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Nov 22, 2023

6 Best PS5 Bluetooth Adapters for Audio

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is arguably one of the best gaming consoles right now. That

Sony's PlayStation 5 is arguably one of the best gaming consoles right now. That said, the console has its fair share of shortcomings too. To that end, the console lacks support for Bluetooth audio. As a result, you have to either rely on Sony's official Pulse 3D headphones or invest in a new headphone that is supported by PS5. This begs the question – what if you already own a pair of Bluetooth earphones that you wish to connect to your PS5? Well, that's where a Bluetooth adapter comes into play. These best PS5 Bluetooth adapters allow you to connect any Bluetooth headphones with your PS5.

Unlike normal Bluetooth adapters, Bluetooth Audio adapters only handle a single wireless data stream. Add to that, they usually come with support for Bluetooth protocols such as aptX Low Latency. As a result, you can connect a run-of-the-mill Bluetooth headset to your PS5 without having to worry about latency.

In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the best PS5 Bluetooth adapters for audio that you can use. But first, you might want to check out the following:

Buy

If you’re looking for a budget PS5 Bluetooth Adapter which works as advertised, then DRILI has a nice product in store for you. With support for multiple audio codecs and multi-point connectivity that relays audio to two devices at the same time, the DRILI PS5 Bluetooth adapter is a great value-for-money product for the masses.

The DRILI PS5 Bluetooth Adapter comes with support for SBC, aptX, and aptX LL codecs. What's more, is that it automatically selects the lower latency codec when your headphones support it. As a result, you can easily use your AirPods with your PS5 via the SBC codec, or use other Bluetooth headphones over the aptX LL codec.

The adapter also packs in a neat feature where it can output to two different headphones simultaneously. As a result, you can pair two headphones to the adapter, and then you and your friend or family member can enjoy wireless audio on their own Bluetooth headphone. The adapter itself features a USB-C connector, but the package also comes with a USB-A adapter should you wish to connect to a Type-A port on your PS5.

Buy

While designed primarily for the Nintendo Switch, the GENKI Audio Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter also works seamlessly with the PS5. It's available in two attractive colors and should compliment your setup very well too.

The adapter comes with a USB Passthrough port with support for charging. However, that's useful mostly for Nintendo Switch users only. For PlayStation users, similar to the DRILI PS5 Bluetooth Adapter, the GENKI Audio Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter comes with support for Dual Stream Technology. This allows you to pair a second headphone to the adapter as well, and enjoy gaming with a friend. Also, you get support for aptX-LL, aptX, and SBC codecs here.

On paper, the adapter doesn't support the Bluetooth AAC codec. However, some consumers have been able to get the most out of their AirPods with the adapter. That said, some buyers also state that the AirPods switch to SBC and don't relay audio over the AAC codec consistently, thereby resulting in higher latency. Thankfully, Amazon offers a great return policy, so you can test the adapter on your own to see if you face any latency issues or not.

Buy

The Avantree DG80 is easily one of the best PS5 Bluetooth adapters out there, and also one of the most sought-after ones too. With almost 3,000 ratings, the DG80 is an easy-to-recommend product for anyone looking to add Bluetooth audio capabilities to their PS5.

Apart from support for aptX-LL, aptX, and SBC, the Avantree DG80 also comes with support for Bluetooth FastStream codec. Also, while it does support adding an extra pair of headphones, it can stream to a single headphone only. Nonetheless, the adapter offers top-notch quality, and consumers love the range of the connection too. Per the brand, the adapter can stream audio at up to 100ft.

The adapter's enhanced range makes it better than the Avantree Leaf since the latter is backed by older Bluetooth v4.1 technology. The DG80, on the other hand, operates on Bluetooth v5. Do note that the DG80 Bluetooth adapter doesn't ship with LED indicators that showcase the codec in use. If that matters to you, you can opt for the Avantree Leaf Bluetooth adapter.

Buy

Avantree has a couple more aces up its sleeves as far as Bluetooth audio adapters are concerned. To that end, the Avantree C81 is essentially a newer version of the DG80. However, the device comes with a USB-C port instead of the USB-A port on the DG80.

Connectors aside, the Avantree C81 draws parallels to the DG80 in other departments. To wit, the unit works on the same Bluetooth 5.0 version and comes with support for the same audio codecs. What's more, is that the package also comes with a mini analog microphone which can be plugged into the 3.5mm port on your PS5's DualSense controller for better voice chat.

One thing to note is that if you care about audio quality, then you may want to get the Avantree DG60, which comes with support for the aptX HD codec. However, the adapter has a larger footprint, owing to its additional antenna. Regardless, you can give the DG60 a go if you already own a pair of aptX HD-supported Bluetooth headphones.

Buy

On paper, the Skull & Co. AudioStick looks very similar to the DRILI and GENKI Audio adapters we mentioned above. However, it has one big advantage up its sleeve, especially when it comes to voice chat.

Most PS5 Bluetooth adapters feature a 3.5mm boom mic which is used for voice communication. But that's not the case with the Skull & Co. AudioStick. As noted by consumers, it’ll use the microphone from the Bluetooth device you’re using, provided it has one. For instance, if you pair your Sony headphones to the adapter, then you can use the mic on the cans for more seamless voice chat.

One thing to note here is that the adapter covers both the USB ports if you plug it into the front I/O on the PS5. You can mitigate the same by using a USB-A adapter cable provided in the package, and then plugging the AudioStick into the back of your PS5.

Buy

Creative needs no introduction in the audio space and the brand has an exhaustive portfolio of audio products. To no one's surprise then, the Creative BT-W3 is hands-down one of the best Bluetooth adapters for PS5 that you can buy right now. For one, the adapter comes from a renowned brand, so you can just buy it and not worry about it.

What's more, the Creative BT-W3 has everything you’d expect from a high-quality PS5 Bluetooth adapter. With a USB-C connection and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, you also get support for all the latest codecs, including aptX-LL, aptX-HD, aptX, and SBC. The adapter also ships with a nice LED light that highlights the codec in use.

For voice communication, the Creative BT-W3 comes with a boom mic that plugs into the 3.5mm jack on your PS5 controller. If you’re looking for a plug-and-play Bluetooth adapter for your PS5 from a reliable brand, the Creative BT-W3 should be at the top of your wishlist.

Compared to 2.4GHz connections, Bluetooth connections have lower bandwidth and higher latency. As a result, Sony opted not to support Bluetooth connections altogether.

Each adapter has a different latency based on the codec that they use. Low Complexity Subband Coding or SBC has a latency of 200ms. However, modern codecs like AAC/LDAC bring this down to 90ms. Then you have aptX that has a latency of 60ms, which is further brought down to just 40ms while using aptX Low Latency.

With the help of a PS5 Bluetooth Adapter for audio, you can easily pair and use your Apple AirPods with your Sony PlayStation 5. All options prefaced above are some of the best PS5 Bluetooth Adapters that support Apple AirPods.

While Bluetooth devices exhibit higher latency than 2.4GHz, they can offer a comparable experience, especially over the aptX Low Latency codec. As such, if you already own a good pair of headphones that come with support for aptX LL, you can easily pair them with your PS5 using these Bluetooth adapters. We hope that our list of the best PS5 Bluetooth adapters helps you make the right purchase decision. Now that you have this sorted, how about upgrading to an over-ear headphone with extra bass? Check out some of our top recommendations.

Last updated on 13 April, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

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The content head for the Guiding Tech YouTube channels, Varun also contributes to the website for Buying Guides and Product Explainers. Feel free to reach out to him on Twitter.