Does Bluetooth wireless audio reduce sound quality?

You’ve been looking at those Bluetooth headphones or speakers for a while now, but you have a nagging concern: Will Bluetooth reduce the sound quality of my music?

If you have, or want to buy, wireless headphones you’ve probably wondered if the quality of sound will be the same as with corded headphones. Do wireless headphones really sound worse than their corded counterparts, or is this only a myth?

Sonic information

Traditionally, the problem with Bluetooth audio has always been digital compression. In order to send audio to your headphones, you were forced to sacrifice quality. The amount of sonic information that can pass through Bluetooth is less, for example, than from a CD. So if you are looking only on a technical level, the answer to whether sound quality is reduced, is yes.

Deciding between Bluetooth and corded headphones is just one variable among many that can affect sound quality. The convenience of Bluetooth is undeniable, and in some situations, even audiophiles wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. The gym, a street, a beach – they all add a high level of ambient noise. If the file you are playing is not a high-quality file, or if you are streaming music, then quality is already reduced – regardless of what device you’re using.

When it comes to portability, wireless is definitely a winner. And depending on the product you use, that portability delivers many opportunities. For example, our Jabra Speak 710 has a wireless range of 100ft/30m, while Jabra Elite Sport and Jabra Move have a wireless range up to 33ft/10m. When you need to move away from your device, the correct Bluetooth device can put a spring in your step, and still deliver excellent audio.

And, of course, for some it is not only sound that matters. If you need a Bluetooth-enabled speaker for conference calls and music, the Jabra Speak 710 provides you with an Omni-directional microphone and HD voice – making it ideal for voice, music, and multimedia.

It's important to recognize that while Bluetooth, in general, reduces audio quality to some extent, it doesn't have to. Much depends on the manufacturer, and whether they’ve designed a Bluetooth device in a way that will impact audio quality the least – or, preferably, not at all.

At Jabra, we pride ourselves on engineering Bluetooth products that have stable connection, state-of-the-art speakers, and fitting options that are not only comfortable, but have been designed in a way that allows them to enhance audio quality. Buy wisely, and quality audio marries perfectly with Bluetooth technology.