Cambridge Audio BT100

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BT100 and Blutooth Audio streaming

The BT100 is compatible with the following Cambridge Audio products:

• DacMagic Plus

• Sonata NP30

• Stream Magic 6

Selecting the BT100 as an input on the compatible Cambridge Audio product,

allows that product to receive wireless Bluetooth audio from most

phones/tablets and laptops.

When connected to your Cambridge Audio product, the BT100 allows it to

receive BluetoothAudio (known as Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution

Proﬁle or A2DP). Contact your dealer for details.

The BT100 supports Bluetooth A2DP using either the original SBC encoded

form or the latest higher quality apt-X encoded form (if the sending device

supports it).

SBC and apt-X refer to the encoding used over the wireless Bluetooth interface

only and not the format your music may be in, which can be any type that your

phone/ laptop or other playing device supports.

Your playing device plays your ﬁles then re-encodes the playback before

streaming it to the BT100 in one of these two formats.

Many phones and laptops now feature Bluetooth with A2DP. SBC should be

supported by all such devices (it is the madatory format for A2DP).

apt-X is optional, so check if your sending device supports it, if you wish to

achieve the highest quality audio transfer.

Note: The BT100 declares that it can handle both SBC and apt-X to the

sending device which will then use whichever version it supports.

What is apt-X?

apt-X is a high quality CODEC (CODer/DECoder) i.e. a way of compressing

audio data so it can be sent over a link such as Bluetooth then decompressed

on the other side (if both devices support it).

If your Bluetooth audio source does not support apt-X, the BT100 will fall back

to using the standard SBC CODEC that is supported by all Bluetooth audio

devices.

BT100 controls and connections

A. P

airing button/Status LED

Button performs pairing and related functionality. Integrated LED indicates

BT100 status.

B. USB plug

Streams high quality USB audio into your compatible Cambridge Audio

product’s USB socket.

C. Extension Cable

Allows the BT100 to be positioned for accessibility or optimal wireless

reception.

Pairing

To begin streaming high quality music from your chosen media source it will

ﬁr

st need to be paired with the BT100.

A. Insert BT100 into the USB port on your compatible Cambridge Audio

product.

B. Wait a moment for the BT100 to be detected. Then double click the button

to enter pairing mode, the BT100 indicates it is in the pairing state by

ﬂashing rapidly.

C. Put your Bluetooth compliant audio source into pairing mode. Please

consult your manufacturer’s user manual on how to do this.

Pairing your BT100 and source establishes an authorised audio link that can

then be used again in the future without having to go through this stage again.

After pairing you can just select the BT100 and play at any time as long as

your Bluetooth A2DP compatible source (phone/laptop etc.) is within approx.

10m of the BT100.

Normally on your source you will need to select Bluetooth Pairing and then the

BT100 should appear as ‘Cambridge Audio BT100’ in a list of locally found

Bluetooth devices.

Select that item in the list to ﬁnish pairing.

D. On successful pairing, the BT100s LED goes off for a second or two, then

triple ﬂashes quickly. The LED then goes off and only lights up in the future

when you are playing audio via Bluetooth.

E. To play back via a paired Bluetooth device, simply select the BT100 on that

device and start playing. The BT100 LED lights up constantly when

streaming SBC or on and ﬂicks off every 2 seconds when streaming apt-X.

Notes:

- You can pair to more than one source up to a maximum of 8 sources at any

time. Pairing to a 9th device will cause the ﬁrst one to be forgotten and so

on. However as you would expect the BT100 can only play back from one of

these sources at a time.

- When you have ﬁnished playback many sources keep the Bluetooth link

active for a time unless you actively tell them to stop by deselecting playback

via the BT100 (do not unpair as this is not necessary).

This can prevent another source to be able to access the BT100.

To immediately use another source, simply deselect the BT100 for playback

on your ﬁrst source device before starting up on a second.

- Some devices stream empty data all the time even when paused or stopped.

These devices will cause the BT100s LED to be on even if playback is

currently stopped or paused.

BT100

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Cambridge Audio BT100 and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

BT100 Bluetooth Audio Streaming Overview

Bluetooth Audio Codecs Explained

Details Bluetooth audio encoding formats SBC and apt-X used for wireless streaming.

Understanding apt-X

Defines apt-X as a high-quality CODEC for audio compression over Bluetooth.

BT100 Controls and Connections

BT100 Physical Components

Describes the pairing button/LED, USB plug, and extension cable of the BT100.

Pairing and Playback Guide

Device Pairing Procedure

Step-by-step guide on pairing the BT100 with a Bluetooth audio source.

Pairing Status Indicators and Notes

Explains LED indicators post-pairing and notes on managing multiple paired devices.

Summary

BT100 Bluetooth Audio Streaming Overview

Bluetooth Audio Codecs Explained

Details Bluetooth audio encoding formats SBC and apt-X used for wireless streaming.

