The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced on November 4 a new High Data Throughput (HDT) feature, offering up to 7.5 Mbps of bandwidth, nearly four times the previous Bluetooth LE 2M bandwidth, aimed at enabling high-bandwidth applications including lossless audio, artificial intelligence, and spatial computing.
The new HDT feature provides the capacity, efficiency, and wireless performance needed for high-resolution and lossless audio, according to Bluetooth SIG's feature enhancements page. It also uses less power.
CD-quality lossless audio is around 0.8 to 1.4 Mbps, while 24-bit 48 kHz is around 2.3 Mbps and 24-bit 96 kHz around 4.6 Mbps, all well within HDT's maximum 7.5 Mbps. Only 24-bit 192 kHz, at 9.2 Mbps, exceeds HDT's maximum bandwidth.
The feature is not automatically included in all devices that comply with the Bluetooth Core Specification 7.0. According to the Core Specification document, HDT2, HDT3 and HDT4 are required if HDT is featured, but HDT6 and HDT7.5 are optional. Tuning is also an important factor for audio quality.
Purists have long criticized Bluetooth. Bluetooth LE 2M cannot reliably transmit CD-quality lossless audio, so audio is compressed through codecs such as SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC and LC3. The new HDT feature may finally satisfy purists who prefer wired connections for uncompressed audio, potentially enabling wireless versions of high-end wired audiophile favorites.
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Bandwidth of audio formats vs. HDT maximum
Mbps
CD-quality lossless audio (0.8–1.4 Mbps) omitted because it is a range. Source: Bluetooth SIG feature enhancements page, via Tom's Hardware
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Analysis
Why This Matters
Bluetooth HDT could resolve the long-standing issue of wireless lossless audio, making high-quality wired headphones less necessary for many users.
The increased bandwidth also supports emerging technologies like AI and spatial computing, enabling more sophisticated device interactions.
Lower power consumption could improve battery life in wearable and portable devices that rely on Bluetooth.
Background
Bluetooth has been the standard wireless communication protocol for short-range devices, but its limited bandwidth has forced audio compression, leading to quality loss. Audiophiles have consistently preferred wired connections for lossless audio. Bluetooth LE 2M, the previous standard, could not reliably transmit CD-quality 1.4 Mbps lossless audio. The new HDT feature, part of the Bluetooth Core Specification 7.0, addresses this by offering up to 7.5 Mbps.
What to Watch
Adoption of Bluetooth Core Specification 7.0 by device manufacturers and inclusion of HDT in upcoming products.
Whether premium audio brands launch wireless versions of their high-end wired headphones and speakers using HDT.
Potential improvements in AI and spatial computing interactions as devices leverage higher bandwidth.
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
SupportedThe Bluetooth SIG announced HDT with a maximum bandwidth of 7.5 Mbps.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) just announced the new Bluetooth High Data Throughput (HDT) feature on November 4, allowing a maximum bandwidth of 7.5 Mbps”
SupportedHDT is aimed at supporting lossless audio, AI and spatial computing.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “The new bandwidth is intended for high-bandwidth interactions between devices, such as AI, spatial computing, and even lossless audio transmission”
SupportedHDT uses less power.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “HDT not only offers higher bandwidth but also improved reliability for consistent communication and uses even less power”
SupportedThe SIG announced HDT on November 4.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) just announced the new Bluetooth High Data Throughput (HDT) feature on November 4”
SupportedHDT's maximum bandwidth is nearly four times Bluetooth LE 2M's 2 Mbps bandwidth.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “allowing a maximum bandwidth of 7.5 Mbps, almost 4x that of the previous Bluetooth LE 2M (2 Mbps).”
SupportedBluetooth SIG's feature enhancements page says HDT provides the capacity, efficiency and wireless performance needed for high-resolution and lossless audio.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “as stated on Bluetooth’s feature enhancements page, which adds that HDT provides the capacity, efficiency, and wireless performance needed for high-resolution and lossless audio.”
SupportedThe listed rates for CD-quality lossless audio and 24-bit 48 kHz and 96 kHz audio are below HDT's 7.5 Mbps maximum.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “CD lossless quality hovers around 0.8-1.4Mbps, while 24-bit 48 kHz is around 2.3 Mbps, and 24-bit 96 kHz is 4.6 Mbps, well under the maximum 7.5 Mbps bandwidth”
SupportedOf the listed audio rates, only 24-bit 192 kHz exceeds HDT's maximum, at 9.2 Mbps.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “only 24-bit 192 kHz exceeds it at 9.2 Mbps”
SupportedCompliance with Bluetooth Core Specification 7.0 does not automatically mean a device has HDT.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “just because a device complies with the Bluetooth Core Specification 7.0, it doesn't mean that it automatically has the HDT feature”
SupportedIf HDT is featured, HDT2, HDT3 and HDT4 are required, while HDT6 and HDT7.5 are optional.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “HDT2, HDT3, and HDT4 are required if HDT is featured, but HDT6 and HDT7.5 are optional.”
SupportedBluetooth LE 2M cannot reliably transmit CD-quality lossless audio, so audio is compressed through codecs such as SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC and LC3.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Bluetooth LE 2M, even with its 2 Mbps bandwidth, cannot reliably transmit CD-quality 1.4 Mbps lossless audio, so it gets compressed through various means: SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC, LC3, etc.”
SupportedHDT may satisfy purists who prefer wired listening for uncompressed audio and could make wireless versions of high-end wired audiophile favorites possible.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “HDT may finally be the feature that satisfies them. Audiophiles have always preferred wired over Bluetooth, especially those who prefer lossless audio over compressed formats. ... HDT might make it possible for high-end wired audiophile favorites to get a wireless version.”
