aptX Adaptive / aptX Lossless USB Transmitters

[streetbeat]

It's actually worse now. My Jabra Elite 3 is more reliable bluetooth than this.

EDIT:
I think I found the culprit, it seems that my laptop USB Port power is not enough for the bluetooth dongle. I tried directly using BT of my laptop and I haven't have any random turning off of devices. I'm now trying a USB C Hub externally powered by a charger, this is where I'll put the dongle and I haven't experiencing any issues so far

Upon investigating its not power related but more so USB 3.0 port of laptop causes interference and leaking signal causing drops and turning off devices. What I did now is use an USB Hub and put the BT-W6 on the Hub

Wow, thanks for sharing. I really didn't think it could be like that (when receiver is switched off becase of transmitter issues). Though never experienced such issues, it's good to know just in case of anything weird.

 

[tonyt76]

Here's the repository where I host FlooCast for FMA120 as a prebuilt executable for several environments.

You can't upgrade firmware with it (Since we don't have access to qualcomm proprietary library), but it should be far easier to install and use if you aren't familiar with computer stuff.

https://github.com/potatosalad775/FlooCast_Prebuilt

@SilicaGel just curious, are you a dev at Flairmesh?

 

[itchyears]

It's actually worse now. My Jabra Elite 3 is more reliable bluetooth than this.

EDIT:
I think I found the culprit, it seems that my laptop USB Port power is not enough for the bluetooth dongle. I tried directly using BT of my laptop and I haven't have any random turning off of devices. I'm now trying a USB C Hub externally powered by a charger, this is where I'll put the dongle and I haven't experiencing any issues so far

Upon investigating its not power related but more so USB 3.0 port of laptop causes interference and leaking signal causing drops and turning off devices. What I did now is use an USB Hub and put the BT-W6 on the Hub

Glad you got it sorted, trial and error and persistence can sometimes pay off!

I have actually experienced similar issues with usb ports, but I had to resort to an usb 2.0 port rather then 3.0 to reduce and almost fix the crackling/popping issue but I never had an random cut off issue.

I may try and put together some sort of BT fault checking check list, because as you know this is ridiculous when BT stuff doesn't work like it should.

 

[SilicaGel]

@SilicaGel just curious, are you a dev at Flairmesh?

No, I'm just one of the random users

 

[tonyt76]

No, I'm just one of the random users

Ahh ok. How do your builds differ from the official builds? Sorry for the questions, just trying to learn.

 

[itchyears]

Put a rough guide to help others deal with BT connectivity/Issues. Let me know if there is anything else to add, this way can direct anyone to the post and hopefully save much headache.


Having issues with BT devices and connectivity? Here are some things you can try:-

-Try different BT Dongles/Adaptors and other BT transmitters
-Try different BT headphones or BT Buds, not all are built the same.
-Update drivers for all devices (BT dongles/Transmitters and headphones/buds)
-Update Windows drivers and BT chipset drivers/software
-Update Android o/s to latest version
-Try different USB ports, USB C or USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports, sometimes the ports on the front off the PCs, laptops are of poorer quality or lack power so try the ports on the back of PC and try them all.
-remove any adaptors/converters ie C to A, try direct connection
-Try USB hubs with AC power
-Try different BT codecs that your headphones/Buds support, some work better
-Disable Multi-point connectivity to increase BT signal and reliability
-Use shielded (twin or triple shielded better) USB and Power cables
-Remove as many BT or 2.4ghz devices from your room or home, the more devices you have the more chance of BT interference. Ie ditch all your remotes for an all in one remote, usb keyboard and usb mouse, disable BT on devices.
-Move your wireless router to other end of house/room and as far away from your
devices, its well known 2.4ghz wifi band which BT also uses can cause interference
-Split your wireless router into 2 wifi networks (2.4ghz and 5ghz) than move as many devices to the 5ghz band (2.4ghz and BT are on same type of bands) or disable 2.4ghz if possible.
-reduce or remove as many 2.4ghz wifi devices and upgrade them to 5ghz/6ghz.
-Wrap tin foil (3-4 layers) or EMI/BT shielded Covers on AV or BT devices to block/reduce interference to other BT devices such as hps/buds (this could block wifi internet so foil wrap less if this occurs).
-Hardwire your AV devices around your home with ethernet network cables, this reduces wifi signals a lot which are known to cause BT interference. Power ethernet adaptors or long cat 8 ethernet cables (shielded) are good options.

