aptX Adaptive / aptX Lossless USB Transmitters

[lctang]

All the latest files are here but I am not aware if there is some guide to Cross-flash between models

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/wm0nsvo31p4jq/KB8_KB8P_KB9_KB9P

I just try n error if same chip same function in same manufacturer it will be possible flash it of course there will be some risk

 

[Blacklands]

Just wanted to report that the Qudelix 5K received a new firmware, and is now able to read and display the current bitrate for aptX Adaptive.

I've tested this out with my Sennheiser BTD 600 (which, by the way, now has a firmware updater tool, for Windows and MacOS, yay), and I can see the bitrate changing in real-time. I've walked out of the room and saw the bitrate drop down as the codec tried to keep the connection stable (the BTD 600 has pretty poor range, likely due to being so tiny). I can also see the bitrate changing depending on what I'm playing (e.g. podcast vs music). Pretty interesting, to be able to see the numbers there.

 

[helmutcheese]

Can you post a photo of the screen to give us an idea?

 

[444906]

Just wanted to report that the Qudelix 5K received a new firmware, and is now able to read and display the current bitrate for aptX Adaptive.

I've tested this out with my Sennheiser BTD 600 (which, by the way, now has a firmware updater tool, for Windows and MacOS, yay), and I can see the bitrate changing in real-time. I've walked out of the room and saw the bitrate drop down as the codec tried to keep the connection stable (the BTD 600 has pretty poor range, likely due to being so tiny). I can also see the bitrate changing depending on what I'm playing (e.g. podcast vs music). Pretty interesting, to be able to see the numbers there.

Where did you buy it? Do you have a link to an EU store?

 

[Blacklands]

I've attached a screenshot from the Qudelix Android app (some irrelevant parts cut out).
The bitrate number updates roughly every second or so.

Also, I got the Sennheiser BTD 600 from an electronics store chain here in Germany (Saturn). Took a bit of searching to find a place that had it. I actually just checked again, and now multiple different stores seem to have it stocked, for about 35€.
I don't know any EU-wide stores that sell it, sorry! But I would assume it can be found with some searching.

 

[mcnaugha]

There is now a QCC5171 BT upgrade cable with LDAC support too.

I’m trying to find if there’s firmware updates for these QingYin cables. Anyone any idea?

 

[Blacklands]

By the way, has anyone ever found a simple LDAC transmitter?
Just a simple transmitter, not one of these combo devices that do a ton of things. Like what we're (mostly) talking about in this thread, but for LDAC. Just a USB dongle, basically. The only device I have that can transmit LDAC is my phone.

For some reason, these seem to be nonexistent. I didn't expect this to be harder to find than an aptX Adaptive one...
(Please ignore if this goes too far off-topic for this thread.)

 

[mcnaugha]

By the way, has anyone ever found a simple LDAC transmitter?
Just a simple transmitter, not one of these combo devices that do a ton of things. Like what we're talking about in this thread, but for LDAC. The only thing I have that can transmit LDAC is my phone.

For some reason, these seem to be nonexistent. I didn't expect this to be harder to find than an aptX Adaptive one...
(Please ignore if this goes too far off-topic for this thread.)

The FiiO BTA30 Pro but it’s far from dongle-size.

I also ran with this for a bit (HiBy R3 Pro Saber):

Neither solution was great for portability.

A Taobao seller linked to the HeiSen Tech, said there was a prototype USB dongle set to deliver aptX Lossless and LDAC. Unfortunately, that has failed to materialise yet. However these new QCC5171 cables doing LDAC gives a little hope that something may still surface.

 

[DeJaVu]

The bitrate says how fast data moves between transmitter and receiver but it does not say anything about the data itself. It’s a bit like broadband speed in that sense. The data (audio in this case) is manipulated differently, by different codecs, before it even hits the airwaves. The other codecs use compression algorithms that retain way more detail than SBC

50% higher bandwidth of the SBC codec would be able to catch up and surpass imo, though its just a speculation on my end(thats wht we have in common on this particular subject ) measurements would be needed to have the definitive verdict.

