What you should know
– Lossless USB audio is coming to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro and other Android handsets
– The feature allows for “bit-perfect audio” to be heard by listeners, without compression or alteration
– Lossless audio requires a wired headset, as Bluetooth is “lossy”
– Not all users are interested in the finer details of lossless audio
– Listening to lossless audio on your phone uses more data and storage space
Full Story
Tech enthusiast Mishaal Rahman recently shared some exciting news for audio lovers on his blog. It appears that Google’s vice president of engineering, Dave Burke, made an interesting comment on Reddit regarding lossless USB audio. According to Burke, this feature will be coming to the highly anticipated Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones, as well as other Android handsets.
What exactly does lossless USB audio mean? Well, it means that the music played on your phone will be transmitted to your headphones in its original, uncompressed form. This skips the audio mixer and typical processing pipeline, resulting in “bit-perfect audio” that sounds fantastic. Listeners can expect clearer sound with instruments and vocals standing out, bringing a new level of clarity to their favorite songs.
However, there is one catch to enjoying lossless USB audio. Users will need to use wired headsets as Bluetooth connectivity is considered “lossy,” meaning it compromises the audio quality. So, wireless earbud enthusiasts may need to switch to wired headphones to fully experience this technology.
It’s worth noting that lossless audio support has already been added to Android 14, but the feature’s success depends on phone manufacturers and app developers supporting it. Although some music streaming platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Tidal already offer lossless audio, not all users prioritize audio fidelity. Not everyone wants to analyze every background sound or every slight vocal strain while listening to their favorite tunes.
Moreover, it’s important to be aware that listening to lossless audio on your phone could consume more data. If you have a limited cellular plan or even certain unlimited plans that throttle data speeds after exceeding monthly limits, it’s crucial to monitor your data usage while streaming lossless audio. Additionally, keep in mind that downloading lossless audio files will take up more storage capacity on your phone compared to compressed audio formats.
In conclusion, the future looks promising for audio enthusiasts as lossless USB audio is set to make its way to the Pixel 8 series and other Android devices. While this technology may not be for everyone, those who prioritize audio quality can look forward to an enhanced listening experience. Just remember to keep an eye on your data consumption and storage space if you decide to venture into lossless audio territory.
