Microsoft has finally addressed the long-standing issue of muffled audio in Bluetooth headsets by adding support for the LE Audio standard in Windows 11. This provides better sound quality during calls and game chats, transmitting wideband stereo sound instead of mono.
LE Audio technology, based on the Bluetooth Low Energy specification, uses a 32kHz sampling rate and works well with a variety of popular voice-enabled applications, including Microsoft Teams.
For comparison, the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) in Bluetooth Classic uses only 8kHz, resulting in muffled sound, although most modern Bluetooth headsets support improved audio compression and higher sampling rates.
For the new feature to work, a compatible Bluetooth device that supports the LE Audio standard and the current operating system version is Windows 11, version 24H2 or later. The company promises that the operating system will receive appropriate driver updates for different hardware configurations by the end of the year.
