Multiple Bluetooth Audio Source To A Single Bluetooth Headphone At The Same Time. Is It Possible?

[Rei]

First of all, I dunno which category to put this thread in as it's more about Bluetooth headphones but also involves Bluetooth-capable smartphones & tablets as well which is why it's placed in the "Phones & Tablets" category. So if moderators feels the need to move this thread elsewhere to it's proper category, feel free to do so.

Now I'm looking for a Bluetooth headphone that is capable of syncing with multiple Bluetooth audio source at the same time such as Bluetooth-capable smartphones, tablets, stereo system, PC, etc. The reason for this is that I wanna listen to multiple audio at the same time, for example, listening to Eminem & Skrillex while also tuning to podcast & YouTube, all simultaneously. As it is now, I can't seem to get my current Bluetooth 4.0/4.2 headphones to sync to multiple Bluetooth devices at the same time. Another reason to get a Bluetooth headphone & not use the speaker is to listen during nighttime & work. I don't listen to audio at any level more quieter than max volume.
So I'll spit out my multiple questions into numbering points instead to make it easier to answer.

1) Is there such headphones out there?
2) Is my current Bluetooth 4.0/4.2 headphones capable of doing this? If yes, how do I get it to sync?
3) What was my third question again? I forgot! Ah, yes...
4) If this is all not possible, is it the Bluetooth limitation?
5) What else... I guess this is pretty much my questions for now?

 

[milewski1015]

I don't think I've ever owned or heard of a Bluetooth device capable of connecting to multiple devices at once

 

[tabascosauz]

I don't listen to audio at any level more quieter than max volume.

Good lord, bless your ears

I think I read somewhere that Bluetooth doesn't support simultaneous playback from multiple sources at once. You can have some headsets (not audio-focused, think more like handsfree calling, sadly) that connect to multiple sources and can toggle between them at will, but not play them at the same time. And obviously you can have sources that can connect to multiple BT devices at once. But for simultaneous playback, I don't think that'll work as of yet.

New BT standards can stream from a single source to multiple devices I think, but again, not what you're looking for.

 

[milewski1015]

Good lord, bless your ears

I think I read somewhere that Bluetooth doesn't support simultaneous playback from multiple sources at once. You can have some headsets (not audio-focused, think more like handsfree calling, sadly) that connect to multiple sources and can toggle between them at will, but not play them at the same time. And obviously you can have sources that can connect to multiple BT devices at once. But for simultaneous playback, I don't think that'll work as of yet.

Thanks for elaborating - I was definitely thinking of simultaneous playback from multiple devices.

New BT standards can stream from a single source to multiple devices I think, but again, not what you're looking for.

First thing I thought of was the Apple Airpods ability to stream audio to two sets of AirPods simultaneously, but like you mention, that sounds like the opposit of what OP is looking for.

 

[SenditMakine]

I already saw how to transmit audio from a phone through a hijack and a bluetooth headphone at the same time, but that's kinda the opposite of what you're looking for, I can search but I never saw something like this before

 

[Vya Domus]

Can't be done, at most you can have multiple sources to switch between but even that is usually not properly supported.

 

[SenditMakine]

Man, what about something on your phone to mix all these audio applications you're using?? (That's assuming you need the mobility, cuz it'd be way easier to do it on a computer)
I mean, the whole idea of multiple connections already seems like some get around, if you could manage to meet all your needs in a single device that's way better.

 

[Rei]

Man, what about something on your phone to mix all these audio applications you're using?? (That's assuming you need the mobility, cuz it'd be way easier to do it on a computer)
I mean, the whole idea of multiple connections already seems like some get around, if you could manage to meet all your needs in a single device that's way better.

In some cases, this is a brilliant idea. It would require some planning & potentially consumes a lot of time mixing audio together through audio editors but it's something I could get around to. It won't be possible though for those spur of the moment situation when I haven't planned ahead for. I'll see what I can do on my end. Thanks you for the idea.

