In mid-October 2015, EDN ran my teardown of Logitech’s Bluetooth Audio Adapter (a receiver, to be exact) based mostly on a CSR (now Qualcomm) BlueCore CSR8630 Single Chip Audio ROM.
The CSR module covers the majority of the underside half of the PCB topside, with many of the prime half dedicated to discretes and such for implementing the audio line-level output amp and the like:
A few weeks later, in a follow-up weblog publish, I discussed (and briefly in contrast) a bunch of different Bluetooth adapters I’d come throughout. Some acted as each receivers and transmitters, for instance, whereas others embedded batteries for moveable utilization. They applied various Bluetooth profiles and specification ranges, and a few even supported aptX and different non-obligatory audio codecs. Amongst them had been three totally different Aukey fashions; right here’s what I stated about them:
I lately noticed Aukey’s BR-C1 on sale for $12.99, for instance (each black and white colour scheme choices can be found), whereas the BR-C2 was lately promoting for $1 much less, and the even fuller-featured BT-C2 was lately special-priced at $24.99.
Logitech’s gadget is AC-powered by way of an included “wall wart” middleman and subsequently applicable for including Bluetooth input-source capabilities to an A/V receiver, as mentioned in my teardown. Aukey’s merchandise conversely include built-in rechargeable batteries and are subsequently primarily meant for cellular use, akin to changing a standard pair of headphones into wi-fi models. Recharging of the Aukey gadgets’ batteries happens by way of an included micro-USB cable and not-included 5V USB-output energy supply.
All the Aukey merchandise may act as hands-free adapters, by advantage of their built-in microphones. The BR-C1 and BR-C2’s analog audio connections are output-only, thereby classifying them as Bluetooth receivers; the dearer BT-C2 is each a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver (albeit not each on the identical time). However the Bluetooth hyperlink between all of them and a wirelessly tethered gadget is bi-directional, enabling not solely speakerphone integration with a car audio subsystem or set of headphones (by way of analog outputs) but in addition two-way connectivity to a smartphone (by way of Bluetooth).
The basic distinction between the BR-C1 and BR-C2, so far as I can inform, is the shape issue; the BR-C1 is 2.17×2.17×0.67 inches in measurement, whereas the BR-C2 is 2×1×0.45 inches. All different specs, together with play and standby time, appear to be equivalent. None of Aukey’s gadgets supply twin RCA jacks as an output choice; they’re 3.5 mm TRS-only. Nevertheless, as my teardown writeup notes, the inclusion of a TRS-to-dual RCA adapter cable in every product’s equipment makes a number of built-in output choices a seemingly pointless purposeful redundancy.
As time handed, my reminiscence of the specifics of that latter piece admittedly light, though I’ve re-quoted the next excerpt a number of instances in evaluating a key level made then with different conceptually reminiscent product classes: LED gentle bulbs, LCDs, and USB-C-based gadgets:
Such variety inside what’s seemingly a mature and “vanilla” product class is what prompted me to place cyber-pen to cyber-paper for this specific publish. The shocking selection I encountered even throughout my transient interval of analysis is reflective of the creativity inherent to you, the engineers who design these and numerous different merchandise. Kudos to you all!
Quick ahead to early December 2023, once I noticed an Aukey Bluetooth audio adapter meant particularly for in-vehicle use (subsequently battery powered, and with an embedded microphone for hands-free telephony), though usable elsewhere too. It was marketed at bargains web site SideDeal (a sibling web site to same-company Meh, who I’ve additionally talked about earlier than) for $12.99.
No particular mannequin quantity was documented on the promo web page, just some options and specs:
Options
- Wi-fi Audio Stream
- The Bluetooth 5 receiver means that you can wirelessly stream audio out of your Bluetooth enabled gadgets to your present wired dwelling or automobile stereo system, audio system, or headphones
- Lengthy Playtime
- Constructed-in rechargeable battery helps 18 hours of steady playback and 1000 hours of standby time
- Twin Gadget Hyperlink
- Join two bluetooth gadgets concurrently; free to take pleasure in music or reply cellphone name from both of the 2 paired gadgets
- Straightforward Use
- Navigate your music on the receiver with built-in controls which may also be used to handle hands-free calls or entry voice assistant
Specs
- Kind: Receiver
- Connectivity: 3.5mm
- Bluetooth customary: Bluetooth v5.0
- Coloration: Black
- To suit: Audio Receivers
- Ports: 3.5 mm Jack
I bit. I purchased three, really; one every for my and my spouse’s autos, and a 3rd for teardown functions. Once they arrived, I put the third boxed one on the shelf.
Quick ahead almost a 12 months later, to the start of November 2024 (and a few weeks previous to once I’m writing these phrases now), once I pulled the field again off the shelf and ready for dissection. I seen the mannequin quantity, BR-C1, stamped on the underside of the field however didn’t suppose something extra of it till I remembered and re-read that weblog publish printed nearly precisely 9 years earlier, which had talked about the very same gadget:
(I’ve saved you from the boring pictures of the clean cardboard field sides)
Spectacular product longevity, eh? Maintain that thought. Let’s dive in:
The left half of the field contents includes three cables: USB-A to micro-USB for recharging, plus 3.5 mm (aka, 1/8”) TRS to three.5 mm, and three.5 mm to twin RCA for audio output connections:
And a few items of documentation (a PDF of the person guide is accessible right here):
On the proper, in fact, is our affected person (my photos, this time, versus the sooner inventory images), as regular accompanied by a 0.75″ (19.1 mm) diameter U.S. penny for measurement comparability functions:
The opposite three gadget sides, like the sooner field sides, are bland, so I’ve not included photos of them. You’re welcome.
