How do I activate LDAC on my Tablet?

[DanielT]

My tablet is a Lenovo (YX-X705F) Yoga .
Android (version 10) .

I bought a used SMSL DO100 PRO DAC. It works BUT I can't get the LDAC function to work. What do you think I'm doing wrong? Tips and advice are welcome.

To activate LDAC on my Android I needed to activate developer mode. I fixed that but here a problem appears. I can select LDAC on my Tablet but it doesn't activate. It switches back to SBC and that is also what is visible on the display of the SMSL DAC. Messy in the picture I'm painting in the living room:

Enable audio codec for Bluetooth selection:



If I go into developer options on my tablet I see this regarding Bluetooth. What do you think I should do, change, set to get LDAC working:


Here is the instruction manual for the DAC that came with it. The only thing I can read about Bluetooth in it is this:


Maybe it's not possible to activate LDAC on my tablet? Even though I can press LDAC when I go into developer options? Or could it be because I also sometimes use headphones via Bluetooth that don't support LDAC, which causes it to "shift down"? But on the other hand, those headphones are not Bluetooth active when the SMSL DAC is.

Edit:
I don't know if this helps you, but this is what I did to start with to even be able to get into developer option/ mode. Actually exactly the same tablet as I have in the video:

 

[DanielT]

Now I think I know how to do it. First I need to find out: MTM (Machine Type Model):

English Community-Lenovo Community

Then I can check. This is what Lenovo support said about another device:

English Community-Lenovo Community

Edit:
I bought the DAC mostly because it has balanced out, but while I'm still tinkering with it, I thought it would be fun to test LDAC Bluetooth with it, since the DAC at least supports it.

I'm in the starting blocks to buy a new phone. It could be an iPhone, in which case, as far as I remember, there will be no LDAC via it because iPhone doesn't support LDAC. I might buy an Android phone that supports LDAC now that I think about it. I'm including that aspect as one of the decision criteria.

Comprehensive Guide to LDAC Supported Phones: Finding the Best Audio Experience

Discover the ultimate guide to LDAC supported phones, exploring top devices, audio codec technology, and how to maximize your wireless audio experience with high-resolution sound transmission.

www.byteplus.com

My laptop is from the Stone Age so any LDAC with that isn't even worth investigating.

 

[tomtoo]

This is how it looks at my tablet.

 

[tomtoo]

Think how it looks is depending on os version

 

[DanielT]

This is how it looks at my tablet.
View attachment 443940

Is there something you find in your standard option menu without having to go in and fiddle with developer options to get it?

In order for me to get those options, I have to fiddle. And that's what I think is why I can't get LDAC as the default setting. It switches down to SBC after I press LDAC.

Think how it looks is depending on os version

From what I understand, it should work with Android 10. Maybe too weak signal strength to my tablet that causes it to switch down to the SBC codec? But on the other hand, I can watch movies without any problems with the setup I have now.

I'm fiddling with this a little more. It's not super important because I'll still use cable when I listen to Spotify. Then to listen to news, talk radio, podcasts, Youtube and so on, it doesn't matter to me whether it's LDAC or SBC codec. BUT I still want to, because my DAC has the LDAC option, get it to work. Actually, mostly out of curiosity.

Edit:
As I see it, LDAC could be something for headphone users. But with speakers, it makes much more sense to get good Hifi sound with some WiiM solution than to fiddle with that unreliable LDAC (latency issue,signal strength transmitter-receiver)

For my part, I just plug in my mobile or tablet (streaming device then) with a cable into the DAC, listen to Spotify and change songs, discs with the device that is not plugged in. It is Spotify's best feature.

 

[Berwhale]

My laptop is from the Stone Age so any LDAC with that isn't even worth investigating.

It probably doesn't matter how old it is. You just need some software and a decent Bluetooth transmitter... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...without-vm-dongle-or-other-shenanigans.42471/

Regarding LDAC on your Lenovo. Enabling LDAC in developer settings makes it available, but I think it still has to be set per Bt connection because each device connected via Bt is evaluated on its capabilities. Here's LDAC enabled for my 1More Sonoflow connected to my Nothing Phone (2) and my Samsung Galaxy Tab 9FE...

