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If you have Bluetooth speakers, you may think their use cases end with wireless pairing to one source device. The truth is, you can squeeze additional utility from your speakers around your house and in your home entertainment system, as long as you're willing to get creative.
Also: I traded my Sonos Era 300 for Denon's new home speaker - and see no reason to go back
Whether you connect a Bluetooth speaker directly to your TV to create a makeshift center audio channel, or you buy a small audio receiver to turn your analog speakers into smart speakers, you have options. Even the cheapest smart speakers cost at least $200, and these tips are either free or cost no more than $90.
1. Extend your TV's audio to different rooms
The simplest way to expand your Bluetooth speaker's utility is to connect it directly to your TV. Before I added an additional Sonos Era 100 to my kitchen counter, I used this trick often.
If your TV has native Bluetooth, you can put your speaker into pairing mode and add it. If your TV doesn't have Bluetooth but you have an Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, or Google Chromecast plugged into it, you can pair your speaker with your streaming stick. If you have neither, you'll need a Bluetooth dongle to connect to your TV.
Also: I finally tried pairing headphones to my TV streaming stick, and I'm not going back
It's about convenience, not optimal audio. Recently, I connected my TV to a Bluetooth speaker I had lying around so I didn't miss Sunday afternoon football while preparing Sunday night dinner. In college, I used this trick to listen to The Real Housewives of Atlanta while getting ready in the bathroom.
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