Bluesound Professional B170S Streaming Amplifier

About The Bluesound Professional B170S Streaming Amplifier

The Bluesound Professional B170S networked streaming stereo amplifier is a complete solution for a commercial music installation. The B170S combines a high-quality stereo low impedance and constant voltage amplifier with a BluOS enabled network music player. The B170S’s amplifier section provides 2 x 80W of power into 4/8Ω or 2 x 100W at 70V or 1 x 100W at 100V. This provides plenty of power for most small/medium spaces and thermostatic fan cooling provides for reliable operation in commercial environments. The amplifier technology is highly energy efficient and also has a standby mode consuming only 6W of power. The addition of constant voltage outputs allows for long chains of small speakers to be powered with variable power tapping at each speaker giving control of local volume.

The form factor of the B170S allows it to be mounted individually vertically or horizontally on or under shelves or tables or on walls. Up to six B170S units can be mounted side-by-side in a 3U space in a rack using the optional RM160 rack mounting shelf for a compact 12-channel system with six independent or group zones.

Easily Create Branded Environments: With hardware that supports nearly unlimited zones of audio and a natively-integrated commercially-licensed music streaming service in SoundMachine, Custom Channels, Qsic and Tunify, Bluesound Professional makes easy work of creating branded environments for your installation.

Seamless Integration with Control Systems: Bluesound Professional’s line of commercial streaming hardware allows flexible control by third-party control systems, and interfaces exist for all of today’s market-leading automation platforms. BluOS®, the multi-zone, music sharing software that underpins all Bluesound Professional players and active speakers, communicates with third-party control systems and platforms so that A/V system integrators, business owners, consultants and system designers can design seamless audio ecosystems to meet the needs of any commercial installation.

Plays Nicely with Others: Standard rack sizes and a wide range of standard inputs and outputs means that installation is quick and simple. The ecosystem’s modular design allows it to work seamlessly as an audio system on its own, or with audio components from other brands.

Add Audio Streaming to Existing or New Installations: Bluesound Professional’s decentralized processing capabilities gives designers and installers maximum flexibility to add audio streaming to installations, whether existing or new.

Easy to Configure: Self-discovery makes set-up and configuration painless, as Bluesound Professional players placed onto the same network will find each other automatically. A few taps on the intuitive icons in the BluOS Controller app will group players to create zoned audio content and lock-out unauthorized users.

Our Review

The Bluesound Professional B170S is a seriously clever solution for commercial music setups, packing heaps of power and flexibility into a surprisingly compact form. With 2 x 80W into 4/8 ohms or 100W at 70/100V, it’s perfectly suited for powering everything from a small retail space to a more involved multi-zone environment. It plays nice with everything - rack systems, third-party control platforms, and even other audio brands - making integration a breeze. Its energy-efficient design and constant voltage outputs are great for chaining speakers with individual volume control, while built-in BluOS makes streaming and grouping zones effortless. Whether it’s under a counter, on a wall, or in a rack, the B170S fits right in and just gets the job done, with rock-solid reliability and a professional polish.

Main Features & Specifications

• Design: Stereo Networked Streaming Amplifier for Commercial Installations
• A complete stereo solution for commercial installations
• Integration with local network content storage
• PC/Mac, iOS/Android and third-party control
• Security preventing unauthorized control
• Flexible and unlimited grouping of zones within a BluOS system
• Streaming via ethernet for increased reliability
• USB input for replay from local connected drives
• Energy-efficient amplification providing both low impedance and constant voltage outputs
• 2 x 80W into 4/8 Ohms
• 2 x 100W @ 70 Volts
• 1 x 100W @ 100 Volts
• 6W standby mode
• Flexible mounting options including mounting of 6 x BS170S in a 3U rack space using the optional RM160 rack mounting shelf

Streaming & Control

• Supported File Formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG Vorbis, WMA-L, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MQA, HRA
• Supported Cloud Services: WiMP, Slacker Radio, Qobuz, HighResAudio, JUKE, Deezer, Murfie, HDTracks, Spotify, TIDAL, Napster, Microsoft Groove (with OneDrive), Classics Online, KKBox
• Supported Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 or higher, Apple Macintosh OSX 10.7.5 or higher
• Free Internet Radio: TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, Calm Radio, Radio Paradise, Slacker Radio
• Integration Partners: Control4, RTI, Crestron, URC, push, iPort, ELAN, Lutron

Technical

• Rated Power
  • 2 x 80W into 4/8 Ohms
  • 2 x 100W @ 70 Volts
  • 1 x 100W @ 100 Volts
• Rated Distortion: ≤0.005%
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -110dBA
• Sample Rate: 32 – 192kHz
• Bit Depth: 16 – 24

Connections

• Analogue Input: Phoenix
• USB Input: Type A (for USB memory stick and supported peripherals – FAT32 formatted)
• USB Service: Type B Mini USB (for servicing purposes only)
• IR Input: Pheonix
• Subwoofer Output: Phoenix
• Speaker Output: Phoenix Speaker connection block
• Network: Gigabit Ethernet RJ45
• User Interface: Free Android and iOS App available at GooglePlay and Apple App Store

General

• Optional RM160 Rack Mount Accessory Available: Holds 6 x BS170S in a 3U Rack Space
• Power Supply: AC Power Supply
• Standby Power: 6W (Network Standby Mode)
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 70 x 120 x 350mm
• Weight: 1.6kg
• Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years

Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.