Bluetooth mystery.

[Kevin Underdown]

I may have uncovered one of the great mysteries of current times:

I have two android devices, a Lenovo k5 pro phone and an Alldocube iplay40 pro tablet, both of which support aptX codecs.

I have two Bluetooth amplifiers, a Topping VX3 and a BRZHIFI PA-04 both of which support aptX codecs.

Whatever combination of Bluetooth source and Bluetooth amplifier I use I can only make use of SBC and AAC codecs.

Does anyone know the secret to unlocking and using the aptX codecs? Yes I have tried this in developer options on both the Lenovo and the Alldocube and they will only ever let me use SBC and AAC codecs.

Any help/advice would be life-saving.

Many thanks.

 

[mikedt]

I may have uncovered one of the great mysteries of current times:

I have two android devices, a Lenovo k5 pro phone and an Alldocube iplay40 pro tablet, both of which support aptX codecs.

I have two Bluetooth amplifiers, a Topping VX3 and a BRZHIFI PA-04 both of which support aptX codecs.

Whatever combination of Bluetooth source and Bluetooth amplifier I use I can only make use of SBC and AAC codecs.

Does anyone know the secret to unlocking and using the aptX codecs? Yes I have tried this in developer options on both the Lenovo and the Alldocube and they will only ever let me use SBC and AAC codecs.

Any help/advice would be life-saving.

Many thanks.

For the Topping VX3, I can only find a Topping MX3 on their website. https://www.tpdz.net/productinfo/398300.html
Which has NO mention of aptX in the specs, so I 'd assume that it does NOT support aptX.
And the BRZHIFI PA-04, I can only find that on Taobao(in Chinese). https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=617772234994
Which does mention support for aptX and aptX-HD.

Apparently the Lenovo K5 pro is running Android 7. https://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_k5-9143.php
AFAIK support for aptX is only available with Android 8.1 or later. What about the tablet, what Android version is that running?

You are correct about going into Developer settings, but connected BT devices will only enable what they can actually support, here it does sound like SBC and AAC only with this phone.
.

 

[Kevin Underdown]

Thanks for your response. I attach a copy of the Topping VX3 "user manual". On checking my Lenovo phone I am told it's Android version is 8.1.0. and the Alldocube tablet is running Android 11. The BRZHIFI PA-04 is supplied with the CSR8675 Bluetooth device.

 

[mikedt]

Thanks for your response. I attach a copy of the Topping VX3 "user manual". On checking my Lenovo phone I am told it's Android version is 8.1.0. and the Alldocube tablet is running Android 11. The BRZHIFI PA-04 is supplied with the CSR8675 Bluetooth device.

That seems ok. In the Developer settings BT options are you actually seeing aptX as an option on the phone or the tablet?

I've got a Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra with Android 11 and that can connect to my Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones with aptX, as well as LDAC, AAC and SBC. But other BT devices I've got, the aptX and LDAC options are shaded/disabled, because those devices don't support them.

 

[Kevin Underdown]

That seems ok. In the Developer settings BT options are you actually seeing aptX as an option on the phone or the tablet?

I've got a Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra with Android 11 and that can connect to my Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones with aptX, as well as LDAC, AAC and SBC. But other BT devices I've got, the aptX and LDAC options are shaded/disabled, because those devices don't support them.

 

[Kevin Underdown]

Like you I can see all current Bluetooth options but only SBC and AAC are available, the rest being shaded, hence my original question.

 

[mikedt]

Like you I can see all current Bluetooth options but only SBC and AAC are available, the rest being shaded, hence my original question.

So I'm now thinking that these Chinese BT amps don't actually support aptX, despite what their specs might state. I know from experience the stated specs for some off-brand Chinese products can sometimes be just wrong. If these amps did actually support aptX, then it would be available on the phone, e.g. like with my Sony headphones.

There's still many BT audio devices that only support SBC, no AAC, with SBC being the mandatory codec for the A2DP stereo music profile. Anything else is optional.

The thing is, aptX is a proprietary codec that has to be licensed from Qualcomm, and any manufacturer that wishes to incorporate aptX into their devices, they must pay thousands of $$$ to Qualcomm for the privilege. Same with Sony's LDAC codec, that has to be licensed as well for device manufacturers.

 

[Kevin Underdown]

I think Topping are a genuine company and the user guide for the VX3 amplifier states that it supports aptX, and I believe Lenovo can be considered to be a reputable company so why doesn't my Lenove K5 pro running Android 8.1 connect to my Topping VX3 with anything other than SBC or AAC?

 

[mikedt]

I think Topping are a genuine company and the user guide for the VX3 amplifier states that it supports aptX, and I believe Lenovo can be considered to be a reputable company so why doesn't my Lenove K5 pro running Android 8.1 connect to my Topping VX3 with anything other than SBC or AAC?

Lenovo are certainly a well-known reputable global company, and I'm sure your phone is OK. But as for Topping, they're just one of hundreds of manufacturers of these things in Guangdong Province, that only sells online from China. So it really wouldn't surprise me if their product specs and claims are inaccurate. I live in China, and I'm quire familiar with how things can be here, especially with some tech products. Maybe a reason why I have a Samsung phone, used with Sony and Bose headphones.

In theory, and given the stated specs, these BT amps should support aptX with your phone and tablet. Maybe try contacting Topping, and see if they can suggest anything?
Guangzhou TOPPING Electronics & Technology co., LTD
Add: 26th Jiaomen Road, Huangge, Nansha, Guangzhou, China.
ZIP: 511455
Tel(Important for shipping or return): +86-20-37219489
Technology support & after sales service: support @ tpdz.net

Good luck!

 

[Kevin Underdown]

I tried what you suggested and wrote to the email address you provided but it was returned to sender, address unknown so maybe you're right about them.