Chipsets since 2019 use r2 which goes up to ~800kbps

When i hear Adaptive i dont include aptx lossless in my mind, even though its part of it, still fresh and havent gotten into the habbit. And afaik Adaptive(sans lossless) goes up to 420kbps.
First time i hear of this, is there actually any device that works at 800kbps?

SBC doesn’t support anything above 16-bit/48kHz. That’s not an issue for gamers but it’s an issue for audiophiles wanting to listen to Hi-Res sources wirelessly.

Thats irrelevant imo, you dont really need more. Though im aware some people are of a different opinion.

aptX Lossless pushes this up to 1,200kbps and that’s been enough for them to squeeze through data that would normally need a minimum of ~1,400kbps when played locally by a playback device.

Fun thing i found out couple of days ago... With the BTR3K and Shanling UP2 SBC can go to 550-600kbps before drops start, but with the Qudelix 5K it can go up to 1414kbps without dropping out though there is some artifacts here and there at that rate, as im not in the cleanest 2.4GHz environment. Now thats some measurements id like to see, SBC(lossless?) against LDAC and aptx lossless .
Do some tests with the devices you have if you have the time, curious which one will go how far with SBC and the alternative a2dp driver.

 

[DeJaVu]

By the way, has anyone ever found a simple LDAC transmitter?
Just a simple transmitter, not one of these combo devices that do a ton of things. Like what we're (mostly) talking about in this thread, but for LDAC. Just a USB dongle, basically. The only device I have that can transmit LDAC is my phone.

For some reason, these seem to be nonexistent. I didn't expect this to be harder to find than an aptX Adaptive one...
(Please ignore if this goes too far off-topic for this thread.)

Its pretty simple for Windows 10/11, the Alternative a2dp driver that has been discussed here, and practically any bluetooth dongle with EDR, or built in bt. Personally tested with dongles with CSR8510 and BCM20702 chips.

 

[mcnaugha]

50% higher bandwidth of the SBC codec would be able to catch up and surpass imo, though its just a speculation on my end(thats wht we have in common on this particular subject ) measurements would be needed to have the definitive verdict.


When i hear Adaptive i dont include aptx lossless in my mind, even though its part of it, still fresh and havent gotten into the habbit. And afaik Adaptive(sans lossless) goes up to 420kbps.
First time i hear of this, is there actually any device that works at 800kbps?

Thats irrelevant imo, you dont really need more. Though im aware some people are of a different opinion.

Fun thing i found out couple of days ago... With the BTR3K and Shanling UP2 SBC can go to 550-600kbps before drops start, but with the Qudelix 5K it can go up to 1414kbps without dropping out though there is some artifacts here and there at that rate, as im not in the cleanest 2.4GHz environment. Now thats some measurements id like to see, SBC(lossless?) against LDAC and aptx lossless .
Do some tests with the devices you have if you have the time, curious which one will go how far with SBC and the alternative a2dp driver.

SBC has already begun to throw away data before it even gets to the transmission rate stage. It was never designed to retain quality as no one cared back in the day. It was just an achievement to have wireless audio in the first place. If SBC was so great, it wouldn’t be getting replaced by LC3. Neither would anyone else have bothered to make a competing codec.

Any device saying it supports aptX Adaptive with 24/96 should be capable of up to 860kbps as this was the design. Only the first iteration was limited to 24/48 at up to 420kbps. I don’t know why this is so poorly known.

 

[DeJaVu]

SBC has already begun to throw away data before it even gets to the transmission rate stage. It was never designed to retain quality as no one cared back in the day. It was just an achievement to have wireless audio in the first place. If SBC was so great, it wouldn’t be getting replaced by LC3. Neither would anyone else have bothered to make a competing codec.