Understanding apt-X

Defines apt-X as a high-quality CODEC for audio compression over Bluetooth.

BT100 Controls and Connections

BT100 Physical Components

Describes the pairing button/LED, USB plug, and extension cable of the BT100.

Pairing and Playback Guide

Device Pairing Procedure

Step-by-step guide on pairing the BT100 with a Bluetooth audio source.

Pairing Status Indicators and Notes

Explains LED indicators post-pairing and notes on managing multiple paired devices.

The Cambridge Audio BT100 is a Bluetooth audio receiver designed to enable wireless audio streaming to compatible Cambridge Audio products. It allows users to stream high-quality music from various media sources such as phones, tablets, and laptops directly to their audio system.

Function Description

The BT100 functions as a bridge between your Bluetooth-enabled devices and your Cambridge Audio product. Once connected, it receives wireless Bluetooth audio, specifically utilizing the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP). This profile ensures that audio data is transmitted effectively. The BT100 supports two primary encoding forms for Bluetooth audio: the original SBC (Subband Coding) and the higher-quality apt-X. SBC is a mandatory format supported by all A2DP-compliant devices, ensuring broad compatibility. Apt-X, on the other hand, is an optional format that offers superior audio quality. If your sending device supports apt-X, the BT100 will automatically use it; otherwise, it will default to SBC. It's important to note that SBC and apt-X refer only to the encoding used over the wireless Bluetooth interface, not the original format of your music files. Your playing device will re-encode your music into one of these two formats before streaming it to the BT100.

The BT100 is compatible with several Cambridge Audio products, including the DacMagic Plus, Sonata NP30, and Stream Magic 6. When connected to one of these products, the BT100 essentially adds Bluetooth audio input capability to your existing setup.

Usage Features

To begin using the BT100, you first need to pair it with your chosen media source. The process is straightforward:

Connection: Insert the BT100 into the USB port of your compatible Cambridge Audio product. An extension cable is provided to allow for optimal positioning for accessibility or wireless reception, which can be crucial for maintaining a strong signal.
Detection: Wait a moment for your Cambridge Audio product to detect the BT100.
Pairing Mode: Double-click the pairing button on the BT100. The integrated LED will flash rapidly, indicating that it is in pairing mode.
Source Pairing: Put your Bluetooth-compliant audio source (e.g., phone, tablet, laptop) into its own pairing mode. Consult your device's user manual for specific instructions on how to do this.
Selection: On your source device, you should see 'Cambridge Audio BT100' appear in the list of locally found Bluetooth devices. Select this item to complete the pairing process.

Once successfully paired, the BT100's LED will briefly turn off, then triple flash quickly, and finally turn off again, only lighting up in the future when audio is actively playing via Bluetooth. This pairing establishes an authorized audio link that can be reused in the future without needing to repeat the full pairing procedure. After the initial pairing, you can simply select the BT100 on your source device and start playing audio, provided your device is within approximately 10 meters (33 feet) of the BT100.

During playback, the BT100's LED provides visual feedback on the streaming status. If streaming via SBC, the LED will remain constantly lit. If streaming via apt-X, the LED will flick off every 2 seconds, indicating the higher-quality codec is in use.

The BT100 offers multi-device pairing capability, allowing you to pair it with up to 8 different sources at any given time. If you attempt to pair a 9th device, the oldest paired device will be forgotten. However, it's important to note that the BT100 can only play back from one source at a time. If you wish to switch between sources, you should deselect the BT100 for playback on the currently active device before initiating playback from a second device. This prevents the first source from holding the Bluetooth link, which could block other devices from accessing the BT100.

Some devices may stream "empty data" even when paused or stopped. In such cases, the BT100's LED will remain on, even if actual audio playback is not occurring. This is normal behavior for those specific source devices.

Maintenance Features

The BT100 is designed for ease of use and requires minimal maintenance. As a digital audio receiver, it does not have moving parts or require regular cleaning beyond typical electronic device care.

Connectivity: Ensure the USB plug (B) is securely inserted into your Cambridge Audio product's USB socket. The extension cable (C) should also be properly connected if used, to maintain optimal wireless reception.
Software Updates: While the manual does not explicitly mention user-updatable firmware, it's generally good practice to keep your Cambridge Audio product's firmware up to date, as this may indirectly benefit the BT100's performance or compatibility.
Troubleshooting: If you encounter issues with pairing or audio streaming, ensure your source device is within the 10-meter range and that no other devices are actively holding the Bluetooth link to the BT100. If problems persist, referring to the user manuals of both your source device and your Cambridge Audio product can provide further troubleshooting steps.
Environmental Care: Like all electronic devices, the BT100 should be kept in a clean, dry environment, away from extreme temperatures and direct sunlight, to ensure its longevity and reliable performance.