Sony TMR-BT10

The Sony TMR-BT10 is a portable stereo transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack of any device, and wirelessly transmits a stereo audio signal to a compatible A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) unit. It features a shirt clip and is charged via an included AC docking station, but despite the convenience, the asking price is a little steep.

The BT10 adds wireless stereo streaming functionality to any music device with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, so it's ideal for portable audio devices such as iPods. It allows users to stream their music to any compatible A2DP Bluetooth product, including headphones, or portable speaker systems.

The unit is easy to set up; users simply plug it into the headphone jack of their portable multimedia player and then pair the unit with the device they want to use. Turning on the BT10 automatically places it into pairing mode, and the unit starts searching for a Bluetooth receiving device within range (about 10 metres or so). If a password input is required on the receiving device, the BT10 uses the default '0000' code; if not, then the device automatically pairs. Overall, pairing the BT10 is a very simple process that only takes a couple of minutes.

Once a connection is established, music is ready to be streamed. We used an iPod nano (2nd Generation) and the Sony SRS-BTM30 to stream our music and the results were favourable. Audio quality is above average, although certainly not as crisp as using your music player with a regular set of headphones. We did notice a slight hissing noise in the background, but it was only evident at high volume levels and wasn't a huge issue.

The design of the unit is noteworthy, as it measures just 167mm x 34mm x 16mm and weighs only 27g. It is easy to clip to your pocket and forget about, which is quite convenient. The unit is finished in a stylish black and chrome plastic and despite its small size, Sony still managed to squeeze power and initalise buttons onto it. There are also two LED indicator lights (red and blue), showing power status and communication status respectively. The audio in plug can be stretched to about one metre in length.