We’ve been alerted to the work of FeinTech, a German firm that has created an Auracast transmitter.
The company, based in Spreedwald near Berlin, has been creating audio, video, and office technology since 2016. They say on their website that they want to make items that simplify everyday life and enrich people’s multimedia experience.
They started by providing solutions for televisions, but have since expanded their ranges.
Among its explanations of Auracast, it includes a range of use cases, some of which we at Aurahear.co.uk don’t talk about enough.
FeinTech says that Auracast is good for gamers as sound can be synchronised between players, and the low latency means there is less of a delay between the image and the sound. This matters a lot to gamers.
When it comes to music, the company highlights that multiple speakers as well as headphones can be connected, while it is a cinch to create a silent disco.
For conferences, the clarity of speech is highlighted even in venues with poor acoustics. And, as we have experienced at EUHA, multilingual streams can be set up to allow for simultaneous translations of the speaker.
FeinTech also highlights that Auracast can be used in gyms, where members can choose the sound they want to tune in to, and workout leaders can Auracast music to the people taking part in their classes.
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The company also highlights uses for museums, city guides and guided tours: as people can use their own headphones or hearing aids, there is no need for people to rent out listening devices. Where there are multiple streams, people can decide which one they want to listen to on the fly.
“Auracast offers greater convenience, flexibility, and often better audio quality. In public settings, it enables barrier-free, cost-effective, and flexible audio transmission to large groups – without expensive specialised hardware,” the website notes.
It even points out that to receive an Auracast, the hardware must be at least Bluetooth 5.2, and the firmware must support LE Audio/Auracast. “Many devices already have the hardware, but Auracast often needs to be enabled via updates,” FeinTech notes.
What is FeinTech selling for Auracast?
At the moment, FeinTech is only selling one item: the BT200 Bluetooth LE Audio Transmitter with Display.
It has some unique features compared to other low-cost transmitters that we have seen.
As well as Auracast, which says it is hearing aid compatible, the FeinTech BT200 transmitter has an OLED display. This can show which devices are connected to it, and the modes it is in. This avoids any ambiguity.
There are three buttons on the front: Power, Mode, and Pair.
On the rear, there are various ports. AUX IN, which it suggests will work for radios and similar devices that use a 3.5mm headphone jack, an OPTICAL IN for televisions, and a USB-C port, which can be used for laptop input and powering. Next to that is OPTICAL OUT. This is something that we would have liked to have seen on the HomeSpot and other TV streamers, as this allows for the daisy chaining of audio devices – this means a television can input the sound from the FeinTech BT200 and a soundbar simultaneously.
This is the best of all worlds, as those who need Auracast can tune in as they would normally do, while those who want surround sound in their lounge can use the soundbar. There is no either/or, which is a big step forward.
The FeinTech BT200 costs €59.99 plus shipping. But … it is currently only available in Europe and it won’t ship beyond the EU. Some of the company’s older boxes are available on Amazon.co.uk, so they might become available to UK audiences in due course.
For more details, log on to: https://feintech.eu/en/products/bt200-bluetooth-le-audio-transmitter-mit-display-aptx-auracast
