There are two major factors that determine the file size for audio: sample rate (frequency), and bit-depth.

A growing number of smartphone manufacturers are dropping the headphone jack from their devices. For starters, higher quality audio can be sent using aptX HD without increasing the latency or pausing the data stream. The ability to go wire-free when listening to music is becoming more important, particularly when you’re inevitably likely to lose the fiddly wired adapter that comes in the box.The only problem is that, traditionally, the audio quality of wireless music hasn’t been able to challenge its wired counterpart. This codec features the lowest bit rate and depth of the AptX family.

The aptX LL codec cuts latency down to 32 milliseconds which is fast enough that our brains can't detect it. This enhanced codec supports 24-bit music quality over Bluetooth. aptX-HD (also known as aptX Lossless) has bit-rate of 576 kbit/s.

Qualcomm created the aptX-HD codec with music in mind. Here are our five favorite cheaper alternatives! We all know that more bits per second with your internet connection is better, and that's true with Bluetooth audio as well. AptX HD is a Bluetooth audio codec that can transmit 24-bit/48kHz audio with a "gentle" compression ratio of 4:1 at 576kpbs. What it means is that a device — your phone, your computer, your A/V receiver or just about anything else that can The original aptX codec promised CD-like quality, and it mostly delivered on it.Notice the claim of "CD-like" quality versus CD quality. It’s still lossy, but takes the fight to regular aptX for the amount of data it’s able to transmit.Paired with Apple’s proprietary W1 chip in the iPhone 7 onwards and headphones such as the As for something that’s challenging aptX HD, we have to look to Sony and its LDAC format. Trusted Reviews may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase through links on our site. That’s particularly useful for keeping dialogue in sync when you’re watching video, and it will sound better too.The Astell & Kern MK70 mkII supports aptX technologyIn an attempt to improve things further still, Qualcomm launched aptX HD in 2016. But if you were watching a video you most certainly would! It uses an improved proprietary compression to squeeze the music down to a size that’s similar to SBC, but while keeping more of the audio’s original frequency range.This promises a “CD-like” transmission of your music, although the compression it uses means it can’t quite mimic the 16-bit/44.1kHz quality you’ll hear on a disc.It does help to keep latency to a minimum compared to SBC, however. aptX HD has a better compression algorithm than standard aptX (note the "gentle" 4:1 compression) but any compression introduces fuzz and hiss. If you can cut out a chunk of high frequency content that’s tough for people to hear anyway, cheeky codecs could make major space savings. Sony delivers aptX HD in the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 compact, OnePlus has the feature in the OnePlus 3, 3T and 5, and a handful of lesser-known (in the smartphone space at least) companies like Sharp and Luna also make aptX HD capable Android phones.On the listening end, you'll find aptX HD headphones from As far as the sound versus wired audio, that's something each of us will have to evaluate on our own. AptX vs aptX HD. They’ll still sound far better than standard Bluetooth, though.To get LDAC, you’ll need compatible hardware.