Bluetooth audio codecs have become increasingly important in recent years as most devices support wireless connections and allow users to enjoy high-quality audio without having to rely on wired connections. With the right Bluetooth codec, users can experience crystal clear sound with minimal latency and interference. Whilst most Bluetooth audio codecs are lossy, some codecs lead to much better sound than others.
Some of the most common Bluetooth codecs include:
SBS- 345kbps 16bit 48KHz
AptX HD- 567kbps 24bit 48KHz
LDAC- 990kbps 24bit 96KHz
AAC – 320kbps 24bit 44.1KHz
In general, higher bitrate leads to better sound quality. From experience, LDAC is far superior to the others on this list with AptX HD being second. Most new android devices, high end Sony Walkmans and new Windows PCs (using Alternative A2DP Driver) support LDAC. Apple has its own codec called AAC (also supported on some android and windows devices) which provides good sound quality with a lower bit rate. SBS is a low standard codec that is supported by most devices.
When considering which headphones or speakers to get, consider the device you are using as the player to get the best compatible codec. Higher quality sources such as AmazonHD music, Tidal and Apple Music Lossless stream at much higher bit rates than standard services so will provide better quality.
The Amazon affiliate links below list some of the Bluetooth headphones that support the higher end Bluetooth codecs.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
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