Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox – The Blu-ray Internet Receiver

The new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox should prove to be a universal system equipped for a wide variety of tasks, combining everything from Blu-ray player to streaming via WiFi and Bluetooth to radio, an amplifier and even speakers.

The new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox continues a tradition that the German company Audioblock GmbH has been following with great success for some time now, namely to rely on particularly versatile all-in-one solutions that can be used flexibly. The user is thus to be offered a system in a particularly compact, at the same time elegant form, which is easy to integrate into any living space, and yet can cover a wide range of functions.

In the case of the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox, this goes so far that the user actually acquires a solution that lives up to the term all-in-one, because not even speaker systems are needed here, because everything is on board, starting from the Blu-ray player to streaming and radio to the amplifier and speaker.

Noble in design, high-quality in workmanship

The manufacturer refers to the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox as a solution that presents itself in a new design; in fact, this system features a look that has been revised in many details and thus joins the company’s current product range.

Of course, what speaks first of all for the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox is its compact appearance, because it measures no more than 540 x 120 x 330 mm, bringing it to exactly 11 kg.

Thus, it easily fits into any living environment, finds its place almost everywhere and thus already fulfills the most important requirements to function as a flexible audio system around the TV. And this is exactly where it belongs, because ultimately the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox serves as an alternative to a soundbar, but with a remarkable range of functions.

The case is made entirely of metal, with the front being made of aluminum. The customer can choose between a silver and black version, whereby in the case of the silver variant, the speaker covers in black form a particularly appealing contrast.

These loudspeaker systems take up a good two-thirds of the front, and a generously sized color display is found in the center, which should always display all information clearly. Time and date are displayed here in standby mode. This display is flanked by a row of buttons that guarantee convenient control directly on the device in combination with a rotary encoder.

Flexibility – Most diverse sources

Impressively, the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray boombox, as already described, offers enormous flexibility. As the name suggests, the central component is a Blu-ray drive, which can not only play back movies from Blu-ray and DVD, but also audio CDs and MP3 files.

And then there’s the option of streaming, whereby the Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox can be easily integrated into the network via network cable or the integrated WiFi module.

UPnP serves as the basis for music streaming via the network, as the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox is designated as a dlna-certified streaming client and can thus also be used in conjunction with other streaming solutions in the household. Control is taken over by the UNDOK app, which also allows access to streaming offerings such as Spotify, although Spotify Connect is also supported, so you can select the Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox directly via the Spotify app for Apple iOS or Google Android.

Integrated into the network, Internet Radio is also available, so you can access thousands and thousands of radio stations worldwide. This complements the possibilities that the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox offers in terms of radio via its integrated FM and DAB+ tuner. Incidentally, ten station memories are available for FM and DAB+.

It is also essential that the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox has Bluetooth, because this allows you to use smartphones and tablets directly as a source, without having to connect them to the network.

In this context, we must emphasize that the Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox has a Bluetooth transceiver, which means that it can not only receive audio signals, but also send them, so you have the option to control Bluetooth headphones with it. A separate button directly on the front facilitates the pairing of Bluetooth headphones.

Digital and analog interfaces

Of course, you’ll find an HDMI output on the back of the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox first and foremost, to connect it to a TV. In case of need, there is also an analog video out in the form of an RCA connector. For digital audio signals, the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox offers two optical and one coaxial S/PDIF interface, and a USB port on the back and another directly on the front can be used as a source for corresponding storage media, whereby data in MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV and FLAC can be played.

For analog sources, there are of course two line-ins designed as a pair of RCA jacks on the back, another line-in directly on the front, and this solution also has a pre-out and record-out.

And if you don’t use Bluetooth headphones, as already mentioned, but a classic model with a cable, there is of course a suitable connection directly on the front.

Integrated amplifier and speaker

As already mentioned, the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox is a solution that takes the term all-in-one literally; in addition to an integrated amplifier, integrated speakers are also available here.

The manufacturer promises a quite rich performance measured in the compact dimensions of the system, because the two speakers of the new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox integrated directly into the front are fired with 70 watts. A tone control is available to adjust the system to one’s own preferences.

What else there is to say…

The new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox has an integrated alarm clock, sleep timer and comes with a matching system remote control. It also features a remote control learning function, so it can be controlled directly with a TV’s remote control, for example.

Prices and availability

The new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox is said to be available immediately, with a suggested retail price of €1,799. Customers can choose between a black or silver finish, with the manufacturer itself talking about diamond silver as well as sapphire black.

Getting to the point

The new Block BB-200 Hi-Fi Blu-ray Boombox presents itself as a Blu-ray Internet receiver with an integrated speaker system and amplifier with 70 watts after all, Audioblock GmbH designed as an exciting alternative for soundbar systems. In a compact and elegant form, the user gets a solution that presents itself as a flexible audio system for the living room.