There are several Bluetooth audio codecs available and each one has its own unique formula for compressing and transmitting audio data. Then, it decodes that compressed data so it can be converted into an audio signal that we can hear. During the compression stage, it reduces the file size of the audio data (so it wouldn’t eat up too much bandwidth) and encodes it in a certain format for transmission. There are 4 important elements that will affect your listening experience when using Bluetooth headphones:Ī Bluetooth codec is an algorithm that compresses, encodes, and decodes digital audio data. Factors that Affect the Quality of Bluetooth Audio As you’ll learn in a bit, there are several factors that come into play that determine if you’ll have near-imperceptible audio latency or experience some noticeable delay. Note that while wired connections are better in terms of audio latency, using Bluetooth headphones doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll hear noticeable sound delay all the time. you’re listening to a lossless audio file), then the transfer won’t go as fast and smooth, and this will reflect as audio stutter and lag. If there isn’t enough bandwidth to support a particularly large audio file transmission (e.g. If the traffic exceeds what the road size can accommodate, traffic jams will happen, reducing movement to a slow crawl (more time required to complete the transmission). Think of bandwidth as the size of the road while the audio file size is the amount of traffic. The bigger the audio signal’s file size (higher quality equates to larger audio files), the more bandwidth it needs to get to the receiver. This audio signal uses a certain bandwidth to “travel” from source to destination. The transmitter sends the audio signal to the receiver. To give a brief background, in a Bluetooth audio chain, you have a transmitter and a receiver. Now, you may ask: Why do wireless headphones have higher audio latency than wired? In a wireless connection, Bluetooth latency can go anywhere from an ideal 34 ms (aptX LL) up to 100-300 ms for true wireless earbuds and headphones. In a regular wired connection, the typical audio latency is 5-10 ms. These are the milliseconds (ms) it takes to process digital data and convert it to an audio signal that can be streamed through a wired or wireless connection to your headphones. If it passes that test as well, this looks like a 5-stars product.Audio latency is defined as the time it takes for audio data to travel from its source (computer, smartphone, mp3 player) to your headphones or speakers. The control switch is useful for taking calls and adjusting volume as needed.Ĥ-stars because I have not been able to evaluate this when I sweat a lot. I sweat profusely so that is one of my major concerns of whether this will (a) stay in my ear, a nd (b) be affected by sweat.Ĥ. Will continue to use this in warmer months and evaluate that. Ran in 60☏ weather so I could not fully gauge the water-resist part of it. To an extent isolates outside noise vehicles driving by were still audible.ģ. Bass sounds are produced very well and it does not feel like a loud thumping. It was my biggest worry but I went on a 9.5 mi run and it stayed put. Hopefully, this one stays with me long enough.īased on two weeks of use (as of the time of writing this review), this is what I have seen so far:ġ. I've used cheaper ones in the past and they've all failed after a few months.