FAQs

Finding the right Bluetooth product for your requirements isn't always straightforward.

If you need help with your purchase decision please check the FAQs below. These are the most commonly asked questions and will hopefully provide the answers you need.

If your question is about a specific product - please check the FAQs the product page.

And if you would prefer to get in touch, please feel free to contact us. We are more than happy to help!

  • Pre-Purchase
  • Troubleshooting
  • General FAQs

Which Receiver Do I Need For My Dock / Docking Station / Stereo?

First of all does your dock have a 30pin or AUX connection? The 30pin is the old iPhone / iPod connection. The AUX connection is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

If it's the AUX connection you need, you can use any of our 3 AUX receivers.These are universal adapters that will work with any AUX connection.

LAYEN C-AUX     LAYEN BT-AUX     LAYEN TX-RX

 

If you are looking for a 30 Pin Receiver, we have 3 models. Unlike AUX receivers, 30 pin receivers do unfortunately come with some compatibility issues so please check the compatibility tab listed for each of these models. The LAYEN BS-1 has been created to work on the original Bose Sounddock Series 1 docking station so please only purchase for this. The LAYEN i-SYNC and i-DOCK can be used for all later bode models as well as a number of other brands and models of docks. Please check the product listings for more information.

LAYEN i-DOCK    LAYEN i-SYNC     LAYEN BS-1

 

What If My Dock Isn't Listed?

Given the vast number of brands and models of docking stations, HiFis and stereos across the world we have not been able to test them all. However, thanks to our customer feedback we have been able to create compatibility lists which we have included on each of the product pages. These are not exhaustive but they do cover several models.

If you cannot see your dock listed, then we do not have any feedback for your specific dock. We would suggest you purchase one of our 30pin receivers, either the i-DOCK or the i-SYNC, and see if this works.

There are likely to be many more compatible docks that we are not aware of - we usually only hear back when a receiver doesn't work. Please don't forget to let us know how your chosen receiver works with your dock.

If you unfortunately find that your dock is incompatible with our 30pin receivers, please return your receiver following our returns process and purchase an AUX receiver instead (if your dock has an AUX connection).

Do You Have A Bluetooth Receiver For Docks With The 8 Pin Apple Connection?

There are currently no Bluetooth Receivers available on the market with an 8 pin or lightning connector adapter. This has been the situation since Apple first released the new 8 pin connection for their products and will be the case for the foreseeable future.

We do however have a solution to turn your docking station Bluetooth. We recommend using any of our LAYEN AUX Bluetooth Receivers for your 8 Pin docking station, e.g. Bose, Phillips, View Quest, Kitsound, Sony etc.

AUX receivers work in exactly the same way as the 30pin receivers; simply connect (via AUX) the receiver to your dock, stereo or speakers; pair to your Bluetooth device; then stream your music. The best thing with AUX receivers is that there are no compatibility issues so they can also be used for any other docking station, stereo or set of speakers that you own.

We have two premium AUX receivers and one premium AUX Transmitter and receiver that we would recommend for home use.

LAYEN C-AUX     LAYEN BT-AUX     LAYEN TX-RX

Which Receiver For My Zeppelin / B&W / Zeppelin Mini?

30pin Bluetooth Receivers are generally incompatible with the Zeppelin dock - even our 2 Market Leading Receivers; the LAYEN i-DOCK and LAYEN i-SYNC will not work with the Zeppelin, Zeppelin Air or Zeppelin Mini. We would therefore always recommend an AUX Bluetooth Receiver.

We have recently launched a few AUX receivers that will be suitable. Please see our products pages below for all the information you need.

LAYEN C-AUX     LAYEN BT-AUX     LAYEN TX-RX

The best receiver for you comes down to personal preference. Any of these will turn your B&O docking station Bluetooth and have you wirelessly streaming your music in seconds.

Which Bluetooth Receiver / Adapter for My Bose Docking Station?

Most Bose docking stations with the 30 pin connection (for older style iPhones e.g 3 & 4) will work with either the i-SYNC or the i-DOCK. The only Bose that isn’t compatible is the very original Bose Series 1 SoundDock.

