Advance Paris X-FTB02 Bluetooth Receiver aptX HD

The Advance Paris X-FTB02 is an aptX HD Bluetooth module that plugs exclusively into the proprietary Bluetooth port of compatible Advance Paris devices – not a universal receiver for any amplifier.

That sounds like a limitation, and yet it's the whole trick: because the module sits inside the device, the signal stays fully digital and is handed to the internal converter via SPDIF Direct Path. No second cut-rate DAC, no unnecessary conversion.

Why the X-FTB02?

Most Bluetooth adapters convert the signal with their own converter and pass it on as analogue – quality is lost there before the music even reaches the amplifier. The X-FTB02 passes what it receives straight through, purely digital, to the high-quality converter already in your Advance device. So what's built into the amplifier actually gets used. A 32-bit dual-core plus a single-core at 120 MHz handle the processing; with aptX HD the module transmits at up to 24 bit / 48 kHz and automatically falls back to aptX, aptX LL, AAC or SBC if the source can't keep up.

What you get

A tiny plug-in receiver measuring 5.5 × 1.3 × 2.8 centimetres and weighing ten grams, for the dedicated Bluetooth port on the back of compatible Advance devices. No installation, no power supply, no cable – power and signal run through the plug contact. Range: about ten metres in open space (Class II). What you play over it is up to you: internet radio, podcasts, local files or a streaming service, if you use one. No subscription is required.

Who is the X-FTB02 suited for – and who isn't it for?

Honestly, and this is the most important sentence on this page: the X-FTB02 is not a universal adapter. It only works on Advance Paris devices with the matching BT port – the Classic series (A10, A12), the PlayStream series (including A5, A7), the MyConnect series (including 150, 250), the X-i75, the X-P700 and the WTX-StreamTubes. On a different brand's amplifier, active speakers or an RCA jack, simply nothing happens. If you want to make any device wireless, go for the WTX-700 EVO with its RCA connection; if you're after tube warmth in the Bluetooth signal, go for the WTX-Tubes.

Our verdict

The X-FTB02 retrofits first-class Bluetooth to an Advance amplifier – clean all the way to the DAC, entirely in the digital domain. A small plug, a big gain in convenience, but only in the right chassis. Whether your device has the port is something we can clarify at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil in two minutes: 044 680 22 00 or WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Technical Data

• Type: Bluetooth receiver module for Advance Paris devices with a BT port
• Bluetooth: Version 5.0 (Class II)
• Codecs: aptX HD, aptX, aptX LL, AAC, SBC
• Resolution: up to 24 bit / 48 kHz (aptX HD)
• Range: approx. 10 m in open space
• Signal path: purely digital (SPDIF Direct Path) to the device's internal DAC
• Output level: not applicable – pure digital handoff, no analogue output stage
• Headphone output: not present
• Processor: dual-core 32 bit + single-core 120 MHz
• Dynamic range: > 120 dB (24 bit)
• THD: 0.003 % at 1 kHz
• Compatible: Advance Paris devices with a BT port – A10/A12 Classic, PlayStream series (including A5, A7), MyConnect series (including 150, 250), X-i75, X-P700, WTX-StreamTubes
• Power supply: via the device's port, no power supply needed
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 5.5 × 1.3 × 2.8 cm
• Weight: 10 g
• Included: X-FTB02 Bluetooth module

Frequently Asked Questions

Which devices is the X-FTB02 compatible with?

Only with Advance Paris devices that have the proprietary Bluetooth port: the A10 and A12 Classic, the PlayStream series, the MyConnect series, the X-i75, the X-P700, and the WTX-StreamTubes. It doesn't work on third-party devices. For the X-Stream 9's BDD port, Advance Paris specifically names the X-FTB01 – when in doubt, just ask us.

Does the X-FTB02 fit an amplifier from another brand?

No. The X-FTB02 has neither RCA nor jack nor USB connectors, but a proprietary plug contact for Advance Paris devices. On an amplifier without this port, it's useless. For third-party devices with a free RCA input, Advance Paris offers the WTX-700 EVO; for tube sound, the WTX-Tubes.

Does aptX HD also work with the iPhone?

No, Apple devices don't support aptX and stream via AAC, which the X-FTB02 also handles. Full 24-bit transmission is available with Android smartphones and other sources that speak aptX HD. The module automatically selects the best shared protocol, so there's nothing for you to set.

What's the difference to the X-FTB01?

The X-FTB02 additionally supports aptX HD at 24-bit resolution and works with more processing power. It's the better choice sonically, provided your smartphone supports aptX HD; otherwise it falls back to aptX, aptX LL, AAC or SBC. Both modules use the same proprietary connector.

Why buy the Advance Paris X-FTB02 from HD Zürisee?

Because we tell you beforehand whether your device even has the right port – that's exactly where most blind purchases fail. A quick call to Wädenswil is enough. Add to that advice that doesn't stop after the purchase, and a dedicated technician for setup and service.

Goes well with

Find the matching devices among our integrated amplifiers, universal alternatives among our Bluetooth receivers, more small-but-mighty gear in our accessories – and the full range in the Advance Paris overview.