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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesLDAC is the Sony WF-1000XM6’s Bluetooth codec for transmitting high-resolution audio over Classic Audio A2DP. To use it, your playback device must support LDAC, and the earbuds’ Bluetooth Connection Quality setting in Sony Sound Connect must be changed to Priority on Sound Quality. The factory High Reliability setting does not provide LDAC playback.
That does not make every Bluetooth stream lossless or every song Hi-Res. The final result depends on the source device, its selected codec, the audio file or service, and whether the connection stays in Classic Audio mode rather than switching to LE Audio.
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What LDAC means on the WF-1000XM6
A Bluetooth codec is the audio-coding algorithm used to compress and transmit sound wirelessly. In Classic Audio A2DP music playback, Sony lists three codecs for the WF-1000XM6: SBC, AAC and LDAC. In the separate LE Audio mode, the earbuds use LC3. The codec is negotiated between the source device and the earbuds, so support in the earbuds alone is not enough.
Sony describes LDAC as an audio-coding technology it developed that enables transmission of High-Resolution (Hi-Res) Audio content over Bluetooth. Its official guide says that, unlike SBC, LDAC operates without down-conversion of Hi-Res Audio content; Sony expressly excludes DSD-format content from that statement. This is a description of LDAC’s capability, not a promise that every phone, computer, streaming catalog or Bluetooth connection will carry a verified Hi-Res signal.
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Sony’s wording is: “LDAC is an audio coding technology developed by Sony that enables the transmission of High-Resolution (Hi-Res) Audio content, even over a Bluetooth connection.” You can read the full codec explanation in the WF-1000XM6 supported-codecs guide.
How LDAC handles audio data
LDAC has selectable transmission rates. Sony gives a conditional comparison with SBC: at 990 kbps for 96/48 kHz material, or 909 kbps for 88.2/44.1 kHz material, LDAC transmits approximately three times more data than SBC. Those figures come from Sony Corporation’s 2026 Help Guide. They are bitrate comparisons, not listening-test results and not proof of lossless, bit-perfect playback from end to end.
The complete signal path is more important than the codec name alone:
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- The source device selects an output codec and encodes the audio for Bluetooth.
- The WF-1000XM6 receives that Bluetooth stream in either Classic Audio A2DP or LE Audio mode.
- The earbuds decode the stream and convert it for their drivers.
If the source is already lossy, LDAC does not restore information removed by the original encoding. If the source device does not offer LDAC, the earbuds use another available codec. If the earbuds are operating in LE Audio, LC3 is used instead of LDAC.
What you need before LDAC can work
| Requirement | What Sony establishes | What you must verify |
|---|---|---|
| WF-1000XM6 earbuds | The model supports LDAC for music in Classic Audio A2DP. | That the earbuds are connected for music playback, not only for another Bluetooth function. |
| LDAC-capable source | The connected playback device must support LDAC and may need its codec setting changed. | The exact phone, tablet, computer or player’s current manufacturer documentation. |
| Sound Connect setting | Priority on Sound Quality is required. Factory High Reliability does not support LDAC playback. | That the setting is applied to the connected WF-1000XM6. |
| Suitable audio | LDAC transports audio; it does not make an ordinary source Hi-Res. | The file or service’s actual format, sample rate and catalog availability. |
Sony’s broader WF-1000XM6 Help Guide PDF also cautions that the source device may need to be set to the desired codec. Headphone support and source support are separate requirements.
How to enable LDAC
- Pair the earbuds normally. Connect the WF-1000XM6 to the playback device and begin music playback in Classic Audio Bluetooth mode.
- Open Sony Sound Connect. Select the connected WF-1000XM6 and open its connection settings.
- Change the connection-quality mode. Set Bluetooth Connection Quality to Priority on Sound Quality. Do not leave it on the factory High Reliability option if you want LDAC; Sony says LDAC playback is unavailable there.
- Check the source device’s codec controls. If the device exposes a Bluetooth-audio codec selector, choose LDAC as directed by that device’s manufacturer. Sony does not publish a complete, current model-by-model compatibility list in the reviewed guide.
- Reconnect if necessary. Some source devices apply a codec change only after Bluetooth is disconnected and connected again. Start playback again and check the device’s Bluetooth details or developer audio information if available.
- Confirm the mode. LDAC applies to Classic Audio A2DP. If the source and earbuds have negotiated LE Audio, the active codec is LC3 instead.
Menu names can vary by source-device software. The Sony setting name above is the important control; a generic “high quality” toggle on the phone is not proof that LDAC is active.
LDAC versus LE Audio LC3
These are different Bluetooth paths, not two names for the same codec. The source device, the selected connection mode and the Sound Connect setting determine which one is used.
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| Aspect | Classic Audio with LDAC | LE Audio with LC3 |
|---|---|---|
| Codec | LDAC | LC3 |
| Earbud mode | Classic Audio A2DP music playback | LE Audio |
| Sound Connect setting identified by Sony | Priority on Sound Quality | Low latency |
| Source requirement | A playback device that supports LDAC; its codec may need to be selected | A compatible LE Audio source |
| Can you treat them as interchangeable? | No. They are selected by different source and connection conditions. | |
Choosing LE Audio does not provide LDAC. Conversely, selecting Priority on Sound Quality for Classic Audio does not turn an incompatible source into an LDAC source.
