Bluetooth Receiver FiiO BTR3K: Codec SBC instead of AAC

[jxrxme]

Hi all,
I've connected my bluetooth receiver FiiO BTR3K to the WiiM Pro Plus.
The receiver supports supports AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD and LDAC audio format.
And if I connect it directly to my iOS device the codec AAC is "negotiated" (like expected).
But not with WiiM Pro Plus. Only SBC is selected. I've submitted a support ticket via the app.
While waiting for a response I'm curious if anybody successfully uses the AAC audio format via bluetooth with a WiiM Pro (Plus)?

 

[Wiimer]

Hi,
Is this how each device connects?

iOS >> Bluetooth >> FiiO >> Line-In >> WiiM

In this case, I don't think WiiM has anything to do with codecs.

 

[merifon]

I guess SBC is the only option when transmitting. I did some check with SMSL dac with Bluetooth capable of any flavor up to LDAC but no option to choice which protocol on WiiM so the connection goes only SBC.

 

[jxrxme]

No. It is:
WiiM Pro Plus >> Bluetooth >> FiiO Receiver (wired to headphones).

 

[jxrxme]

I guess SBC is the only option when transmitting. I did some check with SMSL dac with Bluetooth capable of any flavor up to LDAC but no option to choice which protocol on WiiM so the connection goes only SBC.

Oh, you mean AAC is only supported when WiiM device is the Bluetooth receiver? That would be very disappointing… I just checked the manual which indeed only states AAC in context of WiiM as receiver. No statement to supported audio formats if transmitting via bluetooth.

 

[merifon]

Oh, you mean AAC is only supported when WiiM device is the Bluetooth receiver? That would be very disappointing… I just checked the manual which indeed only states AAC in context of WiiM as receiver. No statement to supported audio formats if transmitting via bluetooth.

I think so, I just connected my S22 to WiiM, using Bluetooth and it gone with AAC, without my choice. On android developer options i can then change to SBC. Anyway no protocol options on wiim side.
Perhaps this can be consolatory, some time ago I saw some lab tests that also compared the responses of SBC and AAC on Bluetooth and Apple excluded, the AAC version of Bluetooth on Chinese and corean devices, was a little bit lazy, with limited frequency response, so they recommended in those cases, to stay on SBC...

 

[jfbuk]

AAC is Apple’s Bluetooth Codec
Have you tried forcing the BTR3K to only use the AAC codec byusing FiiO control app on your phone/tablet

 

[jxrxme]

AAC is Apple’s Bluetooth Codec
Have you tried forcing the BTR3K to only use the AAC codec byusing FiiO control app on your phone/tablet

View attachment 5848

I tried, but can’t force to AAC since I can’t disable SBC in the FiiO Control App.

 

[jxrxme]

Until told differently I’ll accept that my expectation (transmitting AAC-bluetooth is possible) was simply a wrong assumption (due to the lack of documentation).
And I‘ll probably try a bluetooth transmitter supporting LDAC (WiiM Pro+ >> Optical Out >> BT Transmitter >> FiiO BTR3K). WiiM-SBC to FiiO BTR3K is noticeable worse than iOS-AAC to FiiO BTR3K.

 

[jfbuk]

Take a look at

https://www.fiio.com/bta30pro

 

[wiimamp user]

Ok but what is the problem using sbc?
Did you listen to the BT transmitting the Pro has?

 

[Nikita]

I recently chat w. WiiM support with regards the BT codecs. Here’s what they replied

At present, our devices support only the SBC Bluetooth codec. It is normal to have delays when using Bluetooth. Please be assured that we are actively working on enhancing our technology and reducing these delays.

 

[Wiimer]

Wiim Ultra's Bluetooth supports LE Audio, so the LC3 codec may provide higher audio quality with lower latency than SBC. However, support for LC3 Plus is unknown. I've asked the @WiiM Support about this before and haven't gotten a clear answer yet.


Edit;

LC3/LC3plus

The LC3 and LC3plus audio codecs solve essential shortcomings present in today’s wireless communication platforms such as Bluetooth and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT). The codecs’ operation modes range from medium bit rates for optimal voice transmission up to high bit rates...

www.iis.fraunhofer.de

 

[jxrxme]

Ok but what is the problem using sbc?
Did you listen to the BT transmitting the Pro has?

I did and I don’t like. I checked the used codec after being unsatisfied with the audio quality. WiiM-SBC is a setback compared with iOS-AAC using the same headphones and BT receiver.

 

[jxrxme]

Customer support confirmed that only SBC is currently supported and implies there might be more codecs in a (far) future:

Currently, our devices are equipped to support only the SBC Bluetooth codec; AAC codecs are not supported at this time. We are committed to enhancing your experience and are actively exploring ways to expand our codec support in the future.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work towards this goal.

 

[jxrxme]

For curiosity only: Why the deviation via the WiiM? Do you have any source your phone or tablet can not deliver?

Three reasons:
1) I want to switch seamless between music from speakers to headphones (all connected to WiiM Pro+) in my home office.
2) I have older iOS devices and playback via bluetooth has stuttering/skipping if device does other things in parallel (since iOS 15 this is an issue).
3) I don't want to drain my devices (old) batteries for music playback.

Of course additionally I connect the headphones to my iPhone directly, too.

 

[wiimamp user]

I did and I don’t like. I checked the used codec after being unsatisfied with the audio quality. WiiM-SBC is a setback compared with iOS-AAC using the same headphones and BT receiver.

Did you listen via the BT receiver or the Wiim pro?(SBC).

 

[jxrxme]

Did you listen via the BT receiver or the Wiim pro?(SBC).

The WiiM Pro+ plays music from DLNA and transmits it via BT SBC to my FiiO BTR3K BT receiver (who is connected to wired headphones)

 

[wiimamp user]

The WiiM Pro+ plays music from DLNA and transmits it via BT SBC to my FiiO BTR3K BT receiver (who is connected to wired headphones)

Ok this way..
Isn't it possible to connect a BT transmitter to the Wiim and let this device send a AAC codec?
Ok you will have to invest in such a device..
But then you can use you're setup as you wish and you can also use Aptx, aptxhd, aptxll...
So it could be worth the investment.

 

[jxrxme]

That's exactly what I did now. Nice LDAC connection so far.


But no seamless playback if switching from Line Out (Amp/Speakers) to Optical Out (BT transmitter) since every time I switch the audio output the playback is completely reset (like the WiiM Pro+ just started). Doesn't matter if playing from DLNA, Chromecast or network stream.
Not nice at all!