Creative BT-W6

I got the Creative BT-W6 Bluetooth adapter to connect my laptop to my Bose Soundlink Flex 2, which supports AptX via Snapdragon Sound. My laptop’s built-in Bluetooth only allowed SBC or AAC, causing lip sync delays and choppy connections—frustrating for watching videos. The moment I plugged in the BT-W6 and selected AptX Adaptive Low Latency in the Creative app, everything changed. The connection became stable, and the audio-video sync was finally perfect. I can finally watch movies and music without any interruptions or lag. This adapter does exactly what it promises, and I am very happy. Highly recommended! Update: I really like it, so I bought a second one for my office. Now I can use my Bose speakers at both home and office PCs. The only minor issue I am having is that it is not easy to connect and disconnect different bluetooth speakers. It reconnects easily to my Bose speakers, but if I try to reconnect to my Soundcore Motion Plus speaker, the app freezes or gives an error that it cannot connect. Then I have to reset the dongle and connect from the beginning, which is annoying.

To start, I did check for firmware with the Creative app on windows, but there was nothing to update as of a day or two before writing this. I figured I'd try this out with Qudelix 5k (APTx-HD or the old Adaptive 420kbps but shouldn't be an issue) since the built in DAC on these dongles can make a difference to sound quality. Short of it is that it sounds about identical to the BT-W5 (if you can manage any sound from W6 at all) to the Qudelix 5k so if you're on a Qudelix don't bother: Basically useless with the Qudelix 5k and on top of that this dongle seems to have a lot of issues using Exclusive USB outputs such as Fiio Music app and Hiby Music app on android and even Foobar exclusive USB modes on Windows is surprisingly flaky and not worth the hassle. Surprised that this came out from Creative like this even a few months on from release. I've used the BT-W4 for a while and then upgraded to the BT-W5 over the last 2 or 3 years, both with Qudelix and various USB exclusive modes with no problems at all. (except W4 was limited to ~280kbps Aptx adaptive and wouldn't scale up to the 420k. W5 was as advertised, Adaptive with the option to select latency or hd settings for up to 420k with Qudelix, on top of the actual APTx HD codec 576kbps) BT-W6 doesn't seem to want to scale up to the Qudelix's max 420k on Adaptive just stuck on the minimum ~280k when checking the Qudelix App, APTx HD seemed to do the 576kbps but both options will most often only give an audible volume when using non-exclusive USB mode which can sound a lot worse depending on the source device so I don't listen to music without these days and the W6 seems to have some serious problems. Not sure what this extremely low volume thing is, it's like trying to turn up a device that is running at -90db, I can turn up the Qudelix side to max and get a whisper from the W6. I'm unsure of what I did the other day where it worked briefly on APTx HD (maybe it was the flaky Foobar output, it's all such a nightmare to use I can't recall exactly), but I was able to compare it to the W5 and I can at least say that with W5 and W6 on the same codec available on the Qudelix 5k there is no point in upgrading to this, so at least the DAC in the W5 is still competitive. Eppfun 3040Pro Ultra (only working with Qudelix at LDAC 660k, so also kinda broken but potential firmware updates like the W6) sounds a bit better than W5 and W6 but also very limited (broken) functionality similar to W6 but not quite as bad as W6 at least. Hope this review isn't too much of a mess to read, didn't really want to bother writing about the W6 but it really deserves the 1 star in the current state connecting with a Qudelix 5k, so I thought I'd at least write a little bit.

These are the only option for basically anyone to use lossless Bluetooth, except for some few Android phones. They work on computers, video game systems and phones via USB-C. In testing at my desk they work very well for AptX Lossless (Snapdragon Sound) and AptX LE. I will update when I test on the go, automatic switching to microphone and the gaming latency mode. Note: I have not and will not test on gaming consoles other than Nintendo Switch since I don't have those. However, these use a basic standard for audio on USB-C so most devices should work fine. Overall seems well-implemented. The app to control has many more features than I need, but I like and am interested to use them someday. For example, good psychoacoustic bass boost or equalizer for headphones that don't support any EQ might come in handy someday. So I've been excited for lossless audio on my headphones ever since Apple removed the headphone jack. I got Bose QC Earbuds Ultra with "Snapdragon Sound" and waited. Along came the Fiio BT-11, which I had to order on Alibaba. To be short, the firmware barely works and has not been updated after months of promises. Constant dropouts and static, very basic features. Then I saw this recommended and got it. Hooray it does everything I wanted. Excellent product. I have an old Creative Soundblaster Extigy which still works after 20+ years. Glad to be using a good American product.

