1/19/23, 8:35 PM Bluetooth Audio Codecs Explained - Headphonesty

LEARN FUNDAMENTALS

Bluetooth Audio Codecs Explained

By Alan Gleeson Updated on June 2, 2022

Understanding Bluetooth audio codecs is one of the key milestones in

the pursuit of excellent wireless audio quality.

Whether you are looking at wireless headphones for workouts, gaming, TV watching,
or even to protect your ears from the noise, you must not overlook this important
feature: Bluetooth audio codec.

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The Sony WH1000XM3 has support for the “LDAC” audio codec.

There are annoying companies (I’m looking at you, Bose) who choose not to
display the supported audio codec.

In this article, we will attempt to break down the mystery and jargons of Bluetooth
audio codecs in a beginner-friendly way.

We will also discuss:

How does wireless audio transmission work

How does the Bluetooth audio codec affect audio quality and latency
The different types of codecs and their characteristics
And more!

Let’s dive right in.

Quick Links
Use these quick links to navigate around the article.

The Journey of Wireless Audio Transmission

Types of wireless connection
The journey begins

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Encoding and Decoding

Enter the codec
Basic Audio Terminology
Other than Codecs, What Affects the Quality of Bluetooth Audio?
Types of Bluetooth Codecs
Codecs Comparison Table

The Journey of Wireless Audio Transmission

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Types of wireless connection

Even before discussing the journey of wireless audio, we have to first talk about the
type of wireless connection. Imagine you want to get from point A to point B,
selecting the type of connection is similar to picking the type of transport (car, train,
etc.) you want to complete your journey.

In general, there are three types of wireless connection for headphones:

Infrared (IR)
Radio Frequency (RF)
Bluetooth (BT)

Since we are on the topic of Bluetooth audio codec, we will focus on the BT
connection. But in general, the underlying mechanism is the same.

RELATED: RF vs IF vs BT Headphones

The Bluetooth was originally called “short-link” radio

technology.

The journey begins

You first have a Bluetooth audio transmitter which is the audio source. In this case, it
can be your phone. Next, you need a BT audio receiver, which can be your
headphone or speaker.

The transmitter’s job is not as simple as sending over the music file to the receiver.
Depending on the quality of the recorded audio, it affects the audio’s file size. Higher
quality recording equates to larger file size. The file size directly affects the bandwidth
needed to transmit the audio over to the receiver.

Think of bandwidth as the width of the traffi c highway and the fi le size as the traffi c
fl ow.

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If the traffic flow exceeds what the highway allows, traffic jams occur and the journey
becomes slow and unstable.

RELATED: How to Reset Your Bluetooth Headphones

A Bluetooth connection has a maximum bandwidth that it can accommodate.

Lossless file formats like WAV and AIFF are huge in file size. If we were to plainly send
these raw files wirelessly, the bandwidth will be eaten up, exceeding what the
Bluetooth connection can handle. The audio connection will start to stutter, affecting
the overall audio connection quality.

This is where processes like encoding and decoding come in handy.

Encoding and Decoding

To reduce the size of the audio file, the BT transmitter encodes the original file with a
special sauce (I believe scientists call them algorithms) into a compressed form. The
compressed form itself is not a viable audio file. This is then sent over to the receiver.

The BT receiver will decode the compressed form into an audio file which then
becomes playable.

Enter the codec

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Codecs are not that mysterious (From videomaker.com)

So what is the special sauce that we mentioned above?

It is actually, surprise, the audio codec.

A codec is a piece of software, or algorithm, that takes your data (music), compresses it
to reduce file size and encodes it in a format for transmission. The same codec is also
required to decode the encoded data so that we can listen to our music. 

The BT receiver must support the same audio codec as the BT transmitter. For
example, the LDAC codec will only be used if both the transmitter and receiver
support LDAC.

Compression, a potential loss of resolution and quality

Once a file has been compressed, it is not possible to restore

it to its original quality.

Reducing file size while maintaining the fidelity of the audio data is no simple task.
Through psychoacoustic research and analysis, the codec disregard masked
information in the music, information that can be removed without a noticeable loss
in quality.

