This matchbox-sized gadget neatly solves two living room-sized problems. The BT220 works as both a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver, and does both more effectively than your phone. Not only can it transmit and receive data more efficiently than your phone, but it can also do so over greater distances too, using Bluetooth 5.0.

Hook it up to your old-fashioned hifi or amplifier using RCA or 3.5mm aux jack and it will receive music wirelessly from your phone or PC, to be played out through your stereo speakers. It even supports the aptX protocol which preserves music quality over Bluetooth.

Otherwise connect it to your TVs audio outputs and it will transmit the TV sound to your Bluetooth headphones. That makes it ideal for late night binge watching without disturbing your household.

Bluetooth 5, aptX, 3.5mm jack and RCA input/output, mains/battery (5 hours), cables included, R380

What is aptX?

When using Blueooth music data is compressed to make it easier to carry over low power wireless connections. Later versions of Bluetooth, from version 5.0 onwards achieved much improved bandwidth so more music data could be carried more reliably than before. Chipmaker Qualcomm introduced the aptX protocol which allowed Bluetooth music data to be encoded, transmitted and received at “near CD” quality. This standard has since evolved into aptx HD which, at 576kps, is considered better than CD quality.