Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless Bluetooth Codec Promises To Deliver CD-Quality Audio Wirelessly

Qualcomm has been improving audio quality over Bluetooth connections over the past decade through its aptX technology. The company had released four versions of aptX codecs: aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive. Today, the company unveiled the best version of aptX yet: aptX Lossless. This new Bluetooth codec promises to deliver CD-quality lossless audio over Bluetooth. With the aptX Lossless, you will be able to stream 16-bit 44.1kHz lossless audio quality between 140kbits/s to 1Mb/s, depending on the situation. The company mentions that it has taken the systems-level approach and optimized a number of core wireless technologies, including aptX Adaptive, to deliver CD-quality lossless audio when a user is listening to a lossless music file over compatible devices.

This new Bluetooth codec will compete with Sony’s LDAC and Savitech’s LHDC. While LDAC and LHDC are supported by Android 12, there is no information if Qualcomm aptX Lossless is supported by Android 11 as well.

Qualcomm aptX Lossless Offers CD-Quality Audio Over Bluetooth In Snapdragon Sound-Compatible Devices

To deliver CD-quality lossless audio over Bluetooth, aptX Lossless works in conjunction with Qualcomm’s High Speed-Link technology. These technologies offer rates beyond 1Mbit/s. The rate can be scaled down to as low as 140kbits/s in congested RF environments to minimize any audio glitches for a consistent and reliable listening experience.

Some Qualcomm chips are already equipped with the aptX Lossless codec. You will need compatible headphones or earbuds and Snapdragon Sound-branded mobile devices to use aptX Lossless. The company will make the aptX Lossless codec available to customers in late 2021. The aptX Lossless-compatible wireless audio products will carry Snapdragon Sound branding and are expected to arrive sometime in 2022.

Here are the Qualcomm aptX Lossless features and specifications

• Supports up to 44.1kHz, 16-bit CD lossless audio quality
• It is designed to scale up to 1Mbps and down to 140Kbps audio based on Bluetooth link quality
• User can select between CD-quality lossless audio at 44.1kHz and 24-bit 96kHz lossy
• Auto detection to enable CD-quality lossless audio when the source has lossless audio
• Mathematically bit-for-bit exact match
• Bit-rate: ~1Mbps

Commenting on the launch of aptX lossless feature, James Chapman, Vice President and General Manager, Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd, said:

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.