The aptX HD compatible headphones provide two important elements: high-quality audio streaming and low latency. Add a high-quality music file to the mix, and you can truly immerse yourself singing the lyrics of your favorite songs. If you are in the market looking for a pair of quality aptX HD headphones, you have come to the right place. In our post today, we have listed some of the best ones in the market. Do note that we have not collected headphones that are not just aptX HD compatible but are also comfortable to wear and look good at the same time. But before we begin, let’s quickly go through the differences between aptX and aptX HD.
What’s the Difference Between aptX and aptX HD
- As you may already know, codecs are basically encoding and decoding frameworks that are responsible for compressing audio into small data packets. And the quality of an audio track is determined by how this audio data is compressed. Thus a codec with lower bitrate means low quality while a codec with high bitrate translates into better audio.
- SBC, the basic coding standard for most Bluetooth devices, has a maximum bit rate of around 328 kbps and a sampling rate of up to 48 kHz. Qualcomm’s aptX plays an altogether different game.
- The aptX LL (lower latency) codec has a bit rate of 352 kbps, and aptX HD goes a step higher with a bit rate of 576 kbps. That allows more data to be moved thus raising the audio quality.
- Now, that we have established the basics, let’s check out some of the best aptX HD headphones.
- Note
- aptX HD compatible headphones shine better when paired with aptX HD supported device.
1. Sony WH-1000XM2 Noise Cancelling Headphones
At the same time, the WH-1000XM2 has an excellent battery life of 30 hours with noise canceling. Plus, the noise cancellation is hits the right spot. However, the Sony WH-1000XM2 headphones have a micro-USB port for charging. So, if your phone has a USB Type-C port, you’ll have to carry different cables for powering both your devices when traveling.
2. Sony WH-1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones
The Sony WH-1000XM3 has received some rave of accolades both from users and professional reviewers. SoundGuys gave these headphones a rating of 8.9 out of 10 stars and went on to praise the good sound quality, battery life, and the Bluetooth connectivity. As per them, these easily last around 24 hours of continuous playback. And as per Sony’s claims, these over-ear headphones can give you 5 hours playback time after charging for just 10 minutes. Cool, right? Compared to its predecessor, the WH-1000XM3 comes with slimmer cups and spacious earpads, which makes them incredibly comfortable to wear. At the same time, they help seal the ears to ward off the ambient noises better. And since these also work with any LDAC-supported device, you can have the best of both worlds. As it is with most headphones with quality sound output, these are a little expensive and costs around $348. With the same price as the WH-1000XM2, the WH-1000XM3 is undoubtedly a recommended upgrade.
3. Audio Technica ATH-DSR9BT
As far as the user reviews are concerned, the ATH-DSR9BT have a 39% 5-star rating and around 35% 4-star rating. The only issue with the ATH-DSR9BT headphones is that they are a bit bulky. Plus, the external noise cancellation is not up to the mark (for the price). So, if you often listen to songs in noisy environments or during a commute, the poor isolation can wreck your experience.
4. Nuraphone
- The aptX HD Bluetooth codec is just the tip of the iceberg. For one, the maker claims that the Nuraphone is capable of automatically adapting to your listening habits.
- Users have praised these headphones for its noise cancellation and good sound quality. The only thing you might want to consider is that there are not many buttons on the body.
- The Nuraphone costs $399.
- Did You Know
- The Nuraphone was awarded the Best of Innovation Award at CES 2018.
Grab the Best Wireless Headphones
Yeah, headphones are a dime-a-dozen in the market. However, add a particular specification to the mix, and the number goes down as it the case with aptX HD supporting headphones. Íf you’re looking for aptX HD supporting wireless earphones, then check out the OnePlus Bullets Wireless. Note that the OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 is set to launch sometime later this month. The sound experience is great on these earphones, and at the same time, they look great. Of course, the noise cancellation won’t be at par with the ones above. Next up: Intrigued by the Jabra Elite 65T and the Samsung Galaxy Buds? Find out the difference between these two wireless earphones in the post below.