Youre missing the point, 50% more bandwidth is 50% more bandwidth. Crappier codec with higher bitrate can beat(maybe not) better one with lower bitrate. Though without any empiric proof to support either of our assertions, its beating a dead horse.

Any device saying it supports aptX Adaptive with 24/96 should be capable of up to 860kbps as this was the design. Only the first iteration was limited to 24/48 at up to 420kbps. I don’t know why this is so poorly known.

Only spec ive seen is the one from the aptx page for Adaptive, and its stated as just 420kbps there.
Qudelix 5K, which as of the latest firmware can display real-time aptx Adaptive bitrate, shows the bitrate at around 280kbps when paired with KB8P dongle as per a user testimonial on the qudelix forums.
Is there any paper/spec documenting the 860kbps? Id be curious to look at that.

 

[mcnaugha]

Youre missing the point, 50% more bandwidth is 50% more bandwidth. Crappier codec with higher bitrate can beat(maybe not) better one with lower bitrate. Though without any empiric proof to support either of our assertions, its beating a dead horse.


Only spec ive seen is the one from the aptx page for Adaptive, and its stated as just 420kbps there.
Qudelix 5K, which as of the latest firmware can display real-time aptx Adaptive bitrate, shows the bitrate at around 280kbps when paired with KB8P dongle as per a user testimonial on the qudelix forums.
Is there any paper/spec documenting the 860kbps? Id be curious to look at that.

No you’ve missed the point from the start. I already said way back at the beginning of your debate that the bit rate/bandwidth has absolutely no link to the quality/detail/data quantity between different codecs. What you’re saying is completely untrue but I don’t have the inclination to help you. I’m 45 with a Computing Science degree and 24 year career in high-end IT. I’m too old and tired right now to help you become enlightened.

AptX.com is a poorly maintained marketing site. I wish it wasn’t but it is. Again, digging out the confirmation for you isn’t something I have the inclination to do right now.

I believe the Snapdragon 888 was the first SoC to get the 24/96 860kbps version. The information is out there. Others on this topic know it.

 

[DeJaVu]

I already said way back at the beginning of your debate that the bit rate/bandwidth has absolutely no link to the quality/detail/data quantity between different codecs.

I understand that, but there is a tipping point, do you understand that?

but I don’t have the inclination to help you. I’m 45 with a Computing Science degree and 24 year career in high-end IT. I’m too old and tired right now to help you become enlightened.

Isnt that the reason people are here, to debate and teach or get taught .
I dont know you, neither do you, so that 24 year career in IT statement means nothing to me, and not putting the slightest effort to at least back up what youre saying with some examples of devices/tests, doesnt inspire any confidence. You can have 24 year career in IT and know only how to setup a router , too broad of a term, and you should know that being in "IT".
I do like to be wrong and learn something in the process, but your kind of attitude doesnt really contribute to that. "Enlighten" when youre feeling inclined, but avoid snarky comments in the meantime(or did i read the tone wrong?). Or dont reply at all, would be the more constructive thing to do in the conversation.

 

[444906]

No you’ve missed the point from the start. I already said way back at the beginning of your debate that the bit rate/bandwidth has absolutely no link to the quality/detail/data quantity between different codecs. What you’re saying is completely untrue but I don’t have the inclination to help you. I’m 45 with a Computing Science degree and 24 year career in high-end IT. I’m too old and tired right now to help you become enlightened.

AptX.com is a poorly maintained marketing site. I wish it wasn’t but it is. Again, digging out the confirmation for you isn’t something I have the inclination to do right now.

I believe the Snapdragon 888 was the first SoC to get the 24/96 860kbps version. The information is out there. Others on this topic know it.

Yes, my Zenfone 6 which has the SD 855 goes up to 24/48 max (first Aptx Adaptive iteration) and my friend's OP 9 Pro (SD 888) can do 24/96 easily (second revision of the codec). Thus the reason the same song sounds a bit more natural on his phone.