As per Mike Ajax, a principal program manager lead at Microsoft, using a LE Audio device with a Windows 11 PC that supports super wideband stereo ensures that switching to game chat no longer results in significant drops in audio quality. The audio from games continues to be in stereo and streams at super wideband quality, unlike the restricted output from Bluetooth Classic.

With LE Audio, apps like Teams and Discord can utilize a 32kHz sample rate, replacing the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) and Hands-Free Profile (HFP) used in Bluetooth Classic. The older HFP framework used an 8kHz sample rate, which resulted in muffled sound. However, most Bluetooth headsets now offer better audio compression and sample rates for “wideband” or “super wideband” voice quality.

LE Audio support also enhances call quality in applications like Microsoft Teams. Although Teams used Spatial Audio for wired headsets, it relied on stereo audio and did not previously support Bluetooth headsets. The super wideband stereo support through Bluetooth LE Audio allows Teams to employ Spatial Audio, which can be activated in the audio settings within the Teams client on Windows.

To benefit from these enhancements, you’ll need a Bluetooth headset compatible with Bluetooth LE Audio and a Windows 11 PC that also supports LE Audio, with the latest drivers and the Windows 11 24H2 update. Existing PCs are expected to receive driver updates later this year, and Microsoft anticipates “most new mobile PCs launched from late 2025 onwards will include this support from the factory.”