The Creative BT-W3 is the latest version of the convenient Bluetooth audio dongle from Creative Technology. From the model number, you can guess that this is the third version, and retails at S$59. In this article, you will learn why it is useful to have.
Unboxing
In the box, you will find the adapter, the USB Type-A converter, and 3.5mm mic. Creative has it thought out when they added the mic, which I will explain later.
Now with the USB-C port, the BT-W3 is more compact and less bulky when using it with devices, most of which is already having USB-C. But if you are still using the legacy USB Type-A, the included converter does the job.
Operations
There is a button on the Bluetooth dongle. Click once to toggle the codecs, and you will know the active codec by looking at the colour of the LED. Press-hold for a few seconds to put it into pairing mode. Double-tap to switch on-off HFP (hands-free profile) mode.
Why Need One?
Most devices already come with Bluetooth, so you might wonder why you need one. Well, gaming devices like PS4 and Nintendo Switch do not have Bluetooth, so you are basically stuck with wired earphones. You can get other Bluetooth adapter brands, but make sure they support aptX Low Latency, or else you will experience audio lag. Both transmitter and receiver must support aptX LL, so make sure you read the specs before buying.
For the BT-W3, it comes with an additional mic. What’s that for? Well, if you use the existing Bluetooth HFP profile to stream both audio and mic, then the audio quality will be downgraded to a low bitrate, which sounded more like a telephone call. For best experience, you can enable audio via the BT-W3, and enable mic via the existing mic-out port on the gaming device. That way, you will get great audio and clear mic communication at low latency. Well-thought, Creative! Do read the online FAQ on their official website for detailed setup.
The BT-W3 is also great for gaming on PC, Macbooks, or smartphones like ASUS ROG Phone 3. Just plug the dongle on the side USB-C port, pair it with a Bluetooth headset like Aurvana Trio Wireless, switch to aptX LL codec, and you will can get great audio-video sync with at most 40ms lag.
For me, it will be permanently plugged to my desktop PC, which does not come with Bluetooth. So now I can enjoy audio on my desktop wirelessly – finally!
Verdict
The BT-W3 is a must-have accessory to enable low-latency wireless audio experience. The 3.5mm mic is a thoughtful inclusion for a complete gaming experience. Retailing at S$59 from Creative Online Store. Watch out for regular promotions and discounts to get the best deals.
Likes
- Tiny form factor
- Easy to toggle audio codec
- LED indicator shows the codec being used
- Comes with 3.5mm microphone
Dislikes
- A bit of a stretch, but no LDAC codec
5 comments
Apologies if you picked this message up on facebook. I currently have a pair of Sennheiser HD 450BT and I am trying to pair them with the Creative BT-W3 dongle. They pair, but the AptX-LL codec doesn’t broadcast any sound. Both creative and sennheiser support cannot help me, so I am trying to find out if this issue is unique to the setup, or do i have defective hardware. Do you have any experience with a similar setup or trying to get AptX-LL working with a similar setup. I would appreciate any insight you can give.
Hi! Sorry to hear that you have problems getting both devices to work. Was the issue only occurring with aptx-LL? Any issue if you switch to other codecs from the BT-W3? I have not encountered this issue nor do I have a HD 450BT to try out.
It is. I am sure you know, but the dongle allows you to toggle between codecs. White (AptX-LL), Yellow (AptX-HD), Green (AptX), Blue (SBC). The HD 450BTs support all of those except AptX-HD, and you can toggle between them. AptX and SBC works as expected, but when the light is white there is silence.
You shouldn’t have to act as support, but I was wondering if the same happens with the original “Moment True Wireless” and the “Momentum 3 Wireless” – both supposedly support AptX-LL.
Hi Stu! I do not have the headphones you mentioned, but I just tested with the Beyerdynamic Lagoon ANC which also supports aptx-LL, aptX, SBC, and it works for all codecs. If you have another aptX-LL device to pair with the BT-W3 and if it works, then probably the 450BT aptX-LL is not working or not compatible with BT-W3.
Cheers. Thanks for all your help. I thought it was a problem with the 450BTs. What is strange is that if you press the button to chat to siri or engage the Hands Free mode for talking, the audio does come through on aptX-LL – but it is terrible quality as handsfree often is due to switching the the bluetooth hands-free profile.
I wasn’t expecting to get some help on the issue here, I stumbled across your site when looking for a Creative Aurvana Trio Wireless review – because they also support Aptx-LL.
Thanks again, I’ll keep pestering Sennheiser.