How to direct sound to Bluetooth device.

Chomeur

OK so I have installed some Bluetooth Headphones (Future Sound Lab Zero) on my Windows XP computer. I have had the message "The Bluetooth device was successfully connected to your computer. Your computer and device can communicate whenever they are near each other." Great. But the sound keeps coming out of the computer, not the headphones. How do I direct it to the headphones? Maybe a stupid question, but I can't see the answer.

Johnmcl7

If you go into the sound section of your control panel can you choose the bluetooth headphones as an output device?

John

Chomeur

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

If you go into the sound section of your control panel can you choose the bluetooth headphones as an output device?

John

No, there's only one option - IDT Audio1.

onzey

Just had a play with my Sony Bluetooth headphones and got them working with an XP laptop.

Check in Sounds and Audio Devices Properties (SADP) on the Hardware tab for Bluetooth Audio Device. Assuming its there double click it then choose Properties tab on the window that opens (Bluetooth Audio Device Properties). Click plus sign next to Audio Devices, double click Bluetooth Audio Device and on Properties window that opens make sure Use audio features on this device is selected.


As a matter of interest under the Audio tab of SADP, Bluetooth Wave shows as an available choice for the default device for both sound playback and recording but I don't think it has to be applied. Just mention it because if it's not there then perhaps the headphones aren't installed correctly.

Chomeur

onzey wrote: »

Just had a play with my Sony Bluetooth headphones and got them working with an XP laptop.

Check in Sounds and Audio Devices Properties (SADP) on the Hardware tab for Bluetooth Audio Device. Assuming its there double click it then choose Properties tab on the window that opens (Bluetooth Audio Device Properties). Click plus sign next to Audio Devices, double click Bluetooth Audio Device and on Properties window that opens make sure Use audio features on this device is selected.


As a matter of interest under the Audio tab of SADP, Bluetooth Wave shows as an available choice for the default device for both sound playback and recording but I don't think it has to be applied. Just mention it because if it's not there then perhaps the headphones aren't installed correctly.

Neither of the things you mention shows.

The user guide says to instal the "IVT Bluetooth drive software". But it doesn't seem as if that should be necessary as my computer already clearly has some Bluetooth capability and when I google this I get referred to a product called "BlueSoleil" which it's not even clear is the same thing.

onzey

Have you paired the headphones with the computer and can verify the devices are maintaining the connection via whatever Bluetooth management software is on the laptop?

System

Chomeur wrote: »

The user guide says to instal the "IVT Bluetooth drive software".

I would go with that

onzey

You only need the IVT Bluetooth drive software if you are using a Bluetooth dongle or adapter. If the computer has built in Bluetooth you should just need to pair them.

System

but it might only have file transfer capability rather than the ability to transfer audio via the Bluetooth
(at least mine did anyway and required additional software for Bluetooth audio - and it says to do it with the instructions for the op's specific headphones, definitely worth a try!!)

onzey

I agree worth a try if all else fails but didn't want the OP ending up with conflicting Bluetooth software unnecessarily.

With headphones in pairing mode he's supposed to see these options

i. Bluetooth high quality audio service (use to listen to music).
ii. Bluetooth headset service (use to voice chat).

I guess if he doesn't he might need the software.

I was just suggesting what the manual said.

http://www.futuresoundlab.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/fsl-zero-manual.pdf

Chomeur

Yes I am using a "dongle". Normally when you buy hardware the drivers for it come included and that is what I was expecting here. Nonetheless I'm prepared to try downloading the software. A search gave me this, which looks like the official IVT website, but I can't see where to download the driver from. I tried another website and downloaded from there but it proceeded to install lots of spam software like some "optimiser" and to set my web search page to something called delta search.

At the moment this is looking appalling and I think I'll have to send the headphones back. Future Sound Lab responded to one email by asking if I was using a dongle, but are now not helping at all.