In 2016 Apple launched the iPhone 7 with a feature that would cause a small revolution within the world of headphones and its relationship with mobile devices. This model stopped offering the classic mini jack audio connector (3.5 mm), making it incompatible with all wired and wireless headphones other than those of its own brand.
In the search for such compatibility, in recent years it has appeared in the market a wide variety of Bluetooth headphones that have driven the development of this new technology that we call TWS (True Wireless Stereo).
What is TWS technology?
TWS or True Wireless Stereo technology is one that allows pair two devices wirelessly and offer a sound channel superior to what we have been accustomed to until now.
Generally, the connection is made with headphones that incorporate this technology, through Bluetooth connection of a terminal. In this way, it can be transmitted separately to each channel, the left and the right, which generates a truly stereo soundStereo sound is much more pleasant and natural than listening to monophonic music.
How does TWS technology work?
TWS technology requires three devices to carry out its operation:
- The player: This is the original source from which the sound is emitted and the Bluetooth is connected. The most commonly used devices for this function are smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, etc.
- The master device: is the device you want to connect to the player. Usually, it is a headset or speaker that connects to the Bluetooth signal transmitter.
- The slave device: receives the connection from the master device and is the one associated with the ear canal paired in the first instance. This way, a more enveloping and quality sound is achieved.
Pairing between the master and slave devices is automatic via Bluetooth. Once paired, they begin to issue a series of internal commands that They verify and calculate a series of factors that allow a quality standard to be achieved. Therefore, the sound arrives with better quality and without interruptions.
The speed, that is, the time it takes for the signal to bounce from one device to another, is what will determine the quality, but this does not only depend on them, but also on the environment in which they are located.
At the moment, The latest version is Bluetooth 5.2The more the versions are improved, the faster they become.
Advantages of True Wireless Stereo technology
Below, we offer a comparison between headphones that have this True Wireless Stereo technology and those that do not. To do so, we will detail the advantages they provide and why they have become a staple in recent years, both among athletes and among ordinary people:
- Free from ties: True Wireless Stereo earphones are very comfortable, because there are no cables that need to be connected to a device, disconnections or tangles are avoided. In addition, they provide much more freedom. You don't know how practical it is and how much you can come to hate cables until you try some.
- High sound quality: It should be noted that the older versions had a more limited data transfer capacity. But the newer ones offer very good audio quality, even high resolution. This has led to more and more users choosing these models over the previous designs.
- Affordable prices: The price may vary depending on the brand and the qualities (durability, size, battery charge). However, TWS devices use very popular components, which makes it possible to find them with ease at low and affordable prices to everyone.
- Easy to set up: True Wireless Stereo devices are very easy to configure. You just need to find the Bluetooth you want to pair them with. For this to happen, both devices must be connected and close to each other.
- They provide independence: by not having cables, they allow a certain independence from the transmitting device, which facilitates movement, whether on the street or in one's own home.
- Light: They are usually very light devices, designed to be easy to transport and so that it is almost unnoticeable that are worn.
Disadvantages of True Wireless Stereo Headphones
TWS earphones also have a number of disadvantages that make you wonder if they are really worth it. Below we will detail some of them:
- Inferior sound quality compared to wired devices: Although Bluetooth has improved a lot and continues to do so, there is a noticeable difference between the audio of TWS devices and those that are wired. In addition, the ability to increase the volume is lower.
- Questionable autonomy: : There is a higher consumption of both the batteries of the TWS headphones and the transmitter device. This is because the Bluetooth connection drains the charge a lot. Also, we cannot use them while they are charging, as they must be in their case while charging. Therefore, we must constantly monitor the remaining life of not only the headphones, but also the mobile phone or tablet to which they are connected.
- Limited battery life: Rechargeable batteries have a limited lifespan, and with each charge cycle they become a little more depleted. There's no need to panic - they can last for about two years or more, but once all the charge cycles have been used up, the battery life is over. The headphones will therefore be of no use anymore, as replacing them is virtually impossible.
- Latency: TWS devices have more latency than normal Bluetooth devices. Fortunately, the difference is minimal and is hardly noticeable.
Difference between Wireless and True Wireless Stereo headphones
Wireless headphones can be divided into four different categories:
- Wireless headphones in-ear (inside the ear) connected by a band around the neck.
- Wireless headphones over ear or circumaural (they surround the ear with the pad).
- Wireless headphones on ear or supraaural (pad over the ear).
- TWS (True wireless stereo) headphones.
They all run on batteries or rechargeable batteries and use Bluetooth to connect to your mobile, laptop, music player, notebook or even a record player.
In the case of headphone models On-ear and over-ear wireless headphones, you simply lose the cable that connects them to the device; otherwise, they look very similar to regular wired headphones, these types of headphones generally offer noise isolation.
The models wireless in-ear or intraurals, they have a neckband that connects each earbud, making them ideal for runners who want the freedom of a wireless connection with the security of a cable that keeps your headphones firmly around your neck.
The big difference with respect to the previous ones is that the TWS earphones They do not have any type of cable, they are sometimes called mini earphones or small earbuds. For some, this means true freedom; for others, true wireless technology without strings attached means the constant danger of losing them on the street.