Bayan Audio StreamPort Universal Audio Streamer Review

Testing this unit is not going to be much more than connecting a Bluetooth and NFC enabled device and seeing how well the system works. Starting off with a non-NFC enabled Bluetooth device (in this case my iPad) the pairing process is rather simple with pressing and holding the button on top of the unit from an off state for eight seconds to put it into its pairing mode – indicated by the twin flashing LEDs. One in pairing mode, the StreamPort is connectable from the Bluetooth device. NFC connectivity is even more straight forward than a manual connection. Like before the unit needs to be put into its pairing mode, but this time round, the NFC enabled device simply needs to be placed on top of the StreamPort and the rest is sorted automatically.

For audio streaming the StreamPort requires a device to have A2DP streaming capabilities (so some older devices such as the iPhone 3GS) may not work properly or not at all, but in current times, everyone likes to keep their devices right up to date.

The built in DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) along with the apt-X codec work brilliantly to give the StreamPort Universal near CD quality playback. This codec and DAC pairing along with the v4.0 Bluetooth technology make the audio seem as though it is not being streamed at all and in a way as though the speakers are connected directly to the phone / tablet / other Bluetooth device. The range of the Bluetooth streaming is pretty good at around 10m, any further and there then proceeds to be some stuttering as the distance is just too far for the Bluetooth signal to transmit. This though is not a real fault of the StreamPort Universal, more a limitation of the v4.0 Bluetooth standard.

Overall though I am quite impressed with the simplicity of the unit and also the quality of audio that it is able to stream through to an audio device such as a stereo, PC or TV.