Bluetooth module for Audio

[ali_asadzadeh]

Hi,
I want to know which Bluetooth module  would you recommend for using in a portable speaker? If it had USB interface for reading from USB Flash it would be nice too.

[VK3DRB]

Many options here. Consider using classic Bluetooth. If it is cost sensitive, I suggest you could do it on an ESP32, else there is u-Blox, Sierra Wireless, Microchip etc - all good companies, but good luck trying to find what you need during this disastrous Chipageddon. Even so, you might be able to still get eval boards if you cannot get the modules. Also consider Cypress's PSoC Creator range of module - tiny, powerful, and a very good IDE. I just did a medical device project using one of them.

Some have USB support. If not, consider a USB interface chip. The ESP32-C3 uses a CP2102N USB to serial port interface chip.

Also, stay away from separate antennas to the module, unless you have a VNA and a lot of time messing around and risking getting re-spins done. For the the amount of pain, you are better getting a module with a chip antenna onboard, or a PCB trace as the antenna built in. They cost not much extra.

I have been playing with an ES32-C3 with PCB antenna. Small module but not the tiniest. I did the ESP BLE and OLED stuff on an Arduino IDE (the Arduino IDE is pretty crappy but simple enough). I got 55 metres range in a built up area outside. Not bad! If you ever want to use BLE, this is THE book to start with...  https://www.novelbits.io/introduction-to-bluetooth-low-energy-book/. Mohammad Afaneh did a great job. But maybe consider the ESP32-WROOM series of modules.

[ali_asadzadeh]

Thanks VK3DRB for the tips, ESP32 seems good candidate, which model has a USB host, I want it to be able to read files from external USB thumb drives too.

[rpiloverbd]

You can use RN-52 bluetooth module.