Bluetooth 5.4: What’s New for Audio?

If you’re an audio geek (or just Bluetooth curious), you’ve probably heard that Bluetooth 5.4 is out in the wild, but you might be wondering what difference it actually makes. Another number, another spec bump? Not quite.

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Bluetooth 5.4 introduces some genuinely interesting enhancements that could shift how we experience wireless audio, especially for earbuds, hearables, and shared audio environments.

So let’s unpack what’s new, what’s useful, and whether you should care if your next headphones or speakers support Bluetooth 5.4.

Quick Recap: Why Bluetooth Versions Matter for Audio

Bluetooth has come a long way from its early days of choppy signals and compressed to death audio. Every version since 4.0 has added something useful from Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and increased bandwidth to improved range and connection reliability.

For audio lovers, Bluetooth 5.0 brought bigger payloads and faster pairing, 5.1 added better device location accuracy, and 5.2 introduced LE Audio, the most important shift in wireless audio since aptX.

Now, with 5.4, we’re seeing more refinement than revolution, but it’s refinement in the right direction.

What’s New in Bluetooth 5.4?

Bluetooth 5.4 isn’t just about faster or longer range connections. It brings a few specific features that could benefit audio applications directly, or at least indirectly, by improving how devices handle multiple connections, power use, and data broadcasts.

Here’s what’s new in the 5.4 spec that’s relevant to audio users:

1. Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR)

PAwR allows devices to broadcast audio related data (or any data) at regular intervals with two way communication, meaning your headphones or hearing aids can not only receive audio updates but also reply with status or control info.

Use Case for Audio: This paves the way for audio sharing in public venues, where your headphones could sync with a cinema or airport announcement system securely and efficiently, and even tell it, “Yes, I’m connected.”

In combination with Auracast™ (we’ll come back to that), this means much more responsive and interactive shared audio experiences.

2. Encrypted Advertising Data

Previously, any broadcasted Bluetooth data was unencrypted, which is fine for “Hey, I’m here” signals but not ideal for personal or licensed audio content.

Now, with encrypted advertising, devices can securely broadcast audio streams or commands in public spaces, a massive win for privacy and content control.

Use Case for Audio: Think premium subscription audio content at gyms, museums or private events, headphones could authenticate and decrypt broadcast only streams without pairing to every user individually.

3. Smaller Data Footprint with Periodic Sync

This one's more behind the scenes, but it’s about power efficiency. Devices using PAwR can sync to specific time slots to receive data, drastically reducing power use for always on listening devices.

Use Case for Audio: Perfect for wearables and hearing aids that rely on Bluetooth LE. You get more uptime and battery longevity with no trade off in performance.

LE Audio Is Still the Big Deal, Bluetooth 5.4 Builds On It

If you haven’t caught up with LE Audio, this is the foundation of where Bluetooth is heading for audio. It arrived with 5.2, but 5.4 enhances it further.

What LE Audio Brings to the Table:

• LC3 Codec: Better sound quality at lower bitrates (hello, efficiency!)

• Multi stream Audio: Seamless left/right earbud sync, and multiple audio streams to different devices

• Hearing Aid Support: Lower latency and better battery performance

• Auracast™ Broadcast Audio: Public audio streams without pairing

Bluetooth 5.4 doesn’t change LE Audio itself, but it improves the way devices can use LE Audio features with better broadcasting, timing, and security mechanisms, especially important for shared or multi user environments.

Auracast™ + Bluetooth 5.4 = A New Listening Era?

Auracast™ is essentially the “broadcast mode” for Bluetooth LE Audio. Imagine walking into a gym, airport, or stadium and simply tapping your headphones to tune in to the venue’s audio, no app, no pairing, no mess.

With 5.4’s Periodic Advertising with Responses + Encryption, this vision becomes more viable:

• Secure audio streams

• Syncable, scalable listening

• Multi device compatibility without pairing

Audiophile Take: We’re still waiting for high fidelity Auracast implementations, but once Bluetooth LE chips support higher bitrate LC3 profiles and better synchronisation, shared hi fi audio becomes a realistic possibility.