I owned this for 6 months for my Snapdragon ARM64 Win 11 PC. It was a better solution than the native Bluetooth. Issues are that the driver is not compatible for ARM64 so it uses the generic USB driver. Also it’s about a 2 sec delay until audio starts but at least it syncs with video/audio after that. And it would disconnect/the reconnect about every 10 YouTube videos. Didn’t usually disconnect with music. Finally got tired of this so bought the Avantree version of this and it works perfectly.

Does what it says it should do. It sounds great, and it's latency is quite low when using it on Adaptive LL mode. It's great for gaming, and you only really notice the latency when you're looking for it (even in FPS titles). Besides that, the creative app offers some useful features that other dongles of this kind don't feature (like the ability to toggle a great surround audio experience without forking over extra money for Dolby for headphones). The only gripe I have is that LE audio support (and the LC3 codec) is finicky. I tried connecting my Soundpeats Air5 Pro+ through LE, and they wouldn't connect. This seems to be because every device that supports LE Audio connects a different way, thus these kind of dongles (not only creative's) need to be set up to support individual headsets. Thus, because mine was just not on the list it simply couldn't connect. So buyer beware if you're hoping for LE Audio support. Either way. Great product, and the ability to switch between Aptx Adaptive LL, and Aptx Lossless at the push of a button is definitely a nice touch too. c

I love this thing. Aptx lossless is a game changer and you get True lossless sound with this when connected to a compatible headphone (along with the other codecs it offers). Works with iOS and Android although only the Android app supports the dongle as of this writing. On iOS you’ll know that you’re streaming lossless based on the yellow led. Only downside is that the dongle doesn’t always fit with the usb c port depending on the case you’re using. You’ll need a case with a wider port opening.

Very bad user experience. I had to replace it with a different transmitter. I've used the deice for several months *on Windows*, and here are the issues I had: 1. It messes up volume levels for different devices. When I switch one headphones (A) to other (B), they have different level of drive/volume. And Creative App *tells Windows* it changed the volume: let's say headphones A were at 40% volume, and headphones B are unbearably loud at 40% and I listen to them at 15% roughly. So what happens, Creative App switches windows volume to 15% but the headphones YELL. I have to manually move the Windows volume back and forth for it to actually be at the level. So the app tells windows it changed the volume but forgets to actually change it. Sometimes it does even worse, it changes the volume indeed to 15% but then in a couple of seconds or so after I connected the device it ramps up the volume again, so I am getting blasted with the loud sound. 2. Many issues connecting the devices. What I want is, when I turn on the device - it must be connected immediately after. This almost never happens with Creative. Usually, I need to go to their app (slow and inconvenient, I must say), and manually press connect on the device. Frequently even that doesn't work, I have to eject the BT-W6 from the USB and reinsert it, press the Connect in the App, and THEN the connection will happen. Sometimes even that doesn't work, and I have to repair the device for it to even work. 3. There is no indication of the battery levels. It doesn't show the battery info in the app, it doesn't propagate the battery levels to the Windows devices. There is simply no way to know the battery level of the device unless the device itself has some sort of indicator. However, a good thing is when it works, it works quite awesome, so the transmitter itself is good: the audio quality, the range, the signal. But I just can't go through all the usability / user experience issues to get to enjoy the audio.

I bought these to bring 5.4 AptX Lossless to my Bowers and Wilkins PX7 through my phone or DAP. Once you get connected it's brilliant as you no longer connect headphones through Bluetooth on the device (Phone, DAP) but once it's synced to the headphones all you do is turn them on and plug the Dongle into your DAP or phone. The sound quality & streaming capability instantly improves, that's just lovely isn't it! If you're considering purchasing but reading the negative reviews about connecting let me tell you how to do it so you don't have to experience the same frustration as myself and others. It's quite simple you first forget the headphones on the device then turn Bluetooth OFF, then plug the Dongle into the device and the blue light will flash. Now, put the headphones into pairing mode and once they sync with the dongle the light will go solid! Then you can just unplug the dongle and plug it wherever you desire and your headphones will follow, very cool