Qualcomm Adds Bluetooth Lossless Audio Technology to Snapdragon Sound

[AleksandarK]

Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. today continued to demonstrate its vision and leadership in the wireless audio space with the introduction of Qualcomm aptX Lossless audio technology to its already extensive audio portfolio. aptX Lossless is a new capability of the proven aptX Adaptive technology and a new feature of Snapdragon Sound Technology that is designed to deliver CD quality 16-bit 44.1kHz lossless audio quality over Bluetooth wireless technology. Qualcomm Technologies has taken a systems level approach and optimized a number of core wireless connectivity and audio technologies, including aptX Adaptive, which work together to auto detect and scale-up and are designed to deliver CD lossless audio when a user is listening to a lossless music file and the RF conditions are suitable.

"At Qualcomm Technologies we're excited about the future of sound, and we're continually looking for ways to help our customers deliver new and exciting listening experiences. Lossless audio means mathematically bit-for-bit exact, with no loss of the audio file and up to now the necessary bit rate to deliver this over Bluetooth has not been available. With many leading music streaming services now offering extensive lossless music libraries, and consumer demand for lossless audio growing, we're pleased to announce this new support for CD lossless audio streaming for Bluetooth earbuds and headsets which we plan to make available to customers later this year," said James Chapman, vice president and general manager, Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd.



To help deliver CD lossless audio quality reliably over Bluetooth wireless technology, aptX Adaptive works in conjunction with Qualcomm Bluetooth High Speed Link technology to help deliver the required sustainable data throughput. Designed to work seamlessly together, these technologies deliver rates beyond 1Mbit/s yet smoothly scale down to 140kbits/s in congested RF environments to minimize any audio dropouts or glitches for a consistent and reliable listening experience.

"Sound quality is the most critical purchase driver across all audio devices according to our 2021 State of Sound survey, which also shows increasing demand for higher quality streaming audio. Over half of respondents are seeking either lossless or high-resolution audio quality, and a massive 64% saying that lossless audio quality is likely to influence their decision to purchase wireless earbuds," Chapman continued. "Currently lossless audio is only supported on client devices such as phones, PCs and tablets. By supporting lossless audio on next-gen earbuds and headphones, we're providing our customers another way to deliver sound the way the artist intended, as well as a significant opportunity to differentiate and be among the first to develop products with this feature."

aptX Lossless features & specifications:

• Supports 44.1kHz, 16-bit CD lossless audio quality
• Designed to scale-up to CD lossless audio based on Bluetooth link quality
• User can select between CD lossless audio 44.1kHz and 24-bit 96kHz lossy
• Auto-detects to enable CD lossless audio when the source is lossless audio
• Mathematically bit-for-bit exact
• Bit-rate - ~1Mbps

For more information and to learn more about our aptX Lossless audio technology, visit here. The technology is expected to be available in late calendar 2021. For the full Qualcomm State of Sound survey visit here. For a whitepaper explaining more of the technology behind Lossless and High Resolution Audio, visit here.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Tardian]

To help deliver CD lossless audio quality reliably over Bluetooth wireless technology, aptX Adaptive works in conjunction with Qualcomm Bluetooth High Speed Link technology to help deliver the required sustainable data throughput. Designed to work seamlessly together, these technologies deliver rates beyond 1Mbit/s yet smoothly scale down to 140kbits/s in congested RF environments to minimize any audio dropouts or glitches for a consistent and reliable listening experience.

This won't be cool enough for some hipsters. Unless they can hear the needle dragging in the vinyl groove in ain't hipster enough ... and valves not transistors.
The last word was technical and not a chance for thread crapping with J.K. Rowling magic. Abito!

 

[Dredi]

This won't be cool enough for some hipsters. Unless they can hear the needle dragging in the vinyl groove in ain't hipster enough ... and valves not transistors.
The last word was technical and not a chance for thread crapping with J.K. Rowling magic. Abito!

Who cares? Cassettes sound better anyway.

 

[Tardian]

 

[stimpy88]

Well done Qualcomm. Welcome to 1980!

 

[Tardian]

Dire Straits. They took a demo tape to MCA in Soho but were turned down. Five of my maternal grandmother's siblings were born in Newcastle. I also love the TV show, Vera.

