aptX is a family of proprietary audio codec compression algorithms owned by Qualcomm, with a heavy emphasis on wireless audio applications. It is a proven technology that compresses and then decompresses audio as it travels from a source device like a phone, to a receiving device like a wireless speaker, in a way that it can be transmitted over Bluetooth without damaging the quality. Some key features of aptX include:

• History: The original aptX algorithm was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Stephen Smyth as part of his Ph.D. research at Queens University Belfast School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

• aptX Voice: A new feature of aptX Adaptive, designed to significantly improve the quality of voice for those using Bluetooth accessories to make voice calls.

• aptX HD: A newer generation of Bluetooth codecs that offers 24-bit audio at a bit rate of up to 576 kbps.

• aptX Adaptive: A codec that combines the current aptX HD with aptX Low Latency, boasting audio and video syncing with less than 40 milliseconds of latency when watching a video or playing a game on your connected device.

aptX is commonly supported in both headphone and smartphone products, as it delivers CD-like audio quality. Since aptX is a licensed technology, manufacturers usually state aptX support very clearly on the headphone packaging.