What “Hi-Res Audio” does—and does not—promise
“Hi-Res” describes the resolution of the audio content, such as a file supplied at a higher sample rate or bit depth than standard CD-quality material. LDAC is the transport codec. A Hi-Res file can be sent over LDAC, but the codec cannot upgrade a low-resolution or previously compressed recording.
There are several independent checks:
- Catalog or file: the track must actually be offered in a high-resolution format. The available Sony documentation does not identify which current subscriptions or individual tracks qualify.
- Source software: the player must output that format rather than resampling or delivering a lower-quality stream.
- Codec negotiation: both source and earbuds must use LDAC in Classic Audio mode.
- Transmission conditions: the chosen LDAC rate is a Bluetooth setting, not a guarantee that every connection will remain at the highest rate.
For that reason, “the WF-1000XM6 supports Hi-Res Audio over Bluetooth” is accurate as a capability statement, while “every song will be lossless Hi-Res” is not established. DSD content is specifically excluded from Sony’s no-down-conversion description of LDAC.
How to check which codec is actually active
The most reliable check is on the source device, because the earbuds cannot force a codec the source does not provide. Look for the connected WF-1000XM6 in the device’s Bluetooth details, audio developer settings or player information, depending on the operating system. If LDAC is listed as the active codec, the Classic Audio path is using it. If the device reports AAC or SBC, the stream is not LDAC even if the earbuds support LDAC.
Within Sound Connect, verify that Bluetooth Connection Quality still reads Priority on Sound Quality. A reset, a new pairing or a switch to LE Audio can change the active path. Sony’s regional WF-1000XM6 specifications page lists the model’s supported audio formats, but it is not a substitute for checking the exact source device’s Bluetooth implementation.
Troubleshooting: “Cannot play audio with the LDAC codec”
LDAC is not offered in the app
Open the WF-1000XM6 connection settings in Sound Connect and change Bluetooth Connection Quality from High Reliability to Priority on Sound Quality. Sony explicitly states that the factory High Reliability setting does not support LDAC playback.
The source never shows LDAC
Confirm that the source device supports LDAC; the earbuds cannot add that codec to an otherwise incompatible phone or computer. Check the manufacturer’s current instructions for the exact model, because Sony’s guide does not provide a comprehensive compatibility table. If the source offers a codec selector, set it to LDAC and reconnect.
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The device keeps using AAC or SBC
Recheck both ends of the connection. The earbuds must be in Classic Audio A2DP, the app must be set to Priority on Sound Quality, and the source must permit LDAC. AAC is commonly associated with Apple products in Sony’s guide, but the reviewed Sony pages do not document every current Apple device’s codec behavior; do not infer compatibility from a product family name alone.
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You are hearing dropouts after selecting sound quality
First confirm whether LDAC is necessary for your source. If a stable connection is more important than the higher-data-rate codec, return to the Sound Connect connection-quality option Sony provides for reliability. That change means LDAC playback will not be available, so it is a deliberate stability-versus-codec choice rather than a hidden repair.
The sound does not seem different
LDAC’s approximately three-times-SBC figure is a data-rate comparison, not an audible-improvement guarantee. A listener may hear little or no difference when the source is already lossy, the recording is not Hi-Res, the player has resampled it, or the listener’s program material does not expose the difference. The absence of an obvious change does not by itself prove that LDAC failed.
The earbuds are using LE Audio
Check the connection mode and source support. LE Audio uses LC3, while LDAC belongs to Classic Audio A2DP. To use LDAC, reconnect through a Classic Audio path with an LDAC-capable source and the Sound Connect setting on Priority on Sound Quality.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing the right setup for your use
| Your situation | Practical choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You have verified LDAC support and a Hi-Res source | Classic Audio plus Priority on Sound Quality | This is the combination Sony identifies for LDAC playback. |
| Your source supports only AAC or SBC | Use the codec the source provides | The earbuds cannot create LDAC support on the source side. |
| You need LE Audio features and have a compatible source | Use LE Audio with the Low latency setting identified by Sony | LE Audio uses LC3, not LDAC. |
| You value the most reliable connection over LDAC | Use High Reliability | Sony says this factory mode does not support LDAC, so it is not a simultaneous LDAC option. |
What to verify before buying for LDAC
The WF-1000XM6 specification is only one part of the decision. Before choosing them specifically for LDAC, identify the exact playback device you will use and read its current Bluetooth-audio specifications. Verify that it supports LDAC, whether the operating system exposes a codec choice, and whether your preferred player supplies audio in a format you consider Hi-Res.
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A generic Bluetooth adapter or an unspecified phone is not automatically a solution. Compatibility depends on the adapter or phone, its software and the way it implements Classic Audio A2DP. The official Sony materials reviewed here do not verify a universal list of computers, phones or external players.
Bottom line for WF-1000XM6 owners
LDAC is the high-data-rate Bluetooth codec Sony associates with Hi-Res Audio transmission on the WF-1000XM6. Activate it by using a source that supports LDAC, selecting Classic Audio playback and setting Sound Connect’s Bluetooth Connection Quality to Priority on Sound Quality. Treat the “approximately three times more data than SBC” statement as a conditional bitrate comparison, not a lossless guarantee. The quality you hear still starts with the file or stream and depends on the complete source-to-earbud connection.
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