Many users are surprised to learn that their premium wireless headphones don’t always deliver the same rich sound on Windows as they do on smartphones or Macs.
The reason lies in how Windows handles Bluetooth audio. Most high-end headphones rely on advanced audio codecs like AAC, LDAC, or aptX to provide better sound quality, but Windows support for these codecs is limited or inconsistent. As a result, Windows often falls back to basic Bluetooth profiles that compress audio more aggressively, reducing clarity and detail.
In some cases, when the microphone is active, Windows switches to an even lower-quality mode designed for calls rather than music. Until broader codec support and improved Bluetooth handling are fully implemented in Windows, even the most expensive wireless headphones may continue to sound noticeably worse on a PC than on other devices.