Features:

Latest Bluetooth 5.0 version with extended range of up to 30m / 100 ft

aptX LL - Lag-free audio that is essential for an enjoyable gaming experience

Easy Codec Selection - Indicator and selection button to effortlessly choose the suitable codec for your usage. Creative BT-W3 supports 4 different Bluetooth codecs—aptX LL, aptX HD, aptX, and SBC. Each of the codec has its own strengths and is suitable for different use cases: aptX LL is essential for a lag-free gaming experience, while aptX HD is ideal for music enjoyment. With the indicator light and codec selection button, you can easily tell which codec you're using and switch to the suitable codec for your usage effortlessly.

Voice Chat - Analog microphone included to enable voice chat during multi-player games. Works with devices with 4 pole 3.5 mm audio jack. Please note that voice chat for Nintendo Switch is title-dependent, and requires additional firmware to activate the analog microphone. Please refer to the FAQ section below for more information.

Multiple Device Support - USB C-to-A converter provided to enable usage across a wider range of devices.

Creative BT-W3 works with Bluetooth headphones or speakers, and the codecs available to you are dependent on what your headphones and speakers support—i.e. you need a pair of headphones that support aptX LL to use it with Creative BT-W3! If you're unsure of the codecs supported by your Bluetooth devices, you either check its manufacturer website, or check the FAQ section below.

As long as your Bluetooth device support the corresponding codec, Creative BT-W3 will default to aptX LL first, with aptX HD next in priority, then aptX, and finally SBC.

Never miss a beat with aptX Low Latency - Latency is a common problem with Bluetooth headphones due to the time required to decode audio. As a result, you may get out-of-sync audio while playing games or watching movies. With aptX Low Latency, you can say goodbye to that annoying lag! This audio codec is engineered to reduce latency to 30-40 milliseconds, which is practically indiscernible by humans. That is 4-6 times shorter than the amount of latency you get with the default SBC codec! Connect your aptX LL compatible headphones to Creative BT-W3 to enjoy seamless transmissions and real-time audio synchronization, without any sacrifice in audio quality!

Connectivity Plug and Play:

Step 1 - Plug the Creative BT-W3 into PS4 / Nintendo Switch / PC / Mac.

Step 2 - Press Bluetooth button for 2 seconds until the indicator light flashes blue to indicate pairing mode. Go into pairing mode on your Bluetooth audio playback device as well.

Step 3 - Wait for your device to connect with Creative BT-W3.

And you're done. In fact, you can skip step 2 the next time you want to use Creative BT-W3 with the same pair of headphones.

For devices with USB-A port, we've bundled a USB Type C-to-A converter to use with Creative BT-W3. Simply connect Creative BT-W3 to the converter first before plugging it into your device, and that's it. Then, you can follow the simple 3-step process above and you're done. Easy, huh.

No batteries needed - Creative BT-W3 is powered by USB-C and draws minimal power from the connected device. As long as it's plugged in, it'll always be switched on. The Creative BT-W3 is also completely battery-free so you don't have to worry about charging yet another device!

Communicate wirelessly with your teammates - Share your strategy or call for urgent back-up from your teammates when playing multiplayer games! Clear communication is key to winning the game, that's why we bundled a detachable microphone for you to use with your PS4 controller! Simply plug the microphone into the 3.5 mm jack on your controller to communicate freely and lead your team to victory. Alternatively, you can also go into HFP mode by double pressing the button on your Creative BT-W3, and use the built-in mic on your headset for a quick call! For Nintendo Switch users, to use the analog microphone for in-game voice chat, simply download a firmware to enable the function. Do note that enabling the analog mic for Nintendo Switch will turn off the HFP mode on your Creative BT-W3. Read More.

Specifications

Operating Frequency - 2402-2480 MHz

Wireless Technology - Bluetooth 5.0

Bluetooth Profiles - A2DP (Wireless stereo Bluetooth), AVRCP (Bluetooth remote control), HFP (Hands-Free Profile)

Audio Codec* - SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD. Receivers must support the mentioned codecs

Operating Range - Up to 30m / 100 ft (unobstructed line-of-sight)

System Requirements

Windows

• Intel® Core™i3 or AMD® equivalent processor
• Intel, AMD, or compatible motherboard
• Microsoft® Windows 10 32 / 64-bit
• Available USB 2.0 / 3.0 port

Macintosh

• Macintosh running MacOS 10.12 or higher
• 1 GB RAM
• Available USB 2.0 / 3.0 port

PS4

• Firmware Ver 5.0 or later
• Available USB port (as game audio)
• Available 3.5mm headset port on controller (as Mic input)

Nintendo Switch

• Switch OS 5.0 or later
• Available 3.5 mm Headphone Port
• Available USB port (in docking mode)
• Voice communications is title-dependent

F.A.Q.

How do I know if my headphones or speakers are compatible with the codecs offered by Creative BT-W3? To be able to use the aptX codecs, your playback device has to support the respective codecs. If you're unsure of the codecs supported by your devices, you can check their compatibility with aptX, aptX LL, and aptX HD here.

If your playback device does not support aptX codecs, it can still connect with Creative BT-W3 via the SBC codec, which is the basic Bluetooth codec supported by all Bluetooth headphones or speakers. However, you will not be able to enjoy the higher audio quality of the aptX codecs.

Can Creative BT-W3 pair with 2 headphones simultaneously? Unfortunately, no. We care about providing you with best audio quality and user experience possible with a hassle-free product. Providing simultaneous streaming to 2 headphones compromises on performance both in terms of connection stability and audio quality. This is because the function requires the device to perform alternate streaming at very fast intervals to both headphones, and this causes latency and audio synchronization issues. Moreover, the connection will always default to the lower codec of the 2 headphones and this leads to lower audio quality. We made a measured consideration in the decision of this function, and went with the option that provides the best audio and user experience you can get at the best value.