 

[itchyears]

Creative Zen Air Pro Review

Pros
-Good quality construction
-Comfortable tips and fits in ears well
-SBC BT codec stable (tried off several devices)
-Good charging pack, can double up as manual pairing mode
-Good latency with video/lip-sync (even with SBC codec)

Cons
-Firmware was tricky to install (Use manual online at creative site)
-LE audio broken (audio on one ear bud, S24 android 14 and BT-W6)
-Without firmware upgrade, very unstable and buggy audio (disconnections)
-mono or single bud design also, how to confuse and introduce more issues.

Overall the Air Pro can not be recommended to anyone, you really have to go through the manual just to figure out how to switch these on and more importantly the firmware upgrade path before even using these, and while the latest firmware improves stability with audio and connectivity overall, it's still broken with LE audio support.

I tried the device with my mobile phone and when it was that problematic switched
to the creative BT-W6 dongle, given both are creative products and their own website claims you can pair it with an their own LE audio creative dongle it should work right? not really, it feels like Creative need a few more firmware updates to make this product useable and stable.

Very buggy and problematic and lacking LE audio support. ebay is flooded with dozens of these, which explains the nightmare that is this product.

 

[SilicaGel]

Ahh ok. How do your builds differ from the official builds? Sorry for the questions, just trying to learn.

Floogoo already provides an official Windows application through the Microsoft Store, but if you were using MacOS or Linux OS, you had to manually install the required packages and use a terminal application to run the script.

I made my own build to solve this problem. It provides pure Python script as executable - which is easier to install and use for those who aren't familiar with computer stuff.

...But it is generally recommended to use official builds whenever possible, as they contain a proprietary Qualcomm library (which general users like me do not have access to) that is used to update the dongle firmware.

Fortunately, Floogoo started providing their own official builds for MacOS a few days ago, so I guess most people won't need to use my build anymore.

 

[streetbeat]

Creative Zen Air Pro Review

Pros
-Good quality construction
-Comfortable tips and fits in ears well
-SBC BT codec stable (tried off several devices)
-Good charging pack, can double up as manual pairing mode
-Good latency with video/lip-sync (even with SBC codec)

Cons
-Firmware was tricky to install (Use manual online at creative site)
-LE audio broken (audio on one ear bud, S24 android 14 and BT-W6)
-Without firmware upgrade, very unstable and buggy audio (disconnections)
-mono or single bud design also, how to confuse and introduce more issues.

Overall the Air Pro can not be recommended to anyone, you really have to go through the manual just to figure out how to switch these on and more importantly the firmware upgrade path before even using these, and while the latest firmware improves stability with audio and connectivity overall, it's still broken with LE audio support.

I tried the device with my mobile phone and when it was that problematic switched
to the creative BT-W6 dongle, given both are creative products and their own website claims you can pair it with an their own LE audio creative dongle it should work right? not really, it feels like Creative need a few more firmware updates to make this product useable and stable.

Very buggy and problematic and lacking LE audio support. ebay is flooded with dozens of these, which explains the nightmare that is this product.

Nice wrap up.
On LE Audio topic: I think that tech still needs a year or two more for stabilization to become a thing. Last year I had high hopes, but not anymore, decided to enjoy what we have currently instead of waiting for "one ring solution to rule them all".

 

[itchyears]

Nice wrap up.
On LE Audio topic: I think that tech still needs a year or two more for stabilization to become a thing. Last year I had high hopes, but not anymore, decided to enjoy what we have currently instead of waiting for "one ring solution to rule them all".

