Inventive BT-W5 assessment: A worthwhile audio improve

As I wrote back in December, certainly one of my favourite methods to play the Nintendo Swap is on the sofa, subsequent to my girlfriend. She will be able to watch TV whereas I attempt to make a dent in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Even when we’re not doing the identical factor, we’re nonetheless spending time collectively. And I get to play my favourite video games on the Swap OLED’s fantastic screen.

Once I play the Swap handheld, I exploit my Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones. It is a win-win for all concerned. My accomplice is not subjected to noise bleed from my open-back Sennheiser HD 58X headphones, and I am unable to hear the TV. However I not too long ago observed there was one thing lacking.

If something in regards to the Swap, you in all probability know the place that is going. Nintendo’s handheld has had Bluetooth support since 2021, however that help is restricted to SBC. Even in case you’ve by no means heard of SBC, you have used it. When folks affiliate Bluetooth with subpar audio high quality, SBC is sort of at all times the perpetrator.

Consider it this fashion, SBC is to Bluetooth codecs what SMS is to messaging. Each Bluetooth system works with SBC. And if the 2 units you are making an attempt to pair collectively do not help the identical set of protocols, they are going to default to SBC for audio playback. That is nice for interoperability, however the issue with SBC is that it does not sound notably good. It is a lossy format, that means not each little bit of audio data your supply system sends is preserved throughout transmission. For gaming, SBC can even undergo from latency points.

Within the final decade, there’s been loads of innovation within the area, with a lot of it coming from Qualcomm. In 2024, the corporate has a couple of totally different codecs to its identify, however all them primarily supply a greater expertise than SBC. Once more, the issue is interoperability.

Take my WH-1000XM3 headphones for instance. Exterior SBC, they help AAC, Qualcomm’s aptX and aptX HD codecs, in addition to Sony’s proprietary LDAC protocol. Because the Swap is restricted to SBC, my Sony headphones sound a shade worse after they’re linked to the Swap, then say the iPhone. It is not an enormous distinction, however sufficient that I’ve at occasions thought to myself sure background tracks or audio cues felt flat whereas enjoying a recreation.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered a straightforward and reasonably priced technique to make the Swap — and practically each different system I personal — sound higher over Bluetooth: the Inventive BT-W5.

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BT-W5

The Inventive BT-W5 is a USB-C dongle that extends the Bluetooth capabilities of Nintendo Swap, Sony PlayStation, Mac, and PC units to permit them to transmit Bluetooth audio over Qualcomm aptX codecs.

Professionals

• Small, straightforward to make use of
• aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive help
• Swap, PlayStation, Home windows and Mac appropriate

Cons

• USB-A adapter not included
• A bit expensive

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Worth, availability, and specs

The BT-W5 is on the market to buy on Amazon and the Inventive web site for $50.

If you wish to lower your expenses, Inventive additionally gives the BT-W3X, which gives every little thing the BT-W5 does other than aptX Adaptive compatibility. In consequence, it usually prices $10 much less.

What I preferred in regards to the Inventive BT-W5

A virtually good package deal

Inventive’s pitch for the BT-W5 is straightforward. It is a thumb-sized dongle you insert into your Swap, Home windows PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 or PS5 to increase the Bluetooth capabilities of these units. With out the necessity for any extra software program, the system will transmit the audio sign your laptop or console produces over the perfect aptX codec supported by your Bluetooth headphones. So as from finest to worst, the W5 helps aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX and SBC. Within the case of Qualcomm’s newest protocol, you may configure the W5 to default to both the codec’s Excessive High quality or Latency mode.

I did not get an opportunity to check the W5 with Sony consoles, however on Swap, Home windows and macOS, the expertise of utilizing the accent is seamless. As an example, after I plugged the W5 into my Swap, the console instantly acknowledged the system and switched to its built-in USB DAC mode. At that time, I may proceed to make use of the Swap’s bodily controls to regulate the amount. Over on PC and Mac, the method of utilizing the W5 was solely barely extra sophisticated. On these platforms, I needed to first change the sound output, which meant digging into the respective fast settings of every working system. In any case, Inventive has made the W5 about as user-friendly as attainable, and it really works as promised.

It doesn’t matter what system I used the dongle to attach my headphones to, I instantly observed a distinction in audio high quality and latency. It was particularly noticeable on Swap, the place the W5 allowed my headphones to connect with the console over aptX HD. Taking part in Hole Knight, as an example, Christopher Larkin’s haunting soundtrack felt fuller and extra nuanced, with higher separation between devices. In the meantime, audio cues just like the Knight’s nail strikes sounded extra impactful. I used to be already an enormous fan of Hole Knight’s audio design, however after experiencing the sport with higher sound, I ended up appreciating it much more.

Now, if all of the W5 did was give me a straightforward technique to acquire higher Bluetooth audio from my units, I might suggest it to folks, however this system does a lot greater than that. To start out, it smooths over one of many extra annoying features of utilizing older Bluetooth headphones.

Within the case of my Sony cans, they do not help Bluetooth multipoint, that means at any time when I wish to join them to my iPhone, Swap or Mac, I must first disconnect them from no matter system I used to be utilizing them with beforehand. With the W5, there isn’t any want to do this. As a substitute, I merely plug the dongle into the system I wish to use my headphones with, energy them on, and the W5 does the remainder. It might bear in mind 4 connections directly, and switching between these is as straightforward as urgent the one and solely button on the accent. In my testing, the W5 was additionally quicker at connecting with the WH-1000XM3, and did a greater job of sustaining a strong connection.

I am additionally a fan of the Inventive app. You needn’t set up it in your laptop to make use of the W5 with Home windows or Mac, however the software program allowed me to set a custom EQ, which I discover is crucial for making a bass ahead pair of headphones just like the WH-1000XM3 sound their finest. I additionally appreciated the actual fact I may change the order the W5 cycles between paired units.

Associated

How the aptX HD codec boosts Bluetooth performance

Bluetooth know-how is not fairly the identical as wired audio high quality, however aptX HD helps bridge the hole.

What I did not like in regards to the Inventive BT-W5

Not a lot

My solely criticism in regards to the BT-W5 is that does not include a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Just a few competing aptX dongles, most notably the Sennheiser BTD 600, do. Fortunately, I had a spare adapter, however the reality you aren’t getting one contained in the field is price contemplating for the reason that W5 is among the pricier aptX dongles in the marketplace.

Do you have to purchase the Inventive BT-W5?

Sure, if you wish to improve your PC or console’s audio, and also you personal a pair of headphones that may reap the benefits of the W5’s aptX connectivity, I am unable to suggest this system sufficient.

Individually, I believe it is an effective way to increase the lifetime of an older pair of Bluetooth headphones. After six years of use, I used to be considering of changing my Sony WH-1000XM3 attributable to simply how annoying it had develop into to change between connections. Between the W5 and a recent set of earpads, I do know really feel like I am going to get a decade of use out of my Bluetooth headphones. I really like devices that will let you try this.

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BT-W5