 

[DanielT]

It probably doesn't matter how old it is. You just need some software and a decent Bluetooth transmitter... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...without-vm-dongle-or-other-shenanigans.42471/

Regarding LDAC on your Lenovo. Enabling LDAC in developer settings makes it available, but I think it still has to be set per Bt connection because each device connected via Bt is evaluated on its capabilities. Here's LDAC enabled for my 1More Sonoflow connected to my Nothing Phone (2) and my Samsung Galaxy Tab 9FE...

View attachment 443962View attachment 443963

Ok. That might be a solution, for my laptop. I'll read that thread in more detail to see if I catch anything of interest.
The A2DP mentioned in the thread you refer to is already active on my tablet but LDAC on it still doesn't work.

The problem for me when I'm tinkering in developer options is that I'm not a developer. I basically have no idea what I'm doing and I don't want to press various buttons in that mode because who knows what might happen. I might lock my entire tablet.

In developer mode options are given but if the tablet itself doesn't have the right underlying processor or whatever it might be, it probably doesn't matter what I do, I think.

I "activate" LDAC, sure it says so:

But on the DAC it says:

So you have a point when you say...but I think it still has to be set per Bt connection because each device connected via Bt is evaluated on its capabilities.

If I then close/exit developer option mode and open it again, it has been restored to:

___
OT
By the way, with balanced 5 Vrms out to my Fostex power amp it works EXCEPTIONALLY well. In this case digital out from the Blu Ray player into the DAC, because I had that player standing on my makeshift bench. I'll plug in via USB C cable tablet out later today. After that I have to pack up my stuff and start painting the walls.

Old paint roller that has dried in the picture. Test painted a little a few days ago.

 

[Berwhale]

So you have a point when you say...but I think it still has to be set per Bt connection because each device connected via Bt is evaluated on its capabilities.

What does the Bt connection screen look like for the DO100 look like? Does it have any options for HD Audio or LDAC? (this is in Bt settings, nothing to do with Developer settings).

 

[DanielT]

What does the Bt connection screen look like for the DO100 look like? Does it have any options for HD Audio or LDAC? (this is in Bt settings, nothing to do with Developer settings).

When I use Bluetooth, the DAC display says: Sbc

This is what the SMSL DO100 PRO DAC manual says about Bluetooth specification: 5.1(Support SBC, AAC, aptX,aptX HD, LDAC)

 

[Berwhale]

When I use Bluetooth, the DAC display says: Sbc

No, I mean the Bt connection screen on your tablet. Like the ones I posted for my Nothing Phone (2) and Tab S9 FE.

 

[DanielT]

No, I mean the Bt connection screen on your tablet. Like the ones I posted for my Nothing Phone (2) and Tab S9 FE.

Under Connect devices Bluetooth I only see that the SMSL DAC is active. I can't find any more information there.

If I go into the developer options that I have activated, I see this regarding Bluetooth:

Besides that, I don't know where to check? There must be something but data, software is not my strong point.

If it helps, I checked and I have the latest system updates on my tablet.

 

[Berwhale]

Bluetooth I only see that the SMSL DAC is active. I can't find any more information there

OK, you're not getting an option for HD-Audio or LDAC. Have you connected your tablet to anything else using LDAC? LDAC support is a bit hit and miss on Android. Although the OS has supported it for many versions, it's still up to individual OEMs to implement it on their hardware and support can also be dependant on the SoC in the device.

Personally, i've had bad experiences with Lenovo's support for tablets. I bought a P11 Pro Gen 2 specifically because Lenovo published a roadmap for future OS upgrades and the tablets support for them. They then missed their own support dates by up to a year, which meant I was unable to use the tablet for work because it was running too old an OS (My companies Intune Policy will only permit N-1 versions of Android and iOS). This is why I paid a bit more for a Samsung this time around. It's a shame, because the P11 Pro Gen2 had great hardware and very good it most other respects.

 

[DanielT]

OK, you're not getting an option for HD-Audio or LDAC. Have you connected your tablet to anything else using LDAC? LDAC support is a bit hit and miss on Android. Although the OS has supported it for many versions, it's still up to individual OEMs to implement it on their hardware and support can also be dependant on the SoC in the device.