 

[zlobby]

This won't be cool enough for some hipsters. Unless they can hear the needle dragging in the vinyl groove in ain't hipster enough ... and valves not transistors.
The last word was technical and not a chance for thread crapping with J.K. Rowling magic. Abito!

That would be me. I'm even extremely sensitive to the alloys the needle is made of.

Good valves need frequent replacement if used a lot. Not that I'm bragging but I'm spending a good fortune on such things.

Excellent senses (hearing incl.) are both gift and a curse. Not that I'm complaining, though.

 

[Tardian]

That would be me. I'm even extremely sensitive to the alloys the needle is made of.

I have a really fine ear. I come from a family of musicians and singers. I find the absence of noise in CD music appealing. I can distinguish CD quality from DVD encoded music. The bit rate matters to me.

I however can't make a case for vinyl. I guess others can hear the discontinuity?

 

[Dredi]

I however can't make a case for vinyl.

No-one can. Tape is superior, that’s why it’s used in data archiving as well as storing recording masters. Vinyl is just some hobbyist crap for people who like scratching.

 

[bobsled]

Unfortunately even with lossless audio, the moment you want to use the microphone on a Bluetooth headset you drop audio quality back to disgustingly low bitrates.

Despite aptX-HD and Bluetooth 5, this is still the case in 2021 because there’s supposedly not enough bandwidth. It means my new Momentum 3 headphones are only being used for mefia consumption and I’m back to a corded 3.5mm headset for quality.

 

[stimpy88]

Unfortunately even with lossless audio, the moment you want to use the microphone on a Bluetooth headset you drop audio quality back to disgustingly low bitrates.

Despite aptX-HD and Bluetooth 5, this is still the case in 2021 because there’s supposedly not enough bandwidth. It means my new Momentum 3 headphones are only being used for mefia consumption and I’m back to a corded 3.5mm headset for quality.

It's strange that even as 2021 draws to an end, we still cannot transmit 154kBs reliably over a 1 metre distance with low power. All we need is a reliable 300-350kBs (154kB/s both ways for uncompressed CD quality audio) link that works in a 2 metre range. It really must be harder than rocket science...

 

[zlobby]

It's strange that even as 2021 draws to an end, we still cannot transmit 154kBs reliably over a 1 metre distance with low power. All we need is a reliable 300-350kBs (154kB/s both ways for uncompressed CD quality audio) link that works in a 2 metre range. It really must be harder than rocket science...

Streaming directly to headsets is moot. Their built-in DACs and amps are simply mediocre.

The true use for this is to be able to stream e.g. from your phone to your DAC and amp on your nightstand. Then these beauties will in turn feed a potent earphones via cable.

Edit: it should be on anyone's bucket list to hear high-end electrostatic headphones at least once in their lifetime. It's a tear-shedding experience even for the most tone deaf people out there.

No-one can. Tape is superior, that’s why it’s used in data archiving as well as storing recording masters. Vinyl is just some hobbyist crap for people who like scratching.

No party is a real party without a good old turntable and a good DJ. I'm sick of spoiled mofos who abuse the cue button on their flashy digital deck... and call themselves a DJ.

I have a really fine ear. I come from a family of musicians and singers. I find the absence of noise in CD music appealing. I can distinguish CD quality from DVD encoded music. The bit rate matters to me.

I however can't make a case for vinyl. I guess others can hear the discontinuity?

Vinyl records are a niche now. I've learnt to live with it. Even with a recent attempt for a comback you can't find many things on a vinyl.

Also, no matter how good of a care you are taking for your vinyls they ultimately deteriorate over consecutive plays.

Good digital codecs are a good alternative still, but they still can't capture the finest details and the overall soundstage. Oh, well.

 

[Tartaros]

It's strange that even as 2021 draws to an end, we still cannot transmit 154kBs reliably over a 1 metre distance with low power. All we need is a reliable 300-350kBs (154kB/s both ways for uncompressed CD quality audio) link that works in a 2 metre range. It really must be harder than rocket science...

You can gawk all you want, but it's hard. It's not only about doing a small distance with low power and enough bandwith for 16/44 but also being capable not downgrading bitrate because there is too much interference. The majority of usage for bt audio is outdoors and all bt codecs struggle in this part. All bt audio codecs are capable of cd audio bandwith, even sbc, go figure why almost 20 years later we are struggling to reach that on all conditions on a reduced power footprint.

