Bluetooth audio codecs in a real-time interactive context

Abstract: The emergence of Bluetooth Low Energy in combination with optimized coders has made it possible to transfer digital audio at very low bitrates, paving the way for small devices with longlasting batteries. The aim of this study is to compare the audio codecs LC3 and aptX, as well as peoples’ attitude towards audio quality in different contexts. Two open source implementations of the codecs are evaluated in terms of time for execution. Furthermore, the perceived audio quality of low bitrates are subjectively compared in a listening test in combination with a questionnaire regarding peoples’ attitude towards audio quality. The results show that LC3 is capable of delivering satisfying audio quality at very low bitrates, whilst also outperforming aptX. It will be interesting to see how LC3 will affect transmission latency, battery life and overall QoS once it is established in everyday products