We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-08 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a simple, plug-and-play way to send your TV's audio to Bluetooth headphones, choose Avantree Audikast 3; if you need a USB-C transmitter for a PS5, PC or laptop with modern LE Audio and aptX support, choose Ugreen USB-C. Neither is a fitness gadget, but since a lot of people land here while hunting for neckband headphones for running or the best bluetooth earbuds for running, I'll be blunt: these two are TV and computer audio transmitters, not earbuds. They're the box that feeds audio to the earbuds you already own. Here's how to pick between them.
• Avantree Audikast 3 — biggest strength: optical (TOSLINK) and 3.5mm AUX inputs plus a built-in volume control, so it solves the classic "my TV has no headphone jack and the remote won't adjust the volume" problem.
• Avantree Audikast 3 — biggest trade-off: it is strictly for TVs with Optical or AUX output. HDMI-only TVs, including HDMI ARC/eARC-only sets, are out of scope.
• Ugreen USB-C — biggest strength: a USB-C transmitter built on the Qualcomm QCC3086 Bluetooth 6.0 chip, with LE Audio modes, aptX Adaptive/HD/aptX/SBC codec support and dual pairing.
• Ugreen USB-C — biggest trade-off: it's for Bluetooth audio devices only. No mice, keyboards, TVs, cars or microphones, and aptX HD doesn't support dual-device connection.
• Pick Avantree Audikast 3 if your goal is private TV listening, especially for two people at once. Pick Ugreen USB-C if you're adding wireless audio to a PS5, PC or iMac and want the newest codecs.
The Audikast 3 is a TV-first transmitter. You connect it to your television through Optical (TOSLINK) or 3.5mm AUX, and it beams that audio wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones or speakers. Two people can pair headphones at the same time from one unit, which is the feature that makes it interesting for couples, roommates, or anyone sharing a living room late at night. It runs on aptX Adaptive for lower delay and better audio quality with compatible headphones, and it uses Bluetooth 5.3.
The detail I keep coming back to is the built-in volume control. Plenty of TVs output a fixed-level signal through optical, which means the TV remote does nothing for your headphones. Having volume buttons on the transmitter itself is a genuinely practical fix, not a marketing bullet. The LEDs for pairing, connection and codec status are a small thing too, but they save you from guessing why nothing is playing. Range is rated up to 100ft / 30m, which comfortably covers moving between a couch and a kitchen in most homes.
Buy it if your TV has an optical or AUX port and you want private, shared or late-night listening without running a long headphone cable. Skip it if your TV only offers HDMI audio — that's a hard limitation here — and remember two setup quirks: set the TV's optical output to PCM, and put your headphones into pairing mode before you expect a connection. This is not a running device, so don't buy it expecting a workout companion.
The Ugreen USB-C adapter is a computer-and-console transmitter. It plugs into a USB-C port on a PS5, PC or iMac and adds Bluetooth audio with no drivers required. Under the hood it uses the Qualcomm QCC3086 Bluetooth 6.0 chip, which is a big part of why pairing is quick and the connection holds up in crowded wireless environments.
What sets it apart is flexibility. It supports aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX and SBC, so it can match whatever your headphones actually handle. It also does LE Audio, and you can switch between Low Latency and High-Quality modes: Low Latency for gaming and video, High-Quality for music. Classic Bluetooth mode supports dual-device connection, and LE Audio mode supports one-to-many broadcasting, which is great for group gaming or a shared movie night. If your headphones are Auracast-compatible, you connect in Unicast mode first and then switch.
Buy it if you want wireless audio on a PS5 or PC and care about codecs and latency modes. Skip it if you need something for a TV, a car, or a mouse/keyboard — it explicitly won't do those — or if your headphones support neither LE Audio nor LC3, in which case you'll need to flip the side toggle to BR (Classic Bluetooth) mode and stay there.
• Best for private TV listening → Avantree Audikast 3, thanks to Optical and AUX inputs.
• Best for two people watching TV together → Avantree Audikast 3, with two headphones paired at once.
• Best for PS5 or PC gaming audio → Ugreen USB-C, which is plug-and-play over USB-C.
• Best for the newest wireless tech → Ugreen USB-C, with Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio and Auracast support.
• Best for codec variety → Ugreen USB-C, covering aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX and SBC.
• Best for volume control when your TV remote can't help → Avantree Audikast 3 and its on-unit buttons.
• Best for group listening from a computer → Ugreen USB-C, using LE Audio one-to-many broadcast.
• Best for older TVs without HDMI audio → Avantree Audikast 3 — but only if the set has Optical or AUX.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to the device you're feeding, not the transmitter itself. If your goal is late-night TV, shared viewing or dealing with a TV that won't pass headphone volume, I'd buy the Avantree Audikast 3. If your setup is a PS5 or PC and you want modern codecs, LE Audio modes and quick USB-C pairing, I'd buy the Ugreen USB-C. For running, neither is the product — you'd pair the best bluetooth earbuds for running or neckband headphones for running with whichever transmitter matches your screen or console. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, and confirm your ports first.
FAQ
No. It needs a TV with Optical (TOSLINK) or 3.5mm AUX audio output. HDMI-only TVs, including HDMI ARC/eARC-only models, aren't supported, and optical output should be set to PCM.
They can transmit audio to Bluetooth earbuds, but they're not wearable devices. For running you want actual earbuds or a neckband, then connect them to the transmitter that matches your TV or computer.
The Ugreen USB-C has an explicit Low Latency LE Audio mode aimed at gaming and video, and it's built on Bluetooth 6.0. The Avantree Audikast 3 leans on aptX Adaptive for reduced delay with compatible headphones.
For LE Audio you do — your headphones or speaker must support LE Audio or LC3. If they don't, switch the side toggle to BR (Classic Bluetooth) mode.
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