Bluetooth connectivity-based headsets are now one of the most convenient, comfortable, and portable devices. From earbuds to speakers, most devices are now Bluetooth-based devices.
With Bluetooth devices, no one has to untangle the tangled loop wires. But do these Bluetooth headsets come up with all the perks? Well, no. In comparison to wired earphones, Bluetooth earphones fall short in a few areas, and one of them is Audio Delay.
Why is there a delay in your Bluetooth headsets?
Before answering why there is a delay in the audio connectivity to your Bluetooth headphones, let’s first try to understand What Does Audio Latency Mean?
All the audio hearing devices take some time to deliver the sound from the device source (say, Android, iPod, laptop, etc.) to the connecting device (say, speakers, headphones, earbuds, etc.) This time taken by the audio device to deliver the sound is mainly milliseconds.
This time taken to convert the digital data into an audio signal that could be accessed and streamed through a wired or wireless headset device is known as audio latency.
Now, this audio latency is different across different devices. In a wired connection, this audio latency is 5-10ms. Whereas in a Bluetooth device, this audio latency ranges from 50-300ms.
Now, if you wonder why wireless earphones take longer to transmit sound to you than wired headsets, then the simple reason is the sound transmission process in Bluetooth headsets.
In wireless Bluetooth devices, sound transmission happens between a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter forwards the audio signals to the receiver. The bigger the audio size, the more latent it is.
To check the latency of your wireless Bluetooth headphones, you can also look for Bluetooth latency tests. To perform this Bluetooth latency test, you can log in to different websites providing this test for free.
Possible Factors Affecting Bluetooth Audio Delay:
There could be various reasons responsible for causing the audio delay in your Bluetooth headsets. Here we have listed down the four crucial causes that could affect sound delay.
- Bluetooth Codec
- Interference
- The distance between the source and the receiver
- Bluetooth Version
Discussing the factors affecting audio delay:
Bluetooth Codec –
A Bluetooth Codec is a vital algorithm that compresses, encodes, and decodes the sound data transmitted from the audio source to your headset. Although some Bluetooth codecs are better than others, some are terrible at their work. And the ones with this tribality are more prone to cause an audio latent.
To avoid audio delay due to the Bluetooth codec issue, one must check for the capability of the codec during purchase. It is essential to ensure that your device’s Bluetooth codec is compatible with your headset’s.
Interference –
Interference is the unwanted frequency that makes it harder for the transmitter to read the audio files. The other add-on frequencies of the electronic appliances in your room, like the microwave, heater, radio, etc. It might also disturb the transparent transmission of your desired audio.
The distance between the source and the receiver –
Though most wired headsets demand a certain distance to function well, wireless headsets don’t restrict you with the distance between the source and the receiver. Thus, many times, people face the sound delay issue due to improper connectivity and reach between the head and the receiver of the audio.
If you observe that the distance between your headset and the device is more than expected, you should try bringing them closer to fix the sound delay.
Bluetooth Version
Different headset devices come with different Bluetooth versions. Though the latest and updated version, the better it is. One must also keep in mind to find a version of the headset that is the latest yet compatible with your respective connecting devices.
How to fix Bluetooth Audio across different devices
If you’re experiencing difficulties with the source audio from different devices, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the issues. Here’s a general guide to help you get started:
How to fix Bluetooth latency across issues in Windows 10
Windows 10 users often encounter frustrating Bluetooth audio connectivity issues that can disrupt their seamless experience. Dealing with Bluetooth audio issues on Windows 10 can be frustrating, but here are some steps to try and fix the problems:
- Reconnect your Bluetooth Device – This one is quite self-explanatory and doesn’t require lots of steps to be done. All you need to do for this method is first to reset your Bluetooth headphones. And now try reconnecting them with your device. This could establish a new connection between the headset and the audio source device while fixing any minor existing connectivity issues.
- Download and Install the Latest Bluetooth Driver – The other method to fix windows 10 Bluetooth audio delay is by installing the latest Bluetooth Driver. Sometimes keeping an outdated Bluetooth Driver could be the reason behind the poor connectivity issues.
Steps to Install the Latest version of Bluetooth Driver:
Step 1: Right-click the start button, and click “Device Manager”.
- Now a list of various sub-menus will appear. Click “Bluetooth” from the various drop-down options in the list.
- You will see a list of all the paired devices in your system. Now select and right-click the name of the headphones that you want to fix.
- Now select “Update Driver” from the right-clicked options of your Bluetooth headset device name.
Step 2: Through Windows Playback Troubleshooter – Windows 10 is designed to help its users with various troubleshooting methods. You can use the following steps to troubleshoot the Windows sound delay issue in your device.
- Reboot the Windows Audio Service – Another method to fix the sound issues in Windows is to reboot the Windows Audio service. Follow the below-mentioned steps to reboot your Windows Audio Service.
