I am getting high amount of background noise when using my creative E5 on low gain over APTX HD bluetooth and even a bit through my usb-c adapted dragonfly red running out of a pixel 2. Any suggestions on what might be causing this?
drunk_goatNo I keep the phone away from the e5 for just that reason. I just discovered there is no background hiss when using the Google oem usb-c to 3.5mm adaptor straight from the phone.
AudioPandaI have the same issue. S8+, AK XB10, racoon sg-300. all generate very noticeable hiss. Although directly from my motherboard and using an old sony xperia f3111 these sounds fantastic. And I mean it. Way better then my old pinnacle p1's. No hiss, crystal clear sound. I guess these need low gain \ low impedance source as they are rated at 10ohm.? Any suggestions?
AudioPandaCurious what you are using to get AptX HD? I thought the E5 only supported AptX. I know the P2 and P2XL support AptX HD but very few products out there that I can find actually support the HD codec...
mayorblurpsI've only seen two portable receivers that support it, the above mentioned Astell & Kern XB10 and the EarStudio ES100 which recently went out to those that crowdfunded it (remaining stock sold out on Amazon tho I hear more is coming).
I think there's an Audio Technica model that supports it too but it doesn't seem to be easily available outside Japan (granted I haven't looked high and low for it, didn't even check eBay).
The E5 just does regular AptX AFAIK. Don't think the codec would make any difference whatsoever with hiss in this case tho so it might be a moot point. FWIW, on the Pixel (and possibly other stock-ish Android devices) you can enable dev options and acutally see/change what codec is used.
That's a new feature on Oreo, on previous Android versions it was a pain to even figure out whether AptX was in use... Now you can freely select from SBC, AptX, AptX HAD, or Sony's LDAC. If your selected option isn't supported it'll default back when you go into the menu again.
ImpulsesGood to know about the stuff using AptX HD. Yeah I found the Bluetooth settings immediately after getting my phone; surprised to find the Sony LDAC in there too. And it does actually use the appropriate codec (my rose gold Crossfade2 wireless support AptX but the non rose gold don't) and sure enough AptX is used when I'm listening with the CF2W...believe it or not I could hear a difference from SBC to AptX on those cans.
I prefer custom ROMs but for now stock rooted is fine, and viper does amazing things for sound tweaking out of a phone! Thanks for the info!
mayorblurpsIIRC several of the codecs (or all of them) can use multiple bitrates, but I *think* this is set at the time of connection (except for LDAC which I think can do variable)... Don't quote me on that, going off memory. Either way, if one is in a noisy RF environment (or you just happen to be holding the gadgets wrong) a codec might jump down to a lower bitrate because of a poorer connection...
I'm not trying to discount the codecs making a difference, if anything I think this favors the newer codecs that can scale up to higher bitrates because they have more headroom before things start to degrade.
I recently ordered that ES100 (AptX HD) and a Fiio BRT1 (AptX) to do a little testing. My old Sony MW600 receiver was getting a little long in the tooth. The Fiio advertises <0.2ohm output impedance for anyone that needs a low OI wireless source. Pairing those kinda things with my V-Moda XS or IEM is pretty darn convenient.
The ES100 makes some mention about low OI and how it's two DACs let it go even lower in single ended mode, but doesn't explicitly state the OI. I know the OG Pixel and late model iPhones are around ~5ohm and that the Lighting adapter is lower, no clue about Google's Type C adapter, would love to know.
mayorblurpsPick up an EarStudio ES100 from Amazon for $99. Excellent amplification, and receives AptX HD. You can also use it via USB (i actually have it plugged into my desktop computer right now)
AudioPandaPower source may be causing it. Electricity sources (outlets/cig lighters in cars) can cause interference. Unplug as much as possible in the chain (source and dac/amp), and for what needs to be plugged in use a ground loop canceler/ isolator.