Bluetooth LE Audio standard adopted. It expands the possibilities of wireless headphones
Miscellaneous / / July 13, 2022
New energy-efficient codec, the ability to connect multiple headphones to one device and more.
Back in early 2020, the new Bluetooth LE Audio standard was introduced, and the Bluetooth SIG hoped that the first devices with its support would hit the market by the end of the year. It did not work out: the certification was delayed, and it was only possible to complete it now. But now we are waiting for a revolution in the world of wireless headphones.
The main advantage of Bluetooth LE Audio is support for the LC3 codec. It is positioned as a more efficient way to transmit sound. This means either much better audio quality at the same bitrate than SBC, or even slightly better audio quality at half the bitrate. You can hear the difference on the website. Bluetooth SIG: audio comparison is available in the player without encoding, as well as in LC3 and SBC with different bitrates.
The lower the bitrate, the lower the power consumption, so that headphones with this standard can not only produce better sound, but also keep the charge much longer than modern models.
Another important feature is the ability to connect multiple audio devices to a single source via the interface. Auracast. It will allow you to connect two pairs of headphones to one smartphone, or connect many pairs at once to one TV located in a public place - for example, in a gym.
The Bluetooth SIG explains that users will be able to search for sound sources, just like on a Wi-Fi network. You can also scan a QR code or touch a surface with an NFC tag to connect. They also promise improved support for TWS headphones: Bluetooth LE Audio allows each headphone to maintain a separate connection to the audio source.
Manufacturers may already be starting to implement Bluetooth LE Audio into their devices, so this time we may actually see headphones with this standard ready before the end of the year.
The Bluetooth SIG website notes that some existing devices will be able to update to support Bluetooth LE Audio, and basic support for the standard has already been added to the Android 13 beta. But most users will need to change their headphones to get the full benefits of Bluetooth LE Audio.
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