Here’s an overview of LDAC, AAC, aptX, LHDC, SBC, and DSEE Extreme, which are key audio codecs and technologies used in wireless audio, especially in Bluetooth headphones and earbuds:
Comparison Table of Bluetooth Audio Codecs
| Codec | Max Bitrate | Audio Quality | Latency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBC | 328 kbps | Basic, lossy | High | General Bluetooth audio |
| AAC | 320 kbps | Good (best on Apple) | Medium | Streaming, Apple devices |
| aptX | 352 kbps | Near-CD quality | Low | Gaming, Android devices |
| aptX HD | 576 kbps | High-definition quality | Low | Hi-Res music, gaming, Android devices |
| LDAC | 990 kbps | Hi-Res audio (24-bit/96 kHz) | Medium | Audiophile listening, Android devices |
| LHDC | 900 kbps | Comparable to LDAC | Low | Hi-Res audio, gaming |
| DSEE Extreme | N/A | AI-enhanced sound quality | N/A | Upscaling compressed music |
1. SBC (Subband Coding)
- What is it? SBC is the default Bluetooth audio codec. It’s widely supported and provides basic audio quality.
- Bitrate: Around 328 kbps max.
- Audio Quality: It's the most basic codec, and while it gets the job done, it’s not ideal for high-resolution audio. Compression can lead to a loss of audio detail.
- Latency: Relatively high compared to newer codecs, making it less suitable for gaming or video.
2. AAC (Advanced Audio Codec)
- What is it? AAC is commonly used in Apple devices and is supported by Android as well. It’s designed to deliver good sound quality at low bitrates.
- Bitrate: Up to 320 kbps.
- Audio Quality: AAC generally provides better sound quality than SBC at the same bitrate. It's efficient, but its performance can vary depending on the device (it performs best on Apple devices).
- Latency: Reasonably low, good for streaming and casual listening, but not as fast as aptX or LDAC in some cases.
3. aptX
- What is it? aptX is Qualcomm’s codec, offering improved sound quality over SBC.
- Bitrate: Up to 352 kbps.
- Audio Quality: AptX offers better compression and delivers near-CD-quality sound, making it a popular choice for Android devices.
- Latency: Lower than SBC and AAC, making it more suitable for video and gaming applications.
4. aptX HD
- What is it? A higher-quality version of aptX, designed to handle high-resolution audio files.
- Bitrate: Up to 576 kbps.
- Audio Quality: Better than standard aptX, approaching high-definition quality.
- Latency: Lower than SBC and AAC, good for both gaming and high-quality audio.
5. LDAC
- What is it? LDAC encoder was originally developed by Sony, which supports high-resolution audio wirelessly. While Sony developed LDAC, it is available on many non-Sony devices as well. Many wireless headphones and earbuds from brands like QCY, Sennheiser, Edifier, and Technics support LDAC.
- Bitrate: Up to 990 kbps.
- Audio Quality: One of the highest-quality Bluetooth codecs available, capable of transmitting 24-bit/96 kHz audio. However, actual performance may depend on connection strength and environment.
- Latency: Lower than SBC and AAC, but potentially higher than aptX.
6. LHDC (Low Latency High Definition Codec)
- What is it? LHDC is an alternative to LDAC, providing similar high-res audio capabilities.
- Bitrate: Up to 900 kbps.
- Audio Quality: Like LDAC, LHDC is designed for high-resolution audio with minimal compression. Supported by some Android devices.
- Latency: As its name suggests, LHDC has relatively low latency, making it good for applications requiring synchronicity.
7. DSEE Extreme (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine)
- What is it? DSEE Extreme is Sony's AI-powered upscaling technology that enhances compressed audio.
- Purpose: It doesn’t transmit audio, but rather improves the quality of compressed audio by restoring high-frequency sound lost in compression (e.g., MP3 files or streaming audio).
- Use Case: It’s mainly found in Sony headphones and works with lower-quality audio to make it sound closer to high-resolution audio.
- Latency: Doesn’t affect latency as it’s an enhancement feature.
Key Differences
-
Bitrate and Audio Quality:
- LDAC and LHDC are capable of delivering the best audio quality, with support for high-resolution audio at higher bitrates.
- aptX HD is a good compromise for high-definition audio, but with lower bitrates than LDAC/LHDC.
- AAC and aptX offer decent audio quality, but AAC tends to perform better on Apple devices, while aptX is preferred on Android.
- SBC is the baseline with the lowest quality.
-
Latency:
- aptX, particularly aptX Low Latency, and LHDC offer reduced latency, making them better for gaming and video.
- LDAC and AAC may have higher latency in some cases, depending on the device and environment.
These codecs offer a trade-off between audio quality and latency, so the best choice depends on your device, headphones, and use case.
Recommend: QCY MeloBuds Pro & QCY H3 Pro.
They all support LDAC and Hi-res. They all won the 2025 VGP Award. In addition, QCY H3 Pro also won the IDA Design Award