Personally, i've had bad experiences with Lenovo's support for tablets. I bought a P11 Pro Gen 2 specifically because Lenovo published a roadmap for future OS upgrades and the tablets support for them. They then missed their own support dates by up to a year, which meant I was unable to use the tablet for work because it was running too old an OS (My companies Intune Policy will only permit N-1 versions of Android and iOS). This is why I paid a bit more for a Samsung this time around. It's a shame, because the P11 Pro Gen2 had great hardware and very good it most other respects.

The only thing I have with LDAC codec is my SMSL DAC. Then I sometimes use headphones via Bluetooth but they don't have LDAC.
I can test my laptop and do what you said in #6.

You see in #2 how much fuss there was to check if it worked with a Lenovo tablet.
I can do the same as you, that is, contact Lenovo's support and they will sort it all out. If I'm lucky, it will be a good experience.

In any case. I'm mostly trying to get LDAC working because I'm curious. It's not the end of the world if it doesn't work. Even if it had, will, work, I will use cable when I use Spotify.

Thanks for the help so far! Thanks also @tomtoo for your input.

Edit:
My tablet is, now that I think about it, quite old. I think it's about seven years old. I don't remember exactly when I bought it.

 

[Berwhale]

My tablet is, now that I think about it, quite old. I think it's about seven years old. I don't remember exactly when I bought it.

Yes, we're on Android 15 now with 16 in beta and expected to be released later this year. If you are running Android 10, that's quite an old version, but LDAC support started in Android 8, so it's still possible.

 

[DanielT]

If I'm lucky, it will be a good experience.

Hell no. The technical support was not the easiest to get in touch with.I will return, in the future, with , if , I get some clarity from Lenovo's technical support.

Now painting. Then I will check if the DAC can smoothly switch between cable and Bluetooth.

OT:
Tip, spread more cover paper on the floor than you intended. Make sure to have cheap slippers standing just outside the painting area that you can put on after painting. This is to avoid getting paint in the other rooms in the house/apartment.And buy masking tape that can be peeled off without it sticking.
It's really annoying if you paint with a brush and a strand of it comes off on the painted surface. Smudged with paint and it's removed from the wall.
So: Buy good quality rollers and brushes.

 

[ZolaIII]

This is how it looks on Android 15. Then it connects to LDAC or Apt X HD and uper tear codecs it suports (default LDAC). Without it it prefer lower tire codecs (default SBC). And you still need to get to developer optional and adjust LDAC parameters (high 24 bit) every time you connect it.
Edit: I can check later on old Android 9 Sony for dependencies and eventual additional settings needed.

 

[DanielT]

I'll see what happens. I saw now that my tablet is from 2019. So , six years and fully functional but a few blemishes, for example a small scratch on the screen that doesn't bother me. Things that happens with frequent use over the years. Buy new? I don't know. There are so many other things to spend the money on.

What do I know, my tablet may not have the right processors to fix LDAC? It operates on Android 10 and according to what I've read and what @Berwhale
said in #14 it should work with LDAC.

 

[ZolaIII]

Sony did it no questions asked (automatic to LDAC) and remember setting as you tell him on reconnecting, used my Hiby W3 II. LDAC support should be there on pretty much anything and starting with Android 7, some like Samsung skimp it deliberately to push their own codec with their own headphones. As much as I remember Lenovo doesn't shift far from ASOP (bare naked stock Android) so all should be there (including LDAC).

 

[Vincent Kars]

Obvious the encoder part of LDAC has become part of Android but not all manufacturers implement it.
A workaround is to use a USB-C adapter like the Fiio BT11.
It is a Bluetooth5.4 transmitter supporting

• SBC
• aptX/aptX LL/aptX Adaptive/ aptX Lossless/aptX HD
• LDAC

 

[ZolaIII]

On Sony so try with same AVRCP (1.6) profile. Not even Sony switches it back to 24 bit from 32 so you still have to go to developer options to switch that but probably everyone can live with it at 32 bit (lower compression quality).