 

[Dredi]

Good digital codecs are a good alternative still, but they still can't capture the finest details and the overall soundstage. Oh, well.

Most vinyls come from digital masters nowadays, or from superior tape media, so your point about vinyl being of anything to aspire towards when it comes to sound quality is a bit moot.

 

[zlobby]

Most vinyls come from digital masters nowadays, or from superior tape media, so your point about vinyl being of anything to aspire towards when it comes to sound quality is a bit moot.

True. I wasn't too clear, I'm afraid.

 

[Tardian]

Audiophile Pressings Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL)

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) - Audiophile Pressings Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL)

www.qualityrecords.com.au

Original Master Recording

Branding banner used on some Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab releases. Please use this only as a series when the words 'Original Master Recording' appear on the front cover, back cover, and media face. The MoFi leaflet inserts must not be used as a reference as they are used to promote MoFi. When...

www.discogs.com

Dire Straits MoFi 5 Album 45rpm Vinyl Record Bundle

Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs believes that mastering systems should be neutral and transparent. The essential idea is to unveil all the detailed musical information on the original master recording without adding deterioration, coloration or other sonic artefacts.With proprietary innovations such...

www.selby.com.au

No-one can. Tape is superior, that’s why it’s used in data archiving as well as storing recording masters. Vinyl is just some hobbyist crap for people who like scratching.

BITD the neighbours had 8-Track for the car and Reel to Reel tape for indoor. When my FM station started playing CD recordings I was hooked. However, some high-end audio/videophile stuff is just crazy.
Let me sell you gold plated 1 metre HDMI 2.1 cords for $7,000 USD each?

 

[zlobby]

Audiophile Pressings Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL)

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) - Audiophile Pressings Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL)

www.qualityrecords.com.au

Original Master Recording

Branding banner used on some Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab releases. Please use this only as a series when the words 'Original Master Recording' appear on the front cover, back cover, and media face. The MoFi leaflet inserts must not be used as a reference as they are used to promote MoFi. When...

www.discogs.com

Dire Straits MoFi 5 Album 45rpm Vinyl Record Bundle

Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs believes that mastering systems should be neutral and transparent. The essential idea is to unveil all the detailed musical information on the original master recording without adding deterioration, coloration or other sonic artefacts.With proprietary innovations such...

www.selby.com.au

BITD the neighbours had 8-Track for the car and Reel to Reel tape for indoor. When my FM station started playing CD recordings I was hooked. However, some high-end audio/videophile stuff is just crazy.
Let me sell you gold plated 1 metre HDMI 2.1 cords for $7,000 USD each?

Ahh, the miracle of 8K 45ft HDMI2.1 cables (optical ofc.) Only a couple companies make those and I recently had a chance to build a project for a spoiled friend of mine. Dude was even asking for things that are currently only in a draft phase!
Thank God he didn't want his name engraved on them!

Rich people and their *shuffles deck* ...Hi-Fi requirements.

 

[Space Lynx]

No-one can. Tape is superior, that’s why it’s used in data archiving as well as storing recording masters. Vinyl is just some hobbyist crap for people who like scratching.

puppers likes scritches!!! awww

 

[Vya Domus]

It's strange that even as 2021 draws to an end, we still cannot transmit 154kBs reliably over a 1 metre distance with low power. All we need is a reliable 300-350kBs (154kB/s both ways for uncompressed CD quality audio) link that works in a 2 metre range. It really must be harder than rocket science...

To me what's strange is people who still wont accept that you do not need uncompressed CD quality. Same people that are perfectly fine watching videos which have a compression ratio of 1000:1 but as soon as you use the words compression and audio in the same sentence they start gagging.

 

[stimpy88]

To me what's strange is people who still wont accept that you do not need uncompressed CD quality. Same people that are perfectly fine watching videos which have a compression ratio of 1000:1 but as soon as you use the words compression and audio in the same sentence they start gagging.

Yep, sure.

 

[Tartaros]

To me what's strange is people who still wont accept that you do not need uncompressed CD quality.

