3. Bluetooth connection woes

Bluetooth connection woes


  • Got my Spark about a week or so ago and was able to connect to my phone in just a few minutes. I haven't had a chance to fire it up again until tonight and when I went to connect hardware, I just got the whirling cursor - no connection.

    I powered down the amp, rebooted my phone and tried again. BT on my phone says Spark Audio is paired, but it still wouldn't connect. I unpaired the Spark, restarted everything again, paired again and then tried to connect. Nope.

    Did all the same again, but this time I did a reset on the Spark. Nope.

    I had to reset all the network settings on my phone to finally get it to work.

    And why the hell does it need my location turned on? 1st time I connected, I denied that permission and was able to connect and play with the amp/app for a couple hours. This time it wouldn't connect until allowed location access.

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  • @kspousta Did the operating system on your phone update between your two attempts to connect by bluetooth?

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  • I also have bluetooth connection problems. my older work phone (running Android version 7.0) however my brand new Samsung A40 (Android version 9) won't connect. This is a real nuisance as I have upgraded my old personal phone to be able to use it with the Spark Amp. Any ideas?

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  • @snwombwell I had the same problem. Spark app and amp worked on my Tablet but not on my new phone. What worked for me was to do a full reset of the Spark. Info here:

    • If none of the above works, please back up all saved presets/tones to Spark amp app, then perform a hardware reset to see if that helps.
      How to Perform a Rest?
      This fixed the problem. Also note that on Android for some reason there are two connections that need to be connected. The one controlled by the Spark App and also in the bluetooth on your phone make sure the Spark is connected. DOn't know why it has to have both but without the phone connection it will appear you are connected but the backing tracks will come out of the phone not the amp. Hope this helps
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  • @dgkenney There are two connections on iOS devices also -- 1) to allow the app to control the app; 2) to allow the amp to serve as a bluetooth speaker.

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  • @dhbailey this is not dissimilar to my Yamaha THR ( if dissimilar means exactly the same)

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  • @dhbailey said in Bluetooth connection woes:

    @kspousta Did the operating system on your phone update between your two attempts to connect by bluetooth?

    Nope. This is a 1 week old LG V60. I did all the system updates as soon as I got my data transferred over. Last update was a week ago tomorrow per About Phone.

    As mentioned above, I also see two Bluetooth devices paired, Spark 40 Audio and Spark 40 BLE. Only the Audio one seems to connect and I can use the Spark as a BT speaker just fine. The BLE device will not connect manually.

    I've been sitting here trying to connect again for the past 30 mins and I'm about over this...

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  • @dhbailey Good to know although I avoid all Apple products on a personal choice.

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  • I am seeing what might be the same thing. Mine worked on both the iOS and Amazon devices when I first got it a couple of weeks ago but sometime in the past week or so the bluetooth audio (only) stopped working. It connects fine, it thinks it's playing but there is no bluetooth audio input (instrument input is fine, 3.5mm plug input is fine if I use that). I updated my firmware to latest sometime in the past week or so, did you update yours or is it still as-shipped?

    I can NOT use it as a bluetooth speaker from either device, it does the same thing (behaves as if it was playing at volume 0).

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  • So I've found a "workaround". If I turn on Location, then BT, then connect to the Spark 40 Audio device, then launch the app, it'll connect after about 15-20 seconds. I can then turn off location and it works fine.

    WTH does location have to do with the app and how come a friend with one of these doesn't have to do anything with location on his mobile devices?

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  • @jcstrain said in Bluetooth connection woes:

    I am seeing what might be the same thing. Mine worked on both the iOS and Amazon devices when I first got it a couple of weeks ago but sometime in the past week or so the bluetooth audio (only) stopped working. It connects fine, it thinks it's playing but there is no bluetooth audio input (instrument input is fine, 3.5mm plug input is fine if I use that). I updated my firmware to latest sometime in the past week or so, did you update yours or is it still as-shipped?

    I can NOT use it as a bluetooth speaker from either device, it does the same thing (behaves as if it was playing at volume 0).

    I'm running mine as it came out of the box. Still don't know WTH location has to do with connecting via BT for the app. Mine does work as a BT speaker and connects without any location requirement, but the app won't connect without location on.

    Once connected, I can turn location off and it runs fine.

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