 

[SenditMakine]

I was thinking that the energy consumption would be the most problematic, I mean imagine a portable device with so much shit running (with bluetooth and data turned on), but if the problem is time I can help, I'm free after 6PM all days so we could plan it out

 

[Rei]

I was thinking that the energy consumption would be the most problematic, I mean imagine a portable device with so much shit running (with bluetooth and data turned on), but if the problem is time I can help, I'm free after 6PM all days so we could plan it out

How would we work that out? It would require a lot of downloading & uploading and I only have 4 megabit/s on upload speed & 20 megabit/s on download.
Energy consumption isn't an issue for me as I usually leave my devices at home & charging while I'm at school. I also don't notice a massive or even a moderate decrease in energy usage while Bluetooth & WiFi is on. I never used data plan so I can't comment on it's energy consumption.

 

[SenditMakine]

So, I wasn't thinking about actually downloading the files you need and then creating a mp3 file, that's an idea but as you said needs a lot of work (quite not worth it) I was actually thinking about making multiple applications run on your phone to do all your tasks simultaneously, and then using some equalizer like the windows mixer of volume to tune things up and down.(don't even know if that exists, just throwing some random shit that'd work on a computer and hoping that someone has already ported it to mobile)
A problem that we could have is youtube not running on background or spotify stopping when another audio application is running, but I'm sure that we can work around that

 

[Rei]

A problem that we could have is youtube not running on background or spotify stopping when another audio application is running, but I'm sure that we can work around that

Well, using a screen/audio recorder might work. For YouTube it should not be illegal but might not be true for Spotify & I'm not inclined to break some legal bindings.

I was actually thinking about making multiple applications run on your phone to do all your tasks simultaneously, and then using some equalizer like the windows mixer of volume to tune things up and down.(don't even know if that exists, just throwing some random shit that'd work on a computer and hoping that someone has already ported it to mobile)

Maybe there is an app for that (did I just quote a meme? ). I'll see what I can find on Google Play. It'll be a chore though to find, install, test & uninstall apps that can make this possible.

 

[SenditMakine]

Let's do this with patience, no need to rush it.
Your phone has the two screen feature? With that we can already work with something

 

[Rei]

Let's do this with patience, no need to rush it.
Your phone has the two screen feature? With that we can already work with something

Don't worry, I'm in no rush.
What's the two screen feature? My android devices is an Asus ROG Phone II smartphone & a Google Nexus 9 tablet.

 

[SenditMakine]

Only works on android 10+

 

[Caring1]

Only works on android 10+

Very handy feature but I found I couldn't run two instances of the one app, they had to be two different apps running.

 

[SenditMakine]

Yeah, that's indeed a hard limitation, maybe there's an app for it??? Lol
But, can you run two sound playing apps? Like spotify with youtube?

 

[Rei]

Yeah, that's indeed a hard limitation, maybe there's an app for it??? Lol
But, can you run two sound playing apps? Like spotify with youtube?

So, after 2+ hours of total testing time, either I did it wrong or I couldn't get two Spotify app to run simultaneously on my Asus ROG Phone II which is Android 10. Also split screen multi-tasking doesn't seem to work on my Google Nexus 9 as Android tops out at version 7.1.1.

 

[Frick]

I don't listen to audio at any level more quieter than max volume.

Stop this immedietly. Seriously.

And why in the world do you want that level of background noise, especially if atmax level? Wouldn't pink noise be a simpler option?

 

[Rei]

Stop this immedietly. Seriously.

And why in the world do you want that level of background noise, especially if atmax level? Wouldn't pink noise be a simpler option?

That is the kinda crap you'd expect from kids my age. Heavy Metal, Rock, Dubstep & the likes are best enjoyed at their loudest volume possible. Call me kookoo but it also gives me a sense of fulfillment & adrenaline rush after drinking tea, beer & Red Bull at the same time.

BTW, what's "pink noise"?

