The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced new features at CES 2020. The next generation of LE Audio is said to be on the way.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) wants to do more in the audio sector in the future and promises that audio sharing will become the standard. Hearing aids should also benefit from LE Audio. The press release states:
Building on 20 years of innovation, LE Audio will not only improve the performance of Bluetooth audio, but also bring all its benefits to people with hearing loss and introduce Audio Sharing, an innovative new use case with the potential to once again transform the way we connect with each other and experience the world around us.
The next generation LE Audio has a new, high-quality and, above all, energy-saving audio codec that offers significantly better performance while working efficiently. This means that it is possible to receive high audio quality even at low data rates. The SIG explains:
As the name suggests, Classic Audio works with the Bluetooth Classic Radio, while LE Audio works with the Bluetooth Low Energy Radio. LE Audio will not only support the development of the same audio products and use cases as Classic Audio, but will also introduce exciting new features that promise to improve performance and enable the development of new products and use cases.
Audio sharing becomes the standard
As part of this major update, audio sharing will also become standard. The integration of the feature will improve the performance of wireless headphones in general and provide a better stereo image experience. It will also make it easier to use voice assistant services and switch between multiple audio sources - according to the SIG. But that's not all. LE Audio also includes support for hearing aids. The press release states:
Building on its low power consumption, high quality and multi-stream capabilities, LE Audio provides support for hearing aids. Bluetooth audio has brought significant benefits to a large portion of the world's population. Wireless calling, hearing and vision have made people safer, more productive and more entertaining. LE Audio will enable the development of Bluetooth hearing aids that provide all the benefits of Bluetooth audio to the growing number of people with hearing loss.
Apple, as a member of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), has already integrated audio sharing, but the function is currently limited to Apple devices and selected headphones. However, this will change with the new LE Audio. According to the SIG, the new standard is due to be published in the second half of 2020. You can find out more about audio sharing below. (Photo by kokulima / Bigstockphoto)