RELATED: How Do We Hear? The Human Hearing Mechanism Explained

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Each Bluetooth audio codec has its own unique compression algorithm and also
speed of transmitting the data. This affects the quality of wireless audio in terms of
latency and fidelity.

The common codecs that you will come across are the following;

SBC
AAC
aptX
aptX HD
aptX LL
LDAC
LC3
Samsung Scalable Codec

Before we dive into codec and their characteristics, we need to recognize and
understand some basic audio terminology.

Bluetooth headset for mobile phone (From Wikipedia)

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Basic Audio Terminology

When reading articles and specifications about Bluetooth codecs, there are some
terms that will come up again and again. Let’s discuss these first.

If you have some basic knowledge of digital audio, you may have come across these
before.

RELATED: Understanding Sample Rate, Bit Depth, and Bit Rate

1. Sample Rate

2. Bit Depth

3. Bitrate

4. HD Audio

Sample Rate

An audio signal is stored using pulse code modulation (PCM). In order to capture, store,
and reproduce a signal accurately, snapshots, or samples of the incoming signal are
taken at a specific rate, a sampling rate, measured in Hertz (Hz).

In order to reproduce the full spectrum of a musical signal, a sampling rate of

44,100Hz, or 44.1kHz, is the minimum that is used. That’s 44,100 samples per second.

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Sample Rates (From masteringthemix.com)

You will also see higher sample rates used for music, 48kHz, 96kHz, and even 192kHz.
There are many arguments for using higher sample rates than 44.1kHz.

For most consumers, 44.1kHz is more than acceptable. It is the most commonly used
rate for music. Using this sample rate allows accurate reproduction of frequencies up
to 22050Hz, just above the limit of human hearing.

Lower rates can be used when critical listening is not required, such as with speech.

Bit Depth

For music, the bit depths you will come across are 16bit and 24bit. While the sample
rate is concerned with capturing frequency accurately, bit depth is related to dynamic
range.

Dynamic range is the distance between the quietest and loudest sounds in a piece of
music, and the quality of the resolution within this range.

16bit versus 24Bit (From masteringthemix.com)

For many years 16bit was the standard, the depth used on CDs. While 16bit is still very
common, 24bit is now becoming more widely used for Hi-Res (HD) audio. Consumers
can now purchase music in lossless formats that support higher sample rates and bit
depths.

Bitrate
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Bitrate is the measure of the rate at which data is transferred from one point to
another. It is measured in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (kbps), or megabits
per second (Mbps).

We also use bitrate to describe the fi delity of audio fi les. An MP3 file that was
compressed at 320kbps, will have a much better dynamic range and sound quality to
one compressed at 128kbps.

With higher bitrate, audio files with higher bit depth and sample rate can be sent
wirelessly, thus increasing the quality of the audio. However, this means an increase in
bandwidth used for transmission.

Bitrate formula = Sample rate x Bit-depth x No. of Channels

Chart comparing the bitrate of different formats: MP3, CD, and HD audio.

Codecs have the ability to alter the rate at which the data is being sent, directly
affecting quality.

HD Audio

As internet speeds have increased and technology has developed, lossless formats
have become more popular as a means to distribute and purchase music. Music
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streaming platforms like Qobuz and Tidal are already using lossless files.

Digital HD formats such as FLAC, ALAC, WAV, and AIFF, are the choice of audiophiles
and music collectors who are moving away from the physical medium.

If HD audio is something that is paramount for you, you will

need to choose equipment that implements codec(s) that can
deliver the result you need.

Which codec you use will inevitably be linked to the equipment you have. But if you
are entering the world of Bluetooth audio, or upgrading, knowing the qualities of the
different codecs is important.

Other than Codecs, What Affects the Quality of Bluetooth

Audio?

