Are you looking for a way to connect your phone/device to your car’s sound system wirelessly? A Bluetooth FM transmitter could be just what you are looking for and in this review we are going to be looking at the CSYLX BT-X7. We have tested the transmitter for a number of months now and will give you our recommendation on whether or not it is a good buy.
Table of Contents
Other Similar Transmitters
Below we have listed some FM transmitters that are essentially the same as the CSYLX BT-X7, but just sold under a different brand.
- LIHAN HY82
- YDA BT-X7
- LTS BT-X7
How Much Does the CSYLX BT-X7 FM Transmitter Cost?
We paid US$9.98 for the BT-X7 about 12 months ago, which is at the very low end of what these transmitters cost. Most similar models now range in the $13.99 to $17.99 mark, so they have gone up a bit in price.
Specifications
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Product Input | 12 – 24V |
| USB Charger Output | 3.1A and 1.0A |
| Playing Sources | Bluetooth |
| Dimensions | 73 x 40 x 49 mm (2.87 x 1.57 x 1.9 inches) |
| Frequency Range | 88.1 to 107.9 MHz |
First Impressions (Packaging, etc,)
The BT-X7 came in a very plain box and definitely had the worst packaging of all the FM transmitters we have tested. In fact, it actually looked like the box had already been opened so it may have been a return. Inside the box you get the BT-X7 FM transmitter and very basic instructions. The instructions themselves had quite a lot of spelling/grammar mistakes, and almost seems like a Google translate job.
The transmitter itself feels fairly robust and is made from a black plastic material. There are two USB ports on the front, along with controls for the frequency, song playing, etc.
Overall, first impressions of the BT-X7 were worse than any other transmitter we have tested so far, but it is significantly cheaper than other options.
Connectivity
Connecting the BT-X7 to your phone and car’s radio was a really simply process and is much like connecting any other FM transmitter.
With the BT-X7 inserted into your vehicle’s lighter socket, adjust the frequency on your car’s radio to a free channel (you should hear some white/static noise). From here press the FM button on the transmitter and then use the forward and back buttons to adjust the frequency to the same one as on your car’s radio.
You then go into the Bluetooth devices list on your phone, tablet, etc. and select the BT-X7. Ours connected instantly, but you may need to give it a second. All this went smoothly for us and we had no troubles, so a thumbs up in this department.
Sound Quality
While first impressions weren’t the greatest, perhaps the BT-X7 can make up in the sound quality department?
Unfortunately, once again CSYLX’s product is the worst FM transmitter we have tested in this department. The sound quality was pretty muddy and unclear. Additionally, we got quite a lot of static/white noise which to us is far more annoying than the muddy audio quality.
All in all, if you are looking for something with satisfying audio quality, spring the extra coin for something like the Nulaxy KM30 or Avantree CK310.
Playing Music
The main option to play music through the BT-X7 is to use an app or program on your device such as Spotify or iTunes. Like some other transmitters, the CSYLX’s product can play music off a USB thumb drive.
Controlling music with the BT-X7 is fairly limited. You can skip a song by pressing the forward button or go back to the previous song by pressing the back rewind button. Pressing the phone button will pause the music.
Calling
The call quality is much the same as the quality when playing music, so it isn’t the best. To receive a call you press the phone button and do the same to end it. There is also a mute button to mute the call. All pretty standard stuff with a Bluetooth FM transmitter and we had no issues when testing the calling function.
Charging
The BT-X7 offers two charging ports. The main one is a 3.1A port, while the other is a 1A one that is also used to play music off. This is pretty good for such a cheap transmitter as some more expensive products only have one charging port and some even have none. The 1A port is very slow, but it is handy to have if you need to charge two devices at once.
Conclusion
The BT-X7 is by far the cheapest FM transmitter we have tested, but should you buy it? In all honesty, we wouldn’t. It is only a few dollars more to spring for something like the Nulaxy KM30 or the IMDEN C57. These transmitters offer better audio quality, features and more. Additionally, the way the BT-X7 is angled can be an issue in some cars, which is another downside.
If you would like to see a full comparison of some of the FM transmitters we have tested, ou can read our guide here.
