How do I connect my MP to bluetooth speakers for iTunes playback?

[machenryr]

I'm not sure if this is the right place. I have a couple of those bluetooth speaker devices. They work perfect for my iPhone. One's a Harmon-Kardon Onyx mini and the other is a JBL Flip-3, I think. Anyway I thought it'd be great if I could hook them up to my Mac Pro and play my huge music library throughout the house on these devices. Is this possible? I looked at the system profile and it LOOKs like there's a bluetooth address. And it also seems I have wi-fi utility. I think the airport express is on the other MP though. I'll check for that.

But I think these bluetooth speakers are ONLY bluetooth? They don't connect wirelessly any other way, is that right? It would seem, unless the 2009 Mac Pro is too old a technology, that I should be able to transmit iTines through bluetooth.

Help is appreciated! Merry Christmas, happy holidays.

 

[lclev]

Assuming your MP is a 2009 you have bluetooth and wifi was optional. Bluetooth 2.0 became available in the 2008 MP. Bluetooth 2.1 available in the 2009-2012 and 4.0 in the 2013.

I have never heard of bluetooth speakers also having wifi ability but I can not say for sure.

That said to find it look in System Preferences -> Bluetooth -> turn it on and let it search. Your speakers might have a code that has to be entered to get the pairing to take.

I have a 2010 MP and I have paired a bluetooth speaker to it before.

Lisa

 

[machenryr]

Thank you. I'll look for the code. ut searching doesn't find them.

 

[lclev]

I just got back to work and I decided to use my bluetooth speaker just to refresh my memory. I have a little Jam speaker that I got for Christmas. Anyway, I turned it on then opened Sys Pref -> Bluetooth. It showed up in my MP's Bluetooth window and I selected it and clicked pair. Then I had to go in Sys Pref to Sound and select the Jam speaker. Presto I had sound! (I forgot the "go to sound" part - sorry. )

Lisa

 

[machenryr]

That's great. It's not working for me yet. There must be a bluetooth update I didn't get or something. It only recognizes and only looks for the bluetooth mouse.

 

[Wiltonian]

FWIW my 2010 cmp works fine with my JBL Pulse bluetooth speaker, the only issue being that walking between the two can cause a glitch in the playing!

Stuart

 

[machenryr]

Well shucks. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I hope I am.

 

[lclev]

Reading back over your first post I noticed you would like to play music over several bluetooth speaker devices. I don't think you will be able to do that . When I used my bluetooth speaker I had to select it in Sound and when I did the main speakers connected to the line out shut off. Unless someone else has some idea I have missed I believe it is only one device at a time.

Lisa

 

[machenryr]

Ok. Even one device would be cool.

 

[machenryr]

Here's the info from the system profile of the bluetooth hardware:
LOw energy, Hand off, Instant hotspot all not supported?


Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 4.3.6f4 17916

Hardware, Features, and Settings:


Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: No

Handoff Supported: No

Instant Hotspot Supported: No

Manufacturer: Broadcom

Transport: USB

Chipset: 2046

Firmware Version: v208 c518

Bluetooth Power: On

Discoverable: On

Connectable: Yes

Auto Seek Pointing: On

Remote wake: On

Vendor ID: 0x05AC

Product ID: 0x8215

HCI Version: 0x4

HCI Revision: 0x206

LMP Version: 0x4

LMP Subversion: 0x21D0

Device Type (Major): Computer

Device Type (Complete): Mac Desktop

Composite Class Of Device: 0x380104

Device Class (Major): 0x01

Device Class (Minor): 0x01

Service Class: 0x1C0

Auto Seek Keyboard: On

 

[machenryr]

Well, it's just not working. I rebooted MP. I deleted the com.apple.bluetooth.plist in Library. Rebooted, launched the Bluetooth speaker device. I'm just figuring that maybe this is an older firmware or hardware version??

 

[ActionableMango]

These Mac Pros are notorious for poor Bluetooth reception/range, and having some of the wi-fi and bluetooth antenna wires mixed up at the factory.

You can get a good idea of the range by seeing how far away the BT mouse will still work. However, speakers will require higher bandwidth and may need to be even closer because they cannot work with a marginal connection.

What I would try:

• Disconnect any wired USB 3.0 devices. These interfere with BT.
• During this time, turn off BT on any other device that is paired to the speakers, such as your iPhone. These might interfere with the pairing process.
• Place the speaker very close to the Mac Pro to avoid any range issues.

After doing all that, then put your BT speaker is in pairing mode and check if the Mac Pro can see it.

 

[lclev]

I will have to wait to check what my bluetooth system profile info shows. I am currently taking a few days off and won't be at work until Sunday.

I do have a USB 3.0 external drive attached and a bluetooth trackpad. Nothing else was paired with the bluetooth speaker when I paired it to my MP.

I am not sure what to suggest other than you might be dealing with a finicky bluetooth or your speakers require a more updated version of bluetooth. Both your speakers that you listed use bluetooth 4.1. Your MP has Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. 4.1 is "supposed" to be backward compatible but this could still be your issue.

 

[machenryr]

I figure it might be the backwards compatibility. Is there a firmware update I can do or a Bluetooth extender or card? I think all my PCI slots are taken.

 

[JesterJJZ]

They make Bluetooth USB dongles.