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Other the codecs itself, there are other factors that can directly affect the quality of the
Bluetooth Audio:

Distance between the transmitter and receiver: The further the two devices are
away from each other, the less stable the connection will be. This decreases the
speed of transmission, thus resulting in stuttering audio. Keep the distance as close
as possible.
The number of blockages between the transmitter and receiver: Bluetooth can
travel through the walls. But take note that once the signal pass through walls, the
signal strength is attenuated and the range decreases. It doesn’t need to have line-
of-sight between two devices but as least keep them within the same room.

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Having a lot of blockages may result in the issue where Bluetooth headphones are
connected but has no sound.
Electrical interference by other devices: As Bluetooth signals are electromagnetic
waves, they can be affected by other interfering electromagnetic wave-emitting
devices such as radio, mobile phones, etc.
Bluetooth versions: Even though Bluetooth has now been the standard for
wireless connectivity, it is still far from perfect. That’s why, Bluetooth’s
manufacturers are still continuously upgrading its features and fixing bugs. Having
a lower Bluetooth version may result in different audio problems that may have
already been solved in latter versions.

Types of Bluetooth Codecs

SBC

Low demand for computing power

Low power consumption
Support 48kHz/16-bit audio files
Supports bit rates up to 345kbps (realistically 256kbps)
Universal compatibility

SBC or “Low Complexity Subband Coding” is the first Bluetooth codec introduced to
transfer audio. It is integrated into the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) – a
set of default Bluetooth specifications for streaming audio over Bluetooth.

As such, every Bluetooth device you have will be compatible with this codec, and
they will communicate with each other without any issues.

If there are any codec mismatches, your device will default

to using the SBC codec.

Unlike nearly all the other codecs discussed here, SBC is public domain, so equipment
manufacturers can use it for free.

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SBC has a bad reputation among the Bluetooth audio codecs for its high lossy
compression algorithm and hence, overall lower audio quality. But in fact, SBC is a
pretty flexible codec. It is able to support up to the 48 kHz sampling rate at 16-bit bit
depth. It is also able to transmit data at rates as high as 345kbps.

However, manufacturers don’t always take full advantage of SBC’s features or

bandwidth, for reasons of improved device performance. A more realistic bitrate will be
256kbps which is roughly equal to the quality of MP3 recording.

You will run into latency issues when using this codec for gaming and watching
streams. This issue is not exclusive to this codec.

If you’re not concerned about HD audio, and using lossless files, SBC will be totally fine.
It’s efficient at what it does, so it will go easy on your battery.

In noisy situations such as the gym or public transport or when you are only using
lower-quality ear-buds, you won’t notice the difference between this and the codecs
discussed below.

AAC

Better lossy compression algorithm than SBC

Support 44.1kHz/24-bit audio files
Supports bit rates up to 320kbps
Android support (8+)
Better implementation on iOS devices
Power-hungry

Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is a complex codec when compared with SBC, it uses
more computing power and causes higher power consumption.

When it applies lossy compression, it can produce better results than SBC.

It is the successor to MP3 and provides improved audio

quality results when using similar compression settings

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(kbps). This improvement comes at a cost, more power

consumption.

AAC is not in the public domain, so manufacturers have to pay the patent holders to
implement it in their technology. There is a one-time payment fee of $15,000 ($1000 if
the company has less than 15 employees) and $0.98 for the first 500,000 devices.

Although it is the default codec on iOS devices, it is not owned by Apple. How each
manufacturer implements it makes a big difference. Its implementation and audio
quality are generally much better on iOS than Android devices.

Some of its specs may look similar or less than SBC, but it is a more advanced codec,
and you hear the benefit of that.

aptX

The Sennheiser 4.4 BT lists “aptX” as its supported Bluetooth audio codec.

Better lossy compression algorithm than SBC

Support 48kHz/16-bit audio files
Supports bit rates up to 384kbps
Supported in Android 4.4+
No iOS support
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The aptX family of codecs is owned by Qualcomm. aptX was introduced as an

alternative to SBC, and address complaints about SBC’s implementation and sound
quality.

It uses a different type of data compression to SBC and AAC – Adaptive Differential
Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM). Rather than using psychoacoustic analysis and
masking to dump what’s deemed to be unnecessary, it codes the file in a different
way to reduce the data bandwidth.