 

[SenditMakine]

I can't judge you, I don't know in what age you're, but when I was at my 15's I used to do the exact same thing, nowadays I just listen to music in the 20-30% of the max volume, and amp it up a bit when cool parts come, but I really need to say that I was really poor and didn't have that much of a good headphone, so they being at maximum level doesn't say that much hahaha

 

[Rei]

I can't judge you, I don't know in what age you're, but when I was at my 15's I used to do the exact same thing, nowadays I just listen to music in the 20-30% of the max volume, and amp it up a bit when cool parts come, but I really need to say that I was really poor and didn't have that much of a good headphone, so they being at maximum level doesn't say that much hahaha

I'm 16 years old (which you can see if you hover over an individual's profile at the side). While I would say that I am well off, I don't exactly even have many above average gears & hardware except maybe my ROG Phone II, surfing gears, coffee machine & dirt bike. I lived by used/second-hand hardware along with hand-me-downs & I'm cool with that.

I have two pair of Bluetooth headphone & a pair of wireless RF headset. They are all cheap build quality under $30 but they get the job done at loud volumes. But I am now willing to splurge some more on a Bluetooth headphone that can sync to multiple devices. It would make one more device that I can be proud of.

 

[Frick]

That is the kinda crap you'd expect from kids my age. Heavy Metal, Rock, Dubstep & the likes are best enjoyed at their loudest volume possible. Call me kookoo but it also gives me a sense of fulfillment & adrenaline rush after drinking tea, beer & Red Bull at the same time.

You have probably already messed up your hearing (you have likely not noticed though, but it is likely measurable) and you will mess it up more and over time you may even develop tinnitus, which is something that makes people commit suicide. And once your hearing is down you cannot regain it. Any damage is permanent. Take care of your hearing, it has to last you a lifetime. I fully understand the rush of playing music maxed out, but it's not worth it in the long run. You will regret it later.

As for pink noise, this.

Why I brought it up is because you said you listen to 4 different things simultaneously, presumably at max level. Which makes no sense at all. If it's just background noise you're after, pink noise is a good choice, at moderete levels.

 

[Rei]

You have probably already messed up your hearing (you have likely not noticed though, but it is likely measurable) and you will mess it up more and over time you may even develop tinnitus, which is something that makes people commit suicide. And once your hearing is down you cannot regain it. Any damage is permanent. Take care of your hearing, it has to last you a lifetime. I fully understand the rush of playing music maxed out, but it's not worth it in the long run. You will regret it later.

This is possible but I am also currently under the believe that is merely an urban myth. Besides, considering the low(er) quality of my headphones, they aren't that loud to be blasting my eardrums.

So pink noise = static noise?

Why I brought it up is because you said you listen to 4 different things simultaneously, presumably at max level. Which makes no sense at all.

What do you mean by "makes no sense at all"?

 

[Frick]

This is possible but I am also currently under the believe that is merely an urban myth.

This is extremely, dangerously wrong.

Healthy headphone use: How loud and how long? - Harvard Health Blog

Headphones and earbuds are nearly ubiquitous, but how often do people think about whether or not they are using them safely? Knowing about safe listening levels and safe length of listening time will help people protect themselves while using their listening devices.

www.health.harvard.edu

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/154589/9789241508513_eng.pdf;jsessionid=172681F5CFF3638A037D6ED9516363C1?sequence=1

At the last link, please note the over 200 references. It's a fact, just as it's a fact that running a chainsaw next to your ears is bad for your hearing. Or firing guns without protection. For how it works, here's Wikipedia:

Noise-induced hearing loss - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

So pink noise = static noise?

A specific static noise that is warmer than white noise.

What do you mean by "makes no sense at all"?

Why would you listen to two songs and a podcast at the same time, especially if they're at max volume? This is what you said:

listening to Eminem & Skrillex while also tuning to podcast & YouTube, all simultaneously. ... I don't listen to audio at any level more quieter than max volume.