Wireless headphones meet the seat-back screen
iFi today announced UP Travel Max, a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver supporting aptX Lossless, with a retractable 3.5mm plug for aircraft entertainment systems, car stereo aux inputs and portable music players (opens in a new tab). iFi rates battery life at up to 10 hours.
- Works with
- Aircraft entertainment systems, car stereo aux inputs, classic iPod and MP3 player headphone outputs
- Connections
- Flip-out 3.5mm plug
- Formats
- aptX Lossless, LDAC and aptX Adaptive
- Wireless
- Bluetooth transmission and reception, two-headphone pairing and Auracast
A physical switch selects transmission or reception: transmit mode sends aircraft entertainment audio to your wireless headphones, while receive mode feeds music from a phone into a car stereo's aux input. The built-in microphone includes suppression for noise and echoes during hands-free calls.
For a classic iPod or MP3 player, the connector plugs into the headphone output and transmit mode sends music to Bluetooth headphones or a compatible wireless speaker. The power button releases the connector from the body. Inside, a Qualcomm chip handles Bluetooth, with digital-to-analogue conversion assigned to a separate Cirrus Logic MasterHIFI DAC.
Compatible headphones determine your listening options
aptX Lossless requires compatible listening devices, and UP Travel Max also supports LDAC and the low-latency mode of aptX Adaptive, which iFi says helps align film audio with the picture. A front button changes codecs, while a long press identifies the active codec.
UP Travel Max can pair with two headphone sets simultaneously for shared listening. For larger groups, iFi says Auracast supports unlimited listeners using compatible headphones or speakers after it is enabled through the Nexis app.
Nexis is available through Google Play and the App Store, and delivers wireless firmware updates from a phone. It also provides codec controls, device customisation, battery optimisation and controls for JVCKENWOOD's K2 Technology, which iFi says restores harmonics and high-frequency detail.
Choose compatible listening devices to use aptX Lossless, and enable Auracast in Nexis when sharing with more than two listeners.