blafili B3 solid performance
I originally bought the blafili B3 because I was looking for Bluetooth 5.1 with long range capability for a permanent install I was doing at a school. I looked at all the traditional brands but no one had a 5.1 Bluetooth with XLR connections that would work in my application. The unit was mounted in a theater AV rack in a control booth approximately 75 to 80 feet from the stage. I was able to Connect to the unit from the stage and have solid uninterrupted connection from anywhere within the theater. To test how far I could go without losing the signal I walked out of the theater onto the play yard and had a solid signal for about another 20 to 25 feet making the overall range just about 100 feet Plus being inside of a metal middle Atlantic rack and through a concrete wall. Needless to say I'm very happy with the range, stability, and of the unit. I was also very happy with the audio quality it was very clean, clear with no artifacts.
I was so happy with it I replaced their Denon DN-300Z in their gym with another blafili B3 because the Denon's range was very limited and anytime you wanted to switch devices you had to hit the selection button which you do not have to do on the blafili B3. With the blafili B3 it will automatically show up in your Bluetooth List of devices available for pairing. This is great because you can just walk into the room if you've paired to the device in the past and connect. The single button on the front of the device is just to power on the device and to forget devices if you press and hold the button. The unit canned also remember up to 8 different Bluetooth connections.
Another nice feature is that the name of the unit can be customized this was important in this situation because I have two units in the same building with overlapping signals you could see on your device. so I was able to change one name to "Theater Bluetooth" and the other to "Gym Bluetooth". Michael from blafili technical Support provided me with the program and guided me through the process. It was not difficult the only thing that slowed me up is it requires a Windows machine and I'm a Mac person. Once I got over that hurdle it was a smooth process and MICHAEL even checked back with me to make sure I was able to successfully change the name. They even offered to send me one with the customized name if I had any difficulty changing it my self.
The only complaint I would have would be the display is very small but for me I considered it a minor.
I've now purchased three of these units and they've all worked as expected and you can't beat the price for what you get in terms of technology.
I would definitely recommend this product and the tech-support is great as well.
Music Receiver
blafili B3 Bluetooth Music Receiver
blafili B3 Bluetooth Receiver brings your music to life with advanced 32-bit audio processing and LDAC, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, AAC and SBC technology. The B3 lets you stream music wirelessly to any home music system, preserving every detail and nuance of your audio—even at extended ranges.
- Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs, plus digital optical and coaxial
- Custom broadcast name & passcode (factory default: "blafili B3", no passcode)
- Hi-Res Bluetooth audio codecs — LDAC and aptX HD
- Audiophile-grade ESS ES9018K2M DAC, 32-bit/384 kHz
- All outputs stay live at the same time
Every bit, delivered.
One small box,
every connection.
Versatile connection options
Connect hi-fi receivers, amplifiers or DACs via balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA, optical or coaxial. Two audio inputs — wireless Bluetooth and wired USB-C audio — switch seamlessly.
Audiophile-grade DAC
An ESS ES9018K2M performs 32-bit/384 kHz upsampling, extracting every detail from the source — breathing new life into even the most demanding hi-fi systems.
OLED, at a glance
A 1.34″ OLED shows codec, sample rate and volume in real time. No app required, no guessing what your receiver is doing.
Custom name & passcode
Rename the broadcast (up to 12 characters) and set a 4-digit pairing code per device — factory tools included, no subscription.
Plug into your gear.
| DEVICE | Works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phones, tablets & computers (Bluetooth) | ✓ | Any Bluetooth source with SBC |
| USB-C audio from computer | ✓ | USB DAC 16-bit, 48 kHz |
| Powered speakers / amplifiers | ✓ | Line-level output — set amp volume as usual |
Nerdy by design.
