No they don&#x27;t use simple radio, all of them will use a packet based protocol either proprietary or some sort of a standard digital (audio) streaming protocol.
Encoding and packets don&#x27;t add up any substantial latency just look Bluetooth A2DP headsets and AirPlay speakers (which uses Wifi as a carrier) headsets.<p>If your headsets did use just normal 2.4ghz radio like say a basic walkie talkie the downside is that you would&#x27;ve been able to hear any other transmission on that band e.g. an old baby monitor(new ones are digital too).