From Classic to LE: The Revolutionary Improvements Envisioned For Bluetooth Audio In 2020

Users of Bluetooth-powered audio devices should look forward to exciting changes once the revolutionary improvements envisioned by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (BSIG) get implemented. While devices in current use operate on Bluetooth Classic radio, the BSIG envisions a future where a new technology will not only bring improvements to the gadgets currently in use but also make it possible for the development of new products. This was one of the big announcements at CES 2020.

LE Audio, or Low Energy, is the name of the new technology, and it comes with changes that are radically different from the Classic Audio technology. Included in the new technology is what is known as Low Complexity Communications Codec (LC3), which, in non-geek terms, simply means that it’ll allow for massive energy savings when compared to the Classic Codec making it possible for developers to create products with longer battery life. Additionally, the energy savings (which could be as high as 50%) will allow for the production and use of smaller batteries and wireless devices.

LE and Multi-Streaming

Perhaps one of the greatest changes that the new technology will bring is its ability to enable single device multi-streaming. The Bluetooth Audio technology available to-date allows streaming to only one device – you can only use your wireless headphones with your laptop, for example. That will be a thing of the past with the new technology as LE Audio’s Multi-Stream feature enables the user to stream to multiple devices seamlessly.

You could therefore stream to your laptop, smartphone, and other audio devices such as Bluetooth car kits and speakers. Moreover, this ability to multi-stream will make it possible for users to share their audio with others. You could therefore stream the music or other audio from your laptop to other people who will all receive audio of the same quality as what you are listening to.

LE and Broadcast Audio

In addition to its ability to allow for multi-streaming, LE Audio also comes with the Broadcast Audio feature which enables for the broadcasting of various audio streams to countless headphones or speakers. This is a feature that is likely to bring revolutionary changes in the consumption of audio in public places such as shopping malls and cinema theatres as anyone will be able to connect to the audio broadcasts that are common in such places as long as he or she has a wireless headphone.

LE and Better-Quality Hearing Aids

The changes expected to be brought about by LE Audio will prove especially beneficial for people with hearing problems. Even with the technological advancements that have enabled the production of phones, radios, and TVs that serve people who are hard of hearing, the fact is that a majority of new phones and even TVs are not accessible to such people. LE Audio will change this. Working with the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA), the BSIG is endeavoring to produce greater quality hearing aids. What this ultimately means is that the phones and other audio gadgets of the future will be fully accessible to those with hearing impairments.