Gary Cowell

Q: How to tell if apt-X CODEC is available and being used

I have some bluetooth headphones which support apt-X CODEC. I have read that Mac OS X 10.6.5 supports apt-X, but that's really uncorroborated googling.

How can I determine from the Mac OS whether or not apt-X CODEC is being used when I connect my bluetooth headphones? There's no notification on the headphone as to which CODEC is being used for the audio. It sounds to my ears like apt-X is in use but I'd like to see some evidence! I say that it sounds like it's in use, as the same song sounds 'better' - less 'artifacty' when listening on the same headphones on the Mac via iTunes, than on a 3rd gen iPod Touch when paired with the same headphones. The iPod definitely doesn't support apt-X. But that could also be other factors, eq etc.

Thanks

Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Jan 5, 2011 1:19 AM

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Q: How to tell if apt-X CODEC is available and being used

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  • by MDMac86,

    MDMac86 MDMac86 Feb 22, 2014 11:01 PM in response to Gary Cowell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 22, 2014 11:01 PM in response to Gary Cowell

    If none of these recommendations work for you ... Try turning off multipoint functionality on your headphones if the feature is available. Having this enabled forced the SBC codec to be used regardless of the 'force aptx' setting.

  • by VOXOA,

    VOXOA VOXOA May 7, 2014 3:55 PM in response to MDMac86
    Level 1 (24 points)
    May 7, 2014 3:55 PM in response to MDMac86

    Screen Shot 2014-05-07 at 3.52.21 PM.png

     

    After you force to use aptX, it's default to aptX.  This works with VOXOA HD Wireless Headphones.

  • by APGANG,

    APGANG APGANG Nov 28, 2014 1:00 PM in response to marcin_pl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 28, 2014 1:00 PM in response to marcin_pl

    Bought Sony SBH 80 with Apt X. Tested it on my Nokia Lumia 925. The sound was not something extraordinary. So i really wanted to find out that whether Apt X makes any difference or not. Luckily, I found out that Yosemite supports this codec. But I needed to be sure that this codec was being used. However, I didn't find any solution as to how this can be done.

    But thanks to you, I know for sure that the codec being used is Apt X.

    And it sounds a whole lot different than the Lumia.

  • by Intensemojo,

    Intensemojo Intensemojo Dec 29, 2014 9:14 AM in response to Gary Cowell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2014 9:14 AM in response to Gary Cowell

    HHow do you enable aptx in BT explorer for Xcode 6.1? I did not find the special options but rather the dashboard.

  • by nvkudva,

    nvkudva nvkudva Jan 9, 2015 1:20 AM in response to Gary Cowell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 9, 2015 1:20 AM in response to Gary Cowell

    Finally i was able to enable Aptx with my sony MDR xb950bt headphones All the info above given by you guys helped me but didn't work straight forward. ( thanks to tdslman on anohter thread)

     

    Basically for sony headphones there are different modes on the headphones. You need to choose/enable higher quality on headphones.( say enable Aptx on headphones.) in my case this is how i enabled http://helpguide.sony.net/mdr/10rbt/v1/en/contents/04/01/04/04.html 

    Without this forcing Aptx on mac didn't help.

     

    So anyone trying to make aptx work try these steps.

    1. Check headphones support Aptx.

    2. Check i there is any quality related options to enable it on your headphones.

    3. If yes then enable it ( may need restart of headphones)

    4. Now connect headphones to mac and play songs.

    5. press "option"+ click on bluetooth icon on menu bar and goto your device and see Code is whether.

    6. If didnt work, install bluetooth explorer and goto tools > audio options > force aptx checkbox.

    7. Disable, restart headphones, reconnect and try now.

     

    Hope this helps a bit.

  • by tantien,

    tantien tantien Feb 26, 2015 4:19 PM in response to mailming
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 26, 2015 4:19 PM in response to mailming

    Thank you mailming!

     

    Just a 2-26-15 update: I downloaded the hardware io tools for Xcode 6.1 to address this problem with my MacBook Air not seeing the apt-X Codec on my Motorola Buds.

     

    The Menuing system has changed a bit on this version from the above Bluetooth Explorer -> Tools -> Audio Options ->(under Codecs section) Force use of aptX.

     

    But I would have never gotten to this point without your lead mailming!

  • by tkpan,

    tkpan tkpan Apr 1, 2015 5:35 AM in response to Intensemojo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2015 5:35 AM in response to Intensemojo

    At first I encounter the same problem as you do, then I find out the way to set "aptX enable" up via Xcode_6.1 package.

     

    Open up Bluetooth Explorer app ---> Tools ---> Audio options(I think this is the different part compared to other version of Xcode), you'll see a window pops up and select which Codecs you want to enable or not.

  • by atrik,

    atrik atrik Apr 25, 2015 2:08 PM in response to mailming
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2015 2:08 PM in response to mailming

    Thanks! This solved problem of poor audio quality with Klipsch Image One BT headphones.

     

    iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) OS X 10.10.3

  • by abubasim66,

    abubasim66 abubasim66 May 3, 2015 9:29 AM in response to marcin_pl
    Level 1 (63 points)
    iPad
    May 3, 2015 9:29 AM in response to marcin_pl

    Great tip with the Option button while clicking on the Bluetooth icon. For me 'it just worked' when plugging in my new Azio BT USB adapter and pairing with my Sony SBH80 headphones.

     

    Now if Apple would add support for aptX on the iPhone then I could be really happy pairing my headphones with my phone too...

  • by rat60,

    rat60 rat60 Jun 14, 2015 5:15 AM in response to marcin_pl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 14, 2015 5:15 AM in response to marcin_pl

    So simple when you know how, very helpful thanks for that info, i wanted to know if i was connecting to a Cambridge Audio DAC via Apt-X or not and pleased to say i am.

  • by martinbusek,

    martinbusek martinbusek Jun 19, 2015 8:35 AM in response to Gary Cowell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2015 8:35 AM in response to Gary Cowell

    When you hold an option key and click on the bluetooth icon on the top bar it shows you more specific info... and when you move the mouse cursor over your headphones, which should be on that list, it will show you codec used. See attached image from my iMac. I use Audio technica ATH-WS99BT headphones with both AptX and ACC codec support. http://d.pr/i/5m1p

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