Wireless headphone operation sounds appealing—but it also has its downsides. Companies like Meze are well aware of this. But how should manufacturers respond to the growing desire of many customers who want the freedom to move while listening to music?
First, a brief overview of the technologies and their development:
Bluetooth is the most widely used technology for wireless headphones. It enables a stable connection within a limited range of about 15 meters. Bluetooth supports various audio codecs that influence sound quality and latency, including SBC (the standard codec), AAC (well suited for Apple devices), aptX and aptX HD (higher audio quality and lower latency for Android devices), and LDAC (high-quality audio with higher data transmission, developed by Sony).
The advantages of Bluetooth are easy connectivity with many devices and low power consumption. However, these benefits come with disadvantages such as limited range and reduced sound quality due to compression compared to wired connections.
Radio-frequency headphones typically operate in frequency ranges between 2.4 and 5.8 GHz, allowing for a greater range (up to 100 meters) and a more stable connection. However, they often require a dedicated base station that transmits the audio signal.
Infrared headphones work with infrared light signals and require a direct line of sight between the transmitter and receiver. They can offer very good audio quality without compression, but their range is very limited and the signal is lost when the line of sight is interrupted. As a result, they are mainly suitable for stationary applications such as home theater systems.
Some headphones—particularly those used in professional environments—use DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), a technology originally developed for cordless telephones. DECT offers high range and reliable, interference-resistant signal transmission, but its adoption is limited due to cost and lower market availability.
My opinion on this:
Since the first broader adoption of wireless headphones, we have closely observed the market and conducted our own development work and research. So far, however, the conclusion has always been clear:
Truly great sound still comes through a cable.
But how much sound quality loss are users willing to accept in exchange for going wireless? My clear answer: too much.
Of course, technology continues to improve, and we have already offered Bluetooth devices ourselves. But even today, they cannot compare with good wired headphones.
And ultimately, that is exactly what our loyal customers value about ULTRASONE:
when we bring something to market, it delivers outstanding sound.
Not disappointing that expectation is something we owe to our fans. 🎧
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