If you have a Bose Series 1 SoundDock you need the BS-1 which has been designed specifically for this docking station, since it runs from a different charge output to all subsequent models.

If you’re not sure which Bose you have, please see the below question answer.

Do I Have a Bose Series 1 Dock? Which Receiver Do I Need?

If you have an old Bose 30pin dock and are unsure whether it is a Bose series 1 dock, there is a simple way to tell. Does your Bose have an AUX connection?

If it doesn’t have an AUX input, then you do have an original Bose Series 1 docking station, and you need to purchase the LAYEN BS-1 .

If your dock does have an AUX input, it is a later model Bose and does not required this receiver. It will work well with either the LAYEN i-SYNC  or LAYEN i-DOCK .

** Note** If your Bose 1 is white and the serial number starts with 0357… please get in contact with us.

 

Why do you need a special receiver for the Bose 1 ?

The very first series of Bose docks are slightly different to the rest of the Bose docks. They are unable to charge iPhones and iPods whilst docked, as they run off an older charge output. Because they can't provide a charge, they are unable to power up the 30 pin receivers (unlike the later Bose models). We had to create an adapter that overcame this issue and worked with the Bose 1.

Can I Play Music From My iPhone / Bluetooth Device To Two Speakers/ Bluetooth Receivers At The Same Time?

It is only possible to connect your Bluetooth device (iPhone, Smartphone, Tablet etc) to one receiver at a time. This means that you can only stream music to one docking station or speaker at a time. It is not possible to stream music to two docks at the same time.

This is where the likes of SONOS and similar speaker ranges come in.

Bluetooth music receivers are simply designed to stream music from one Bluetooth device to one Bluetooth speaker or dock.

If you would like to make 2 docks or speakers Bluetooth, you would need to purchase two receivers. You would not however, be able to connect and stream music to them at the same time using your Bluetooth device.

Which Bluetooth Receiver For My Car?

30 pin receivers will not work with digital stereos, as they run from an analogue Signal. Since most car stereos are digital it is unlikely that the LAYEN i-DOCK or i-SYNC will work in your car. We therefore recommend that you use an AUX receiver for your car stereo. Your stereo will obviously need to have this connection. Either of these receivers will work, it is down to choice. They both come with a built-in microphone for handsfree calls.

LAYEN C-AUX     LAYEN BT-AUX    

How Can I Turn My Non-Bluetooth iPod - Bluetooth?

Simple. You need a Bluetooth Transmitter to do this. We have a 2-in-1 Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver that you can connect to your iPod and when in transmitter mode, will allow your iPod to send music wirelessly to your Bluetooth speakers or Bluetooth headphones.

When you are not using it for your iPod you can use the adapter in receiver mode to turn your stereo, HiFi, dock or even headphones wireless to stream music from your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Bluetooth Receiver Won't Power Up

If your receiver will not power up, please check that power is running through the docking station. The receiver does not have a built-in battery and so relies on the dock as a power source. If you have a portable docking station and are testing it using batteries, please try again connected the dock to the power instead.

If you have a Bose docking station and the receiver will not power up, please make sure that you have bought the correct receiver for your dock. If you have a Bose series 1 dock, you will need the LAYEN BS-1. If you have the Bose Series 2 or later, then you will need either the LAYEN i-DOCK or i-SYNC. If you are unsure what Bose dock you have, please read this article. If you have purchased the wrong receiver and need to return it, please follow our returns procedure.

If your dock is not a Bose dock and the receiver is not powering up at all, this suggests that there might be a fault. If you have an old 30pin charger that you could plug into the receiver to see if the blue light comes on, this will let us know whether power is getting to the receiver or not. If there is no blue light please get in contact with us.

Please refer to our Troubleshooting Guides for more support.

If your receiver does power up and pair, but there is no sound - please see the Troubleshooting Guides.

Bluetooth Receiver Pairs / Connects But No Sound

If your 30pin receiver pairs with your device but does not play sound through the speakers/dock; then it is likely to be incompatible. Please check our Troubleshooting Guides to confirm this as there are some other tips to try before returning your item.

Sound Quality Issues: Hissing / Crackling / Interference / Intermittent

Because you are able to connect to the receiver and play music, it does not sound like a compatibility issue. However, the sound should be crystal clear – as if an iPhone or iPod is docked directly into the docking station.

