The next generation of Bluetooth® audio
Building on 20 years of innovation, LE Audio will enhance the performance of Bluetooth audio, add support for hearing aids, and introduce Bluetooth Audio Sharing, an innovative new Bluetooth use case with the potential to once again change the way we experience audio and connect with the world around us.
Classic Audio and LE Audio
As the names suggest, Classic Audio operates on the Bluetooth Classic radio while LE Audio operates on the Bluetooth Low Energy radio. LE Audio will not only support development of the same audio products and use cases as Classic Audio, it will introduce exciting new features that promise to improve their performance as well as enable the creation of new products and use cases.
LC3 Codec
LE Audio will include a new high-quality, low-power audio codec, the Low Complexity Communications Codec (LC3). Providing high quality even at low data rates, LC3 will bring tremendous flexibility to developers, allowing them to make better design tradeoffs between key product attributes such as audio quality and power consumption.
“ Extensive listening tests have shown that LC3 will provide improvements in audio quality over the SBC codec included with Classic Audio, even at a 50% lower bit rate. Developers will be able to leverage this power savings to create products that can provide longer battery life or, in cases where current battery life is enough, reduce the form factor by using a smaller battery.
Manfred Lutzky
Head of Audio for Communications at Fraunhofer IIS
ON-DEMAND WEBINARSIG Member Only
Important Updates on LE Audio Schedules, Branding & Requirements
Watch this detailed discussion of adoption and publication of the final set of LE Audio specifications, along with our plans to announce, promote, and celebrate the milestone.
Multi-Stream
Multi-Stream Audio will enable the transmission of multiple, independent, synchronized audio streams between an audio source device, such as a smartphone, and one or more audio sink devices.
“ Developers will be able to use the Multi-Stream Audio feature to improve the performance of products like truly wireless earbuds. For example, they can provide a better stereo imaging experience, make the use of voice assistant services more seamless, and make switching between multiple audio source devices smoother.”
Nick Hunn,
CTO of WiFore Consulting
Chair of the Bluetooth SIG Hearing Aid Working Group
Broadcast
LE Audio will also add Broadcast Audio, enabling an audio source device to broadcast one or more audio streams to an unlimited number of audio sink devices. Broadcast Audio opens significant new opportunities for innovation, including the enablement of a new Bluetooth use case, Audio Sharing.
Personal Audio Sharing
With personal audio sharing, people will be able to share their Bluetooth audio experience with others around them; for example, sharing music from a smartphone with family and friends.
Location-Based Audio Sharing
With location-based audio sharing, public venues such as airports, bars, gyms, cinemas, and conference centers can now share Bluetooth audio that augments the visitor experience.
“ Location based Audio Sharing holds the potential to change the way we experience the world around us. For example, people will be able to select the audio being broadcast by silent TVs in public venues, and places like theaters and lecture halls will be able to share audio to assist visitors with hearing loss as well as provide audio in multiple languages.
Peter Liu
Bose Corporation
Member of the Bluetooth SIG Board of Directors
Hearing Aids
Building on its low power, high quality and multi-stream capabilities, LE Audio adds support for Hearing Aids. Bluetooth audio has brought significant benefits to a large percentage of the global population. Wireless calling, listening, and watching have made people safer, more productive, and more entertained. LE Audio will enable the development of Bluetooth hearing aids that bring all the benefits of Bluetooth audio to the growing number of people with hearing loss.
“ LE Audio will be one of the most significant advances for users of hearing aids and hearing implants. EHIMA engineers have contributed their specialist knowledge to improve the audio experience especially for hard of hearing people. As a result, within a few years most new phones and TVs will be equally accessible to users with hearing loss.
Stefan Zimmer
Secretary General of EHIMA
European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association
LE Audio Specifications
LE Audio introduces an entirely new architecture for supporting audio applications using Bluetooth technology and sets the stage for the next 20 years of innovation in wireless audio.
Related Resources
Important Updates on LE Audio Schedules, Branding & Requirements
Download the webinar Q&A (PDF) Thanks to the tireless commitment of our member companies,…
LE Audio Will Drive Audio Market Trends
Bluetooth® audio streaming has been around for decades and is still experiencing steady, step-ladder…
New Wireless Trends and Forecasts for the Next 5 Years
Every year, the Bluetooth® Market Update provides the latest Bluetooth technology trends and forecasts.…
The Future Of Sound: Envisioning The Ecosystem Of Bluetooth LE Audio
When the Bluetooth 4.0 specification was released, Bluetooth Smart (now Bluetooth Low Energy (LE))…
Introducing LE Audio - Setting Up and Using Broadcast Audio Streams
Available for digital download, this new book from Nick Hunn, Chair of the Bluetooth…
Introducing LE Audio - Bluetooth LE Audio Applications
Available for digital download, this new book from Nick Hunn, Chair of the Bluetooth…
Introducing LE Audio - The Use Cases
Now available for digital download, a new book from Nick Hunn, Chair of the…
Audio Industry Braces for Bluetooth Audio Sharing in 2021
Highly anticipated, Bluetooth® Audio Sharing will be a new, global consumer service that will…
A Preview of the Next Generation Assistive Listening System
Watch Chuck Sabin outline the key use cases Bluetooth® Audio Sharing will enable and…
The Need for Inclusion & Audio Accessibility for All
Watch Linda Kozma-Spytek, Senior Research Audiologist in the Technology Access Program, and co-director of…
Hands-On Debug of an LE Audio Stream
Join Ellisys for a 30-minute informative webinar to learn about Bluetooth LE Audio and…
Hearing Aid Manufacturer Explains Why Bluetooth Audio Sharing Will Be a Game Changer for Those With Hearing Loss
A well-known manufacturer of hearing aids in North America, Starkey is committed to supplying…
A New, Global Consumer Service Will Enhance Audio Accessibility for Everyone
Bluetooth® Audio Sharing will be a new, global consumer service that will deliver enhanced…
High Precision TWS Synchronization with Bluetooth LE Audio
Packetcraft demonstrates the high precision TWS synchronization capability of Packetcraft’s Bluetooth LE Audio software…
Major Hearing Device Manufacturer Association Outlines the Benefits Bluetooth Audio Sharing Will Bring to Hearing Aid Users
The European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) represents the major European hearing instrument manufacturers,…
Audio Consumer Research Highlights Strong Demand for New Bluetooth Wireless Listening Experiences
Qualcomm Technologies recently published it’s 2021 State of Sound Report – a broad study…
The 2021 State of Sound Report
The State of Sound Report is an annual study featuring research insights based on…
Why Bluetooth Technology is the Developer’s Swiss Army Knife
Members of the Bluetooth® community are continuously innovating. Over the last two decades, members have…
Bluetooth® Core Specification Version 5.3 Feature Enhancements
Bluetooth® Core Specification version 5.3 includes several feature enhancements with the potential to improve…
Bluetooth LE Audio Technology: Faster And More Efficient
Bluetooth LE Audio The connection type of the future. What is Bluetooth LE Audio? here are…
The Future of Bluetooth Hearing Aids: How LE Audio Will Revolutionize the Way You Hear the World
Imagine walking into an airport and tapping a prompt on your smartphone. Immediately, your…
What is Bluetooth LE Audio
Thanks to an upcoming evolution of that tech called Bluetooth LE Audio, the experience of beaming…