The Bluetooth logo hides real differences in version and codec
Reviewed by the Treble Harbor team · last updated 2026-08-28
Every speaker in this comparison supports Bluetooth, but the version and codec behind that support change what the connection actually sounds like. SBC, the baseline codec every Bluetooth device supports, compresses audio more aggressively than aptX HD, which the Kanto TUK and Audioengine HD3 both support -- aptX HD targets a higher bitrate specifically to reduce that compression audible on cymbals and vocal sibilance. The Edifier R1280DB skips aptX HD and streams over standard SBC/AAC instead, which is the main technical trade-off behind its lower price.
Bluetooth version matters separately from codec: the Kanto TUK runs Bluetooth 4.2, while the Edifier R1280DB uses the newer Bluetooth 5.0, which generally holds a more stable connection at range and sips less power, even though the TUK's aptX HD codec still edges out the R1280DB's SBC/AAC on raw audio fidelity when both are in range.
The KEF LSX II LT is the outlier worth flagging specifically: in this configuration, Bluetooth isn't one input among several, it's the only one. There's no RCA or 3.5mm jack at all, which is a real constraint if a wired turntable or aux source is part of the plan -- our turntable-pairing page covers that exact issue for this speaker in more detail.
None of that makes Bluetooth a compromise across the board -- for phones, laptops, and most modern TVs with Bluetooth output, a good codec pairing gets close enough to wired that the convenience wins. It matters most when a wired source, like a turntable without its own Bluetooth, is already part of the setup.
Codec support varies more than the Bluetooth logo suggests
SBC is the baseline every Bluetooth speaker supports and compresses audio the most; aptX HD, used by the Kanto TUK and Audioengine HD3, targets a higher bitrate and less audible compression. The Edifier R1280DB's lack of aptX HD is the main technical reason it costs less than the TUK or HD3.
Bluetooth version affects range and stability, not just sound
Newer Bluetooth 5.0 hardware, like the Edifier R1280DB uses, generally holds a steadier connection at range and uses less power than the Kanto TUK's Bluetooth 4.2, even though 4.2 still edges it out on codec quality via aptX HD.
Check whether Bluetooth is one input or the only input
The KEF LSX II LT in this specific configuration has no RCA or 3.5mm jack at all -- Bluetooth is the only way in. The Kanto TUK, Edifier R1280DB, and Audioengine HD3 all keep a wired option alongside Bluetooth, which matters if a turntable or other wired source is part of the plan.
A phono preamp is a separate feature from Bluetooth itself
Don't assume Bluetooth support means turntable-ready -- the Kanto TUK's built-in phono preamp on its RCA input is what makes it turntable-friendly, not its Bluetooth radio, which only handles wireless sources like phones and laptops.
