The Story of aptX: An Epic Journey
audioXpress|October 2022
From film sound to radio broadcasts, studios, and finally to Bluetooth and more than 12 billion devices, the successful story of aptX technology is inextricably linked to the history of digital audio. A remarkable corporate journey.
Jonny McClintock
The Story of aptX: An Epic Journey

The following is an overview of the aptX audio codec technology, and my personal journey, now that after 28 years I have decided it was time to move on. However, before diving into the details, I must explain how aptX became interlinked with my professional career.

Having graduated from the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Belfast, in 1986, I joined Dolby Laboratories in London and worked on the Dolby SR (Spectral Recording) noise reduction format and cinema products. I did two stints with Dolby between 1987 and 1992, which were interspersed with time in Australia and working with Ericsson on analog Cellular Base Stations.

In 1993, before the Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland, I wanted to move back to Ireland. It is a superb country and the outbreak of peace offered hope to the diaspora to return home. Audio Processing Technology (APT), Ltd., headquartered in Belfast, offered me a job in customer support and that started the aptX journey. I moved into sales in 1994 and relocated to the Los Angeles, CA, office, then became the commercial director in 2000, and later in 2005, with Noel McKenna, became a co-owner via a managment buyout (MBO).

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