- Brand
- blafili
- Connectivity Technology
- RCA, Bluetooth, Optical, Coaxial, XLR
- Controller Type
- Hand Control, Push Button
- Special Feature
- Hi Res Audio, Music Streaming, Built-In Bluetooth, USB Port, Display
- Compatible Devices
- Laptop, Desktop, Tablet, Home Theater, Smartphone
- Connector Type
- Coaxial, XLR
- Audio Output Mode
- Stereo
- Surround Sound Channel Configuration
- 2
- Color
- Black
- Bluetooth Chipset
- Qualcomm QCC5125
- USB DAC mode
- 16-bit / 48 kHz
- Bluetooth Profiles
- 5.1, A2DP, AVRCP
- Codecs
- LDAC, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, AAC, SBC
- Bluetooth Range
- Up to 100 feet; Removable Bluetooth antenna (RP-SMA connector)
- DAC
- ESS ES9018K2M
- Bluetooth PCM (LDAC)
- up to 32-bit / 384 kHz
- THD+N
- -120dB
- DNR
- +127dB
- A2DP Frequency Response
- 20Hz - 20kHz
- Audio Input
- Bluetooth & USB-C
- Audio Outputs
- Balanced XLR( Male ), Unbalanced RCA( Female ), OPTICAL, COAXIAL( Female )
- Power Input
- USB Type-C DC 5V/1A
- Body Material
- Aluminum + ABS
- Display Screen
- 1.34 inch OLED, 128 x 64 pixels
In the box
- blafili B3 receiver
- Removable Bluetooth antenna
- USB-C power cable
- RCA audio cable
- Optical cable (3.28 ft)
- Quick-start guide
Reviewed by the people who listen.
“it’s rare to get XLR outputs paired with high quality bluetooth codecs from a DAC at this price point”
“The sound is clean, detailed, and well-balanced across different genres of music”
“This is one of the first devices where I am happy to use bluetooth without feeling like I am compromising too much on sound quality due to the inclusion of the high-quality codecs like LDAC, AAC and aptX HD”
Rated 4.9 by 79 owners.
Best in Price with Balanced XLR Outputs
I recently purchased the Blafili B3 Bluetooth DAC, and I couldn't be happier with my choice! The price-to-performance ratio is absolutely amazing with the qualcom chipset, and especially considering it comes equipped with balanced XLR outputs. This feature alone is worth the cost, delivering a clarity and depth that is hard to find in this price range for my studio monitors.What truly sets the Blafili B3 apart, though, is the outstanding customer service. I had a few questions during setup regarding changing the device name and pin, and their support team was quick to respond, providing helpful answers that made the process seamless. It’s refreshing to see a company so dedicated to ensuring their customers are satisfied.If you're looking for an affordable DAC that offers superb performance and excellent customer support, the Blafili B3 is definitely worth considering. Highly recommend!
Works well
My expectations may have been too high. Didn't think it sounds any better than the inexpensive one it replaced but after doing a side by side comparison it does have better clarity and headroom. I'm satisfied with it.
Fantastic tech support!
Great Product and incredible tech support! I highly recommend this product!
Pro Audio
The only one I could find with XLR outputs. It works great, sound is very good. Good build quality. Have your device display any name with passcode.
Good customer service. Great performance. Watch 2.4Ghz interference. No pings on connecting.
The first one I ordered never arrived. The vendor reached out when I applied for a return/refund. Very responsive and nice. First test left me unsure. Had it going into a class D powered mixer with 2.4Ghz wireless mics active. It worked great, long distance, much better than another BT5.3 brand, but when the music paused there was a fluttering noise in the system on the BT receivers channels. Then I tried it with XLRs going direct into a Yamaha PX series amp. Solid performance, good distance even through walls, and dead silent when paused. Still need to test on RCA outs, but that's secondary for why I got it. Key for me was that there are no dis/connect sounds. Nice fit and finish on the product. Do be sure to switch your phone to airplane mode if that's your source. It does still duck the signal when the phone is activated.
Great!
