What’s aptX HD?

Over the previous few years, smartphone producers have facilitated the increase in wireless headphones by eradicating the three.5mm headphone jack, which was once a mainstay function on all moveable units. That meant wi-fi expertise needed to get higher, and Qualcomm has been one of many greatest names on the forefront of that change.

Utilizing Bluetooth for audio has at all times meant a dip in audio high quality when in comparison with a wired connection. That is as a result of Bluetooth is not nearly as good at transferring excessive quantities of information in a brief period of time. That hasn’t essentially stopped individuals utilizing it — sacrificing good sound high quality for comfort is hardly a brand new factor in any case, particularly for different activities — however there was a push for higher high quality audio from supply to gadget extra lately, and aptX HD is only one a part of that puzzle. Sadly, because of the limitations of the expertise, Bluetooth won’t ever fairly match up in audio high quality and velocity of wired connections, however with developments in expertise, it will get nearer on a regular basis.

aptX HD is a Bluetooth codec that permits for higher high quality audio than different widespread codecs that got here earlier than it. However how does it work and which units assist it? Enable me to clarify.

aptX HD, defined

Compression strategies and transmission expertise

aptX HD is an evolution of aptX, which you might have heard of earlier than. The compression algorithm has been round because the Nineteen Eighties however is now owned by Qualcomm, the producer of the Snapdragon processing chips which can be discovered within the majority of Android smartphones.

aptX has assist for ‘CD-like’ 16-bit/44.1kHz high quality with a most bitrate of 352kbps, nevertheless it will get compressed when transmitted over Bluetooth, so you are still shedding audio high quality when in comparison with utilizing wired headphones. The compression is there to assist preserve latency at an absolute minimal when transmitted wirelessly to headphones or a Bluetooth speaker — which means the time that it takes to get out of your supply gadget to your headphones.

aptX HD helps as much as 24-bit/48kHz audio, with a bitrate of 576kbps at most, making it considerably higher than aptX, however nonetheless removed from lossless. The newer expertise was launched in 2016 to supply larger high quality streaming, and Qualcomm says it presents “better-than-CD” sound high quality and might even improve the sound of normal decision music recordsdata. Remember that, in actuality, it is by no means “higher than CD” high quality, as a result of aptX HD remains to be not lossless, like all different Bluetooth codecs at this time limit. It comes with the territory, however Bluetooth simply is not there but.

aptX HD has additionally been designed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, that means you need to be capable of hear extra element within the songs you hearken to when in comparison with different codecs. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless a lossy format, so it is nowhere close to what you’d get with wired listening.

The corporate has tried to take this additional with the likes of aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless (which isn’t actually lossless) however, for now, aptX HD stays essentially the most supported codec that Qualcomm presents.

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Which units assist aptX HD?

You want the precise tech to reap the advantages

With a view to make the most of the advantages of aptX HD, you may have to ensure you have a tool that helps it — each as a supply to play it and a tool to obtain it. These units could have the CSR8675 Bluetooth audio system-on-chip (SoC) because it’s able to supporting 24-bit audio from end-to-end.

On the time of writing, Qualcomm lists some 570 units launched since 2019 that assist the codec, and you’ll head over to this list on Qualcomm’s web site to see what they’re, starting from smartphones and media gamers to headphones and amps.

Nevertheless, it is value noting that Samsung units presently do not assist the format and neither does Apple, so you may be utilizing a distinct codec in case you personal a Galaxy cellphone or iPhone.

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FAQ

Q: Do any iPhones assist aptX HD?

iPhones have not ever supported aptX HD. The one codecs iPhones presently assist are SBC and AAC. It is unlikely that iPhones will ever assist aptX HD, however something may occur.

Q: Is aptX HD lossless?

aptX HD isn’t lossless and does not come shut, regardless of what Qualcomm states about it. Lossless audio isn’t presently doable over Bluetooth due to knowledge switch limitations.

Q: How do I be certain that my cellphone is utilizing the precise codec?

To ensure you’re utilizing aptX HD in your appropriate cellphone, or see which codec you are utilizing by default, you may have to enter Android developer settings. To get there, go to Settings > About cellphone > Software program info, after which faucet on the construct quantity seven instances. Afterward, you possibly can return to the Settings menu, and you may see a Developer choices menu to press on. From there, discover the part referred to as Bluetooth audio codec and faucet on it, and you may see which codec you are presently utilizing, and which you’ll be able to select from.