There shouldn't be any inference/hissing/crackling or sound distortion.

Check that all the connections are secure. Also check the phone / iPod is directly in the dock to rule out a fault with the 30pin dock connection. Next, try resetting the Bluetooth on all your devices.

Please also run through all the tips in our Troubleshooting Guides

Bluetooth Receiver Has Stopped Working

Because you were able to connect to the receiver and play music, it isn't a compatibility issue. It may require a Bluetooth re-set for all devices - if you have been connecting via different devices. Please see our Bluetooth Troubleshooting Guide for advice on how to do this.

 
You will also need to check that all connections are secure. You can do this by checking that the 30pin connection is still working by using an old iPod or iPhone directly on the pins. This will enable you to find out whether there is a fault with the pins.
 
Please also check additional tips in our Troubleshooting Guides

Having followed the troubleshooting, if you're still having the same issue, please get in contact with us so we can arrange for you to send the receiver back for testing. If there is a fault with the receiver, then we can issues you a pre-tested replacement. Returns

My 30 Pin Bluetooth Receiver Won't Work In My Car

Finding a 30 pin Bluetooth receiver to work with cars can be tricky; compatibility can be very hit and miss. Generally speaking, if you have a digital radio they won’t work as the car will be looking for a digital, not analogue, signal.

There are also often issues with car iPod connect kits, as many are MFI only (Made For iPhone/iPod) – meaning that they will not be compatible with non-MFI products on the market. If the receiver you have purchased is not working with your car stereo or connect kit, it is likely that it’s incompatible because of the above reasons.

If this is the case, please return the receiver by following our returns procedure. We would then suggest your purchase one of our AUX receivers instead:

LAYEN C-AUX     LAYEN BT-AUX   

How Long Will It Take For My Order To Arrive?

*** Please note, delivery times might be affected by Covid-19. We will continue to offer the below methods but can not guarantee these times. Premium UK delivery will continue to arrive faster than the other UK shipping methods.

We offer our customers 4 shipping rates.

Standard UK delivery which will take approx. 3-5 days
Premium UK delivery which will take approx. 1-2 days
Free UK delivery (on orders over £35) which will take approx. 3-5 days
International Tracked which will take approx. 5-7 days

Please see our full Shipping Policy for more information.

How Do I Return An Unwanted / Incompatible Product

If your item is incompatible or you have changed your mind, you have up to 30 days to return it for a full refund. Please note the returned item must be in perfect and re-saleable condition - with no damage to the product or packaging.

For compatibility and other issues with a Bluetooth adaptor, please check out our Troubleshooting Guides before attempting to return. Most issues can be resolved following the steps in our guides.

 

Returns Process

If for any reason you are unhappy with your purchase or are struggling to get your product to work, please get in contact with us so we can give you some troubleshooting tips and guidance to help resolve any issues that you are having.

If you have ordered through Amazon, please return your order back to them (go to order history and request to return it through your own account).

If you have ordered through our website or Facebook page, then please contact us via the website to arrange a return - we will ask you to provide us with your order number so please have this ready.

We will then provide you with a return ticket number so your return can be processed.

Please note that we can only offer refunds and not exchanges and we are not responsible for the returns cost.

When returning a product, please make sure that:

  1. You include all relevant paperwork including your name, contact details and reason for return. It is essential that you include your order number and your return ticket number in the return as without this, we will not be able to process your return, refund you or contact you.
  2. The unwanted item must be returned in the same condition in which it was sent i.e. in an unused and re-saleable state. It is the customer's obligation to ensure that goods are returned within their original box and packing.
  3. Please note: the goods are your full responsibility until we take receipt of them. We recommend sending 1st Class and obtaining a proof of postage from the post office or send by Royal Mail recorded delivery to minimise the risk of loss and you having to make a claim on lost post.
  4. We will not be able to provide a refund for any postage costs incurred when returning the item back to us, or original postage costs when the order was made.
  5. Once we have received your return, we will issue a refund within 3-5 working days but please allow up to 7 working days for this.

For our full returns procedure (including any faulty items) please refer to our Returns Policy.