AirFly View Adds A Screen To Bluetooth Pairing
Connecting wireless headphones to a device with a headphone socket can involve a frustrating amount of blinking lights and guesswork. Twelve South’s new AirFly View adds a display to show what is connecting, with a US price of $79.99.
Although aimed at travel, it could also help with compatible home equipment. It is an adapter for an existing source or system, rather than a new music player or a pair of headphones.
Quick Reference
- Product: Twelve South AirFly View Bluetooth transmitter and receiver
- Price: US $79.99; UK pricing not confirmed here
- Features: Display-guided pairing, two-headphone listening and Auracast support
- Battery: Up to 16 hours claimed; USB-C charging
Make The Connection Visible
The screen shows connected headphone names and connection information, rather than leaving you to decode a flashing indicator. For someone setting up wireless audio for the first time, that is a useful change: you can see whether you have selected the right headphones.
In transmit mode, AirFly View sends audio from a 3.5mm headphone output to Bluetooth headphones. In receive mode, it can take music from your phone and pass it to a compatible AUX input. Check the socket on your equipment first; a headphone output and a line input do different jobs.
Share Listening Without Replacing Your Headphones
Two pairs of Bluetooth headphones can listen together. Auracast support provides another sharing route with compatible equipment, but ordinary Bluetooth support alone does not guarantee Auracast compatibility.
Twelve South includes a travel case and an airline adapter. For home use, the main question is whether easier pairing and the transmit/receive options solve a real connection problem in your system. If everything already connects directly, an extra adapter may not be necessary.
What The Terms Mean
Pairing: Linking two Bluetooth devices so they recognise each other.
Transmit mode: Sends audio wirelessly.
Receive mode: Accepts wireless audio for a wired connection.
AUX: An analogue audio input.
Auracast: Bluetooth broadcasting for compatible receivers.
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