Also not public domain, Qualcomm charges manufacturers to implement it. They also
provides a record of all devices that implement its codecs. Manufacturers who wants
to use aptX codec have to pay a one-time payment fee of $6000 and ~$1 per device.

aptX HD

Improved aptX encoding profile

Support 48kHz/24-bit audio files
Supports bit rates up to 576kbps
Supported in Android 8+
No iOS support

aptX HD is not a standalone audio codec but instead, it is an improved aptX encoding
profile. It supports higher bit depths and bit rates. The result of this is heard as better
sound reproduction and less noise (more dynamic range).

With these improvements, it offers HD audio that can

approach the quality of the original file (if it’s HD)

Despite these improvements, it is not as widely adopted by manufacturers as the

standard aptX.

aptX LL

Low latency (~ 32ms)

Supports bit rates up to 352kbps

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Support 44.1kHz/16-bit audio files

No smartphones support

Just like the aptX HD, the aptX LL is not a standalone codec. The LL stands for low
latency .

This codec solves the latency issue, or at least vastly improves it compared to the other
codecs.

Latency, is the delay introduced due to the processing of the audio. It’s the delay
between the data being encoded, transmitted, and received, and will cause an
obvious delay in gameplay, and dialogue sync in films and TV.

Other than the aptX LL codec, latency is a common issue with other codecs. For just
pure music listening, the latency is not much of an issue. But for gaming or watching
films, the latency becomes significantly obvious because you can visually see the non-
sync problem.

If you want to use your wireless headphones for gaming or

watching films, it should be a requirement that they support
this aptX-LL codec.

However, make sure your audio source supports the same audio codec. Otherwise,
they will default back to the common codec that they share (most probably SBC).
Currently, there are no mobile phones that support aptX LL. There is better support on
Windows desktop.

LDAC

Support 96kHz/24-bit audio files

Supports bit rates up to 990kbps
Android support (8+)
Limited headphone options

The LDAC codec is developed by Sony. It offers the potential to offer near-lossless
audio quality.

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Both your transmitting and receiving device need to be able to firstly support the
codec, but then they also need to be able to deal with the large data bandwidth being
sent and received.

Signal strength always plays an important part when you are using the LDAC codec.
As this codec uses more data, any interference with the signal will reduce the
bandwidth, consequently resulting in a drop of the signal quality. The benefits of
LDAC’s HD capabilities will then be lost.

Probably due to licensing issues, wireless headphones that support LDAC codec are
only Sony headphones.

LC3

LC3, or LE (low energy) Audio, also known as Low Complexity Communications Codec,
is the new default Bluetooth codec, introduced at the CES 2020 trade show.

As it has just been introduced, the full spec is not available yet. It claims to be the
“next generation of Bluetooth audio”, building on innovations from the last 20 years.

The information that has been shared claims that vast improvements have been
made in the areas of;

Audio Quality
Latency
Power consumption
Audio Sharing (new feature)

If all this is true, it will be a game-changer for the user. With the Bluetooth headphone
market continuing to expand, these new features might end the need for wired
headphones.

All the codecs discussed here are still relevant as it will take some time to implement
and roll-out new tech that supports the LC3 codec.

Samsung Scalable Codec

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Samsung Scalable Codec

This codec is a proprietary codec developed by Samsung for its Galaxy Buds – a True
Wireless earbud. As expected, only Samsung devices support this codec. 

Samsung Scalable Codec

The unique thing abt the Samsung Scalable Codec is its ability to support a wide
range of bitrate. It can adaptively switch bitrate, depending on the stability of the
Bluetooth connection, to maintain stable connection and reduce choppy audio.
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As the strength of the Bluetooth connection weakens, the audio codec will
intelligently increase the compression ratio while lowering the bitrate. This might
lower the overall audio quality but at least the connection does not get cut off.

Comparison of the Codecs

Here’s a table to let you easily compare the different characteristics of the codecs
mentioned in this article.