I literally typed the same pun in my other review, great minds think alike

Yes probably a good year or 2 away, even the eppfun LE transmitter had a glitchy LE audio auracast/broadcast when I tried it, yup aptx adaptive/hd/lossless for now sadly.

I don't think LE audios 20-30ms latency is accurate though but could be wrong, it feels more like aptx adaptives LL 40-50ms to me but I don't have any fancy gear to test it but I can see its performance with a well known YT quick talking video easily.

 

[itchyears]

Creative BT-W6 review

Pros
-Tiny and discrete
-Software app for windows
-Good support firmware/app wise
-Supports entire Snapdragon suite (adaptive Low Latency/High-Music mode/aptx lossless) & full LE audio with LC3/LC3+ (Low latency/High music modes)
-Ability to save 4 separate BT profiles to its internal memory, dongle can be removed and reused on other devices since it remembers last BT codec setting.
example ; you set aptx adaptive low latency on your Cambridge audio wireless buds, the BT-W6 remembers this was your last used BT codec setting.
-Single button tap to quickly switch high (music) and then to low latency mode, which is very handy to switch from music listening to Movie/Gaming duties.


Cons
-2 second cut off during start of audio, but reduces afterwards
-When switching BT codecs, via app (win11) colour led does not change, you need to restart hps/buds to re-establish new link and new BT codec change.
-Could easily lose the device due to size
-No USB C to A adaptor included despite it costing probably 30p
-Design could cause easy breakage on laptop/PC or worse on the mobile phones usb-c port, if it was an flat design it would fix the issue
-unstable/not working with certain devices (Edifier Stax S5 hps) maybe incompatible with other devices?



Summary:
Imo there are 2 things currently holding the BT-W6 back, the 2 second cut off
when audio starts and the firmware/app support since it's still a very new product, but both are livable issues and the firmware updates will more than likely be pushed out.

I recommend you email creative support, make them aware of any issues and they should hopefully respond and fix the issues.

What I did not expect was them to just not work with one of the most hyped musical headphones currently on the market (S5 stax) and even worse incompatible with their own ear buds (airpros) where the audio cuts off.

Clearly the BT-W6 is still one of the best BT dongles on the market but it needs a few firmware and app updates to become an greater product than it already is.

Also wait for Creative or Amazon promos, they usually knock off 10% time to time making it more affordable around £40 over its rrp £50 price.

 

[streetbeat]

-Ability to save 4 profiles to its memory, can be removed and reused on other devices since it remembers last setting.

Thanks for review.
Didn't have a chance to try BT-W6 yet, so... What's that profiles feature you mention? Do you mean they can remember more than one device (heaphones)? I don't see anything related on Creative page unfortunately.

 

[itchyears]

Thanks for review.
Didn't have a chance to try BT-W6 yet, so... What's that profiles feature you mention? Do you mean they can remember more than one device (heaphones)? I don't see anything related on Creative page unfortunately.

Yes exactly that, 4 separate BT device profiles so for example Cambridge Audio P100s you select aptx adaptive BT codec it remembers that last used BT codec, ill re-edit my review to try and make it clearer, its just badly worded.

Yeah it maybe not mentioned but its mentioned in the creative app in windows 11.

 

[BeelzAlBob]

Cons
-2 second cut off during start of audio, but reduces afterwards

The 2-second cutoff seems to happen when first starting music and then only when the bitrate changes, which is pretty common in other audio gear.

 

[itchyears]

The 2-second cutoff seems to happen when first starting music and then only when the bitrate changes, which is pretty common in other audio gear.

Yup it's a bit off a nit pick, I wasn't sure to include it but it does annoy me sometimes lol

I know it feels pointless since it is what it is, but I still complained about it to Creative technical support since other BT transmitters and BT dongles don't have that issue and maybe a long shot someone @Creative tech team fix it with the BT-W7 or beyond.