What is Qualcomm aptX Lossless?

(Pocket-lint) - Qualcomm has developed what it claims to beryllium the archetypal genuinely lossless audio codec susceptible of bit-for-bit euphony streaming implicit Bluetooth.

Coming to devices sporting a caller mentation of Snapdragon Sound tech successful 2022, it enables CD prime euphony to beryllium heard wirelessly connected supported in- and over-ear headphones.

Here's everything you request to cognize astir aptX Lossless and wherefore it differs to different aptX technologies.

What is Qualcomm aptX Lossless?

Qualcomm aptX Lossless is the archetypal genuinely lossless audio exertion susceptible of transmitting bit-for-bit CD prime tracks implicit Bluetooth.

It volition nonstop 16-bit 44.1kHz audio to supported headphones with virtually nary nonaccomplishment successful audible playback. This is done optimisation of "core wireless connectivity and audio technologies".

The caller aptX Lossless volition beryllium portion of the aptX Adaptive suite of technologies and volition diagnostic arsenic portion of the overarching Snapdragon Sound tech from Qualcomm.

That means it tin beryllium activated erstwhile the wireless (RF) conditions are astatine their best, streaming 1Mbps implicit Bluetooth. However, if the transportation weakens for immoderate reason, aptX Adaptive tin past displacement the watercourse prime down to, astatine lowest, 140kbps. That volition guarantee you volition proceed to perceive your euphony (or podcast, audiobook, etc) astatine the champion prime possible, albeit not lossless astatine that point.

Qualcomm's aptX Lossless codec volition necessitate devices with the close Snapdragon Sound hardware, some astatine root and for reception. There are nary currently-available headphones that are compatible, arsenic they volition request to see caller chips with the latest Snapdragon Sound technology. Those with Snapdragon Sound already volition not beryllium upgradeable, we understand.

aptX Lossless vs aptX HD

You could beryllium confused successful reasoning that Qualcomm already has a high-res audio codec successful aptX HD. Indeed, it tin transmit audio astatine a higher solution than adjacent aptX Lossless - up to 24-bit 48kHz. However, that is not transmitted losslessly, the audio is compressed.

The highest bitrate imaginable done aptX HD is 576kbps, whereas aptX Lossless tin watercourse astatine 1Mbps.

The different payment to aptX Lossless is that it tin really scope 24-bit 96kHz if you are blessed to enactment up with lossy audio, truthful is adaptable. You volition beryllium capable to power betwixt the modes, depending connected your preference.

We've been precise impressed by the audio prime achieved via aptX HD successful tests. We're yet to trial aptX Lossless.

There are different aptX technologies too, including aptX Low Latency, but that's for little lag (for gaming, etc) than audio prime per se.

What devices enactment aptX Lossless

Currently, nary headsets oregon earbuds enactment the caller codec. They volition beryllium made disposable from aboriginal 2022, with existent wireless in-ears and different headphones needing to enactment a caller mentation of Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound hardware to beryllium compatible.

Sadly, it is not apt that Apple volition follow aptX Lossless for aboriginal iPhones oregon AirPods. It's not intolerable hasn't supported immoderate different signifier of aptX audio tech to date.

In each likelihood, Apple volition make its ain exertion to watercourse lossless audio implicit Bluetooth, but we've not yet heard of thing successful the pipeline.

Writing by Rik Henderson. Originally published connected 6 September 2021.