Bluetooth connection to headphones issues

[gfmucci]

I like to use Bluetooth headphones as a listening option occasionally.

I am experiencing very inconsistent and difficult pairing and connecting between my WiiM Pro Plus streamer and my Cambridge Audio Melomania Bluetooth headphones.

I was able to pair twice (one device twice over two days) over the last 3 days after an hour of attempts each time. At first I thought getting closer (like 1 foot) to the device would help but it doesn't. Then I thought keeping the button depressed on my headphones longer (like 10 or 20 seconds) while pairing would help but it doesn't.

It doesn't seem to keep its pairing after a period on non use. And I never roam more than 20 feet or so from the WIIM or router.

Most often one screen shows no devices are paired and the next screen shows my device (headphones) paired but no connection. Seems inconsistent.

Most of the time the Bluetooth option on the Output screen is not selectable.

What can I do to get more consistent BT pairing and connecting? What steps might I be missing? I've updated both the app and the firmware of the device. I appreciate any assistance you can provide.

I've already booted my phone and the device several times.

Firmware 4.8.732046
App 3.3.8 250929

 

[Aquaman]

Why are you trying to pair two output devices? That doesn‘t make any sense. The WiiM is supposed to receive BT input, not send it.

 

[hgo58]

Why are you trying to pair two output devices? That doesn‘t make any sense. The WiiM is supposed to receive BT input, not send it.

No. It can send it also. It is working fine with my Sennheiser momentum headphones.

It just cannot both receive and send at the same time.

 

[HighNRG]

My short affair with a range of WiiMs and BT was always a disaster. Unstable and pita in usage. But for me the use case BT and WiiM is as unimportant as pizza with pineapples. Love the WiiMs. But not for BT. So why waste the fine Melomanias? You will have your phone or tablet by hand anyway. Or not? That is the place they belong.

 

[Aquaman]

BT input works flawlessly on my Ultra.
It never even occured to me that one might want to connect headphones via BT to a streamer, even though it might work on some devices. Simultaneous in and out - I think I have seen something like a 2-way BT functionality somewhere, but I haven‘t bothered to look at it.

 

[gfmucci]

Why are you trying to pair two output devices? That doesn‘t make any sense. The WiiM is supposed to receive BT input, not send it.

A little misunderstanding going on here. When I said I paired it twice I was referring to attempting pairing over two different days one device. So no I'm not trying to pair two different devices at the same time.

 

[gfmucci]

BT input works flawlessly on my Ultra.
It never even occured to me that one might want to connect headphones via BT to a streamer, even though it might work on some devices. Simultaneous in and out - I think I have seen something like a 2-way BT functionality somewhere, but I haven‘t bothered to look at it.

Yes, some of us might want some walk around portability while streaming. It worked a couple times and worked well once it was paired and connected. But it takes multiple efforts over too long a period of time to get it connected and it's not predictable. At least not in my case.

 

[hgo58]

BT input works flawlessly on my Ultra.
It never even occured to me that one might want to connect headphones via BT to a streamer, even though it might work on some devices. Simultaneous in and out - I think I have seen something like a 2-way BT functionality somewhere, but I haven‘t bothered to look at it.

I use the headphones with the WiiM when watching TV. Very handy, as paring BT on TV is not that easy in my case.

Are the Cambridge Audio Melomania easy to connect to the phone?

 

[gfmucci]

My short affair with a range of WiiMs and BT was always a disaster. Unstable and pita in usage. But for me the use case BT and WiiM is as unimportant as pizza with pineapples. Love the WiiMs. But not for BT. So why waste the fine Melomanias? You will have your phone or tablet by hand anyway. Or not? That is the place they belong.

Why? Because some of my AI research comparing the use of Amazon unlimited with the WIIM versus my Samsung S23 Ultra for Bluetooth streaming claim that I will get higher resolution audio using the WIIM then using my phone for transmitting Bluetooth. If that is not a true statement then I guess it can make my life easier and lower my expectations.

