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Bluetooth Codec for Wireless Headphones and Earbuds: Everything You Need to Know

Bluetooth headphones, Headphone 101

Bluetooth Codec for Wireless Headphones and Earbuds

Bluetooth codec is not something that most people pay attention to when buying or using wireless devices, but it can make a big difference in your audio enjoyment.

By knowing what codecs your devices support and how to choose the best one for your needs, you can optimize your wireless audio experience and get the most out of your Bluetooth devices.

This Headphone 101 guide explains what Bluetooth codec is, why it matters for wireless headphones and earbuds, how to compare different Bluetooth codecs for headphones and earbuds, commonly used Bluetooth codecs (SBC, AAC, LC3, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LHDC, Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC), SCL6, LC3plus) for headsets, and how to properly consider the Bluetooth codec when buying or evaluating new wireless headphones and earbuds.

What is Bluetooth codec, and why does it matter for wireless headphones and earbuds?

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows devices to communicate with each other over short distances. It uses radio waves to send and receive data, such as audio, video, text, and images.

However, Bluetooth has a limited bandwidth, which means it can only transfer a certain amount of data per second, usually capped at 2Mbps. This poses a challenge for audio transmission because audio files are usually large and require a lot of bandwidth, usually exceeding the capacity of Bluetooth, to stream without losing quality or interruptions.

To solve this problem, Bluetooth uses a codec to compress the audio data before sending it (e.g., from your phone) and then decompress it by the receiving devices (e.g., headphones and earbuds) after receiving it. A codec is software or hardware that encodes and decodes data using a specific algorithm. By compressing the audio data, the Bluetooth codec reduces the size of the file and the amount of bandwidth needed to transmit it. However, compression also involves some trade-offs, such as loss of quality, latency, and power consumption.

Essentially, Bluetooth codec is a software format that compresses and then encodes audio data so that it can be efficiently transmitted wirelessly between devices before being decoded by hardware that supports that same codec. In other words, a codec determines how your music is packed (compressed) and unpacked (uncompressed) when it travels from your phone to your headphones (and earbuds).

However, not all codecs are created equal. Sound quality can vary among codecs due to factors like bit depth, bit … Read the rest

Unleashing the Power of LDAC Codec: How to Enable Hi-Res Audio on Android Devices with WF-1000XM4, WF1000XM5, and WH-1000 series?

Bluetooth headphones, Headphone 101, noise cancelling headphones, wireless earbuds

the Power of LDAC Codec: How to Enable Hi-Res Audio on Android Devices with WF-1000XM4, WF1000XM5, and WH-1000 series?

With the release of Sony WF-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM5, more and more owners are wondering how to enable Hi-Res audio, which is one of the key features of high-end Sony wireless headphones and earbuds, in addition to the signature noise canceling feature.

This guide explains and shows you how to use LDAC codes to enable Hi-Res audio on Android devices so that you can enjoy the best quality audio you have paid for. Detailed step-by-step instructions are included. Questions you may have on LDAC codec and Hi-Res audio are also answered.

This guide applies to all wireless headphones and earbuds with LDAC codec support. We use Sony WF-1000XM4, WF1000XM5, and WH-1000 series just as examples.

Background info on Bluetooth codecs and Hi-Res audio

Bluetooth codec and Hi-Res audio were discussed thoroughly in other posts. In this post, we will focus on how to use LDAC codec and enable Hi-Res audio on Android devices.

However, some readers may need some background info.

Bluetooth audio sucks.

Many cheap wired headphones are better than high-end wireless headphones.

Most wireless earbuds, including the AirPods Pro series, Sony WF-1000 series, and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds series, are inferior to most cheaper wired headphones.

But Bluetooth audio solves the problem when “wire” is unavailable (or not an option). Especially in the current market, almost all “flagship” or high-end phones have removed the most useful (for audiophiles) 3.5mm audio jack. You may have to look for a Bluetooth headset or wireless earbuds.

Bluetooth codec makes a difference.

All Bluetooth “audio” devices must support the baseline codec: SBC (subband codec), which is part of the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP). This guarantees that all Bluetooth headphones or earbuds work with all “sending” devices (e.g., iPhone and Android phones).

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) was standardized by ISO and IEC. Almost all headphones and earbuds manufacturers support it, although it is not royalty-free. Generally, AAC offers better (arguable)audio quality than SBC with the same bandwidth. Of course, this depends on the implementation of the sending and receiving devices.

Hi-Res means different in file format and Bluetooth codec.

When talking about individual music files, Hi-Res usually means either uncompressed (e.g., WAV) or compressed but lossless (e.g., FLAC and ALAC). MP3 and AAC are two common examples of the opposite side: compressed and lossy.

For the codec, the Japan Audio Society certifies Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless. … Read the rest

What is Samsung Seamless Codec? 4 things you should know about this new codec

Bluetooth headphones, Headphone 101, noise cancelling headphones

What is Samsung Seamless Codec?

With the release of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Samsung touted the 24bit Hi-Fi audio, which is enabled by the Samsung Seamless Codec. Samsung shared very little technical information about this codec except for some marketing exaggerations.

Many Galaxy Buds 2 Pro owners have some questions about the Samsung Seamless Codec, for example, how “better” it is.

This Bluetooth headphone guide explains the four aspects of this new codec:

  • When/where can you get and use Samsung Seamless Codec?
  • The relationship between Samsung Seamless Codec and Scalable Codec.
  • How better is Samsung Seamless Codec compared to other codecs?
  • The role of a codec (like Samsung Seamless Codec) in the Bluetooth streaming process.

Currently, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is the only wireless earbuds that support Samsung Seamless Codec. Very likely, new earbuds will be added to the list.

#1. Samsung Seamless Codec is proprietary and only works on Samsung devices

First, Samsung Seamless Codec is proprietary, and Samsung owns it. No other hardware manufacturers have licensed it yet.

So, currently, it is only available on Samsung devices and works only on Samsung devices.

This means if you want to enjoy the Hi-Res audio with Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, you have to use it with a supported Samsung phone or tablet.

Samsung Seamless Codec is supported in Samsung phones and tablets with Android 11, 12 or 13. For example, Galaxy S10, S20, S21, S22, Galaxy Note 10, and Note 20 are all on Android 12. So, you can pair Galaxy Buds 2 Pro with any of these phones (and some Galaxy A and J series) and try the Hi-Res audio codec.

For headphones and earbuds, currently, Samsung Seamless Codec is only available on Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

In short, Samsung Seamless Codec is only for the Samsung ecosystem. You cannot even try it if you are using a phone or tablet of other brands. Galaxy Buds 2 Pro itself is only a receiving (sink) device.

#2. Samsung Seamless Codec is a new version of Samsung Scalable Codec.

The name of the new codec is very confusing: it is too close to the existing Samsung Scalable codec.

And the truth is that Samsung Seamless Codec is just a new (or updated) version of Samsung Scalable Codec.

Samsung Scalable Codec was created by Samsung (AKG) for their first wireless earbuds: Galaxy Buds. It was then supported in all … Read the rest