Codec  Max Bitrate  Bit Depth  Max Frequency

SBC 320 kbps 16 bit 48.0 kHz 2003

AAC 264 kbps 16 bit 44.1 kHz 2015

aptX 352 kbps 16 bit 48.0 kHz 2009

aptX HD 576 kbps 24 bit 48.0 kHz 2016

aptX LL 352 kbps 16 bit 44.1 kHz 2016

LDAC 990 kbps 24 bit 96.0 kHz 2015

LC3 N/A N/A N/A 2020

Conclusion

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Based on my technical knowledge and additional research carried out for this article it
has to be said that there is conflicting online information on this topic.

Some of this is the result of the amount of information, or lack of, that manufacturers
give out regarding how they implement the codecs they use.

The other is the ability to test what the manufacturers and codecs claim to do. With
the multitude of configurations between transmitters and receivers available, it’s hard
to reach a consensus.

Some codecs offer advantages over others, this relates to;

Bandwidth – directly impacts the audio quality

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Sample rate/bit depth support – lossy, lossless, HD audio

Listening habits – headphone type, latency, environment
Headphone type/style versus audiophile requirements
Audio source – the audio quality of your source, and the device you use (PC, Mac,
Gaming consoles like Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, etc)

So codecs matter. They are something you should inform yourself about in order to
get the performance, and listening experience you are after.

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FILED UNDER: APTX APTX HD APTX LL BLUETOOTH LC3 LDAC

SBC WIRELESS

21 COMMENTS

Robert Jones
July 7, 2020 at 3:33 pm

Great informative article, thanks

Reply

David Crandon
September 5, 2020 at 8:17 pm

To make sure I understand…all the earbuds I’ve used in the past are Bluetooth enabled and
support AptX. And my phone, usually the latest Google Pixel, supports all the codecs. The next
earbuds I buy may support LDAC, and the Pixel I buy will also. But…it doesn’t matter what
music streaming service I use, correct? For example, going forward I’ll probably be using
Amazon Music HD, but that has no bearing on compatibility with the codec I use (AptX or
LDAC), correct? Thank you.
Reply

Chief Editor
September 7, 2020 at 8:09 am

You are correct. The music streaming service will not affect what Bluetooth Codec you
stream from your device to your headphones.
Reply

Jim
September 16, 2020 at 8:33 pm

When i use Cisco Webex or MS Teams from my Windows work laptop with bluetooth
connected to Samsung Buds+ the quality of audio is really, really poor.

But when i play a YouTube video on my Windows work laptop with bluetooth connected to
Samsung Buds+ the quality of audio is perfectly fine.

Also, when i use Cisco Webex from my Windows work laptop but get the WebEx to call my
iPhone or Huawei mobile, which are bluetooth connected to Samsung Buds+ the quality of
audio is again perfectly fine.

Can you join up the dots??

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Reply

Deyr
September 17, 2020 at 1:47 pm

Really a great informatory article. Thank you.

Reply

Deyr
September 17, 2020 at 1:53 pm

Really a great article. I was looking for this collective informations. Could you pl. add more
information about the Bluetooth headset handshake. Who determines which audio Codec to
use?
Thank you.
Reply

Mrvoje
June 30, 2021 at 11:00 am

Its a problem exclusive to using Bluetooth devices within work environment.

BT is natively and inly has two chanells. So the device has two pick, stereo sound or
mono sound and microphone transmition. When you start the call on teams one chanell
is lost due to this, leaving you with half bandwith single chanell sound for its duration.
Once your call is done your win/mac should by default swap over to stereo, and sound
quality will improve again.
Reply

Pranav Kumar Tallam

September 29, 2020 at 10:53 pm

Amazing article . Learnt a lot thanks for sharing this.

Reply

Amith
October 16, 2020 at 1:38 pm

Well written and informative. Thank you.

I’m a beginner and do not have much know how. I have a query and hope to get some
information with your experience. I’m looking to connect upto 4 wireless headphones
simultaneously (such as Sony XM4, Bose 700, Sannheiser Rs 175 or Sannheiser Rs 195) to my
Sony A8G T.V for movies/Netflix etc without any lag in audio. Is this possible?

