Choose wireless speakers, pay attention to this button

Auracast toggle button (center) on LG Xboom Grab.

LG has refreshed its wireless speaker line this year by collaborating with singer Will.i.am to fine-tune the sound. In addition to upgrading the performance quality, the product also supports Auracast connectivity. This is a solution developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The three LG Xboom Grab, Bounce and Stage models all have a triangular Auracast button to activate this connection.

The approach creates a common standard for audio devices to “talk” to each other. At the same time, it addresses one of the fundamental needs of scalability that users are limited by.

Previously, manufacturers created solutions for customers to expand their devices according to their needs. Apple allows users to connect AirPods headphones to the iPhone to listen to the same song. Sony, JBL and LG all offer the option to connect multiple speakers “in the same system”. However, devices from different manufacturers cannot work together.

LG's new line of speakers and headphones all support Auracast, along with the LC3 codec.

Auracast solves this need. When supported products are placed near each other, they can share a music source. Regardless of manufacturer, users only need to connect to one device via Bluetooth, the rest is streamed with Auracast.

In addition to LG, JBL and Marshall are also promoting this technology on newly launched audio devices.

In addition to expanding when more complex listening needs arise, Auracast provides additional options for upgrading the sound system later. For example, users have an existing LG Xboom Grab model with 30W of power. When their needs increase, they can buy the Bounce (40W) or Stage (120W) model. However, the old product does not have to be discarded, but can be connected to the new speaker to form a system.

Auracast's advantage lies in its low latency. While it works serially from the original source, the system self-adjusts so that audio doesn't miss a beat between devices. The volume of each output is also independent, rather than being controlled by a single source.

The problem with this solution is that there are only a limited number of devices that support it. For LG, only the new Xboom speakers released this year support Auracast. There are also limited products from other manufacturers. However, this is a standard that manufacturers are pushing for to become more popular in the near future.

Another advantage of devices with Auracast is the audio codec they transmit. LG's Xboom line of speakers all have Bluetooth 5.4, which comes with the LC3 standard. This codec is new to the audio industry, ensuring that the quality transmitted over the wireless network is guaranteed to be high quality. It runs directly on Bluetooth, instead of requiring hardware like Sony's LDAC or Qualcomm's aptX.

Source: https://znews.vn/chon-loa-khong-day-hay-de-y-den-nut-nay-post1566332.html