Microsoft is addressing muffled audio quality on Bluetooth headsets by introducing a new LE Audio feature for Windows 11. Built on top of the Bluetooth Low Energy radio spec, LE Audio uses a new compression algorithm that results in higher quality audio that Microsoft says will “drastically” improve the audio experience in games and calls on Windows 11.
“When using an LE Audio device with a Windows 11 PC that supports super wideband stereo, the switch into game chat no longer causes an abrupt drop in audio quality,” explains Mike Ajax, a principal program manager lead at Microsoft. Game audio will remain in stereo and stream at super wideband quality, instead of the limited experience of Bluetooth Classic.
LE Audio uses a 32kHz sample rate while using voice apps like Teams or Discord, and replaces the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) and Hands-Free Profile (HFP) of Bluetooth Classic. HFP used a 8kHz sample rate and resulted in muffled audio, but most Bluetooth headsets now support improve audio compression and a better sample rate for “wideband” or “super wideband” voice.
The LE Audio support will also improve calls in apps like Microsoft Teams. While Teams uses Spatial Audio for wired headsets, it depends on stereo audio and hasn’t previously been supported on Bluetooth headsets. The super wideband stereo support over Bluetooth LE Audio enables Spatial Audio in Teams, and can be toggled on in the audio settings inside the Teams client on Windows.
All you need is a Bluetooth headset that supports Bluetooth LE Audio, as well as a Windows 11 PC that also supports LE Audio and has the latest drivers and Windows 11 24H2 update. Existing PCs should get the necessary driver updates later this year, and Microsoft expects “most new mobile PCs that launch starting in late 2025 will have support from the factory.”
