The Codec wars
AAC, SBC, Apt-x, Apt-X HD, LDAC. Sounds like some weird codes to you? Then you’re not far off the truth: these are bluetooth codecs. A codec is a way of packaging the audio that your bluetooth device (e.g. headphone, speaker) receives.
The way audio is transmitted over your bluetooth connection has never been more confusing and it’s too easy to get it wrong these days? Why you ask? Because there’s a coded war on and the consumers are suffering. In stead of codec support being expanded, it’s being reduced and audio quality is suffering. If you’re not careful you’ll be using the crap SBC codec.
Why would anyone start a codec war? Like this:
- Create a technology that (on paper) is better than a commodity standard
- Lure consumers to products with that fancy codec
- Sell licences to that codec to manufacturers.
- Once everyone supports your codec, repeat.
Apt-X was purchased by Qualcomm which was an aggresive move, because now the premium codec is owned by a company selling bluetooth chips. As a reaction Sony created the LDAC codec which rivals with Apt-X and Apt-X HD.
A clear outcome of this is the to be announced Sony WI-1000XM2 headband earphones that don’t support Apt-X, something unthinkable two years ago. Why did they drop support? Because Sony is not using Qualcomm chips but its own internal bluetooth chipset.
The new Optoma NuForce BE Free6 don’t support Apt-X or LDAC. The only quality codec is AAC. One that Android supports but isn’t the prefered codec on Android devices. LDAC and Apt-x are supported by many Android devices and any headphones.
Another telling headphone is the OnePlus Bullet 2 which doesn’t support AAC. This means you’ll get the SBC codec when using these with an iPhone, which is not what you want from a quality product (which it is). This is a tough sell for iPhone users (OnePlus is probably happy about that). Again the hardware seller is trying to lock you in. If you bought a pair of OnePlus headphones for your Android device, you should replace them if you want to switch to an iPhone later. You know you’re in a manufacturers war if your options are being limited.
Apple is quite static on their codec support. AAC for iPhones and Apt-X for their laptops. AAC isn’t a bad codec but there is problem with latency, Apt-X shines in latency and theoretically has higher audio quality which makes it a better option. If your next headphones don’t support Apt-X though, your Apple devices might all get stuck at AAC, giving you higher latency and theoretically lower sound quality when watching movies, basically a step backwards!
Advanced Model X only supports SBC, they might be using a Qualcomm chip but probably weren’t keen on paying the extra licence for quality codecs. These true wireless headphones suffer clearly from this choice and don’t sound as good as they could. For a casual listen this is fine but avoid these if you value quality audio!
The new Bose 700 headphones only support AAC. Apt-X suport isn’t a given anymore. https://www.androidcentral.com/do-bose-noise-cancelling-headphone-700-support-advanced-audio-codecs
Audio devices that only support SBC are rare luckily but if devices stop support both Apt-X and AAC you might end up with a bad experience. A headphone that was great on iPhone is suddenly not so great when using on your Mac or Android device.
Purchasing Tips
If you’re an iPhone user make sure your bluetooth headphone or speaker supports AAC, if you also own a Macbook or Mac you’ll want Apt-X support as well.
If you’re on Android Apt-X is a great low latency high quality option and will make the headphones sound well on both Windows and Mac devices too if you own those. LDAC or Apt-X HD are a nice bonus if you get it working but there’s no clear evidence it will sound better than the Apt-X. AAC is supported on Android but with higher latency and supposedly a bigger drain on your phone battery. The Bose 700 is thus not an obvious Android match.
Codec support across devices?
- LDAC: All modern Android devices, select playback devices, not iPhones
- AAC: All Apple products, up until recently support in headphones was common.
- Apt-x: Select Apple products (not iPhones), Sony seems to be dropping this in favor of LDAC.
- Apt-X HD: Modern Android devices, select playback devices, Sony’s XM2 and up.
Resources
If you want to dig a little deeper into the different codes check out Soundguys excellent codec explanation
