While Bluetooth technology offers a common way to enjoy audio wirelessly through speakers and headphones, some people object to Bluetooth on the grounds that, from an audio quality perspective, you’re better off using one of the Wi-Fi wireless technologies such as AirPlay, DLNA, Play-Fi or Sonos. While that perception is generally correct, there’s more to using Bluetooth than meets the eye.

Bluetooth was not originally designed for audio entertainment, but to connect telephone headsets and speakerphones. It was also designed with a very narrow bandwidth, which forces it to apply data compression to an audio signal. While this design is fine for telephone conversations, it is not ideal for music playback. Additionally, Bluetooth can apply this compression to data compression that may already exist, such as from digital audio files or sources streamed over the internet. One thing to remember, however, is that a Bluetooth system does not need to apply this additional compression.

Here's why: All Bluetooth devices must support Low Complexity Subband Coding. However, Bluetooth devices can also support optional codecs, which can be found in the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile specification. The optional codecs listed are: MPEG 1 & 2 Audio, MPEG 3 & 4, ATRAC, and aptX. ATRAC is a codec that was primarily used in Sony products, most notably the MiniDisc digital recording format.

The official Bluetooth standard, in section 4.2.2, states: "The device may also support optional codecs to maximize usability. When both SRC and SNK support the same optional codec, that codec may be used instead of the mandatory codec."