as a Bluetooth Receiver and Transmitter (but not at the same time), featuring analog and digital inputs and outputs. The McIntosh MB20 Bluetooth Transceiver has a wireless range of approximately 150 feet.
- In Receiver mode, you can wirelessly stream audio to the MB20 via Bluetooth from any compatible device with Bluetooth streaming capabilities (including smartphone, tablet, desktop computer, laptop, and more); this audio can then be played through your McIntosh or other brand of system connected to the MB20 via a wired analog or digital connection.
- When in Transmitter mode, you can wirelessly stream audio that is input into the MB20 via an analog or digital connection to a Bluetooth-enabled speaker, headphone, receiver, or amplifier.
Bluetooth 5.0: The MB20 Transceiver features built-in Bluetooth 5.0 with support for wireless audio streaming (A2DP). It can act as a Bluetooth Receiver or Transmitter, allowing you to wirelessly stream audio to and from the McIntosh MB20 (but not at the same time). In addition to supporting Bluetooth standard SBC audio codec, the MB20 also supports AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and Qualcomm's aptX HD. Qualcomm aptX HD is an enhanced codec that supports 24-bit/48kHz wireless audio transmission via Bluetooth, so you hear even the smallest details in your music. It also features Qualcomm aptX Low Latency for improved audio transmission speed to deliver sound in sync with applicable visual media.
Note: Make sure the included antenna is installed.
High Performance Audio Converters: When in Receiver mode, the MB20 uses a high-performance 32-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for optimum sound quality. When in Transmitter mode, it uses an equally capable high-performance analog-to-digital Converter (ADC) with 110dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).
Balanced and Unbalanced Analog Connectivity: The McIntosh MB20 Bluetooth Transceiver is outfitted with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connections for its analog inputs and outputs. Use the balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs to connect a source device (like a SACD player or turntable with built-in phono preamp) and wirelessly transmit the input audio to a Bluetooth-enabled headphone, speaker, receiver or amplifier. Use the balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA outputs to connect the MB20 to your existing home receiver or integrated amplifier, so you wirelessly stream audio from your smartphone, tablet, desktop computer, or laptop to your home audio system.
Note: The MB20 can only wirelessly output audio from one analog or digital input source at a time. All analog and digital audio outputs are active at the same time.
Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs/Outputs: The McIntosh MB20 Bluetooth Transceiver is outfitted with optical (toslink) and coaxial (RCA) connections for its digital inputs and outputs. Use the optical and coaxial digital inputs to connect a source device (like a CD player) and wirelessly transmit the input audio to a Bluetooth-enabled headphone, speaker, receiver or amplifier. Use the optical or coaxial digital outputs to connect the MB20 to your existing home receiver or integrated, so you wirelessly stream audio from your smartphone, tablet, desktop computer, or laptop to your home audio system.
- The digital inputs support stereo PCM audio up to 24-bit/192kHz; not compatible with Dolby Digital, DTS, or other multichannel audio formats.
- When used in combination with a separate outboard DAC, the MB20's digital outputs are fixed at 24-bit/96kHz to be compatible with most third-party DACs in order to maximize performance and maintain audio signal integrity.
Note: The MB20 can only wirelessly output audio from one analog or digital input source at a time. All analog and digital audio outputs are active at the same time.
USB/AC Power Adapter: The McIntosh MB20 comes with a USB/AC power adapter and and 41" microUSB-to-USB cable that will plug need to be plugged int the back of the Bluetooth Transceiver and and AC wall outlet or surge protector/line conditioner (sold separately).
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Customer Q&A
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Waited a long time to finally order and the product is worth the cost as one would expect from this great manufacturer. I was able to get my Carver and Bose 901 to provide the great sounds we were missing for a long time.
Marcel from Vienna, VA