- First of all, Press and hold the Windows “logo” and ‘R’ key on your keyboard.
- A “Run” dialogue box will now be launched.
- Now type “service.msc” and click enter.
- Now look for the “Windows audio” option in the list of menus.
- Now right-click on this option and select “Properties”.
- In the “General” tab, select “automatic” for the startup type.
- Now click the “recovery” tab.
- Now in the First and second failure systems, check for the option to “restart the service” option and click OK.
- Now do the same steps for the Windows audio Endpoint builder.
- Now after following all these above-mentioned steps.
- restart your computer and reconnect your Bluetooth device headset.
If you encounter a delay in Bluetooth audio while watching movies or TV shows, you can typically correct it by adjusting the TV’s delay for proper syncing. For gaming, if your TV does not have a sync feature or other audio outputs, making adjustments to your setup or upgrading to superior Bluetooth hardware can eliminate the audio delay.
How to fix Bluetooth Audio Delay in Android:
When you’re on the go, using Bluetooth headphones with mobile devices is a popular option. However, it’s not always a seamless experience. If you’re experiencing audio delay when using your headphones with Android, here are some possible solutions to try:
- By Disabling the Power Saver: Your device has power savings settings that can help you conserve its overall power. However, if you are using multiple heavy apps, games, or multi-tasking while in power-saving mode, your mobile device may experience lag and audio delay issues. To disable power-saving mode, you will need to access the settings app on your phone.
Here’s how you can fix the Bluetooth delay issue with the help of an app. Simply disable the Power Saver option in your device settings. To do so, follow the steps outlined below.
- Open your phone’s settings.
- Scroll down to find “Battery and Device Care“.
- At the bottom of the app, select the “Optimize now” option.
- On the same page, find the “Battery” option and turn off the “Power saving mode” toggle.
- Restart the Device: Similar to the Restarting option to fix the Bluetooth audio delay issue in Windows, you can also try restarting or rebooting your Android or Apple mobile phone. As, if there exists some unnecessary lag or RAM issue in your mobile. Restarting it might be able to fix it.
How to fix Bluetooth audio delay in iOS
It is widely accepted that Android and iPhone have distinct interfaces and operating systems. As a result, there may be slight variations in the approach to addressing sound audio delay on these devices. Follow the steps outlined below to resolve the issue.
Method 1: Restart iPhone:
Step 1: To begin, you should turn off your device.
- If you have an iPhone X or newer model, press and hold the volume down and side button simultaneously.
- For the iPhone SE 2nd or 3rd generation, 7, and 8 series, press and hold the side button.
- If you have an iPhone SE 1st gen, 5s, 5c, or 5, hold down the power button located at the top.
Step 2: To turn off your device, drag the power slider in
Step 3: Then, to turn it back on, press and hold the power button on your iPhone.
Method 2: Disabling Low Power Mode:
- First of all, swipe down the Control Center of your iPhone.
- Now, from the control center option, turn off the low power mode, by tapping the battery icon on the control center.
And with these two very easy steps you have already disabled the power-saving mode in your iPhone.
How to fix Bluetooth Audio Dealy in iPhone [Tutorial]
How To Fix Sound Delay On Bluetooth Headphones
If the solutions mentioned previously did not work for you, it is possible that the issue lies with your headphones. It is important to note that features such as the Bluetooth audio codec cannot usually be altered or improved. In this case, the most effective solution would be to invest in a new set of headphones.
To prevent this issue from recurring, here are some factors you should take into account:
Method 1: Picking the right audio codec
To optimize your wireless listening experience, it’s important to match the ideal codec for Bluetooth streaming with your audio source. If you use iOS, headphones that support the AAC codec are recommended as it’s Apple’s preferred codec. For Android, aptX LL and aptX HD are the top choices.
Certain codecs are designed specifically for certain manufacturers, such as Sony’s LDAC and Samsung’s Scalable Codec. If you own a smartphone from one of these manufacturers, be sure to check your Android settings to see if the codec is enabled. Additionally, ensure that your Bluetooth headphones are compatible with the codec.
Method 2: Match the source and headphones’ Bluetooth audio profile
To improve audio latency, it’s recommended to use Bluetooth 5.0 for both the source and receiver devices. It’s important to ensure that the Bluetooth audio profile of the source matches that of the headphones. If both devices use Bluetooth 5.0, the connection will use this standard.
However, if one uses Bluetooth 4.1 and the other uses Bluetooth 5.0, the default connection will be Bluetooth 4.1. To take advantage of improved bandwidth and features, it’s best to use the latest Bluetooth 5.0 support for both the source and receiving device.
Conclusion:
It remains to be seen if sound delay will be completely eliminated with future advancements in BT technology. However, there’s no need to wait for that, as you can already reduce sound delay by following the information and tips provided here. With these techniques, you can enjoy watching videos and listening to music with your Bluetooth headphones without the frustration of sound delay.
