Bluetooth Wireless Audio, Innovations in Audio, and More in audioXpress December 2024

audioXpress December 2024 features a comprehensive report on Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, the suppliers and development ecosystem. Jonny McClintock adds insights on Ultra-Low Latency Audio Transmission over Bluetooth LE Audio. Plus three reviews of the QuantAsylum QA403 Audio Analyzer, the DPS-2 Power Supply and LNI-2 DC Filter and Stabilizer from RME Audio, and the SPL Phonitor 3 DAC, Headphone Amplifier and Monitor Controller. Hans Polak details his extensive experiments on Moving Magnet Cartridges.

Bluetooth LE Audio is creating exciting new product development opportunities! Typical audio latency with LC3, and additional capabilities for robustness, extremely low delay, and high-resolution audio with LC3plus are important drivers to encourage manufacturers in the transition. In this article for The Audio Voice, Morag Agmon (CEVA) why your next Bluetooth products need to support LE Audio and why latency is a core driver in gaming and hearing aids applications.

The Bluetooth LE Audio set of specifications, introducing the LC3 codec as the mandatory option for wireless audio streaming, is an important evolution compared to the current default SBC codec. Nevertheless, unlike the current Bluetooth Classic A2DP profile that specifies optional audio codecs, LE Audio didn't offer any options. A recent article in the Fraunhofer IIS blog confirms that a new specification is under development to allow support for the LC3plus high-resolution audio codec.