(Pocket-lint) – Qualcomm has developed what it claims to be the primary actually lossless audio codec able to bit-for-bit music streaming over Bluetooth.
Coming to units sporting a brand new model of Snapdragon Sound tech in 2022, it permits CD high quality music to be heard wirelessly on supported in- and over-ear headphones.
This is every part that you must learn about aptX Lossless and why it differs to different aptX applied sciences.
What’s Qualcomm aptX Lossless?
Qualcomm aptX Lossless is the primary actually lossless audio know-how able to transmitting bit-for-bit CD high quality tracks over Bluetooth.
It would ship 16-bit 44.1kHz audio to supported headphones with actually no loss in audible playback. That is by means of optimisation of “core wi-fi connectivity and audio applied sciences”.
The brand new aptX Lossless will likely be a part of the aptX Adaptive suite of applied sciences and can characteristic as a part of the overarching Snapdragon Sound tech from Qualcomm.
Which means it may be activated when the wi-fi (RF) circumstances are at their finest, streaming 1Mbps over Bluetooth. Nonetheless, if the connection weakens for any motive, aptX Adaptive can then shift the stream high quality all the way down to, at lowest, 140kbps. That can guarantee you’ll proceed to listen to your music (or podcast, audiobook, and so forth) at the very best quality attainable, albeit not lossless at that time.
Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless codec would require units with the suitable Snapdragon Sound {hardware}, each at supply and for reception. There are not any currently-available headphones which can be appropriate, as they might want to embrace new chips with the most recent Snapdragon Sound know-how. These with Snapdragon Sound already is not going to be upgradeable, we perceive.
aptX Lossless vs aptX HD
You could be confused in thinking that Qualcomm already has a high-res audio codec in aptX HD. Certainly, it might probably transmit audio at a better decision than even aptX Lossless – as much as 24-bit 48kHz. Nonetheless, that’s not transmitted losslessly, the audio is compressed.
The best bitrate attainable by means of aptX HD is 576kbps, whereas aptX Lossless can stream at 1Mbps.
The opposite profit to aptX Lossless is that it might probably truly attain 24-bit 96kHz if you’re blissful to place up with lossy audio, so is adaptable. It is possible for you to to change between the modes, relying in your desire.
We have been very impressed by the audio high quality achieved through aptX HD in exams. We’re but to check aptX Lossless.
There are different aptX applied sciences too, together with aptX Low Latency, however that is for much less lag (for gaming, and so forth) than audio high quality per se.
What units assist aptX Lossless
At the moment, no headsets or earbuds assist the brand new codec. They are going to be made out there from early 2022, with true wi-fi in-ears and different headphones needing to assist a brand new model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound {hardware} to be appropriate.
Sadly, it isn’t seemingly that Apple will undertake aptX Lossless for future iPhones or AirPods. It isn’t unattainable hasn’t supported every other type of aptX audio tech thus far.
In all probability, Apple will develop its personal know-how to stream lossless audio over Bluetooth, however we have not but heard of something within the pipeline.
Writing by Rik Henderson. Initially printed on .