Bluetooth 5.4 vs Bluetooth 5.3: Should You Upgrade?

At a glance, Bluetooth 5.4 might look like a minor update, especially if you're coming from 5.3, but under the hood, it introduces some pretty meaningful improvements for audio, particularly if you're interested in the future of shared listening and low power audio devices.

Bluetooth 5.3 already supports LE Audio, so if your current gear handles features like the LC3 codec or Auracast broadcasting, you're already ahead of the curve. However, Bluetooth 5.4 takes that foundation and builds on it in key ways.

One of the biggest additions is Periodic Advertising with Responses, a game changer for real time communication between devices in broadcast environments. Combine that with encrypted advertising, and you've got the groundwork for more secure, scalable, and interactive public audio systems, think airports, gyms, or even live events where multiple listeners can tune in simultaneously, without pairing.

Bluetooth 5.4 also focuses on better power efficiency, particularly for devices that rely on periodic data transmissions. This makes it especially relevant for hearing aids, wearables, and always on listening devices, the sort of gear where battery life is a daily concern.

So, should you upgrade? If you're a casual listener, there’s no urgent reason to toss out your current setup. Most of today’s Bluetooth headphones and smartphones are still hovering around 5.2 or 5.3, and they’re perfectly capable for high quality LE Audio.

But if you're buying new gear, especially anything related to shared audio environments, low latency broadcast use, or next gen TWS earbuds it's worth futureproofing with Bluetooth 5.4 compatibility. The leap may not be seismic, but it’s a smart step forward for those who care about where wireless audio is headed.

The Audiophile Perspective: What’s the Catch?

Let’s talk geeky:

Bitrate Still Matters

Even with LC3, Bluetooth has its ceiling. LC3 sounds great even at 128 kbps, but hardcore audiophiles will still swear by wired solutions or LDAC at 990 kbps, especially for lossless or high res tracks.

Reality check: You won’t get FLAC level audio over Bluetooth 5.4, but you will get more consistent quality, less dropout, and better multi stream control.

Device Support is Still Catching Up

Just because 5.4 is official doesn’t mean your next phone or headphones will support it. As of mid 2025, we’re only beginning to see the first chipsets (like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound 3rd Gen and newer Nordic or Bluetooth SIG chipsets) in circulation.

Expect real world support in consumer devices to pick up in late 2025 and beyond.

Real World Use Cases: Where You’ll Notice Bluetooth 5.4

TWS Earbuds

Faster pairing, longer battery life, and better dual ear sync. No more annoying “left bud dropped again” issues.

Smart TVs & Home Cinema

Auracast support lets multiple users enjoy TV audio on their own headphones, with individual volume control.

Accessibility / Hearing Aids

Huge upgrade in terms of battery life, broadcast quality, and multi source compatibility life changing for many.

Public Audio

Airports, museums, and gyms can offer shared audio streams for announcements, guided tours, or music without custom apps.

Should You Wait or Buy Now?

If you're in the market for new audio gear and don’t need public stream support just yet, current Bluetooth 5.2 or 5.3 headphones will serve you brilliantly, especially if they support LE Audio and LC3.

But if you're buying for the next 3 to 5 years, or you're an audio nerd who loves being futureproof, Bluetooth 5.4 support is something to keep an eye out for.

Final Thoughts: Subtle, Smart, and the Future

Bluetooth 5.4 isn’t about a massive headline feature,s it’s about smoothing out the edges and unlocking the full potential of LE Audio.

For most listeners, the jump from 5.3 to 5.4 won’t be earth shattering, but for shared audio spaces, hearing assistance, and truly seamless wireless listening, it's a step in the right direction.

So, whether you’re rocking over ears with an external DAC/amp or living your life through TWS buds, Bluetooth 5.4 is another sign that the wireless future of audio is finally catching up with our wired expectations.

Stay tuned and stay synced.

—Dave Hall, Audio & Sound Technology | The Tech Advisor