STACK #249 July 2025

NEW AUDIO TECH CHECK continued

TECH FEATURE

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SUCCESSFUL STREAMING

a high-quality speaker will do a lot of uplift, too, and can make lossy files sound pristine. Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones, for example, feature proprietary DSEE Extreme, a form of AI music upscaling that takes

Different streaming services and paid tiers offer different file types – e.g. Apple Music and Tidal offer hi-res, lossless streaming options – but most people are used to listening to lossy music, whether they know it or not. However, lossy isn’t always inherently bad. Spotify Premium uses a lossy format, for instance, but at a high enough bitrate that the music still sounds good. As a general rule, paid services will offer higher quality sound than free tiers. Lossless audio file types include WAV, FLAC, ALAC and DSD. WAV and FLAC are the file types you’re going to see most often if you’re purchasing high-quality music files (ALAC is specific to Apple Music and DSD is not widely supported). WAV files are what

M usic streaming has made it possible to access your favourite tunes anytime, and it’s now easier than ever to discover new artists, albums, and genres. But when you’re streaming audio, there’s a chance you’re not getting the best experience

If you’ve ever streamed a song you’re very familiar with, and the quality of the playback suddenly makes it sound richer, deeper, and brand-new, then chances are you’ve previously streamed a version with lossy compression.

possible, whether due to background noise, poor speakers, or even the quality of the files you’re listening to. Generally speaking, there are two different kinds of music files: ”lossy” audio, which are compressed to a smaller file size, and ”lossless” audio, which carry all the audio information of the original song.

you’d typically find on an audio CD, and are high quality too, although the file sizes can be large. If you’re purchasing and downloading music, these are the files you want, and a downloaded FLAC file will sound better than the streamed version. A good pair of headphones, earbuds, or

compressed audio files and dynamically restores their full sound range, returning the sonic oomph they might have lost on their way to streaming. It’s especially useful for older tracks, albums that have not received digital remasters, or your more obscure favourites that aren’t easily accessible with lossless audio.

(BATTERY) LIFE OF THE PARTY

If you frequently find that your battery doesn’t last as long as it should, you might want to consider a set of headphones or earbuds that support Bluetooth LE Audio. LE stands for low energy, meaning the headset’s battery can drain at a much slower rate. The transfer rate drops by about half, so the battery will last longer while your audio quality will remain the same. Moreover, some studies have suggested that audio

starts flashing and you realise, too late, that you’re almost out of charge. If you’re outdoors, or don’t have access to mains power, it’s worth considering a portable boombox that gives you the option of using a replaceable battery. The JBL PartyBox Stage 320 and Club 120 portable

G etting a low battery alert from your headphones as you’re on the way to work, in the middle of a run, or completing a tedious job can really kill a playlist. But depending on the device you’re using, there can be a way to extend the battery life of your ear gear and speakers to ensure you don’t get stuck without sound when you need it most.

transmitted over Bluetooth LE actually sounds a little better. It also means lower latency, which is great if you’re watching videos or playing games on your phone – you can rest assured that the sound will sync up perfectly. When you want to share your music, a portable Bluetooth speaker can be a great way to get a party started, until the red light

party speakers, for instance, can both be augmented with a backup battery (sold separately), so that they don’t conk out when you’re midway through a karaoke rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody .

20 JULY 2025

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