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From my research online, i found

(1) Sannheiser Rs175/195 comes with the transmitter. However, can i connect 4 of these or
combine different brand wireless headphones together to the Sony A8G T.V without any lag?

(2) I found Avantree Orbit or Avantree Oasis plus bluetooth transmitter that could connect 2
wireless headphones at a time. So can i connect two Avantree Orbit to the Sony A8G TV
inorder to have the 4 wireless headphones working simultaneously without any audio lag?

Would this work and if not, is there any other/better option I must consider?

I look forward to your response. Thank you.

Reply

Christopher Gunia
October 24, 2020 at 8:40 pm

Good article. This biggest issue I see is that the for an Android phone, the transmitter and
receiver choose the codec automatically based on the highest possible data rate. However,
that might be overkill in some situations and might cause occasional dropout where a lower
rated codec might be more appropriate. On Huawei phones there is a new HD codec HWA,
but it’s tricky to disable on the phone without going into developer settings, and will reset
itself when reconnecting.
Reply

Josef
November 2, 2020 at 9:45 am

Good article, but incomplete without the comparison table also showing the latency of the
individual codecs.
In particular – comparing the aptXLL with the Sony LDAC.
Reply

David
April 6, 2021 at 1:59 am

Very informative article, thank you! However, there is something I haven´t found out yet. How
do I know what codecs a desktop system with a USB Bluetooth adapter supports? I have
researched and there is practically no information about this. Is it hardware or software
dependent?
Reply

daveclark966
July 12, 2021 at 7:12 am

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To get your AAC file changed with your wanted bitrate, a professional AAC bitrate converter –
Avdshare Audio Converter comes to help.
Reply

Anik Pramanik
May 3, 2022 at 6:23 pm

I really wanted to know more about samsung scalable codec. But you did not provide the
bitrate, sampling rate and other technical info. Please update this if I wish for. Thanks.
Reply

IVAR
July 12, 2022 at 3:12 pm

Loved the detailed mentions of all kinds of codecs.

Reply

JM
October 27, 2022 at 8:38 pm

Nothing about how to use those CODECs on anything but a phone. I own an LDAC supported
headphone set (Sony WH-1000XM3), but I can’t find a way to play LDAC to it. Not with my
Samsung A71 5G UW phone (recent Android), and zero USB bluetooth adapters mention
supporting LDAC.

And I can’t find any details about what is needed to support the feature anywhere. I assume
the transmitting chip needs to support it. But even a search for bluetooth LDAC chipsets
turns up nothing.
Reply

David
November 6, 2022 at 3:17 am

Great job of breaking down that mess of a mystery i had been confused about since i first
heard the word codec. Until now I thought it was some crazy magic. Thx well worth the read
!!!
Reply

Chief Editor
November 10, 2022 at 4:54 pm

Thanks David! Glad you found it useful.

Reply

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Rinku
November 22, 2022 at 2:37 am

Great article….

Thanks for this detailed explanation…

Reply

Miguel Silva
December 26, 2022 at 10:06 am

What puzzles me is the fact that in 2022 all Bluetooth headsets still have low audio
bandwidth on microphone audio channel.
At least all Bluetooth I’ve tested have near CD quality audio when just listening to music but
when you use a conferencing software the sound from microphone is like an old phone call
limited to 8khz or similar… after more than 2 years of COVID and everybody started to use
computers for meeting that also send video in both ways at high bitrates, why are we still
limiting audio quality on bluetooth headsets..
PS: maybe there are already some Bluetooth headsets that don’t have this limitation (so
many Bluetooth versions with increasing data bandwidth) but I don’t know nor have listened
to any that can do 44.1Khz 16bit both ways, maybe it’s not standard and
windows/Mac/Linux/Android don’t support it?
Reply

Joe
January 7, 2023 at 4:44 pm

Creative. They made a codec called faststream that does just this and is SBC based I
think. No one adopted it, and only their stuff used it. They dropped it themselves
recently.

They likely have a patent on it.

Reply

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