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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Bluetooth SIG is preparing for lossless and spatial audio formats.
- Standardization reduces proprietary requirements and licensing fees.
- These formats are unlikely to appear until the next decade.
Wireless headphones and speakers are a staple in our tech arsenals, but there’s one major drawback to Bluetooth audio transmission: lossy playback. For those who enjoy higher-resolution audio, Bluetooth isn’t an option. However, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is working on several wireless audio innovations, including standardized wireless lossless audio, spatial audio, and surround sound.
How could Bluetooth standardize lossless audio?
Bluetooth’s default codec is SBC, which provides the lowest audio quality and prioritizes connection stability. Other codecs, such as LDAC, AAC, and AptX, provide more data transmission and can deliver near-lossless quality. The issue is that these codecs aren’t standard; AAC can be inconsistent on Android, and LDAC and AptX codecs require manufacturers to pay licensing fees.
Thus, the Bluetooth SIG’s goal is to enhance its LE Audio Bluetooth radio to support hi-res and lossless audio via high-data throughput, thereby standardizing the technology across brands and manufacturers.
Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How the latest standard fixes audio problems we’d learned to live with
A digital audio file is considered lossless when fidelity is preserved, and the song retains all original audio detailing. Lossless audio files are larger, require higher data transfer rates, and use more processing power. Therefore, lossless audio files aren’t compatible with current Bluetooth bandwidth standards.
Your wireless audio files are lossy, meaning some audio quality is lost in transmission. Audio files streamed via Bluetooth must be compressed to be compatible, which decreases audio quality. However, some Bluetooth codecs provide better audio quality than others, due to improved sample and bit-rate thresholds.
How could Bluetooth standardize spatial audio?
LE Audio also includes a framework for multi-channel audio playback, which is the foundation of spatial audio. The LC3 codec is at the center of LE Audio and supports higher bandwidth, lower latency, and independent audio streams, enabling data transmission for 3D audio, precise timing, and spatial imaging.
Also: I spoke with Bluetooth reps about the future of connected audio, and it’s cooler than I expected
Bluetooth also supports an open-source LE Audio protocol for head tracking, as seen in Google’s Dynamic Spatial Audio. There’s still work to do to improve Bluetooth’s bandwidth to ensure that a standardized version of spatial audio can compete with proprietary versions preferred by manufacturers and consumers, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
When can you expect these features?
The Bluetooth SIG follows a biannual release schedule, meaning core specification upgrades are released twice a year. Although the Bluetooth SIG is rapidly releasing core updates, manufacturer adaptation is usually slower. For example, Bluetooth Auracast, a standardized audio-sharing technology, was introduced to the market in 2022. However, widespread adoption gained traction in mid-2025, with more products expected throughout 2026.
Also: Microsoft’s new Windows 11 Bluetooth update comes with useful benefits (and a major caveat)
Although a Bluetooth-enabled device may be equipped with the latest Bluetooth version, that capability doesn’t mean it supports the latest wireless innovations. Device manufacturers can decide to omit necessary hardware and software, leaving your device without desired features.
Still, standardized lossless and spatial audio are ongoing projects, with no details published by the Bluetooth SIG yet. So, I wouldn’t expect these features to hit the market until the turn of the next decade.