I don't agree, I think 16/44 should be baseline or a good lossless codec. It's true that mp3 and ogg have improved leaps and bounds compared to the old crusty days of all kinds of audio garble in high pitchs and for the majority of people is more than enough and on the go you don't really care that much, but is still nowhere good if you intend to listen to music in a more proper way. There is much too difference. Not to mention 16/44 is something standardized in the early 80s, it's been long enough.

I'm not the audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, any 24/96 audio I find I just downrate it to 16/44 because I'm not really capable nor do I intend to have the equipment for and it's just wasted space on the hard drive for me. I'm very happy with my soundcard and my earphones and I go ldac with wh1000xm3 outdoors, which are very high end for the vast majority of the people and they do get impressed when I let them try my stuff, but any human bat on an audio forum just would treat it like a plebeian thing. I still find very noticeable flaws on the 320kbps codecs.

Most vinyls come from digital masters nowadays, or from superior tape media, so your point about vinyl being of anything to aspire towards when it comes to sound quality is a bit moot.

There is also the fact that tons of old records are getting remastered at neck breaking pace and the difference is night and day. I recently bought the Tubular Bells 2009 remaster and it sounds like another different record compared to the old, even the 2000 remaster, you can hear the actual studio when the old was like there is a "sound mist" all over it. We tend to romantizice a lot of the old stuff and simply things are just much better now on the quality side, analog or digital. Any soundcloud trap kid can do things now that would revolutionize music 50 years ago.

It's true that sometimes you feel strange, listening to the old Primus stuff compared to the remasters sometimes feel weird for it to sound on decent quality when they even made named an album based on how their stuff used to be mastered like shit.

 

[Tardian]

I don't agree, I think 16/44 should be baseline or a good lossless codec. It's true that mp3 and ogg have improved leaps and bounds compared to the old crusty days of all kinds of audio garble in high pitchs and for the majority of people is more than enough and on the go you don't really care that much, but is still nowhere good if you intend to listen to music in a more proper way. There is much too difference. Not to mention 16/44 is something standardized in the early 80s, it's been long enough.

I'm not the audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, any 24/96 audio I find I just downrate it to 16/44 because I'm not really capable nor do I intend to have the equipment for and it's just wasted space on the hard drive for me. I'm very happy with my soundcard and my earphones and I go ldac with wh1000xm3 outdoors, which are very high end for the vast majority of the people and they do get impressed when I let them try my stuff, but any human bat on an audio forum just would treat it like a plebeian thing. I still find very noticeable flaws on the 320kbps codecs.

I can hear a difference. I but I am >5 sigma on almost everything.

here is also the fact that tons of old records are getting remastered at neck breaking pace and the difference is night and day. I recently bought the Tubular Bells 2009 remaster and it sounds like another different record compared to the old, even the 2000 remaster, you can hear the actual studio when the old was like there is a "sound mist" all over it. We tend to romantizice a lot of the old stuff and simply things are just much better now on the quality side, analog or digital. Any soundcloud trap kid can do things now that would revolutionize music 50 years ago.

It's true that sometimes you feel strange, listening to the old Primus stuff compared to the remasters sometimes feel weird for it to sound on decent quality when they even made named an album based on how their stuff used to be mastered like shit.

On remastering, Tardian totally agrees with both audio and video highly improved IMNHO.

 

[R-T-B]

Well done Qualcomm. Welcome to 1980!

We had wireless lossless in 1980?

That's the advancement. This is the first wireless lossless to my knowledge.

 

[Tardian]

User can select between CD lossless audio 44.1kHz and 24-bit 96kHz lossy

Either is impressive.

 

[mtcn77]

I but I am >5 sigma on almost everything.

What the heck is ligma?

you can hear the actual studio when the old was like there is a "sound mist" all over it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but both sound reproduction equipment and human hearing loss have a cutoff. It is 16kHz for shitty mono speakers and humans who tend to lose hearing in the higher frequencies have tinnitus, so I think this just skews the audio to a higher pitch adjusted balance which is the *opposite* feature why record tapes are collector items.

It is true more sound can be represented in a higher khz tape, but that has to be the good kind, not the deafness corrected kind. More pitch is not always more music, imo.

1-4 kHz has a lot more audio when compared to 16-20kHz which have the same data, but much less audio representation. I bet people who have phones cannot verifiably state they can discriminate the headphones, or the mono speaker of the phone apart from the volume.