Creative BT-W5 Smart Bluetooth 5.3 Audio Transmitter with aptX Adaptive, High-Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz Audio, Device-Switching Function, Works with PC/Mac/Gaming Consoles

Excellent. I'm normally too busy to write reviews but I'm super happy with my current audio setup thanks to the W5.This is the second time Creative made a product for an uncommon setup that I really needed to get the ideal configuration with the hardware. The last one was an audio dock/converter that allowed you to receive full surround sound via optical/coaxial cable with your 5.1/7.1 computer speaker system, brilliant. This dongle allows you to use Bluetooth with your Windows PC. Sounds dumb on the surface, like who's using a modern pc without Bluetooth? Wrong, I do enjoy using Windows over the years but the Bluetooth support is kind of awful and just barely there in terms of functionality, even basic stuff is buried deep in the old Control Panel instead of Settings. Anyway this product allowed me to get proper Bluetooth support that doesn't disconnect every so often or act weird because I accidentally tried to use the microphone (Windows just can't seem to do audio in and out at the same time at reasonable quality, despite Bluetooth supporting the standards for decades and getting better every few years).It's kind of jank sometimes but that could be the specific Bose Ultra Open ears I use. I use these while I'm at work because for my job I need to be able to hear if people need me. I've tried other open earphones and of course transparency mode on popular wireless earbuds and none of them work as well for my job or sound as good as these do. And sound good they do thanks to the W5 supporting multiple codecs and having several options. I mentioned some jank but I found the perfect solution I've been using for 4 days so far with zero issues or features not working. I plug the dongle in and immediately turn on my Bose ultras (by taking them out of the case) and they work 100% of the time. Before I tried leaving the dongle plugged in and would get issues connecting half the time. Not a problem anymore.They sound just as good connected to the pc or phone. The options can make the earbuds sound even better. I usually avoid audio presets but I tried the gaming preset and it sounds very good. Makes it sound more full, which is great for an open ear earbud. I work in a college, so imagine tons of wifi signals coming from the access points as well as students and signal strength is great.

Just what I needed for my PS5 to allow me to play with wireless headphones. I initially used wired headphones plugged into the controller until the one time my leg got caught in the cord while getting up off the sofa, yanking the cable from the controller. Wireless is the way to go. Plug and play. Just set the audio output setting in the PS5 menu.

What I like: it beats the pants off Windows stack bluetooth audio with the ability to actually choose your sample rate and bit rate. I can actually play BT audio at 24bit/96000hz! Also, I really like that once paired in Windows, it'll stay connected to any other device its plugged into, such as working when booting to Linux. Normally bluetooth devices paired in Windows or Linux cannot be used with one another. Another thing is the built in crystalizer and the equalizer, two things that I no longer need a separate app for.What I don't like: lack of AAC. Plus I've yet been able to find a way to switch the codec manually in the app. AptX HD is pretty good, tho, and standard Windows BT doesn't offer AptX HD (but it does use AAC). Also my Crusher ANC when using Bass Boost in app actually makes the bass quieter.But yeah, this dongle is really good.

There's no easier way to listen to your music than just to open up a folder and press Enter on whatever file you want to listen to. Yet for years it was impossible to do something this basic without compromising on fidelity. If you wanted HD audio you were mostly stuck having to buy something like a Bluesound and navigate your music collection through its horrible app interface. Finally there's a better option in AptX HD. If you have an AptX HD-compatible receiver or amp, you can play wireless music not technically lossless but still at 24bit better-than-CD quality - *almost* realizing the dream of pressing Enter in your Windows folders and having the file play through a real stereo system.The "almost" is because Windows itself has no AptX HD compatibility so you need a solution like this to take over. I bought it to pair with Emotiva's TA1 amp, which has a built-in AptX HD Bluetooth receiver so requires no extra hardware beyond this little dongle: the complete system is 1) laptop, 2) dongle, 3) TA1, 4) speakers. I did experience some frustration at first with Windows trying to output through its regular Bluetooth instead of this dongle, which seemed stuck in an interminable pairing mode. The solution, which the help line at Emotiva helped me figure out after web searching proved fruitless, is to turn OFF Bluetooth on Windows. Then you plug this thing in, it automatically takes over as the audio output source, the amp automatically finds its signal - press enter on a FLAC and a little orange light pops up confirming your 24-bit signal as your room fills with music. It's been working flawlessly and as an essential component in an HD audio system for twenty-five bucks, it's hard to beat the value.It also felt pretty good buying another Creative Labs product after my first SoundBlaster circa 1991.

I bought this specifically for connecting a Bluetooth Xbox controller, which it will not recognize, even as the first device. My Jabra headphones paired fine. It also is unclear whether it will support multiple Bluetooth devices at the same time; it looks like you have to switch between one of four. You have to pair through the device or the app - devices you pair do not show up in the Windows Bluetooth control panel. Finally, the specifications claim significant range boost over standard Bluetooth, but the improvement seems meager at best (a few feet better than my old Bluetooth adapter with my headphones).