Secondarily when a product claims it's supposed to work with a particular function, in this case Bluetooth, I expect it to work.

 

[gfmucci]

I use the headphones with the WiiM when watching TV. Very handy, as paring BT on TV is not that easy in my case.

Are the Cambridge Audio Melomania easy to connect to the phone?

Yes absolutely easier. It takes about 5 seconds and it's very reliable.

 

[hgo58]

Yes absolutely easier. It takes about 5 seconds and it's very reliable.

Do you have other BT devices trying to connect to the headphones at the same time? Like your phone. Try to disable the BT in other devices.

 

[Mr Ee]

claim that I will get higher resolution audio using the WIIM then using my phone for transmitting Bluetooth

Maybe it depends on your phone's capabilities, but seems to me that AI is misleading you!
According to the manual, the pro plus supports SBC and AAC.

 

[gfmucci]

Maybe it depends on your phone's capabilities, but seems to me that AI is misleading you!
According to the manual, the pro plus supports SBC and AAC.

You are absolutely right. I misrepresented what I read. The Samsung S23 Ultra Bluetooth is superior to the WiiM BT. What I recall now was the question of when using WiiM wired, is it best to listen to Amazon Music unlimited through the Amazon App or through the WiiM Home app and it said through the WIIM app. So my BT connection issues with WiiM becomes a moot point.

 

[Mr Ee]

is it best to listen to Amazon Music unlimited through the Amazon App or through the WiiM Home app and it said through the WIIM app.

And once again, AI has misled you

 

[gfmucci]

And once again, AI has misled you

Please explain why this isn't true (I'm still learning. Your insights will help, thanks):

"Using the WiiM app directly provides better stream quality for Amazon Music, especially over wired outputs. This is because the WiiM app supports bit-perfect playback of Amazon Music HD and Ultra HD, while casting from the Amazon Music app may introduce limitations.

---

Why the WiiM App Delivers Superior Audio Quality

- Bit-perfect playback: The WiiM Home app supports Amazon Music HD and Ultra HD up to 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. It does not upsample or alter the stream, ensuring the output matches the source exactly.

- Direct integration with Amazon Music: When you stream through the WiiM app, the device pulls the audio directly from Amazon’s servers, bypassing Android system limitations or casting protocols that may resample or compress the stream.

- Casting limitations: If you cast Amazon Music from the Amazon app to the WiiM device (via Chromecast or Bluetooth), the stream may be capped at 24-bit/96 kHz or even lower depending on the protocol used. Chromecast, for example, often resamples to 48 kHz.

- Wired output benefits: Since you're using wired outputs (e.g., optical or coax), the WiiM’s internal DAC or passthrough preserves the high-resolution stream. This setup avoids Bluetooth compression and leverages the full fidelity of HD/UHD tracks."

 

[Mr Ee]

As it says, if you use Bluetooth or chromecast then there are limitations.
It's been quite a while since I used Amazon, but I believe you need to enable Amazon Alexa in the device settings screen, then go to the Browse screen, Music Services, enable Amazon Music, then back in the Browse screen log on to Amazon music.
You should then see a round cast icon in the Amazon app.
Round = alexacast.
Square = chromecast.

Alexacast is just like spotify / tidal / qobuz connect. Up to 192 / 24 casting.

 

[gfmucci]

As it says, if you use Bluetooth or chromecast then there are limitations.
It's been quite a while since I used Amazon, but I believe you need to enable Amazon Alexa in the device settings screen, then go to the Browse screen, Music Services, enable Amazon Music, then back in the Browse screen log on to Amazon music.
You should then see a round cast icon in the Amazon app.
Round = alexacast.
Square = chromecast.

Alexacast is just like spotify / tidal / qobuz connect. Up to 192 / 24 casting.

Thanks. I will stick with using the WIIM home app when accessing Amazon Music unlimited and transmitting through a wired output. That keeps it simple.

In any event, it is good to know that using Bluetooth over my phone to stream from Amazon Music Unlimited to my headphones provides a better quality stream than using WIIM Pro Plus. It certainly will be easier.