Notice, amongst different issues, the FCC ID, 2AFHP-BR-C1. Once more, maintain that thought. By the best way, it’s 2AFHP-BR-C1, not the 2AFHPBR-C1 stamped on the underside, which because it seems is a unique gadget, albeit, judging from the images, additionally an car interior-tailored product.
From previous expertise, I’ve discovered that the underside of a rubber “foot” is commonly a fruitful path inside a tool, so as soon as once more I rolled the cube:
Bingo: my luck continues to carry out!
With all 4 screws eliminated (or at the least sufficiently loosened; as a result of all that lingering adhesive, I couldn’t get two of them utterly out of the holes), the underside popped proper off:
And the very first thing I noticed staring again at me was the 3.7-V, 300 mAh Li-polymer “pouch” cell. Why they went with this battery type issue and formulation versus the extra widespread Li-ion “can” is unclear; there was loads of room within the design for the battery, and adaptability wasn’t essential:
In pulling the PCB out of the remaining prime half of the case:
revealing, amongst different issues, the electret microphone above it:
I inadvertently turned the gadget on, whereby it instantly went into blue-blinking-LED standby mode (I fortuitously quick-snapped the primary nonetheless picture whereas the LED was illuminated; the video under it reveals the total blink cadence):
Why standby, versus the preliminary alternating purple/blue pairing-ready sequence that per the person guide (to not point out widespread sense) it was supposed to first-time energy up in? I believe that since this was a refurbished (not model new) gadget, it had been beforehand paired to one thing by the prior proprietor and the manufacturing unit didn’t absolutely reset it earlier than transport it again out to me. A protracted-press of the topside button acquired the gadget into the specified Bluetooth pairing mode:
And one other long-press powered the PCB utterly off once more:
The beforehand seen backside facet of the PCB was naked (the glued-on battery doesn’t rely, in my guide) and, as regular for low price, low revenue margin client electronics gadgets like this one, the PCB topside isn’t very component-rich, both. Within the higher proper is the three.5 mm audio output jack; to its left, and within the higher left, is the micro-USB charging connector, with the solder websites for the microphone wiring harness between them. Under them is the system’s multi-function energy/mode swap. At left is the three-wire battery connector. Barely under and to its proper (and close to the middle) is the primary system processor, Realtek’s RTL8763BFR Bluetooth twin mode audio SoC with built-in DAC, ADC (for the already-seen mic), DSP and each ROM and RAM.
To the proper is of the Realtek RTL8763BFR is its companion 40 MHz oscillator, with a complete of three multicolor LEDs in a column each above and under it. In distinction, you will have beforehand famous 5 gentle holes within the prime of the gadget; the diffusion sticker within the earlier picture of the within of the highest half of the chassis “bridges the gaps”. Under and to the left of the Realtek RTL8763BFR is the HT4832 audio energy amplifier, which drives the aforementioned 3.5 mm audio output jack. The HT4832 comes from one of the vital awesome-named firms I’ve but come throughout: Jiaxing Heroic Digital Expertise. And on the backside of the PCB, maybe clearly, is the embedded Bluetooth antenna.
After placing the gadget again collectively, it seemingly nonetheless labored advantageous; right here’s what the LEDs seem like displaying the pairing cadence from the surface:
All in all, a seemingly easy teardown, proper? So, then, what’s with the “Identification Deceiver” point out on this writeup’s title? Properly, earlier than ending up, I as-usual hit up the FCC certification documentation, final-action dated January 29, 2018, to see if I’d neglected something notable…however the included images confirmed a utterly totally different gadget inside. This time, the underside facet of the PCB was lined with parts. And certainly one of them, the design’s area-dominant IC, was from ISSC Applied sciences, not Realtek. See for your self.
Confused, I hit up Google to see if anybody else had executed a teardown of the Aukey BR-C1. I discovered one, in video type, printed on October 30, 2015. It reveals the identical design model as within the FCC documentation:
The Aukey BR-C1 product evaluation from the identical YouTube creator, printed a week-plus earlier, can also be value a view, by the best way:
Fortuitously, the YouTube “thumbnail” video for the primary video showcases the beforehand talked about ISSC Applied sciences chip:
It’s the IS1681S, a Bluetooth 3.0+EDR multimedia SOC. Right here’s a datasheet. ISSC Applied sciences was acquired by Microchip Expertise in mid-2014 and the IS1681S presumably was EOL’d someday afterward, thereby prompting Aukey’s redesign round Realtek silicon. However how was Aukey capable of take the redesign to manufacturing with out looking for FCC recertification? I welcome insights on this, or anything you discovered notable about this teardown, within the feedback!
—Brian Dipert is the Editor-in-Chief of the Edge AI and Imaginative and prescient Alliance, and a Senior Analyst at BDTI and Editor-in-Chief of InsideDSP, the corporate’s on-line e-newsletter.
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