PC bluetooth vs. Mobile device bluetooth

[high_revs]

Got me a bluetooth headset recently. They absolutely suck on PC and hardly have any bass. The sound range is not the same as when I hook them up wired or use another headset. These are the second ones I got and before returning them, I decided to try them on my iphone and android phone via bluetooth. They sound much much better with the mobile devices. Not quite as good as wired mode but definitely much better.

Why can't the PC transmit same range of sound as mobile devices? I tried this on a Dell and Lenovo PCs. I replace my Dell's stock Killer Wireless with a Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Network Adapter that says bluetooth 4.0 smart ready. I thought that'd mean bluetooth 4.0 ready though I'm not really sure what bluetooth versions the iphone and android phone come in.

[sholling]

Which headset? Some are much better than others. BT does have some bandwidth limitations, however, a really good BT headsets connected to a BT 4.0 capable device can sound pretty darn good. Just bear in mind that, due to additional complexity, good quality BT headsets will cost you more than a similar quality wired headset. For mobile music I use the RBH Sound EP-SB BT headset. I own better wired headphones but these are pretty darn good. If these are too expensive you may want to look into a Jaybird X2 headset because they've been on sale a lot lately. I haven't listened to the Jaybirds but they have a decent rep for sound quality. Just be aware that BT headsets aren't all that durable.

RBH EP-SB site

RBH EP-SB review

Jaybird X2

WireCutter review of wireless exercise headsets

[sholling]

BTW, for use with a computer I prefer wired - an RBH HP-2 connected to my laptop via a Dragonfly USB DAC/amp. I own better headphones but these are the best under $200 cans that I own.

http://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/rbh-hp-2-headphones-review

https://www.amazon.com/RBH-Sound-HP-2-Ultralight-Headphones/dp/B018YJ9PAO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1471837399&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=rbh+hp-2&psc=1&smid=A34JWT04R7KMFW

https://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-DragonFly-Black-USB-Converter/dp/B01DP5JHHI

[the86d]

Got me a bluetooth headset recently. They absolutely suck on PC and hardly have any bass. The sound range is not the same as when I hook them up wired or use another headset. These are the second ones I got and before returning them, I decided to try them on my iphone and android phone via bluetooth. They sound much much better with the mobile devices. Not quite as good as wired mode but definitely much better.

Why can't the PC transmit same range of sound as mobile devices? I tried this on a Dell and Lenovo PCs. I replace my Dell's stock Killer Wireless with a Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Network Adapter that says bluetooth 4.0 smart ready. I thought that'd mean bluetooth 4.0 ready though I'm not really sure what bluetooth versions the iphone and android phone come in.

Cheap china hardware really sucks, I have a k/board and mouse combo that is junk compared to a Logitech combo for range and responsiveness.

Android ususally come with the latest and greatest, while iPhruity devices are always behind GEN or two (three?)...

[meaty-btz]

I just picked up a set of cheap bluetooth headphones that work out to be better (in general) than my more expensive ones.

The PC Bluetooth has always been a crap and a crapshoot. PC bluetooth needs good drivers to sound good and sound can degrade significantly. Has to do with how they set it up. It works as it's own sound card rather than just a wireless connection. Just like the HDMI/Hi-Def device in your graphics card is in fact it's own independent sound processor.

Anyways here is a good example of PC Bluetooth and some of it's issues in reality.

Had my headphones on. Was watching youtube in high-def. Launched a game and suddenly all the sound was CRAP. Too much for the little bluetooth psudo processor to handle. Later that same day I did the same thing and instead of degrading sound it instead played the sound for the game through the PC and it's speakers while youtube continued to have dedicated use of the bluetooth device.

In other words your PC Bluetooth device is often poorly implemented (intended just for keyboards and the odd printer) and the drivers are an afterthought while Bluetooth on the phones is often fully implemented and has often updated device drivers. It isn't that bluetooth bandwidth can't handle 5.1 sound processing it is just that the PC driver or chipset just suck because they never thought people would use them for anything more than mice and keyboards. Just like bluetooth can stream an 1080P signal from a webcam just fine given good drivers. If there is a bandwidth problem it is on the board (where there are many kinds of bandwidth).

[billofrights]

Bass for in-ear headphones relies heavily upon getting the proper fit with the earbud. If it's not tight enough the bass won't transmit properly through it into your ear. Try the other sizes of foam/ silicone that came with it, you're probably just using one too small.

[UEDan]

if your Bluetooth headset is anything my mine you have to change the default playback device.

My Jawbone creates 2 playback devices.
Headset sounds like crap. This was the default device.
Headphones is livable.

[high_revs]

so I take it that PC bluetooth version sucks but android and iphone are better for bluetooth headsets.

I always used wired myself and was just trying it due to SO complaining when I watch TV. So i was going wireless bluetooth vs. what I used to do - wifi with a base via senheisser (spelling).

i got a beats bluetooth headset that was decent price on groupon. it does sound much better connected to bluetooth. on the pc, i also changed the bluetooth headset to be the default device for sound and communication.

Is there a bluetooth setting for audio only? to send full range of sound? it's amost as if i'm listening to a bluetooth headset (no body in the sound... all light)