I finally got APTX-HD streaming from Roon to my APTX-HD compatible headset on iPhone!
With BT-W3 from Creative Labs (make sure is this model, Creative Labs has an older device BT-W2 which does NOT have APTX-HD) https://us.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-bt-w3I and the USB to lightning adapter. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD821AM/A/lightning-to-usb-camera-adapter
No “Not enough Power” that kind of warning from the phone when connected. Also has an LED (Yellow means APTX-HD Codec is used) to show what codec is using.
See signal path screenshot below
Just to note, same device on my Win10 Laptop is only 16-bit instead of 24-bit on iPhone.
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Didn’t think iOS supported APTX at all.
Yes, iOS device does not have APTX-HD codec natively. That’s why you need those extra devices, a USB Dongle (BT-W3) and a Lightning to USB adapter.
It is a workaround, not “out of the box solution” for iPhone
Let me update the title to less the confusion.
It is more like connecting to an external DAC with APTX-HD output.
Similar to people getting Audioquest’s Dragonfly DAC and use that on the iPhone for their high-end headphones.
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How’s the quality? Numerous reports on amazon reviews for this thing, that the quality itself isn’t that great, even though it’s aptX HD compatible.
If you read the review on Amazon, most of the 1-star reviews were about on the older model BT-W2 which does not have APTX-HD.
I compared the quality from my iPhone+BT-W2 vs FiiO-M11, both on Nuraloop, and I can’t tell the difference.
I tried on WI-1000X and also, I can’t tell the difference neither, both iPhone+BT-W2 or FiiO-M11 with APTX-HD sounds great to me on the same track.
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Ok, got it.
What about exclusive mode? I’ve noticed you’ve settted it up, so hypothetically I can plug it in the computer and give roon all abilities to control it from the roon app, right?
Yep, the app will control the volume.
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I have done this with iphone and BTW3 but the diff color LEDs don’t show what codec is active?
@Roman_Benvenuti, I am not quite sure what you’re asking…
This is from their website and you can tell from the color of the LED what codec it is running. (same information can be found on the product insert which comes with the product)
Sometime it will default back to SBC or aptx, you can press the button once to change to back to aptx-HD (yellow LED)
Its strange, Even though I’m connected to my sennheiser true wireless momentum 2 earbuds, the BTw3 still flashes blue, the LED doesnt change color
@Roman_Benvenuti , try pressing the button and see if it will change from blue to green.
According to Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2
Your earbuds can do SBC, AAC, and APTX, but not APTX-HD or APTX-LL
I tried this option as well.
It does work, but the sound is very low, even on a maximum volume level.
Seems to be needs more power or maybe chip itself is limited.
Ended up returning back.
Any updated solution to make working iPhone and most recent AptX adaptive? I want to get the new Sennheiser Truewireless Momentum 3 for my iPhone 13 Pro.
As they all seem to be USB-C now, has anyone sourced a lightning to USB-C adapter that works will the latest Creative adapters?
I have my iPhone 13 Pro Max working with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones with the aptX Adaptive codec. The sound is outstanding with Roon and Qobuz. There is a huge gap between the Momentum 4 and the Sony WH-1000XM4 that I still own working with an Android phone with the LDAC codec. The pictures show the three required devices.
At the beginning it is a bit confusing. Phone calls come in thru a regular Bluetooth connection between the iPhone and the Momentum 4. For music the Sennheiser BTD 600 Bluetooth Dongle - USB A / USB-C Adapter connected to the Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter connects to the Momentum 4 with the aptX Adaptive codec. The Momentum 4 allow the connection to 2 different devices simultaneously on Bluetooth. The app from Sennheiser creates the confusion. Soon you will realize that you will not use the app. It is quite simple!
Just to follow-up with my experiences here.
I realized belatedly that the BT-3 and BT-4 both come with usb-C to usb-A adapters in the box.
Naturally I bought the latest BT-4, and sadly, it’s reported power draw is too much for directly connecting to the iPhone - you have to add an inline usb hub (the actual drain is apparently fine). This one was the smallest I could find: Amazon.com: USB 3.0 Hub, VIENON Aluminium 3-Port USB Hub USB Splitter USB Expander for Laptop, Xbox, Flash Drive, HDD, Console, Printer, Camera,Keyborad, Mouse : Electronics
On a whim, I went back and bought the BT-3 and it works without the hub, so much more convenient.
Lesson here - go buy the BT-3 while it is still available.
I didn’t try the Sennheiser one.
And yes, the sound over APTX is very noticeably crisper and livelier to me than the native Apple bluetooth - well worth the minor inconvenience of a dongle for me.
Next experiment - see if the BT3 works with any USB-C connectors in order to drop the usb-C to usb-a adapter. Will check in again as I get to that.
I have the BT3 but haven’t used it for a while. I’m sure it gave me aptx with the MTW1, but I can’t get anything but SBC with the MTW2. Once paired it goes to straight to blue SBC light and pressing the mode button seems to have no effect.
Any ideas?
I have the BT-W4 and are using it with iPads that have USB-C and it works perfect. No need for adaptors or anything.
With B&O Beoplay H95 the connection is APTX Adaptive, and using the iPad with Roon → BT-W4 → Beoplay H95 sounds amazing (but still better with my wired rig)
I believe the iPads put out enough power to run the dongle, but the iPhones don’t. I’ve seen other posts with users being successful with the Sennheiser BTD-600 being partnered with iPads but getting the ‘insufficient power’ error with iPhones.
My ideal solution would be iPhone > camera kit adapter > aptx dongle. Anyone know of a dongle that definitely works in this config?
