What exactly is this little device?
The Advance Paris X-FTB02 is a small Bluetooth module, about the size of a USB stick, that plugs into a socket built into certain Advance Paris amplifiers and streamers. Once it is in, your amplifier can receive music wirelessly from a phone, tablet or laptop.
The important word is module. This is not a box that sits on your shelf with cables running out of it. It is a part that goes inside a specific family of products.
Will it work with my system?
Only if your amplifier is an Advance Paris model with the module port. Advance Paris lists that port on units including the A10 Classic, A12 Classic, MyConnect 250, PlayStream A7 and the WTX-StreamTubes. If you own something else, even another good amplifier, there is simply nowhere to plug it in. Send us your model number and we will tell you either way.
Do I still need my amplifier and speakers?
Yes. The X-FTB02 makes no sound on its own and is not a music player. It gives an amplifier you already own a new way to receive music. Everything else in your system stays exactly as it is.
What happens when I play something?
You pair your phone to it the same way you would pair wireless headphones. From then on your phone sees the amplifier as a Bluetooth device, and anything that plays on the phone plays through your speakers. No app is needed, and any music service works, because Bluetooth does not care what is producing the sound.
What is aptX, and does it matter?
Bluetooth has to compress music to send it through the air, and a codec is the method used. SBC is the basic one every device supports. aptX is better. aptX-HD is better again, carrying more data so less is thrown away. The X-FTB02 supports AAC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX-HD and SBC, which is a wider set than most amplifiers offer.
Your phone and the module negotiate the best codec both support, so you do not choose it. If you have a recent Android phone, you will probably get aptX-HD. iPhones use AAC, which is also on the list.
What is aptX LL for?
Low latency. Standard Bluetooth has a short delay, which you never notice with music but do notice if you are watching video and the lips are out of sync. aptX LL shortens it. If you run a television through the system it is worth having.
Why does it have no analogue output?
Because it does not need one. The module passes a digital signal straight to the amplifier it is plugged into, and the amplifier converts it to analogue using the converter already inside. That is better than converting inside the module and converting again in the amplifier. You paid for that converter, so it should be the one doing the work.
Does it need its own power supply?
Yes, it uses a small external adapter rather than drawing power from the host unit.
What if my amplifier has no module port?
Then you want a standalone Bluetooth receiver instead, which connects to any amplifier through an ordinary output. The Advance Paris WTX-Tubes is one. It is an extra box with its own power lead, which is the trade you make for it working with anything.
Who is the X-FTB02 really for?
Someone who already owns the right Advance Paris unit and wants Bluetooth built in rather than bolted on. It keeps the rack clean, it uses the amplifier own converter, and the codec support is genuinely good. If you are that person it is an easy decision. If you are not, the honest answer is that this specific part is not for your system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the X-FTB02 a Bluetooth receiver I can add to any system?
No. It is a module for Advance Paris units that have the proprietary module port. It cannot connect to a general amplifier.
Which Advance Paris models accept it?
Models including the A10 Classic, A12 Classic, MyConnect 250, PlayStream A7 and WTX-StreamTubes. Ask us to confirm your specific unit.
Do I need an app?
No. You pair it from your phone like a Bluetooth speaker, and any music app then plays through your system.
Which codecs does it support?
AAC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX-HD and SBC. Your phone and the module pick the best one they both support.
Will it work with an iPhone?
Yes. iPhones use AAC, which the module supports.
Why is there no analogue output?
It sends a digital signal to the host amplifier so the converter already in that amplifier does the conversion, rather than converting twice.
Does it need power?
Yes, through a small external adapter.
What if my amplifier is not an Advance Paris?
You need a standalone receiver such as the Advance Paris WTX-Tubes, which connects to any amplifier through a normal output.
Can you check compatibility for me?
Yes. Send us your amplifier model and production year and we will confirm whether it has the module port before you order.
Come Have a Listen
If you are unsure whether your Advance Paris unit has the module port, send us the model and we will confirm it before you order. Our Timonium showroom has Advance Paris on the floor, and we are happy to show you how the module fits and how it sounds through a system you can compare against.