Can I use Creative BT-W3 with my phone? Yes, you can! You can use the Creative BT-W3 with any device that streams audio through its USB port that complies with USB Audio Standard.

How do I use Creative BT-W3 with PS4™ or Nintendo Switch™ in dock mode? Simply connect Creative BT-W3 to the USB C-to-A converter provided, and plug it into one of the USB-A ports on the PlayStation console or Nintendo Switch dock to enjoy wireless gaming!

Can I use the Analog Microphone included with my Nintendo Switch? For the analog microphone to work with Nintendo Switch, you'd have to download the HFP-off firmware to enable the function. Do note that enabling the analog mic for Nintendo Switch will turn off the HFP mode on your Creative BT-W3. This is necessary because the Nintendo Switch does not allow for input and output audio to be from different devices. When HFP mode is enabled on your BT-W3, the Switch will auto-register it as the input device, and the analog microphone, or any other external microphones, cannot be enabled. You can turn HFP on again with the HFP-on firmware. Please also note that its voice chat function is title-dependent. You can use the microphone with games that have built-in chat function like Fortnite and Overwatch. Otherwise, it will not work for Nintendo Switch.

Can I control volume through my Bluetooth headphones while connected to Creative BT-W3? For Bluetooth headphones with the AVRCP profile, you can control playback volume through your Bluetooth headphones. For devices without AVRCP profile, you might only be adjusting the volume of your headphones, not the device Creative BT-W3 is connected to. The volume control synchronization between headset and connected device is dependent on headset manufacturer's implementation.

Will BT-W3 draw a lot of power from my phone or Nintendo Switch in handheld mode? No, the Creative BT-W3 draws less than 40mA even when using the most power-intensive codec. That is about 1% of most phones' battery, and less than 1% of Nintendo Switch's battery.

My laptop already has Bluetooth, why would I still need this device? Most laptops come with the most basic Bluetooth chipset with few or only one codec option. With Creative BT-W3, you can enjoy more premium codecs for better wireless audio enjoyment—you'd have access to aptX LL, a low latency codec that is essential for watching videos or playing games; you can also enjoy higher definition audio with the aptX HD codec for better music enjoyment. And most importantly, you are able to switch to the preferred codec anytime the situation calls for it.

Why is my BT-W3 unable to enter pairing mode? Some Bluetooth devices broadcast their pairing aggressively and this forces BT-W3 to exit pairing mode. To avoid this problem, turn off Bluetooth on your PC, Mac, PS4 or Nintendo Switch temporarily if you experience difficulty.

Can I use the mic from my Bluetooth headphones for voice call instead of the analog microphone? Yes, you can use your Bluetooth headset for calls in HFP mode, which can be activated by pressing the button on Creative BT-W3 twice. The LED indicator will turn solid red, indicating HFP mode is active. Do note that in HFP mode, the high-quality audio streaming capabilities of A2DP Bluetooth codecs (i.e. aptX LL, aptX HD, aptX, and SBC) will not be available. This is because HFP is a different Bluetooth profile which supports voice back, while A2DP does not.

The analog microphone will allow you to use voice chat while streaming audio on A2DP codecs at the same time. However, due to it being a near-field microphone, it is not suitable for use with laptops and computers due to the position of the 3.5 mm audio jack, and the likelihood of it picking up your keyboard sounds.

Why does the Analog Mic not work on my PS4? If your analog mic is not working on your PS4, it's most likely due to the new feature introduced in PS4's firmware 7.50. To reinstate the mic capabilities, please follow the steps below to set-up your Creative BT-W3 again:

Go to “Settings” on PS4 homepage

Select “Devices”

Select “Audio Devices”

Uncheck “Switch Output Device Automatically”

Ensure that Creative BT-W3 is connected to an available USB port, and the Analog Microphone to the PS4 controller's headset jack.

Ensure the following:

“Input Device” is “Headset Connected to Controller”

“Output Device” is “USB Headset (Creative BT-W3)”

*Reconnect either device if needed

Under “Output to Headphones”, select “All Audio”

Package Contents

• 1 x Creative BT-W3
• 1 x USB C-to-A Converter
• 1 x Analog Microphone
• Quick Start Leaflet
• WW Warranty Leaflets

Downloads

Download Software

Owner's Manual

Shipping and Delivery

We offer free shipping within Canada on all orders.

To determine when your order will ship from our Mississauga warehouse, please refer to the Shipping and Delivery sections on product's webpage.

Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with a tracking number that will let you view more details about the status of your order.

If you need to ship to a country outside Canada, please contact us at support@wantboard.com.

Returns and Refunds

Items may be exchanged or returned for a full refund, less any vendor shipping and handling costs, up to 14 days after they have been delivered. When returning your item, please contact us for a prepaid return shipping label.

To be eligible for a refund, the item must be returned in its original condition and original packaging within 14 days of receipt.

If the item is not in its original condition and packaging, we can only accept a return if the item is defective.

If you received a damaged or defective item we can replace the item for you free of charge. Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer.

If you are having trouble using your new product, please email us at support@wantboard.com and we would be glad to help you set up and use the product.

Due to the unique nature of the items purchased on our website, we cannot accept returns for items that do not perform as expected or items that do not suit the desired needs of the user.

For more details, please see our Refund and Return Policy.

Taxes and Duties

All applicable taxes are shown at the checkout screen.

Because we ship from Canada, orders are not subject to any customs charges, duties, import taxes or brokerage fees.

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For any questions or inquiries, please complete the form on this page and a customer service representative will respond to you as soon as possible. You can also email at support@wantboard.com or chat with us by clicking the icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.