If you are often in the gym or on a plane, you will have noticed that some entertainment systems do not support Bluetooth. With the Twelve South AirFly Pro you can solve this easily.
The AirFly Pro is a bluetooth transmitter and receiver (splitter) and ensures that you can wirelessly transfer audio from a system to, for example, AirPods or other wireless headphones. In addition, you can also send audio to the receiver so that you can, for example, play music in the car or old hi-fi system with an AUX IN connection.
Twelve South AirFly Pro
The Twelve South AirFly Pro is a smart accessory designed to connect wireless Bluetooth headphones to devices that only have a physical headphone jack but do not support Bluetooth.
The AirFly Pro can best be seen as a small and portable Bluetooth transmitter and receiver. You can attach it with the 3.5 mm headphone connection to the AUX IN connection of, for example, the entertainment system in the airplane, the jack connection on a treadmill or the headphone connection of an old speaker, music equipment such as amplifiers and electric guitars or in a car.
Differences Twelve South AirFly
Twelve South sells different versions of the AirFly, we briefly summarize the differences. Later in this article we discuss some components in more detail. For this review we tested the AirFly Pro.
- AirFly SE: A few Connecting wireless headphones or AirPods has a battery life of 20+ hour and can only be used as wireless bluetooth transmitter being used.
- AirFly Duo: Two pairs Connecting wireless headphones or AirPods simultaneously has a battery life of 22+ hour and can only be used as wireless bluetooth transmitter being used.
- AirFly Pro: Two pairs Connecting wireless headphones or AirPods simultaneously has a battery life of 25+ hours and can be used as a wireless bluetooth transmitter or receiver being used.
Finally, I would like to AirFly Pro Deluxe just to mention. This is the Pro version with extra accessories, you get an International Airline Headphones Adapter (double jack connection) and a suede travel bag with a metal click closure.
Handy Bluetooth transmitter
Initially, the Twelve South AirFly is primarily intended as a Bluetooth transmitter. All AirFly models can be used as a wireless adapter, allowing you to use your wireless headphones, earbuds or AirPods in places where there is only a headphone jack, such as airplanes and treadmills. Simply plug the small transmitter into the headphone jack to listen to movies, TV shows or music on board or at the gym.
In principle, you can use the AirFly on all devices with a headphone jack from which you want to stream audio wirelessly to audio devices. Think of game consoles, tablets, laptops, music equipment (amplifiers, electric guitars), etc. This mainly concerns devices that do not have Bluetooth support as standard.
Multiple users
The AirFly Duo, Pro and Pro Deluxe have the added bonus of Dual-link support. This allows two Bluetooth headphones to be connected simultaneously, so you can listen together with a friend. This is especially interesting when you use devices that do not support shared audio. For example, you can pair the AirFly with a game console and iPad so that two wireless headphones can connect. The iPhone, iPad and Apple TV already support this as standard for AirPods and some headphones.
Bluetooth receiver
In addition to being a transmitter, the AirFly Pro can also be used as a receiver. Connect the AirFly to the headphone jack of an audio system, hi-fi or speaker and stream the audio from your phone or other source to the AirFly. This allows you to wirelessly provide music to an older audio device that does not support Bluetooth.
AirFly Pro Applications
You can use the AirFly Pro in the following situations:
- In Airplanes: Use the AirFly Pro to connect your wireless headphones to the in-flight entertainment system, which usually only has a headphone jack.
- At the Fitness Equipment: Use your wireless headphones with fitness equipment at the gym that only has a headphone jack.
- Music equipment: Amplifiers, electric guitars and other instruments with a 3.5mm jack connection so that you can stream or listen to the music produced wirelessly
- In the car: Connect your phone wirelessly to an older car stereo system without Bluetooth by plugging the AirFly Pro into the AUX input.
- Home use: Connect wireless headphones to devices such as a TV, game console, or older stereo systems that do not have Bluetooth.
AirFly battery life and charging
The AirFly has a standard battery life of more than 20 hours, the AirFly Pro even lasts longer than 25 hours. Using the USB-C connection and included cable, you can fully charge the Bluetooth transmitter in 2 hours. Of course, you can charge the AirFly and use it at the same time.
Twelve South AirFly in practice
My user experience with the Twelve South AirFly Pro is generally positive. The connection is established quickly and the memory automatically connects the headphones when you turn on the AirFly. The sound quality is excellent, but the stability can vary depending on the environment and the device used, but that is the case with any Bluetooth device.
Pair AirPods
- Place the AirPods (Pro) in the charging case
- Set the switch on the AirFly to TX
- Press and hold the power button for 4 seconds
- The AirFly LED will flash orange and white
- Open the AirPods charging case
- Press the pairing button until the LED flashes white
- Pairing is established, LED status changes to green
Of course, you can also pair the AirPods Max to the AirFly this way. Remove the headphones from the smart case and press the noise control button (long button) until the light flashes white.
In addition, you can pair all other wireless headphones, earphones and hearing aids this way. Activate pairing mode on the AirFly, then activate pairing mode on the headphones and the connection will be established automatically.
Auto connect
If you want to use the AirFly, you can turn it on and the nearest paired headphones will connect to the device. It is recommended to turn off Bluetooth on other devices. That is, turn off Bluetooth on your iPhone so that the AirPods do not automatically connect to this device.
Once the AirFly is connected, you can turn Bluetooth on your iPhone again and use it. If you turn the AirFly off, the AirPods will immediately connect to your Apple devices again the next time without having to manually connect them via the Bluetooth settings.
Bluetooth receiver
Finally, you can also use the AirFly Pro as a Bluetooth receiver. To do this, you need to set the switch from TX to RX. As soon as you turn on the AirFly, it will appear in the list of Bluetooth devices on your iPhone, for example. Connect and select the AirFly as output in the Music app, for example. This way, you can turn any speaker into a Bluetooth speaker; it couldn’t be easier.
Conclusion: Twelve South AirFly Pro
REVIEW SCORE
The Twelve South AirFly Pro makes it easy and quick to use wireless headphones for your in-flight entertainment system, gym equipment, or anywhere else where you have a wired connection but no Bluetooth connection. Simply plug the AirFly into the jack to use your AirPods or headphones.
Thanks to the duo function, you can pair two headphones at the same time, which is useful for game consoles or tablets in the car. In addition, the Pro models also contain a receiver so that you can use the AirFly as a Bluetooth receiver for, for example, the entertainment system in your older car or stereo system at home.
- Easy installation and connection
- Can connect two headphones simultaneously
- Bluetooth transmitter and receiver
- Adds Bluetooth to any speaker with a headphone jack
- Long battery life
- Manual required due to many pressing actions and LED status
Buy Twelve South AirFly Pro
The Twelve South AirFly is available in four different versions starting at €49.99 (recommended retail price). The prices for the AirFly Pro can be found below. The Deluxe version can be purchased on the Twelve South website for €79.99.
