Supported codecs
A codec is an audio coding algorithm used for wirelessly transmitting audio via BLUETOOTH connections.
The speaker supports the following 3 codecs for music playback via an A2DP connection: SBC, AAC, and LDAC™.
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SBC
This is an abbreviation for Subband Codec.
SBC is the standard audio coding technology used by BLUETOOTH devices.
All BLUETOOTH devices support SBC.
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AAC
This is an abbreviation for Advanced Audio Coding.
AAC is mainly used by Apple products such as iPhone that can provide a higher sound quality than that of SBC.
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LDAC
LDAC is an audio coding technology developed by Sony that enables transmission of High-Resolution (Hi-Res) Audio contents, even via BLUETOOTH connections.
Unlike other BLUETOOTH compatible coding technologies such as SBC, it operates without any down-conversion of High-Resolution Audio contents*1.
It allows approximately 3 times more data*2 than those other technologies to be transmitted over a BLUETOOTH wireless network with unprecedented sound quality, employing efficient coding and optimized packetization.
*1 Excluding DSD format contents.
*2 In comparison with SBC when the bitrate of 990 kbps (96/48 kHz) or 909 kbps (88.2/44.1 kHz) is selected.
When music in one of the above codecs is transmitted from a connected device, the speaker switches to that codec automatically and plays back the music in the same codec.
If the connected device supports a codec of higher sound quality than SBC, you may need to set the device beforehand to enjoy music with the desired codec from the supported codecs.
Refer to the operating instructions supplied with the device regarding setting the codec.