BLE over Bluetooth Audio: Unlocking New Audio Experience with BLE
BLE Audio sets a new benchmark in wireless sound, combining low power consumption, ultra-low latency, and high-fidelity audio for seamless, next-generation connectivity. With innovations like LC3 codec, multi-stream audio, and Auracast™, it optimizes battery efficiency while delivering crystal-clear audio across consumer, healthcare, and automotive experiences.
The evolution of wireless audio has seen significant advancements, moving from Classic Bluetooth Audio to the more efficient and feature-rich BLE Audio. While Classic Bluetooth relied on high-power, continuous connections for audio transmission, BLE Audio leverages Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) technology to deliver superior sound quality with reduced power consumption.
The shift to BLE Audio enhances battery-powered devices like earbuds, hearing aids, and wearables by providing longer battery life and improved performance. At its core, BLE Audio uses the LC3 (Low Complexity Communication Codec), which delivers superior sound quality at lower bitrates than the older SBC codec. LC3 supports sample rates from 8 kHz to 48 kHz and up to 32-bit depth, enhancing audio quality while reducing power consumption. It operates at bitrates ranging from 32 kbps to 345 kbps, dynamically adapting to network conditions to ensure consistent playback, even in fluctuating environments. Optimized for low-latency, real-time audio, LC3 is perfect for voice calls and gaming, offering high compression efficiency without compromising fidelity.
LC3 also features error resilience, minimizing the impact of packet loss and interference, ensuring a reliable listening experience. Its efficient compression and adaptability make it ideal for energy-efficient BLE Audio devices, enabling high-quality audio while maintaining low power usage. This makes LC3 essential for applications ranging from voice calls to high-resolution music streaming in wireless, battery-powered devices.
BLE Audio revolutionizes wireless sound with multi-stream audio and ultra-low-latency transmission, overcoming Classic Bluetooth Audio’s limitations. Its standout feature, Connected Isochronous Streams (CIS), synchronizes audio across multiple devices for true stereo sound, eliminating relay-based workarounds. Its enhanced scalability ensures seamless audio experiences, from personal listening to large-scale public broadcasts.
Key Features and Advancements in BLE Audio
BLE Audio leverages Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) to significantly reduce power consumption while maintaining high performance. This extends battery life and enables more efficient, compact devices like wireless earbuds and hearing aids.
- High-Quality Audio with LC3 Codec
BLE Audio uses the Low Complexity Communication Codec (LC3), providing superior sound quality at lower bitrates than the legacy SBC codec, offering the same or better audio quality at nearly half the data rate.
- Multi-Stream Audio for True Wireless Experience
BLE Audio allows independent, synchronized transmission of multiple audio streams from a single source to multiple sink devices (e.g., earbuds), enhancing stereo imaging and enabling seamless device switching.
- Auracast™ Broadcast Audio: The Future of Public and Shared Listening
A revolutionary feature of BLE Audio is Auracast™, which enables a single audio source to broadcast multiple streams to an unlimited number of compatible devices. This innovation paves the way for:
- Personal Audio Sharing – Users can share music, podcasts, or calls with friends seamlessly.
- Public Venue Broadcasting – Airports, gyms, and theatres can broadcast audio to multiple listeners, enabling personalized listening experiences, including multilingual translations.
By eliminating the need for pairing, Auracast enables connecting to public and shared audio sources effortlessly.
- Better Support for Hearing Aids and Accessibility
BLE Audio is optimized for hearing aids, offering longer battery life, better sound quality, and multi-source connectivity. Users can connect to multiple devices simultaneously or tune into public Auracast broadcasts, improving accessibility for those with hearing impairments.
- Ultra-low latency for Gaming and Streaming
BLE Audio reduces latency to 20–30 ms, a major improvement over Classic Bluetooth’s 100–200 ms delay, making it ideal for real-time applications like gaming and streaming.
- Backward Compatibility and Scalability
BLE Audio supports Bluetooth 5.2 or later for LE Isochronous Channels, ensuring smooth compatibility with older devices. It optimizes bandwidth through periodic advertising and efficient data transport, enhancing scalability and reliability in congested environments.
Bluetooth Codec Comparison (SBC vs LC3)
Key Differences Between Classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy
Applications of BLE Audio
Consumer Electronics
- True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earbuds & Headphones
LE Audio’s multi-stream technology delivers synchronized, high-fidelity sound to each earbud, directly from your smartphone. This enhances stereo performance, reduces latency, and improves power efficiency, making it perfect for music, gaming, and voice assistant interactions. Auracast™ also enables seamless audio sharing, allowing multiple users to enjoy the same content in settings like flights, gatherings, or movie nights.
- Smart Watches and Wearables
BLE Audio enables high-quality music streaming and hands-free communication with minimal battery consumption, thanks to the efficient LC3 codec. This ensures prolonged device operation while supporting voice assistant features.
Healthcare
- Hospital & Telemedicine Applications
BLE Audio improves telemedicine by providing low-latency, high-quality audio for clear virtual consultations. Auracast™ allows hospitals to broadcast real-time updates (e.g., appointment calls or health advisories) to multiple patients in waiting areas, eliminating the need for direct pairing.
Automotive
- Enhanced Audio Experience with BLE Audio
BLE Audio supports multi-user streaming, letting passengers connect headphones to a shared source for personalized, interference-free audio. With Auracast™ support, it enables simultaneous streaming in ridesharing and autonomous vehicles, enhancing comfort and entertainment. This technology simplifies in-car audio management, offering a seamless, customizable experience for all passengers.
Multimedia
- Home Entertainment & Beyond
BLE Audio optimizes multimedia with LE Isochronous Channels for synchronized, low-latency AV streaming. The LC3+ codec adapts bitrate to reduce packet loss in congested networks. Auracast™ multicast enables seamless multi-device audio sharing for entertainment and live events. QoS features like adaptive retransmission ensure reliable performance in high-interference environments.
Overall, BLE Audio is set to transform wireless communication with high-quality, low-power, and low-latency audio streaming. It enables seamless multi-device connectivity, enhancing accessibility and immersive experiences across consumer electronics, gaming, healthcare, and automotive industries. With advancements like Auracast™ broadcast and multi-stream capabilities, BLE Audio promises a future of versatile, reliable, and inclusive wireless audio solutions.
MosChip has expertise in multimedia technology and specializes in BLE Audio solutions with expertise in firmware development, audio algorithm design, and real-time signal processing. Leveraging MPSoC architecture and AI-driven DSP optimizations, MosChip enhances LC3 codec efficiency for superior sound quality and low power consumption. By integrating Auracast™ and advanced RF technologies, it provides seamless multi-stream and broadcast audio solutions for consumer, automotive, and healthcare applications. MosChip’s expertise in hardware-software co-design and edge AI ensures scalable, high-performance wireless audio innovations.
