QCC released the Dongle Pro2 — a compact Bluetooth transmitter: it plugs into the USB-C of a phone, laptop or console and streams audio to wireless headphones. The previous Dongle Pro ran on Bluetooth 5.4, the new one is built on the second-generation Qualcomm S5 audio platform with Bluetooth 6.1. The price is around $69. I am figuring out what actually changed.
The most interesting features of QCC Dongle Pro2
- Chip: second-generation Qualcomm S5 audio platform, Snapdragon Sound support (claimed).
- Bluetooth 6.1: the previous Dongle Pro had version 5.4.
- Codecs: LHDC 5.0, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Lossless; LE Audio and Auracast are claimed.
- Gaming mode: latency from 20 ms (claimed).
- Driverless: iPhone/iPad, Mac, Windows, Android, Switch and PS5 (per the brand).
What it is. A dongle is a transmitter the size of a flash drive: it plugs into the USB-C of a phone, console or laptop and sends sound to wireless headphones via Bluetooth. It comes in handy where proper codecs are needed, and the built-in Bluetooth is either missing or limited — Switch, PS5, a work laptop.
The catch. All this works only when both sides speak the same language. The dongle claims LDAC, LHDC 5.0 and aptX Lossless, but if the headphones do not support them — the connection will roll back to regular AAC or SBC. The same goes for the gaming latency and LE Audio: figures like 20 ms are achievable only when the headphones themselves support the required standard. So before buying, it is worth checking that your headphones and the dongle speak the same set of codecs.
What’s new. Compared to the previous Dongle Pro, there is Bluetooth 6.1 instead of 5.4, and LHDC 5.0, LE Audio and Auracast are added. The rest of the specs are almost the same — the body, dimensions and aptX codecs did not change. Whether the second-generation Qualcomm S5 chip and the new Bluetooth version give a tangible boost to stability and sound — these are questions for a test.
Interested in a QCC Dongle Pro2 review? Drop a line in the comments.
Source: ithome.com
