Bluetooth is a fantastic feature on mobile phones, but if you use it to listen to your favorite tunes regularly, you might notice it sometimes sounds dead, tinny, or just plain bad. The culprit might actually be the default codec your phone is using for Bluetooth.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to improve it, typically available right on your device.
Bluetooth quality improvements begin with the codecs
Not all Bluetooth audio is the same
The media files you use every day require a codec to play back properly. This is usually software (but can occasionally be hardware). It basically takes data, compresses it, and encodes it. The codec decodes the file into a playable format at the end point of the transmission.
Think of it like a translator that takes one language (music or video in this case) and converts it to another (music being played back via streaming or Bluetooth). It’s an essential function for media files, regardless of device or format.
Bluetooth audio can vary depending on the bit rate the codec uses for transmission. Bluetooth uses the SBC (Subband Coding) codec as its default and fallback, which just happens to have the lowest bit rate. It’s lossy, like an MP3 file, which just means it loses some data when it compresses the audio.
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LDAC is a codec worth knowing about
Developed by Sony, adopted by Android
Your Bluetooth settings are probably already set to SBC by default, although some devices might default to AAC.
AAC (advanced audio coding) is a good middle-of-the-road option, but LDAC (a format developed by Sony) is the setting to use for better audio. LHDC is another high-resolution format that sits alongside LDAC as a high-quality alternative to SBC.
LDAC supports 990 Kbps at 32 bits/96 kHz. If that means nothing to you, it just means it’s still high-resolution, sounds good, and doesn’t lose as much data during compression. It’s definitely better than SBC detail-wise.
Of course, using LDAC with cheap, low-end earbuds or a lousy speaker probably won’t make much of a difference.
If your device supports LDAC or LHDC, it’s worth using
Enabling LDAC and LHDC is easier than you think
Plenty of devices can be used as audio receivers, from speakers to headphones, to your laptop. Improving audio quality and tweaking settings is half the fun of using modern tech. Depending on your comfort level (and whether your device is supported), you can access and change codec settings yourself through your device’s developer options. I’m working with two Android phones, specifically a Motorola Moto G 2025 and a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
That said, here’s how to see if your device supports LDAC and enable it if it does:
- Look for an LDAC or LHDC logo or spec sheet in your device’s instructions.
- Check phone settings through developer options/settings
- Every phone has a different way of accessing the developer options. For the Motorola Moto G, you just go to Settings – About – Device Identifiers and then tap “Build Number” eight times.
- “Developer Options” will be listed under “System”
- Find “Bluetooth Audio Codec” and make the adjustment. In this case, I’ve enabled “LHDC”
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a slightly different way to access the developer options:
- Go to “Settings”
- Select “About Phone” and go to “Software Information”
- Tap the “build number” about seven times
- Check the codec under “developer options”
- Repeat the same steps as above
- The audio sounds pretty good through a pair of Everyday Earbuds, but your mileage may vary
Your specific device will vary, obviously, so make sure you look up (preferably via the manual or by asking support) how to adjust these options for your device. LDAC should be supported on all Android Oreo phones and above, which is pretty cool.
But what if your device doesn’t support LDAC? Don’t worry, there are plenty of other codec options available, like AAC, aptX, and aptX HD. Apple prefers the AAC codec, for instance, and it works great for their iOS devices. AptX and aptX HD are Qualcomm’s alternatives to SBC (they’re typically better quality, and most Android devices support them). Whatever your case may be, all of them pretty much beat SBC, but I like LDAC the best.
If you’re interested in learning more about LDAC in a much more technical sense, the source code is available at The Android Open-Source Project.
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One setting change can make a significant difference
Although everyone’s mileage with Bluetooth will vary, there are definitely advantages to changing your codec settings. Results will vary based on headphone quality and source material, of course.
For me, LDAC will be my go-to on any new Android device, and I’ll be looking to enable it any time I set up my Bluetooth settings on future phones and devices.
