McIntosh MB25 Bluetooth Transceiver

Bring Bluetooth to Virtually Any High-End Audio System

The McIntosh MB25 Bluetooth Transceiver is designed to add modern wireless convenience to a high-quality audio system without replacing the equipment you already own and love.

Whether you're adding Bluetooth to a vintage McIntosh system, a modern two-channel setup, or even high-end components from another manufacturer, the MB25 provides an easy way to bring wireless audio into the system.

But the MB25 can do something equally useful in the opposite direction.

It can also transmit audio from your HiFi system to Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

That combination makes the MB25 far more versatile than a typical Bluetooth adapter.

Receive or Transmit

The MB25 operates in one of two modes: Bluetooth Receiver or Bluetooth Transmitter.

In Receiver Mode, stream music wirelessly from a compatible smartphone, tablet or other Bluetooth device to the MB25. The MB25 then sends the audio into your existing stereo system.

This is a simple way to give an older high-end system modern wireless capability without changing its preamplifier, integrated amplifier or other core components.

Switch the MB25 into Transmitter Mode and the process works in reverse.

Audio from sources connected to your system—including physical media such as a turntable or CD player—can be transmitted to compatible Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

So yes, the MB25 can even help you listen to your vinyl collection through Bluetooth headphones.

Audiophile-Grade Bluetooth 5.0

Convenience only matters in a high-end system if sound quality isn't forgotten.

The MB25 uses Bluetooth 5.0 and supports high-quality codecs including AAC and Qualcomm aptX HD.

In Receiver Mode, digital-to-analog conversion is handled by a high-performance 32-bit DAC.

When operating as a transmitter, a premium Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) handles conversion of incoming analog signals before they're transmitted over Bluetooth.

The objective is straightforward: give Bluetooth the level of attention expected from a component carrying the McIntosh name.

Class 1 Bluetooth With Extended Range

The MB25 is a Class 1 Bluetooth device, offering a potential transmission range of up to 150 feet (45.7 meters) under appropriate conditions.

An external antenna helps maximize wireless performance.

Actual Bluetooth range will vary based on walls, physical obstructions, interference and the capabilities of the device connected to the MB25, but the extended-range design gives it considerably more flexibility than a typical short-range Bluetooth accessory.

Connect It to Almost Anything

One of the MB25's biggest strengths is its connectivity.

For analog systems, the MB25 provides both balanced and unbalanced stereo inputs and outputs.

Digital connectivity includes coaxial and optical inputs and outputs, providing additional options for integrating the MB25 with digital components and external DACs.

That makes the MB25 equally comfortable in a modern digital system or connected to analog equipment that's decades old.

One important distinction: although the MB25 contains a high-quality DAC for Bluetooth Receiver Mode, it is not designed to operate as a standalone DAC for other digital sources.

Modernize a Vintage System

This may be our favorite use for the MB25.

There are countless exceptional amplifiers, preamplifiers and receivers that were built long before Bluetooth existed.

They don't need to be replaced just because the way we access music has changed.

Add an MB25 and a vintage system can suddenly receive music wirelessly from modern Bluetooth devices while retaining the amplification, speakers and sonic character that made the original system worth keeping.

That applies whether the equipment is McIntosh or another high-end brand.

Bluetooth Headphones Meet Your HiFi System

Transmitter Mode opens up some interesting possibilities.

Connect an analog source to the MB25 and it can convert that signal for transmission to compatible Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

That means sources that were never designed with wireless listening in mind can become part of a modern Bluetooth setup.

It's particularly useful when you want private listening without being physically tethered to the audio system.

Connect Two Audio Systems Wirelessly

The MB25 can also help bridge separate audio systems.

By using an MB25 at each system, audio can be transmitted wirelessly from one system and received by another within Bluetooth range.

The MB25 can also work with its predecessor, the McIntosh MB20, for this type of configuration.

This can provide a straightforward solution when running a conventional audio cable between two locations isn't practical.

Easier System Integration

As the successor to the MB20, the MB25 adds several useful refinements.

The new illuminated black-glass front panel displays information about the incoming audio signal and connection type, making it easier to see exactly what the MB25 is doing.

When operating in Transmitter Mode, you can also select the desired input for greater control over which source is being transmitted.

McIntosh Power Control has been added as well, allowing the MB25 to power on and off with other compatible McIntosh components.

Small Component, Unmistakably McIntosh

The MB25 doesn't require a full-size component chassis to look like a McIntosh.

Its compact aluminum chassis, black-glass front panel and illuminated McIntosh logo give it the same visual identity as the larger components in the system.

Its small footprint also makes it easy to integrate into systems where rack or shelf space is limited.

And because the MB25 doesn't require a proprietary control app, operation remains refreshingly simple.

Pair your device and listen.

The Grid's Take on the McIntosh MB25

The MB25 solves a very common problem without forcing you to redesign your audio system.

Have an incredible vintage system but want to stream something from your phone? Add an MB25.

Want Bluetooth convenience without replacing your high-end preamp or integrated amplifier? Add an MB25.

Want to listen to a turntable, CD player or another source through Bluetooth headphones? The MB25 can handle that too.

We especially like it for modernizing vintage McIntosh systems. There's no reason to replace a great amplifier or preamplifier simply because it was designed before Bluetooth existed.

The MB25 gives that system modern wireless connectivity while allowing the equipment you already love to remain at the center of it.

For a relatively small component, it solves a surprising number of problems.

At The Grid HiFi & Home Theater, we can help determine the best way to integrate the MB25 into an existing vintage or modern audio system.