Homespot Bluetooth Adapter for Nintendo Switch Review | MacSources
Pair your favorite Bluetooth Headphones with your Nintendo Switch.
My father and I have enjoyed video games since I was a young boy. With the release of the Borderlands 1/2/Presequel combo for the Nintendo Switch, he and I yearned for the option to loot while on-the-go. Without a built-in Bluetooth option for the Nintendo Switch, we either needed to search for a Bluetooth Adapter or to simply utilize a pair of 3.5mm corded headphones. Feeling the latter option to be unacceptable, I wanted to find a way to pair my AirPods Pro with my Switch; after a little research into Bluetooth options, I found information about the Homespot Adapter. I discussed this with my father, as was our custom to regularly share our research, new tech, cool gadgets, etc. I was certainly surprised when he purchased one for each of us as an early Father’s Day present.
The Homespot Bluetooth Adapter for NSwitch arrived in a 4 inches long by 3 3/8 inches tall by 5/8 inches thick retail case. Following a Nintendo-esque red/blue color scheme, the Homespot definitely provided a bit of nostalgia. The red-colored top and bottom panels displayed the Homespot name with the E rotated counterclockwise onto its back. The blue-colored left panel had a small white “Designed for NSwitch” icon and “HS3 NS002.” The white-colored right-side panel displayed the Homespot adapter, a red “Designed for NSwitch” icon and a red/blue semicircular icon that resembled Pepsi’s colors. The rear panel showed cartoon diagrams of the Homespot Adapter with the NSwitch in handheld and TV modes. Along the bottom of the panel, you will find an SKU barcode, some legalese, and several of the product manufacturing labels. My favorite panel had to be the cover. From the red box with “Designed for NSwitch” in the white negative space, to the bold “Bluetooth Adapter for NSwitch” along the bottom, to the arrow identifying the internal mic, to a clear view of the lower edge of the Switch, the design, and utility were easily deduced.
Within the box, you will find a quaint 3 inches wide by 2 7/8 inches tall black nylon back with Velcro closure and a small Homespot cloth tag. Within the bag, you will find a 1 3/8 inches long by 1/2 inches wide USB-A/3.0 to USB-C adapter, which will allow you to plug the Homespot Adapter into the Switch console in docked mode. I removed the cloth bag and was a bit surprised that the main device was independently packaged outside of the bag. Instead, there was another smaller plastic bag with the 0.17 ounce adapter and a slightly larger bag with the instruction manual and the experience card. The 10 panel instruction manual unfolded easily and had a small black box numbering system along the right side of the panel. The initial panel showed the adapter, the pouch, warranty card USB-C to USB-A adapter, and user guide. The second panel showed a diagramed cartoon of the HS3 NS002 Homespot device. The USB-C plug was present along the top of the 1 7/8 inches long by 8/16 inches wide by 3/8 inches thick adapter. Along the front of the device, you will find a blue P1 button, three LED indicators, and the red P2 button. More than simply a diagram, the panel also detailed the function and the features of the buttons/lights. For example, the P1/P2 buttons could be pressed to connect or to toggle the internal microphone on/off. If the buttons were held they could pair to a set of headphones. The central Codec LED provided information about the status of the connection (off=SBC, Blue=aptX, Amber=aptX Low Latency). The other two LED represented the status of the P1 LED and P2 LED respectively. A green light meant that the microphone was off, an amber light suggested that the microphone was on, and a flashing green light meant that the device was connected/pairing. The internal microphone was located along the lower edge nearest the red P2 button.
To set up the device, you can follow the instructions on panel three. The instructions suggested turning on the NSwitch and then to navigate to the Home Menu. Next, insert the Homespot with the red/blue buttons facing the front of the Switch. When inserted, the LED along the front will begin to flash, indicating that the device is pairing. Unlike our smartphones, the device enters pairing mode automatically when inserted. This means that you do not have to navigate to Settings, to Bluetooth and then select an option from a list. Simply make sure that your headphones are in pairing mode and they should connect automatically. To pair the AirPods Pro, all I needed to do was to press the pairing button and to place the earbud case nearby. If you have trouble with this step, consider navigating to the Bluetooth section on your smart device and forget the device from the list. Once the first pair of headphones are connected, you can repeat the sequence with another pair of headphones. Hold the P2 button for three seconds, power on the second pair of headphones, and make sure that they are also in pairing mode. When connected, both of the headphones should receive information from the NSwitch. When powered off and then powered on, the headphones will automatically reconnect to a previously paired headset. If not, you can manually reconnect them as listed above.
My only complaint about the device was that it did not have passthrough power. When running low on power, you will need to unplug your adapter and then place your Switch into the dock or to plug it into the Genki Covert Dock For Nintendo Switch. With either of those methods, I could continue to enjoy Bluetooth sound thanks to the USB-C to USB-A adapter. By plugging the Homespot into the adapter and then the USB-A port into the Switch OEM Dock or the Genki Covert Dock, I was still able to use my paired earphones. I wish that the setup had the ability to charge while using this device in its portable handheld mode. However, this was not possible based on the design of the product.
To summarize, If you desire to pair your favorite Bluetooth headphones with your Switch, look no further than the Homespot device. I have since added the Homespot Adaptor to my PowerA Messenger bag, and have enjoyed several rounds of Borderlands with my father. I was able to enjoy the crisp/clear sounds of my AirPods Pro, to include the noise-canceling technology. I was pleased with the secure connection, with the simple pairing process, with the ability to toggle the microphone on/off, with the size/shape of the device, and I loved that I did not experience any lag/latency/lost signal. The best part of the tech was the ability to experience the magic of Borderlands with my dad. Honestly, I could not have imagined a better gift from my dad.
Learn more about the Homespot Adapter for NSwitch
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Originally published at https://macsources.com on June 18, 2020.
