Bluetooth SIG Announces Completion of LE Audio Specifications and Introduces Auracast

[TheLostSwede]

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association that oversees Bluetooth technology, today announced the completion of the full set of specifications that define LE Audio, the next generation of Bluetooth audio. LE Audio improves wireless audio performance, adds support for hearing aids, and introduces Auracast broadcast audio, a new Bluetooth capability that will enhance the way we engage with others and the world around us.

"Today is a proud day for the Bluetooth SIG member community," said Mark Powell, CEO of the Bluetooth SIG. "Our members overcame the many challenges placed on them these past few years to complete the largest specification development project in the history of the Bluetooth SIG. LE Audio extends the boundaries of what's possible for the wireless audio market, including the introduction of Auracast broadcast audio, a new Bluetooth capability that promises to deliver life-changing audio experiences to consumers, bringing friends and family closer together and making public locations more accessible and enjoyable for all. I can't wait to see the innovation LE Audio brings."




The Bluetooth SIG also announced that qualification for Bluetooth products seeking to add support for LE Audio is now enabled. Initial consumer products supporting LE Audio, including those with Auracast broadcast audio, are expected to come to market in the coming months, and the Bluetooth SIG anticipates LE Audio product availability to ramp up as we approach the holiday season and end of the year.

In addition to introducing new features to Bluetooth audio, LE Audio offers a new, flexible architecture that provides an ideal platform for future wireless audio innovation, and work within the Bluetooth SIG is already underway to bring additional LE Audio features and capabilities to market.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[HairyLobsters]

What does this even mean?

 

[GunShot]

Until Bluetooth transmits FULL UNIVERSAL TRUE lossless audio, no other BT features even matter.

 

[Chane]

What does this even mean?

LE Audio is the low-energy replacement for Bluetooth's standard audio feature set and compression. It will become the default standard audio codec on all new devices at some point. I believe with Bluetooth 5.2 or maybe 5.3. It adds features such as one set of headphones connecting to multiple audio sources or multiple headphones connecting to one source and also adds support for hearing aids. It introduces LC3 as its default codec, replacing SBC. Compared with standard Bluetooth audio it offers longer battery life, better audio quality and much better latency.

src:https://www.telink-semi.com/ultra-low-latency-use-cases/

 

[Tartaros]

LE Audio is the low-energy replacement for Bluetooth's standard audio feature set and compression. It will become the default standard audio codec on all new devices at some point. I believe with Bluetooth 5.2 or maybe 5.3. It adds features such as one set of headphones connecting to multiple audio sources or multiple headphones connecting to one source and also adds support for hearing aids. It introduces LC3 as its default codec, replacing SBC. Compared with standard Bluetooth audio it offers longer battery life, better audio quality and much better latency.

src:https://www.telink-semi.com/ultra-low-latency-use-cases/

That sounds good. If they manage to get to CD quality without pushing the new codec with tricks like SBC has to do and take a care about how the compression doesn't hurt the final sound quality, they have a winner here.

 

[zlobby]

Until Bluetooth transmits FULL UNIVERSAL TRUE lossless audio, no other BT features even matter.

What pray tell you mean by 'full'?

That sounds good. If they manage to get to CD quality without pushing the new codec with tricks like SBC has to do and take a care about how the compression doesn't hurt the final sound quality, they have a winner here.

Nope. Even 5 LE has application throughput of approx. 1300kbps, while CD quality .wav has approx. 1400kbps. So, even with 0 losses in the medium you still can't quite match 16-bit/44.1kHz rate.
No lossless BT audio soon. Stecken Sie das Kabel auf!

 

[TheLostSwede]

What does this even mean?

First of all, it means that Bluetooth LE is set to replace Bluetooth SBC as the "default" audio codec on new devices from some point in the near future, which means higher quality audio, yet lower power usage for said quality improvement.
See link below for more details.

LE Audio | Bluetooth® Technology Website

The next generation of Bluetooth® audio Building on 20 years of innovation, LE Audio enhances the performance of Bluetooth audio, adds support for hearing aids, and introduces AuracastTM broadcast…

www.bluetooth.com

Auracast is some silly branding for their new multicast technology that will be coming to new devices, which means that a Bluetooth audio transmitter can act like a "broadcast radio" with no practical limit on how many Bluetooth headphones can be connected, unlike current options which tend to be limited to two headphones.

What is the maximum number of Auracast™ receivers that will be able to join an Auracast™ broadcast?
An unlimited number of in-range Auracast™ receivers will be able to join an Auracast™ broadcast from a nearby Auracast™ transmitter. With Auracast™ broadcast audio, there is no one-to-one relationship between the transmitter and each receiver. An Auracast™ transmitter transmits a single audio signal that any number of in-range Auracast™ receivers can join, in much the same way a standard radio transmitter sends out one signal that an unlimited number of in-range radio receivers can tune in to.

Auracast - FAQ | Bluetooth® Technology Website

Frequently Asked Questions Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Auracast™ broadcast audio. When do you expect products with Auracast™ broadcast audio to reach consumers?

www.bluetooth.com

 

[Andyr]

What does this even mean?

If I'm being cynical, you'll get adverts directly to your earbuds when you go into a shop.

 

[TheUn4seen]

As far as I'm concerned - lossless or GTFO. LDAC is usually "good enough", but I'm sick and tired of all this lifestyle "innovations" rubbish copo speak, what I want is to get audio from point A to point B without having to run cables or an optical fiber. Lossless 16/44.1 would be actually useful.

 

[rutra80]

CD quality lossless can't be guaranteed until bandwidth of 1411 kbit/s is guaranteed. Realistically 2mbit/s with overhead, error correction etc.

 

[zlobby]

As far as I'm concerned - lossless or GTFO. LDAC is usually "good enough", but I'm sick and tired of all this lifestyle "innovations" rubbish copo speak, what I want is to get audio from point A to point B without having to run cables or an optical fiber. Lossless 16/44.1 would be actually useful.

LDAC is soo fucked up even with decent audio. Well, maybe it's OK for during flights but listening it for pleasure?

 

[TheLostSwede]

If I'm being cynical, you'll get adverts directly to your earbuds when you go into a shop.

That's not possible, unless you chose to connect to the shop Bluetooth transmitter.

As far as I'm concerned - lossless or GTFO. LDAC is usually "good enough", but I'm sick and tired of all this lifestyle "innovations" rubbish copo speak, what I want is to get audio from point A to point B without having to run cables or an optical fiber. Lossless 16/44.1 would be actually useful.

Not possible with the bandwidth Bluetooth has.

CD quality lossless can't be guaranteed until bandwidth of 1411 kbit/s is guaranteed. Realistically 2mbit/s with overhead, error correction etc.

2 Mbps is possible using Bluetooth, but it's not part of any standards. Was at a Nordic Semi event a few years ago when they showed it working, they could even transmit video over it at decent quality. So until the Bluetooth SIG allows for more bandwidth, it's not going to happen though.