Great product and company
Awesome
Write a review
Which box fits your rack?
| SPEC |
VIEWING
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.00 |
$40.99 |
$21.99 |
$44.99 |
| Best for | Hi-fi stacks & home theater | Studios, PA & installers | First wireless upgrade for RCA stereos | Guitar amps & PA speakers |
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, AVRCP | 5.1, A2DP, AVRCP | 5.2, A2DP, AVRCP | 5.1, A2DP, AVRCP |
| Codecs | LDAC, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, AAC, SBC | aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, AAC, SBC | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC | aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Audio I/O | Bluetooth & USB-C | XLR male ×1 | RCA | 1/4 inch TRS male ×1 |
| Power | USB-C powered (5V) — no battery | Up to 16 hours | USB-powered — no battery | Up to 10 hours |
| View | View | View |
Before you ask.
Is a Bluetooth receiver with DAC worth it?
Yes when your source streams hi-res codecs: the B3 decodes LDAC/aptX HD through an ESS ES9018K2M DAC (32-bit/384 kHz) instead of leaving the last conversion to your amp, so nothing is lost between phone and speaker.
Which Bluetooth receiver has both XLR and RCA out?
The blafili B3 outputs balanced XLR, RCA, optical and coaxial from one box — and it is an LDAC receiver on top.
Does the B3 remember settings?
Yes — codec, volume and pairing data are stored on the unit; it reconnects to the last device automatically and the OLED confirms the live codec and sample rate.
Can't get anything to pair with blafili B3 ?
blafili B3 is a Bluetooth receiver not a Bluetooth transmitter, so it can't pair and connect with Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth speaker, Bluetooth receiver and other Bluetooth receiver devices.
Difficult to sync blafili B3 with TV ?
You will need to turn off Bluetooth on other devices first, as blafili B3 can be connected by ONLY one device at the same time.
Do you have to push a button to pair device ?
No, Multi Function Button owns these functions ONLY: ON/OFF; BT Connection Reset; Factory Reset.
Will a Alto Professional Bluetooth Ultimate connect to blafili B3 ?
No, both Alto Bluetooth Ultimate and blafili B3 are BT receivers. What you need is a BT transmitter to pair/connect with Alto Bluetooth Ultimate. Hope it helps.
Will macOS Sonoma use AAC codec with blafili B3 Bluetooth receiver ? I've tried other devices that support AAC but macOS connects using SBC.
Yes, blafili B3 supports codecs of LDAC, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX, AAC and SBC. blafili B3 connects with macOS Sonoma by AAC codec.
Do you need a Bluetooth antenna for blafili B3 ?
In some cases, you could get signal without the antenna but you must use it to get the best signal.
Can I use multiple outputs at the same time on the blafili B3?
It’s convenient that all outputs( XLR, RCA, COAXIAL, OPTICAL ) are active at the same time.
Digital optical / TOSLINK output red light does not work ?
No, the red light only comes on when there is music playing.
Can't get Bluetooth to work with two devices. One works but I can't get the second device to play.
How to connect blafili B3 with two phones: 1. Power on blafili B3 Bluetooth receiver 2. Enable Bluetooth on the 1st phone, search and connect to “blafili B3” 3. After pairing successfully, disable Bluetooth on the 1st phone. blafili B3 will enter pairing mode again. 4. Connect blafili B3 to the 2nd phone by the same way. 5. After pairing successfully, enable Bluetooth on the 1st phone, click to connect “blafili B3” again. 6. Now both 2 phones are connected to blafili B3. Note: Only 1 phone can play at a time, you have to pause the other.
What if my BT source doesn't support aptX? Can I still use blafili B3 and if so, how will it sound ?
You can absolutely still use the blafili B3, and it will sound great. LDAC, aptX HD are high quality Bluetooth audio codecs that work really well. With that said, in addition to mandatory support for SBC, Bluetooth also includes optional support for many other codecs, like MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and AAC, all of which have their own advantages, and some of which sound very close to aptX HD and LDAC.
