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Creative BT-W4 Bluetooth Transmitter Review Score
generalize
If you have any aptX Adaptive-enabled headphones or earbuds, this is the best way to get the most out of this new low-latency codec for a variety of devices.
advantage
- The only branded aptX adaptive bluetooth transmitter on the market
- Easy to set up and compatible with a variety of devices, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices
shortcoming
- Limited selection of headphones and earbuds that support aptX Adaptive
I reviewed Creative BT-W3 Bluetooth Transmitter Almost two years ago. The Creative BT-W4 is an updated version of the device, bringing the specs up to modern standards.
This new Bluetooth dongle is one of the first on the market by a big brand to support aptX Adaptive, but it means the old aptX LL and aptX HD have been abandoned. So anyone with a headset that supports aptX LL and aptX HD is better off sticking with the BT-W3.
Creative BT-W4 vs BT-W3 spec comparison
| Creative | BT-W4 | BT-W3 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| connector type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| exchange | Device switching (up to 4 devices) | codec switch |
| Playback resolution | 24bit/48KHz | 16bit/48KHz |
| bundled microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Hardware Control: | ||
| Status Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| codec indicator | Color coding (purple, green, blue) | Color coding (white, yellow, green, blue) |
| codec selector | yes (automatic) | yes (manual) |
| Bluetooth Profile: | ||
| A2DP | Yes | Yes |
| Hydrofluoric acid | Yes | Yes |
| AVRCP | Yes | Yes |
| Codec Support: | ||
| single board computer | Yes | Yes |
| aptX | Yes | Yes |
| aptX-LL (low latency) | Do not | Yes |
| aptX-HD | Do not | Yes |
| aptX adaptive | Yes | Do not |
| software application: | ||
| creative application | Yes | Do not |
One of the issues that some users may have is that aptX-LL (low latency) and aptX-HD are no longer there, replaced by aptX adaptive. This change is inevitable, as Qualcomm has now phased out the previous codec in favor of aptX Adaptive.
aptX Adaptive is backward compatible with aptX HD, but not LL. This is because aptX-LL requires a dedicated wireless antenna, which is no longer included in the new Qualcomm chips.
Any aptX-LL connected to this adapter will fall back to aptX, which is lower quality and much higher latency.
Also, aptX Adaptive has lower latency than aptX-LL, with latency around 80ms vs 32ms. But really, I doubt many people or anyone can tell the difference, but I have no doubt that some people will claim they can.
There aren’t many headphones or earphones that support aptX-LL, so I doubt many people will care.
While aptX Adaptive’s maximum bitrate is lower than HD’s 420 kbps, Qualcomm claims their new compression method allows Adaptive to produce the same quality as aptX HD at 576 kbps
Headphones and earbuds that support aptX adaptation
The following list is not exhaustive, just to highlight the small but growing selection of headphones and TWS earbuds at your disposal.
earphone:
true wireless earbuds
set up
At first, I tested these with my Windows PC, then tried the Nintendo Switch. The setup process is similar for most devices.
For Windows, when you plug the BT-W4 into USB, it should automatically detect the device and possibly automatically switch audio to that device.
Then to pair, you can press and hold the button on the BT-W4 for two seconds. It should flash blue to indicate it’s in pairing mode. Then you need to put the headset into pairing mode.
I found it took me a few tries to pair the headphones, mostly due to user error and impatience.
Up to four devices can be paired, you can find More info on pairing here.
Your headset is paired with the dongle, not with your connected device, so I moved to the Nintendo Switch without pairing it again.The dongle also works when I connect it with mine Honor Magic 4 Pro.
is using
I use the Creative BT-W4 with the Cleer Ally Plus II, the only earbuds I own and can find that work with aptX Adaptive. I also paired the Sennheiser CX True Wireless earbuds, they are not Plus models, so they are only compatible with normal aptX.
Unlike the Creative BT-W3, you don’t have to worry about switching between codecs. With aptX Adaptive it does everything for you. If your headset is compatible, the dongle will show a purple LED, while normal aptX is green, then SBC is blue.
Performance is excellent, and using it is a significant improvement over the built-in bluetooth on my Windows PC. I’m not too sensitive to lag, I’m not a big fan of fast-paced games, just not focused enough on things, but you can definitely tell the difference.
The only other devices I have that support aptX Adaptive are Red Devils 7and there was no noticeable performance difference when listening to audio or watching video.
Price and Alternatives
As of this writing, I’m awaiting confirmation on pricing and availability. I want it to be similar to BT-W3.
The older Creative BT-W3 is £30 on Amazon, £35 RRP.
For affordable aptX Adaptive adapters, your only options are random brands you might find on Amazon or AliExpress. I can’t find anything for sale on Amazon at the moment, but AliExpress has some options available for around £15 with a month delivery. Personally, I’d just spend a little more on the BT-W4.
comprehensive
The Creative BT-W3 is already a well-received Bluetooth dongle. The Creative BT-W4 continues this trend and, even more impressively, is one of the only devices on the market that supports aptX Adaptive headphones. The performance is very good and there is little to recommend.
Last updated on June 8, 2022 / Affiliate Links / Image from Amazon Product Advertising API
