BEST TWS Creative Earbuds — TOP 3

Founding. Creative Technology, better known as Creative or Creative Labs, was founded on July 1, 1981, in Singapore by entrepreneur Sim Wong Hoo and his schoolmate Ng Kai Wa. It started as a computer repair workshop. The founders also developed hardware independently. Their first successful product was a memory expansion card for the Apple II PC. By the mid-80s, they shifted to modifying PCs for the Chinese market, experimenting with hardware speech synthesis and sound playback on PCs.

In 1987, their experience led to the creation of the first sound card, the Creative Music System (C/MS). Two years later, the Sound Blaster sound card debuted, launching an entire series of popular sound cards for Windows.

Focus. The company specializes in audio technologies and multimedia for consumers, targeting gamers, audiophiles, and content creators:

• Computer speakers.
• Portable Bluetooth speakers.
• Earbuds and headsets.
• Discrete and external sound cards (DACs and amplifiers).
• Gaming soundbars and audio cards for streamers.
• Super X-Fi (SXFI) spatial sound technology.
• Audio transmitters supporting various audio codecs.

Sound Profile. The tonal balance varies across different earbud models; there’s no single recognizable sound signature. Typically, the earbuds emphasize low frequencies.

Sound Tuning. The proprietary Creative app is available for Android and iOS. It features a 10-band manual equalizer and adjustable low/high frequency balance, along with EQ presets. Some models, like the Aurvana Ace Mimi, support personalized sound tuning.

Sony developed the LDAC codec, and it’s used in most of the company’s proprietary audio gear.

Compatibility. The LDAC codec is the second most common audio codec on Android after AAC and SBC. LDAC offers less compressed, more detailed sound, with the best quality achieved using the “quality” preset at a bitrate of 909/990 Kbps. The codec was introduced in Android 8.0 and is supported by most phones and tablets, except for some models where the manufacturer has removed it or it’s hardware-locked. Therefore, in 99.9% of cases, an Android source will be compatible with earbuds FEaturing the LDAC codec.

Impact on Sound: Expectation vs. Reality. Many potential owners of earbuds with the LDAC codec mistakenly believe its presence guarantees high-quality sound. The formula “source with LDAC” + “earbuds with LDAC” = “quality sound” doesn’t always hold true. The codec acts as a data packer, and the better its parameters, the fewer data losses occur during unpacking. The actual sound system is crucial: the type and number of drivers, driver design, DAC and amplifiers, acoustic design, and other hardware/software parameters. If any part of this system has a flaw, like cost-cutting on components or a design issue, the codec’s effectiveness is reduced. Simply put, if the sound system can’t handle it, the codec won’t make a difference.

Where does the LDAC codec make a difference? Typically, you won’t notice a significant improvement with earbuds under $50, or the improvement is minimal. A noticeable difference is more common in earbuds priced at $100+.

The sound quality improvement, and don’t be surprised by this, is often noticeable in mid-range and higher-priced models. This is because lower production costs often mean more limitations. However, a high price tag doesn’t always guarantee superior quality; some models have high markups that go to shareholders or celebrities. Therefore, exceptions exist in both cheaper and more expensive models.

Real Improvement with LDAC Codec. Based on my experience testing earbuds with various driver types and designs, the improvement ranges from 1-3% to 15-20%. These figures are approximate, as testing relies on listening. I haven’t encountered any devices specifically for measuring this kind of quality improvement.

It’s important to understand two key points. First, the LDAC codec enhances detail. It doesn’t improve naturalness or the soundstage, nor does it alter the sound balance.

Second, the percentage increase varies for each pair of earbuds. A 15-20% improvement in earbuds scoring 5-6 out of 10 is not comparable to a 3-5% improvement in earbuds scoring 8-9. Therefore, when you see a high percentage increase attributed to the codec, it’s worth considering the overall sound score of the earbuds.

LDAC is better in terms of availability, while LHDC is better in terms of capabilities.

The characteristics of both codecs are comparable, with LHDC having a slight edge. It offers more adjustable parameters, a higher sampling frequency, and includes LHDC lossless and low latency switches.

However, LDAC is far more prevalent. Since it’s been available since Android 8.0+, compatibility is rarely an issue. More earbuds on the market support LDAC across various price points, and there are more USB adapters with LDAC support. In contrast, only two USB adapters support LHDC, and only one works without problems. Still, LHDC might catch up to and even surpass LDAC in prevalence in the future, thanks to more flexible licensing and minimal royalty fees that will quickly popularize it among manufacturers.

When it comes to signal stability, both codecs are on the same level.

In terms of sound, both codecs deliver similar quality, and you’d need to listen very closely to discern the difference, assuming the earbuds support both LDAC and LHDC. Therefore, it’s best to focus on the sound system first, then consider the codec. More about codecs.

Here’s a comparative table of the main codec parameters:

Looking at the table, aptX Lossless is clearly the best codec. However, aptX Lossless isn’t a standalone codec but an add-on to aptX Adaptive. There’s no direct selection for sound quality parameters in Android settings, and aptX Lossless only activates under specific conditions:

• Support for Snapdragon Sound by both the phone and earbuds.
• Clear airwaves – no Bluetooth and Wi-Fi interference.
• The aptX Lossless option is enabled (if available in your phone’s settings).

If these conditions aren’t met, and you only have one SoC with aptX Lossless support, the audio will transmit via the aptX Adaptive codec. aptX Adaptive also activates in the presence of interference, which can be as simple as nearby Wi-Fi hotspots in apartment buildings.

More about audio codecs.

If your earbuds support a specific codec but your phone, tablet, or PC doesn’t, you can use a USB adapter. This device, about the size of a Bluetooth adapter, plugs into your phone or PC’s port. Your earbuds then connect to the adapter, receiving the signal with the desired codec.

Which adapter to choose?

• QCC Dongle Pro2 – if you want it all at once. The adapter supports: LHDC 5.0, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Lossless; LE Audio and Auracast are declared.
• FiiO Air Link – a universal adapter, just cheaper. Codec support: SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and aptX Lossless.
• 1Mii B03Pro – a desktop option with both transmitter and receiver. It supports: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, and aptX Adaptive.
• UGREEN BT701: A compact, universal option. Codec support includes Classic Bluetooth (SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive-LL, aptX Adaptive-HQ) and LE Audio (Auracast, Unicast-Low Latency, Unicast-Lossless).
• UGREEN BT501: A simplified version of the BT701. Supports SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive.

Check out our ranking for more details on USB adapters — Best Bluetooth Adapters for Computers and Earbuds.